Butch Dill/Related Press
The Inexperienced Bay Packers proceed to roll.
Inexperienced Bay moved to 3-Zero on the season with a 37-30 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Aaron Rodgers and Allen Lazard spearheaded the newest effort, serving to their crew hold tempo with the undefeated Chicago Bears within the NFC North.
As for the Saints, they’re among the many most disappointing groups within the early going at 1-2 regardless of a powerful displaying from Alvin Kamara whereas Michael Thomas was sidelined with harm.
Notable Participant Stats
- Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB: 21-of-32 passing for 283 yards, Three TDs, Zero INTs
- Aaron Jones, RB, GB: 16 carries for 69 yards, 1 TD
- Allen Lazard, WR, GB: 6 catches for 146 yards, 1 TD
- Drew Brees, QB, NO: 29-of-36 for 288 yards, Three TD, Zero INT
- Alvin Kamara, RB, NO: 6 carries for 58 yards; 13 catches for 139 yards, 2 TDs
Aaron Rodgers Wins QB Battle and Recreation
The clear headline going into Sunday’s contest was the quarterback battle.
In any case, Rodgers and Brees are each headed to the Corridor of Fame with a Lombardi Trophy and astounding passing numbers on their resumes. They’ve confronted one another within the playoffs—and will achieve this once more this season—and had a chance to choose up a key win within the early NFC race.
Each had been with out their star large receivers Sunday with Thomas and Davante Adams sidelined, which put extra strain on the signal-callers’ shoulders.
Rodgers answered that strain with an instantaneous reference to Lazard, who he discovered for the guests’ first landing within the second quarter. Rodgers additionally hit Lazard for a 72-yard deep ball within the third quarter, which arrange an Aaron Jones landing on 4th-and-goal.
Brees labored beneath and stored tempo with landing passes to Kamara and Emmanuel Sanders, however Rodgers lofted a superbly positioned go to Marcedes Lewis late within the third quarter for an additional rating. Lewis appeared to get away with a push-off, however that did not take away from the contact No. 12 confirmed by becoming it in over the closest defender.
Rodgers labored his magic another time within the fourth quarter on a key Third-and-Three by drawing New Orleans offside together with his patented exhausting depend and throwing it to the tip zone, the place there was go interference.
He discovered Robert Tonyan for a landing from there, all however clinching the win for Inexperienced Bay.
Saints Waste Sensible Efficiency from Alvin Kamara
No Thomas. Brees previous his prime and struggling to throw downfield. Needing to maintain up with Rodgers on the opposite finish.
There was lots stacked in opposition to the Saints offense in Sunday’s contest, however it had one factor going for it: Kamara. The electrifying operating again put New Orleans on his again from the early going, flashing into area on beneath routes for Brees, selecting up yardage between the tackles and leaving Inexperienced Bay greedy at his ft.
By no means was he extra spectacular than within the third quarter when he took a Brees go behind the road of scrimmage, froze a possible tackler, bounced off one other and labored his method downfield by altering speeds and decreasing his shoulder.
The tip consequence was a 52-yard rating, which was his second of the sport and can stand as among the best touchdowns of all the season.
Subsequent Gen Stats @NextGenStats
Alvin Kamara gained 57 yards after catch on this 52-yard landing, +40 over anticipated in keeping with our Anticipated YAC mannequin.
Kamara by no means reached a pace quicker than 15.28 MPH on the play, whereas Erik McCoy (#78) reached 16.22 MPH as a lead blocker.
#GBvsNO | #Saints https://t.co/wxKFfzUhNK
That landing, together with a key 4th-down cease by Malcolm Jenkins, gave the Saints all of the momentum till head coach Sean Payton determined to place Taysom Hill at quarterback and run an possibility play as an alternative of simply operating with Kamara. The consequence was a fumble, which Inexperienced Bay parlayed right into a subject objective and a fourth-quarter lead.
It’s not tough to examine the Saints electing to present the ball to Kamara once more as an alternative of disrupting their momentum with Hill and scoring to take the lead for good in that state of affairs.
As an alternative, his unbelievable efficiency went to waste.
What’s Subsequent?
Each groups stay within the NFC in Week four when the Packers host the Atlanta Falcons and the Saints are on the Detroit Lions.
