The way Cam Newton played yesterday was really impressive. I was one of many who bashed the pick of Newton by the Panthers and new Head Coach, Ron Rivera in April’s draft. I thought he was your proto-typical running quarterback that wouldn’t be able to throw the ball and I, like many others, were dead wrong.
In his first two games as an NFL quarterback, Newton has thrown for 422 yards and 432 yards. That is better than Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, and Johnny Unitas. Asked about his counterpart yesterday, Aaron Rodgers said, “I’m sure glad we get to play him early before he’s figured it out.” That “it” Rodgers is referring to is getting wins. Newton is winless in his first two starts and in his game against the Packers it was due in large part to fantastic Red Zone defense, turnovers, and the Packers running game.
The game had all the makings of a trap game. It was a long break for the Packers, playing the NFL Opener two Thursdays ago. It was against a team that had a rookie quarterback and won a total of one game last season. Above all though, it was a week before a NFC Championship game rematch in Chicago against the rival Bears.
From the opening coin toss something just seemed off with the Packers. First Mike McCarthy deferred the ball to the second half and put his defense out there first. Newton was insulted and his play mirrored that thought. Newton got out to hot start with great play calling by Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski. Quick passes and play action rollouts got Newton going. The Panthers put together a 10 play 85 yard drive that ended in a Newton-to-Brandon LaFell touchdown pass. Throw in a fumble on the ensuing kick return and the two quick field goals that followed, and the Pack were down 13 to 0 before you knew it.
The Packers offense looked out of sync for much of the game but got on the board with 9:58 to go in the second quarter with a 1 yard John Kuhn touchdown run. Both defenses did a great job of protecting the short field and preventing game changing touchdowns and making the offenses settle for field goals. The Packers went into halftime down by 6, and they were thankful for that.
The Packers got the ball to open the second half and wasted no time claiming the lead from the Panthers. Rodgers hit Greg Jennings in stride on a 49 yard touchdown pass to make it 14 to 13 Packers. Big plays continued on defense where Charles Woodson intercepted his second pass of the game and recovered a fumble also. “That’s Charles, that’s what he does,” linebacker AJ Hawk said. “He finds a way to get two interceptions, picks up that fumble. He’s always around the ball. There’s a reason for that.” Both of those turnovers resulted in field goals for Mason Crosby.
Newton tried his best to steal a game from the defending Super Bowl Champs but was tackled for a two yard gain on 4th and 4 from the Packers six yard line with just under 4 minutes to play in the game. Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson two plays later on an 84 yard touchdown pass and the game for all intents and proposes was over. Newton did lead his team to another score but it was with 40 seconds left and the onside kick was recovered by Donald Driver.
What should not be lost in this game is that Donald Driver passed James Loften for the most receiving yards in Packers history with his ten yard reception in the fourth quarter. Driver came into the game needing only one yard to break the record that had stood for over 25 years. “I didn’t expect this to ever happen, but now to be the all-time in all categories in history, that stands for something,” Driver said. “From where I came from to where I am, it’s truly a blessing.”
Also the Packers were handed a huge blow when starting Safety, Nick Collins suffered a serious neck injury which will force him to miss the rest of the season and may be career threating. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter also, on a catch and run by the Panthers' Jonathan Stewart. Collins lay motionless on the turf for minutes and the stretcher and cart were brought onto the field to take Collins to the hospital for tests and overnight evaluation. “It’s tough. It’s something you never get used to it as a coach,” McCarthy said. Sixth year pro, Charlie Peprah, who started 11 games last year for injured Safety Morgan Burnett, will replace Collins at Safety.
The Packers running game has been impressive for the number of carries they doll out. James Starks made the most of his limited carries with 85 years on nine carries with a long of 40 yards. Ryan Grant chipped in with 25 on six carries and as a team the Packers rushed over 100 yards for the second consecutive week to open the 2011 season. The offensive line at times dominated in the run game but struggled a little with pass protection. The Panthers only recorded one sack but Rodgers had happy feet and never really looked comfortable. “That team came out swinging, but we were able to withstand their blows today,” Woodson said. “We were able to buckle down, make the plays when we needed to make them and close the deal down.”
Even with the shaky first half effort, poor pass protection and the devastating injury to Nick Collins the Packers are 2-0 and ready to head down to Chicago for a huge, early season match up with the Bears.
Matt
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