The Green Bay Packers have played 5 games so far this season, and they have won every one of them. Those wins have included a heart-pumping shootout against the Saints on opening night, a critical Division win in Soldier Field, and an offensive clinic against the Denver Broncos. But last night’s win in Atlanta was the best of all.
My youngest daughter was falling asleep on my lap during the first half of the game, and so I was lovingly pinned to my chair. That was an unnatural posture for me during a Packer game, for I like to be able to stand, jump, pace, and cheer. Out of deference to her needs, however, I was quiet and still. And that experience game me new insight into this Packers team.
I think our team was quiet and still, too. I don’t sense that McCarthy, Capers, or Rodgers were agitated or worried at all during Atlanta’s early success and Green Bay’s early struggles. A lot of teams couldn’t have overcome spotting their opponents 14 points on the road. But these Packers seemed to take it in stride, make their adjustments, and get the job done.
Who would have guessed, halfway through the second quarter, that this game would be end up being our defense’s best effort? And who could have imagined at that time that the Falcons wouldn’t score another point all night? It was a remarkable comeback and a terrific game.
The Falcons were 13-3 last season, and Matt Ryan is notoriously good at home. Yet for all that, the Packers didn’t flinch. They stayed calm, scored 25 unanswered points, and showed that they really are the best team in the NFC.
The best team and the best quarterback. For all the hype that surrounded Michael Vick and Cam Newton, and for all the conventional wisdom about Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Philip Rivers, the consensus is forming around Aaron Rodgers. Trent Dilfer made a dramatic case on ESPN that Rodgers is not only the best QB in the game today, but that he is playing as well as any NFL QB ever. And on Sunday Night Football, both Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison said they’d take Rodgers over Favre. Amazing.
The Lions kept pace on Monday Night Football. Too bad, but not too surprising. It will be interesting to see how they fare this coming week against Harbaugh and the reborn 49ers.
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