As dicey as it looked for a minute or two there, Donald Driver, Charles Woodson and Aaron Rodgers were intent on giving us Packers fans a happy Thanksgiving.
The trio was the driving force in Green Bay’s 34-12 road win over the Detroit Lions on Turkey Day. The Packers now sit at 7-4 and are right where they need to be heading into the final month of the regular season.
Since two-thirds of the trio plays on offense, let’s begin there. Rodgers (28-of-39, 348 yards, three touchdowns, zero picks) and Driver (seven catches, 142 yards and a touchdown) were a lethal connection throughout the contest, even during the first half in which the unit struggled, particularly in the red zone. Short, intermediate or deep (the pair of 50-plus yard connections were things of beauty), Detroit had no answer for the young signal-caller and the cagey veteran wideout, who is still every bit an elite player.
The offense overall is looking better and better, as well. The much-maligned o-line is improving, Ryan Grant is running as hard as I’ve ever seen and the depth at the skill positions is really starting to come through. The group could click a little more consistently from time-to-time, but there’s no reason to think it can’t. A great thing indeed.
Now to Woodson. If you read this site at all, you know my love for the man. Today, the entire nation got to see why. With five tackles, two interceptions (one returned for a score), one sack and one fumble recovery, Woodson was a force in every area a defensive player can possibly be. The biggest thing he showed, though, was his unfailing intelligence. The guy just knows what to do in every situation. And Troy Aikman was absolutely right: Woodson should be a strong candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He may or may not get it, but that won’t change the fact that he’s having a season unlike any corner I’ve ever seen.
Woodson is keying a unit that is rapidly improving from week-to-week. The established vets like Woodson and Nick Barnett are continuing their strong play. Players like Nick Collins, who struggled earlier in the year, are coming on strong. And the youngsters, like Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji (how ‘bout that run play that he absolutely destroyed today?), are picking up the pro game at the right time.
Sure, I could get all negative and mention some things that didn’t go well. The offensive playcalling was pretty unbalanced at times and Mason Crosby continues to make me think a new kicker will be in the fold come next season.
But, hey, why focus on that, right? It’s Thanksgiving, I’ve got a beer in my hand and the Packers are starting to look like a team that could do some special things this season.
Eleven days until Baltimore. Time to rest. Gobble-gobble, everyone.
-Chris Lempesis
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