Of course, it feels even better when the Packers roll past the New Orleans Saints 42-34 to open the season. Last Thursday's game featured a site for sore eyes in a tangible ground attack. RB's James Starks and Ryan Grant combined for 97 yards (57 and 40 respectively) on 19 total running plays. Starks scored the only rushing TD late in the 2nd quarter from 17 yards out. It was a play the likes of which Packer fans did not see last season. Speed and shiftiness, forward momentum, 3 broken tackles, and the score. Just that one play likely has the rest of Green Bay's scheduled opponents suddenly cracking open that dusty Packers rushing film reel. While it was apparent last season that teams simply did not game-plan for more than 10 rushing plays by the Packers, that will definitely not be the case this year.
This added balance will allow Green Bay to do what it does best on offense: pick apart the secondary. QB Aaron Rodgers did that early and often on Thursday, completing 27 of 35 passes for 312 yards, 3 TD's and no picks (132.1 QBR). Finding 9 different receivers throughout the game, Rodgers could not have drawn up a Superbowl-defense season opener any better. It was clear that having TE Jermichael Finley back in the lineup created huge matchup problems for the saints. The combination of a real running game, and Finley's 6'5" frame clogging up the backfield really has the potential to turn the field into a playground for Rodgers and his powerful receiving corps of Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, and Randal Cobb. Yes, that's right. Even roookie WR Randal Cobb got in the action. The 6th round draft choice nabbed 2 catches for 35 yards and a touchdown, leaving many to wonder why James Jones was viewed as such an asset. Is he the new Brett Swain? He'd better not be, considering the contract he just signed. But I digress.
Cobb also showcased his open field running ability by taking a kickoff out from 8 yards deep in the end zone to the house for a touchdown. Complete with a barrel roll over blocking back John Kuhn, the play really had everything. I suggest you watch it here.
The defense was strong enough for most of the game. The problem with the "bend but don't break" defense is that bending usually yields points. In this case, 34 points. Saints QB Drew Brees was almost a mirror image of Rodgers in the game, completing 32 of 49 for 419. In true Bees-like fashion, he tossed 3 TD's and 0 picks. The Packers did force a fumble early in the game to put them at +1 in the turnover ratio column. On the Saints' second play from scrimmage, RB Marques Colston took a handoff for 12 yards before falling victim to a perfectly placed low tackle by Packers safety, Nick Collins, popping the ball lose for CB Tramon Williams to recover. That turnover proved to be the difference, as New Orleans saw their last ditch effort to try to come within 2 points fall short at the goal line. Rookie RB Mark Ingram was stuffed by a stout Green Bay formation led by LB Clay Matthews and S Morgan Burnett
The only real mar on the stat sheet was a punt returned for a touchdown by the Saint's famously undersized RB Darren Sproles. This was, I think, really more of a testament to why the Chargers should not have cut Sproles than it is an indictment of the Packers special teams unit.
At the end of the day, it was a fantastic way for Packer Nation to open the season. Up next: Kim Newton (sic) and his Caroline Panthers. While everyone goes gaga for Newton's stellar numbers to open his career, let's not ignore the fact that the Panthers just lost to a Cardinals team that is at best middle of the pack. Chew on that for the next couple of days.
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