Packers Rout Browns In Laugher
The Cleveland Browns took a 3-0 lead on the Packers early in the second quarter. It was the closest they'd come to defeating the Packers Sunday.
The Packers went on to score 31 unanswered points on the Browns defense. For the first time all season, Green Bay looked like a well-oiled machine. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was not sacked at all, and had ample protection all afternoon.
Rodgers was sharp, throwing for 246 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Ryan Grant looked like the Grant from 2007, rushing for 148 yards. The Browns had little success trying to stop Green Bay's offense.
After a goal line stand by the Packer defense early in the 4th quarter, Rodgers and the offense drove 99 yards in just 4:32, scoring on a five yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to James Jones.
The Browns offense struggled mightily all day, managing just 139 yards of offense and turning the ball over twice. Quarterback Derek Anderson was pressured consistently throughout the game. Anderson completed a woeful 12 of 29 passes for just 99 yards.
Sunday's thrashing of the Browns sets up a huge divisional match-up next week when the first place Vikings come to town. The Vikings suffered their first loss of the season today at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and will come into Lambeau with a 6-1 record.
While Sunday's victory was no reason to start making Superbowl plans, being that it was only against the Browns, there were plenty of things to feel good about. The offensive line, which has been a disaster all year, didn't allow a sack and helped Grant rush for nearly 150 yards.
The defense was able to put pressure on the opposing quarterback and continue generating turnovers. The offense was able to sustain long drives, convert on third down, and put the ball in the endzone all day.
Sunday's win was by far the most complete performance by the Packers this season. And with the possibility of Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher and Ahman Green returning next week, things should only get better for the Packers.
With the showdown against the Vikings looming, things might finally be falling into place for Green Bay. If the Packers can beat the Vikings, they will pull into a virtual tie with Minnesota for the lead in the NFC North Division.
Expectations were fairly high for the Packers entering the 2009 season, but early struggles tempered some of the enthusiasm around Titletown. With six games under their belt and some veteran leadership added to the roster, the Packers just might be on the verge of turning things around.
