Packers Shutout the Jets 9-0: First Impressions from My Seat in the Stands

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While I always like to do these “First Impressions” posts, this one will be even more shoot-from-the-hip because I was at the game without the benefit of many replays or writing things down as the game progressed.

Game MVP: Tim Mathsay. Yes that’s right, a punter. 5 of 8 punts inside the 20. All 8, inside the 25. I’m one of those people that still believes winning the field position battle greatly improves your chances of winning the game. I’ve been told by plenty of people how it’s a different game, and that field position and punters don’t really matter anymore. I don’t buy it. This game was a perfect example.

Desmond Bishop was hitting so hard, you could hear it up on the third level. And he also played very well in coverage, which has been the knock on him. The light bulb has finally gone on for Bishop, and he is the real deal. Great to see.

Packers secondary was outstanding today. I’ve been saying all season that Tramon Williams is playing at a near Pro-Bowl level. Let me officially change that. Williams is playing AT Pro Bowl level. Just another outstanding performance by Williams. Woodson was more like his old self today, Peprah got some hard hits in and Shields flashed a few times, also.  When Harris and Bigby return, this will be an impressive group. Am I really saying that about the oft-maligned Packers secondary? Yes I am.

The Packers were very judicious in their use of the quick slant to beat the Jets blitz. I was actually happy with Mike McCarthy’s play calling, overall. That is, except for the drive with 4 minutes left in the game, where they just ran three straight times into the line and punted the ball back to the Jets.

Speaking of the Jets blitz, like almost every team the Packers have faced this year, the Jets blitzed less against the Packers than they have against other teams. I personally think that plays into the Packers hands, but I’m not an NFL defensive coordinator.

I don’t know if this was seen on TV, but when Charles Woodson had his controversial interception in the 4th quarter, Cullen Jenkins taunted the Jets sideline, motioning like he was reaching for the challenge flag. Of course, the Jets couldn’t challenge because Rex Ryan used up all his challenges in the first half. Jenkins seemed to relish the chance to mock the Jets coaches. Not sure what the back story is on that, but it was pretty funny to see.

Although it didn’t seem to be that windy at the game, a lot of passes could be described as floaters today. And that’s for both quarterbacks. Rodger’s long passes especially seemed to change directions on the receivers. Perhaps that’s the the reason for the poor passing stats today of  both quarterbacks. (Rodgers 15/34 and Sanchez 16/38)

Well, it’s late, I’m tired, and that’s all that comes to mind right now. Time for bed, and it should be a nice peaceful sleep tonight…

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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.

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23 thoughts on “Packers Shutout the Jets 9-0: First Impressions from My Seat in the Stands

  1. That was a great unexpected win for the Packers. I was amazed at a shut-out being “pitched” by a few key starters and a bunch of back-ups. Go Pack Go!

  2. What a fantastic job stopping the run! I’m a little worried about Rodgers.He looked out of sync with his rec.I was all set to go to the game ,but my daughter was in a regional final cheerleading competition. Thank god for my DVR. When are you going to trade that jersey in for a Favre .

  3. Al, did the Packers have many open receivers all game that Rodgers missed? Since the Jets didn’t blitz as much as normal, that tells me that Ryan thought they’d be more effective making Rodgers throw into coverage than coming after him. Every team we play sits back in coverage, presumably for the same reason. And since we have no running game, Arod is going to see these looks all year long. That’s the next step for Rodgers…moving ball against a lot of guys who are in coverage.

    BJax had some bad hesitation on his runs, too, which is a regression for him.

    And I’ll even lay off McCarthy, since he basically outcoached Wrecks Ryan. Big win. Love it. Let’s beat Dallas and go into the bye 6-3.

    1. CORRECTION: Dom Capers outcoached rex ryan. MM put up 3 points on Rex Ryan. 3 points were given to MM on fake punt, and 3 points were given to MM at the end. McCarthy called plays that led to one drive that put up 3 points. The Jets D is good, but it is not that good. MM is still an idiot.

  4. Al, there are many things that MM did wrong in this game, but the runs with 4 minutes left was not one of them. the packers were 2-12 on third down in this game. that is not good odds when you are throwing in a third and long situation. if the jets do not use all of their TOs, they do not have to go for it on 4th down at the end. they can punt, stop the clock and get another possession. in 90% of games i would like to try to get a first down, but not in this game. in my mind MM 100% made the right call. which i do not get to say often. like at the end of the first half, he takes his head set off before b-jacks long run. then he can’t get the headset back on his fat head in time to call a play so he calls a timout. then he calls the worst possible play you could call coming out of the timout with a quick throw to jennings. There is no point in that throw. Basically same play call that wade phillips got lambasted for earlier in the year. just moronic.

    1. There certainly were many 3rd and longs this game. But you’re making a VERY incorrect assumption that I’m complaining about him not throwing on 3rd down. What I actually would have liked to see was a quick throw on first or second down. Let them know they can’t just stack the line of scrimmage every play.

      But I do agree with you about the end of the first half. It’s tough to keep track of everything that happened when you’re watching from in the stands. Even without knowing about the headset issue, it was hard to determine what he was doing there.

      Overall, I liked his game plan better than previous weeks. Which is about as nice as I want to be to McCarthy.

      1. agree with you about MMs overall game plan for the game. Listening to packer post game people were complaining about MM still not running the ball enough….i thought he ran it as much as he possibly could.

        My only knock is that he was in the shotgun on like 76% of passing plays. If you are going to try to run the ball, use a little more play action. When he did use play action with the ghost reverses it froze the defense cold.

        rodgers was 15-34 (44%) passing in the game. you will have a slightly higher percentage is you are passing on first down generally, but you still are looking at about a 45% chance of throwing an incomplete pass. especially if you are making a quick throw you are probably going to get 4-5 yards and still have to get 5 more for a first down. If the packers were up by 3, or against an offense that had been moving the ball against them I would completely agree with you. But in this game, i think throwing the ball would have been a pretty big mistake.

        1. I agree. I think he mixed the run in better today than he has most games this season.

          Totally agree on the play action. he has soooo much time to throw on those plays.

          I think conceding and just giving the ball back – which has burned them in other games, is a bigger mistake than trying a safe short pass to possibly get a drive going, instead of 3 and out.

  5. AAAAAND Vikings release Moss. That organization is done for the next 5 years. Need coaching AND roster rebuild. Too many FAs and old players, too many trades, not enough young players.

      1. after this season they will have the same QB they tried to replace with sage rosenfels. A new coach, new system to learn, a still unhappy sidney rice, an aging DE in Jared Allen who does not look like the same player, Pat Williams is retiring, Winfield should retire, and aging offensive line. Your best receiver is a guy that cannot stay on the field due to migraines and other injuries. Oh yeah, and one less draft pick to try to fix the problem. What a bunch of dopes. I thought Randy Moss would cure many of their ills, but I was dead wrong. He just poured salt on the wound. The train has officially left the tracks.

  6. I re-watched the game today, especially slowing down almost all of the passing plays. Rodgers threw high on a ton of passes. I have to think it was the wind. And if he DID make a good throw, the WR did something stupid. I tell you, the passing offense is just half-step out of cadence, and we will put a complete game together eventually. And Rodgers will throw for 390 and 5 TDs.

    And I’m telling you, our defense drops more interceptions every single week…we should have had 2 or 3 more yesterday.

    Living in Minnesota, today was one of the best football days of my life…

    1. As the first half ended, I told my jets-fan nephew that the jets were living dangerously. There could have been 3-4 interceptions just in the first half. I wouldn’t say they were easy plays, but they were makeable. Bishop had one go right through his hands and hit him in the helmet.

  7. When we had the ball with 4 minutes left in the game I turned to my son and said “We’re gonna run three times and then punt”. He was amazed that I got it right. At least MM makes me look like a genius to my kids.

  8. Pointing out the obvious but Cullen’s brother is Jets, might have something to do w/ the tuanting but I have no Idea. I was at the game too and it was CRAZY windy in the parking lot, I know that doesn’t always translate to inside the stadium but I also noticed the goalposts shaking a few times. Not saying our pass attack would have been right on otherwise cuase it hasn’t been all year. But it had to have contributed. Whatever, we just beat the jets in their own house and stopped a 5 game win streak! HA! GO PACK

    1. Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Maybe his brother and Ryan aren’t the best of buddies?

      More importantly, you were at the game and didn’t stop by our tailgate? tsk, tsk…

  9. Yeah, sorry. Should have made more of an effort, wasn’t sure until last min. if we were taking the train, driving, what lot we would be in if we did drive, what time we were getting there and so on. Ended up getting a parking pas for lot #4 from friends of friends and had a great time. But i do regret not meeting you and the guys from CHTV. Anyone goin to the Pats game?

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