In the best week of NFL football this year to date, this weeks action had the excitement, thrills and chills of playoff action not yet started, and Sunday nights game was no exception.
Green Bay lost a game they should have won and I thought all along that they were going to. Poor tackling and inexperience on the part of Green Bays back up quarterback cost them the game. It sure was a a game to end a day filled with excitement and expectations provided to fans all over the country.
The game started with the Packers winning the toss and electing to kick away to the Patriots. The Packers kicker squibbed the ball for an on side kick which took the Patriots totally by surprise, the Packers recovered and it was game on as they took the ball into field goal distance for the first score in the game. Score 3-0 Packers. I do not think the Patriots truly ever recovered from that play and set the tone for the rest of the game.
The Patriots responded in the first quarter with a drive that was capped off with a 33 yard run by Ellis for the Patriots, extra point good and the Patriots lead 7-3.
The second quarter offered up 2 passes for touchdowns from Matt Flynn, one from 66 yards to Jones and a 1 yard pass to Jennings. Score 17-7.
The Patriots would finally answer with a 2 yard pass from Brady to Hernandez, score 17-14, and thats is how the game stood at the half.
The third quarter had two scores in it, the first by Arrington for the Patriots as he turned an interception into a 36 yard touchdown play. A combination of determination and great desire and Packers poor tackling techniques put him in the end zone. Patriots lead 21-17.
The second score came on a 6 yard touchdown from Flynn to Kuhn, score 24-21 Packers.
The fourth quarter provided for a lot of drama and excitement. The first score came from the Packers as a result of a 19 yard field goal which put the score at 27-21 Packers.
The Patriots cranked it up in the fourth quarter with a pair of scores, Graham hit a 36 yard field goal, score 27-24, and then Brady hit Hernandez from 10 yards out for a touchdown. Score 27-31, Patriots take the lead.
With time running down the Packers drove down the field, but inexperience by Flynn as far as time management cost them a shot or two at the end zone. I also think play calling from the sidelines could have been better as they kept the ball in the middle of the field. That fact and terrible tackling by the Packers all night was the end result. On the flip side, everyone that thought the Patriots would blow the Packers out in Aaron Rogers absence, were as I was terribly surprised.
The Packers led every statistical aspect of the game, except turnovers, they had 2 and the Patriots had none. The packers also had the ball for 40:48 and the patriots had it for 19:12. What a game.
