Packers’ defense slows Giants in 23-16 victory

fpadmin | 10/10/2016

Go to the game with Event USA!

Don’t miss this Sunday’s Packers vs Cowboys game and Brett Favre’s appearance at Lambeau Field! We’ve got your ticket!
» Go to the game

By CHRIS HAVEL
Green Bay offense starts fast, finishes slow as run attack disappears when Lacy exits
The Packers will take the win despite its lack of aesthetic appeal.
Style points were difficult to come by for the Packers in a necessary if not spectacular 23-16 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night at Lambeau Field.
Jordy Nelson’s acrobatic 2-yard touchdown catch qualified as beautiful. So did several of Randall Cobb’s clever catch-and-run maneuvers. Even big ol’ Eddie Lacy looked pretty as a picture while chugging along for 81 yards on 11 carries.
Davante Adams also turned in a brilliant touchdown catch.
But beyond that and Green Bay’s terrific 16-play opening touchdown drive there wasn’t much to smile about on offense. The offense has become predictable.
Take away the opening drive and the personnel grouping was three receivers, a back and a tight end. The so-called “11” personnel just didn’t cut it.
It looked especially lame when an ankle injury sidelined Lacy and James Starks took over as the featured back. Starks fumbled and managed just 33 yards on 12 carries (a 2.8 average). It’s time the Packers get real and make the decision to part ways with Starks. Naturally, their scouts need to find an improvement, but Starks isn’t good enough to carry the load in Lacy’s absence.
Meantime, the passing game also struggled. Rodgers completed 23 of 45 passes for 259 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions and a 65 passer rating. Those are extremely pedestrian numbers for a quarterback of Rodgers’ caliber especially when he was given ample time to throw.
Most disappointing was Rodgers’ meager four completions despite 13 targets to Nelson.
“It’s all about winning,” Rodgers told reporters. “We had a lot of opportunities tonight. … We have to execute in the passing game as well as we’re doing up front in the run game.”
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was pleased with his defense’s performance and rightfully so.
“Defense, particularly our young guys in the secondary, did a heck of a job,” McCarthy told reporters. “Run defense was there, pass rush was there. We were able to play good red zone defense.”
Sam Shields (concussion) and Damarious Randall (groin) were both out for the game. Still, the Packers’ young secondary stepped up and held its ground against the Giants.
Packers’ rookie linebacker Kyler Fackrell registered a sack and forced fumble late in the first half and fellow rookie Kenny Clark recovered at the 31 with 1:15 to play in the second quarter. It set up Mason Crosby’s 44-yard field goal with three seconds to give Green Bay a 17-6 halftime lead.
Nick Perry, Jake Ryan and Blake Martinez all played well for the Packers’ defense.
Eli Manning was 18 of 35 for 199 yards and a touchdown. The Giants’ running game was invisible. Bobby Rainey rushed five times for 22 yards to lead New York against the Packers’ top-rated run defense.
The Giants (2-3) closed to within 23-16 on Odell Beckham Junior’s 8-yard touchdown catch with 2:54 to play. He finished with five catches for 56 yards and no temper tantrums.

Looking ahead to Dallas

The Packers (3-1) must prepare for the Dallas Cowboys (4-1) who are fresh off a 28-14 victory over Cincinnati in Dallas.
Cowboys’ rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns, and rookie quarterback Dak Prescott threw for one touchdown and ran for another.
Green Bay’s defense has been terrific against the run all season. It’ll be interesting to see if Elliott will have any success. Also, it’s possible the Packers will have Mike Pennell available after having served a four-game suspension for violating the league’s rules on PED use.
Pennell should blend nicely into the rotation with Clark, Letroy Guion, Christian Ringo and Dean Lowry.
The Packers’ victory over the Giants wasn’t exactly one for the ages but it did accomplish several objectives:

The running game really looked strong when Lacy lined up behind fullback Aaron Ripkowski. McCarthy needs to do more of this and stick with it.
The mix-and-match of personnel in the opening drive was a thing of beauty. After that, McCarthy relapsed into being his predictable old self. Certainly catches by Nelson, Adams and Cobb showed the Packers’ explosiveness, and Lacy ran hard and effectively before leaving with an ankle injury.

Still, the Packers’ offense remains something less-than-expected. It may have to be near the top of its game on Sunday against a Cowboys’ offense that has been a whole lot more than expected thus far.
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’s MVP Parties the evening before home games. Also check out our new Podcast: Between the Lines for more Packers insights. New episodes every Wednesday.

"

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.
"

-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