Packers’ defense shuts down Ravens’ attack to win 19-17

fpadmin | 10/14/2013

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Rodgers delivers in clutch despite losing Cobb, Jones to first-half leg injuries; LB Nick Perry suffers broken foot
By CHRIS HAVEL
Victories frequently come at a price in the NFL.
On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers paid handsomely for a hard-fought 19-17 victory against the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens in Baltimore. Receivers Randall Cobb (knee) and James Jones (shin) were shelved in the first half, while Monday brought word that linebacker Nick Perry will be out indefinitely with a broken bone in his foot.
The Packers (3-2) showed great mental and physical toughness against a salty Ravens squad on the road in a hostile environment. They built a tenuous 9-3 lead before Aaron Rodgers connected with Jordy Nelson on a 64-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to make it 16-3. Baltimore (3-3) pulled within 19-17 but a Rodgers-to-Jermichael Finley 52-yard pass play effectively sealed the victory. It came on third-and-3 and kept the Ravens from getting the ball back with a chance to win.
“It’s important to win on the road in this league if you want to make the playoffs,” Rodgers said. “This was a tough environment. This is a team that’s defending champs, a football team that’s very well-coached, great players on both sides of the ball. This is a great team character-building win.”
The Packers’ defense stepped up without leader Clay Matthews, who is out with a broken thumb.
“It’s kind of been our motto for a long time around here: ‘Next man up.’ We have to make it work,” linebacker A.J. Hawk said. “We had a lot of young guys out there today who really did a good job.”
The Ravens were 2 of 14 on third down attempts Sunday. They needed at least 10 yards on nine of those tries. That enabled the pressure to get to Flacco and bottle up the run. The Packers held the Ravens to 47 yards rushing and sacked Flacco five times, including three by Hawk. Clearly, this was Hawk’s best game as a pro and it comes at a time when the Packers’ linebacker corps needs him the most. With Matthews and Brad Jones (hamstring) already sidelined, and Perry now joining them, the Packers’ 3-4 is relying on youth at linebacker.
Rookies Andy Mulumba and Nate Palmer played significant minutes and likely will be counted on again this week against Cleveland. The Packers also will be counting on kicker Mason Crosby, who delivered on 4 of 5 field goal attempts in the victory. Crosby has been excellent after fending off several challengers in training camp. On a Packers’ team missing several of its key players every point counts.
Meantime, rookie running back Eddie Lacy continues to answer the question: Is it the line that makes the ball carrier or vice-versa? Lacy rolled up 120 yards on 23 carries against a rugged Ravens defense. The Packers’ ability to go ground-and-pound – at least in stretches – was a key factor in the team’s first road win of the season. In loss at San Francisco and Cincinnati, the Packers held fourth-quarter leads. Now, with the dimension of Lacy’s running, the Packers can work the clock.
Rodgers played well despite losing two of his top targets. He finished 17 of 32 for 315 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
“Days like today remind you of why you love this game so much,” Rodgers said. “Offensively, we’re struggling a little bit, but we found a way to make enough plays to win.”
The Ravens had won 13 straight home games against NFC teams, and linebacker Terrell Suggs saw his string of five straight games with at least one sack come to an end. Now, the Packers must brace for an improved Cleveland team in Sunday’s 3:25 p.m. kickoff, and it must find a way to win without Cobb, Perry, Matthews and the Joneses (James and Brad).
A much-improved running game with Lacy is one way. So is a defense that looks light years ahead of its 2012 counterpart. Of course, the surest way to success rest in Rodgers’ right arm. It’s up to GM Ted Thompson and his staff to find him adequate targets until Cobb and Jones return.

Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

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Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk! Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
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-Jean-Pierre Mallette, Montréal, Canada

"Thank you so much Cathy, greatly appreciate your help. As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game, particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "

-Kayle

"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time. One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA. "

-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida

"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"

-Matt

"Hi Amy- Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future! Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol! Go pack go!!"

-Julie Mastrianni

"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service. My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it. We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip. Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."

-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN

"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."

-Frank Chavez, Sacramento

"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."

-Beverley Moore, Lancaster

"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"

-David Anastas, Worchester

"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."

-Dick Koerner, Neenah

"I wish to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude for providing my husband and I with, what he refers to as the greatest experience of my life, apart from my wedding day."

-Lara and Matt Appleton, Thornhill, Ontario

"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."

-Sam Jones, Sedalia

"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."

-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor

"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."

-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly