Packerlifer
Cheesehead
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There's a game between the Packers and Patriots that's not being given much attention in all the discussions about this Sunday's game but it has some relevance to this week's match-up even though it's history.
Green Bay and New England met in a game at almost the same point in the season 4 years ago in Foxboro in almost the same situation. The Patriots were dominating opponents and seemed to be heading toward their fifth Super Bowl under Bill Belichick. They were 11-2, leading the AFC and averaging over 32 ppg, with an average victory margin of more than two touchdowns.
Even leading defensive teams like the Steelers, Jets and Bears couldn't stop them. The two games before Green Bay the Pats had demolished the Jets 45-3 and Chicago 36-7, rolling up well over 400 yds. in both games.
The Packers to that point had an uneven and mostly frustrating season. They were 8-5 and struggling to keep pace with the Bears in the NFC North standings. Their prospects of making the playoffs seemed slim. The game before the Patriots the Packers lost at Detroit 7-6 and qb Aaron Rodgers sustained a concussion that would keep him out of the New England game.
All signs pointed to another New England blow-out and the Packers being finished off as a playoff team for the season. But the Pack turned in a surprisinly tough performance and gave the Pats all they could handle just to survive.
Matt Flynn, starting a quarterback for the Packers, was 24 of 37 for 251 yds and threw 3 td passes. The Packer defense contained the NFL's top offense. Tom Brady could throw for only 163 yds., muster only 14 first downs to the Packers' 26, and Green Bay outgained New England for the game 369-249 and held the Patriots' offensive team to 24 points.
The great Patriot tight end duo of Hernandez and Gronkowski were held to 5 catches, with Gronk getting only one for 25 yds. The great Wes Welker had 3 for 42 yds. None of the Patriot backs could breach 60 yds rushing.
The Packers led 17-7 in the second quarter, 17-14 at the half, and 24-21 going in to the fourth quarter.
New England did win the game 31-27 as Flynn made several critical mistakes as a first time NFL starter. The Patriots returned an interception for a td, sacked the quarterback 5 times and in the last seconds of the game, with the Packers deep in New England territory, forced a second turnover on a rush forced fumble.
The game was a turning point on the rest of the season, however. The Packers got a huge confidence boost from a competitive performance even in a losing result. Green Bay did not lose another game for 19 straight from that time on and went on to win the Super Bowl themselves just 7 weeks later.
And they exposed the Patriots as mortal after all. New England did finish 14-2 for the season but lost in the playoffs at home to the Jets 28-21, delaying that fifth Super Bowl appearance for another year.
Now comes another meeting with a similar feel and situation. Only the location and Aaron Rodgers being in this game is different. Maybe this time the result will be, too.
Green Bay and New England met in a game at almost the same point in the season 4 years ago in Foxboro in almost the same situation. The Patriots were dominating opponents and seemed to be heading toward their fifth Super Bowl under Bill Belichick. They were 11-2, leading the AFC and averaging over 32 ppg, with an average victory margin of more than two touchdowns.
Even leading defensive teams like the Steelers, Jets and Bears couldn't stop them. The two games before Green Bay the Pats had demolished the Jets 45-3 and Chicago 36-7, rolling up well over 400 yds. in both games.
The Packers to that point had an uneven and mostly frustrating season. They were 8-5 and struggling to keep pace with the Bears in the NFC North standings. Their prospects of making the playoffs seemed slim. The game before the Patriots the Packers lost at Detroit 7-6 and qb Aaron Rodgers sustained a concussion that would keep him out of the New England game.
All signs pointed to another New England blow-out and the Packers being finished off as a playoff team for the season. But the Pack turned in a surprisinly tough performance and gave the Pats all they could handle just to survive.
Matt Flynn, starting a quarterback for the Packers, was 24 of 37 for 251 yds and threw 3 td passes. The Packer defense contained the NFL's top offense. Tom Brady could throw for only 163 yds., muster only 14 first downs to the Packers' 26, and Green Bay outgained New England for the game 369-249 and held the Patriots' offensive team to 24 points.
The great Patriot tight end duo of Hernandez and Gronkowski were held to 5 catches, with Gronk getting only one for 25 yds. The great Wes Welker had 3 for 42 yds. None of the Patriot backs could breach 60 yds rushing.
The Packers led 17-7 in the second quarter, 17-14 at the half, and 24-21 going in to the fourth quarter.
New England did win the game 31-27 as Flynn made several critical mistakes as a first time NFL starter. The Patriots returned an interception for a td, sacked the quarterback 5 times and in the last seconds of the game, with the Packers deep in New England territory, forced a second turnover on a rush forced fumble.
The game was a turning point on the rest of the season, however. The Packers got a huge confidence boost from a competitive performance even in a losing result. Green Bay did not lose another game for 19 straight from that time on and went on to win the Super Bowl themselves just 7 weeks later.
And they exposed the Patriots as mortal after all. New England did finish 14-2 for the season but lost in the playoffs at home to the Jets 28-21, delaying that fifth Super Bowl appearance for another year.
Now comes another meeting with a similar feel and situation. Only the location and Aaron Rodgers being in this game is different. Maybe this time the result will be, too.
