The Green Bay Packers rallied to nip the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime yesterday. It was their first overtime win since 2007 and the first of quarterback Aaron Rodgers career. It was a hard fought game from the first snap to the last, the Packers odds to win this week will be similar with the Chicago Bears coming to town Thursday.
The Bengals come out bound and determined to turn their season around and it looked like they were going to do just that with 3:46 left in the game. The problem was, Rodgers was due to win a game like this. After following one the game’s best at coming from behind in Brett Favre, Rodgers has never been known as comeback artist. Maybe this is the start of a new chapter for Rodgers.
The Packers ground out a much needed win by overcoming a slew of injuries. To be able to win without your starting left tackle and wide receiver on offense, and your best lineman, linebacker, and cornerback on defense was fairly impressive. Even if it was against the Bengals.
The defense held the Bengals to 301 total yards and 17 points. And they were only four of 12 on third down. Not a bad days work. Offensively Rodgers has had better days, especially in the first half. But with the game on the line Rodgers dug deep and with some help from second year receiver Geronimo Allison, led the team to victory.
Allison, along with rookie safety Josh Jones, were two youngsters who shined and may be on their way to big seasons. Allison is tall and athletic and unique to the Packers’ receiving corp. His catch and run in overtime was awesome, he juked out Pacman Jones twice and left him laying on the field. And Jones was everywhere on defense. 12 tackles and two sacks in his first start on defense? Who does that?
With first round pick cornerback Kevin King holding up fairly well against A.J. Green, the Packers might be in pretty good hands in the defensive backfield for the foreseeable future. Now if Nick Perry and Mike Daniels can come back and stay healthy, the defense has a chance to be special.
Another guy that needs to stay healthy is Jordy Nelson. While his numbers were only 6 catches for 52 yards, his two TD’s were huge, the second one was an amazing catch to tie the game with 17 seconds left. This dude is special, and second to Rodgers, he’s the straw that stirs the drink.
The Packers need to get to 3-1 before going on the road for games against Dallas and MInnesota. Guessing the Bears win over the Steelers got the Packers attention. Can’t overlook the Bears now.