Packers steamroll Denver

Posted by Mark Daniels on

The Green Bay Packers simply overwhelemed the Denver Broncos on a sun splashed afternoon at Lambeau Field 49-23 as Aaron Rodgers put up the biggest numbers of his career.  Rodgers passed for 408 yards and four touchdowns and he also scored twice on the ground with runs of 11 and 8 yards.  The Pack improves to 4-0 and completed the most prolific scoring first month of any season (148 points) in franchise history.  There was just no way the Broncos could keep up, despite gaining 384 yards on the Green Bay defense.  After the Packers were stopped on 4th and one at the Denver 12 to end their first series, Kyle Orton led Denver on a 78 yard drive that stalled at the 9.  Matt Prater gave the Broncos a 3-0 lead with a 27 yard field goal.   Rodgers responded with a 50 yard bomb to Jordy Nelson who got behind double coverage to make it 7-3 and three snaps later, Charles Woodson stepped up again.   Woodson picked off an Orton pass and returned it 30 yards up the sideline for a touchdown.  For Woodson, it was a milestone play, his 50th career pick, his 11th pick for 6 leaving him one behind Rod Woodson's NFL record and he extended his Packer franchise record with his 9th interception and 10th defensive touchdown of his hall of fame career.   The Packers then pulled a huge surprise, catching the Broncos completely off guard with an onside kick.  Mason Crosby hit a perfect bouncer reeled in by Nelson.  It took the Packers 7 plays to extend the lead to 21-3 as Rodgers ran 11 yards up the middle for a touchdown, getting grazed hard by safety  Brian Dawkins as he crossed the goal line.  Dawkins then flew into the leg of Donald Driver and it looked like the veteran suffered a serious knee injury, getting carried to the sideline and then carted into the locker room.   The Broncos then surprised the Packer defense with a flea flicker, expertly carried out by Knowshon Mareno who took several steps into the line before pitching it back to Orton who underthrew Brandon Lloyd which allowed Morgan Burnett to momentarily save a touchdown on the 44 yard gain.  But Orton hit Eric Decker from five yards out on the next play to make it 21-10.  Decker beat Burnett on the next series for a 33 yard touchdown and the Broncos closed to within four points.  Rodgers directed a smart, 2 minute drive hitting Greg Jennings on a perfect seam route for a 17 yard touchdown with :24 left in the half making it 28-17 Packers at the break.  To open the third quarter, the Packers took the opening kickoff and used over 6 and a half minutes to drive 80 yards in 12 plays as Rodgers again broke up the middle of the pocket, got hit at the one and rolled the ball over the plane.  Referees spotted the ball at the one but Mike McCarthy challenged the call and it was reversed for a touchdown and the route was on.  Denver was driving until Desmond Bishop knocked the bal loose from tight end Daniel Fells at the Packer four and Morgan Burnett recovered.   A 61 yard bomb to Randall Cobb set up James Jones' 21 yard touchdown catch moments later making it 42-17.  In the 4th quarter, Rodgers again tried to hit Jones but the ball glanced off his hand and was picked off by Jonathan Wilhite.  But on the next snap, Orton tried going deep to Lloyd but Sam Shields recovered on the underthrown ball to intercept near the goal line, running it back 60 yards the other way.  The Packers cashed in the takeaway with Rodgers 4th TD pass, an 8 yarder to Driver who got the medical clearance to return to the game and Driver made a one legged Lambeau leap into the north end zone stands.   The Broncos finally tallied late with Decker catching his second TD of the day but a two point try failed.   The final three minutes featured two more turnovers, backup Matt Flynn was picked off on his only pass of the day trying to convert a third down.  The ball glanced off Cobb and was picked by Rahim Moore, but Orton gave it right back when Charlie Peprah snared a deflected ball just inside the two minute warning and the Pack ran out the clock.  The offensive numbers were startling, 507 yards, a career high 408 passing from Rodgers on 28 of 38 for a rating of 134.5.  Jennings had 7 catches for 103 yards, Nelson 5 for 91.   Jermichael Finley drew double teams all day and had just three catches for 28 yards.  James Starks, subbing for the injured Ryan Grant had 63 yards on 13 carries.  Rodgers ran 9 times for 36 yards and two scores.  Denver piled up 384 yards but had four turnovers.   The Packers had 26 first downs, were 9 of 13 on third down and controlled the clock for 33:01.  Tim Masthay punted only once and the Packers had but three penalties.    The Packers are off to only their 9th 4-0 in club history, the first perfect month since 2007, prior to that, it was 1998 and then back to back fast starts in 1965 and '66.  Only two injuries reported by McCarthy, Donald Driver's knee sprain but he returned and Chad Clifton was kicked in the shin but also returned in the 4th quarter.  On the link below, a collection of post-game quotes from another happy, but unsatisfied Packers locker room.

Packers dominate Denver

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