Go Pack go … oh, wait.
Well this week’s games where anything but close. The Packers were defeated by the Falcons 44-21 in the final game in the Georgia Dome. The Patriots were able to easily take care of the Steelers 36-17.
With both games having scores of the winning team more than doubling scores of their opponent’s, the most exciting thing to watch was the Falcons offense do basically anything they want to the Packers defense and watching Atlanta’s defense shut down the high-powered offense of the Packers.
Neither team could effectively run the ball well. The Packers weren’t able to establish a run game all year and Packers do have a better run defense than pass defense. The teams combined for a total of 200 rushing yards, 99 for Green Bay and 101 for Atlanta. Arron Rodgers led all rushers with 46 yards on four attempts with a long of 28 yards.
Atlanta ran two in for touchdowns, one by Matt Ryan 14 yards out in the second quarter and one by Tevin Coleman from 3 yards out in the fourth. There was a run for a two-point conversion by fullback Aaron Ripkowski for Green Bay.
Both quarterbacks threw the ball well. Rodgers was 27-45 for 287 yards, three touchdowns, one interceptions and a quarterback rating of 86.8. Rodgers was also sacked twice for 19 yards. All three of Rodgers scores were from three yards or less. A two yarder to Davonta Adams, three yards to Jordy Nelson and one yard to Jared Cook.
Matt Ryan finished the day 27-38 for 392, four passing touchdowns (five total) and a QBR of 98.4. His touchdowns consisted of a two-yard shuffle pass to Mohamed Sanu, two to Julio Jones, 5 yards and 73 yards, and 4 yard to Devonta Freeman.
I have to give major props to Nelson. Playing with hurt ribs two weeks ago during the Giants game. You can tell he was still in pain with the faces he was making during the game. I could not imagine what type of pain he was in.
Overall, I have one thing to say about this game. To quote Mr. Garvey, “You’ve done messed up A-A-Ron!”
Moving on to the later game I just want to know, what was that?
I know Tom Brady is arguably the best quarterback of all time, but he doesn’t make the team. The whole Patriot team played outstandingly and the Steelers did absolutely nothing.
Both teams have great run defense in this game with New England allowing 54 yards and one score on a DeAngelo five-yard run. The Patriots could have had two if they would have ran the ball on the one-yard line or at least a quarterback sneek which turned into a field goal. Pittsburgh allowed 57 yards and one score on a LeGarrette Blount one-yard run.
In the air, both teams threw the ball well. Brady threw great. Three touchdowns, 16 and 34 yard passes to Chris Hogan, a former lacrosse player, and a 10-yard pass to Julian Edelman. Brady was 32-42 for 384 yard and a QBR 90.4.
Ben Roethlisberger threw for a score of 30 yards to Cobi Hamilton. Roethlisberger finished the game 31-47 for 314, one score and one turnover and a QBR of 57.2.
As I was writing this, a notification popped on my phone from CBS sports that Roethlisberger won’t commit to playing football in 2017 and retirement is a possibility. Tough to see him go, especially with what they have going on in Pittsburgh right now with himself, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell.
Overall, good high-powered offenses with very well rounded defenses left to duke it out in two weeks in Houston for Super Bowl LI. It will be a fun game to watch.