Top two wide receivers out no problem for Aaron Rodgers against hapless Falcons secondary

 

With Allen Lazard out indefinitely following surgery and Davante Adams held out due to a hamstring injury, some fans might have wondered if Monday night’s contest between the Packers and Falcons might actually be competitive, given the fact that the Packer defense is giving up 28 points a game, and was up against an offense that was averaging 30. But then again, we are talking about a Falcons team that has an even worse defense than the Packers’, with a practice squad-quality secondary. Despite being short-handed, only a touchdown left on the field after failing to punch it in from the goal line prevented a complete first-half blow-out, on the way to a fairly relaxed 30-16 victory for the Packers.

It was another impressive offensive performance from the perspective of Aaron Rodgers, who despite lacking a deep wide receiver threat--Marquez Valdes-Scantling predictably caught just 4 of 8 targets for 45 yards--was nevertheless able to pick apart the Falcons’ secondary fairly handily. Unlike the previous three weeks, Rodgers did not complete a deep ball of 50+ yards, but in completing 23 of 25 for 282 yards and 4 scores to his other targets, it wasn’t necessary. Tight end Robert Tonyan came up big, catching all six of his targets for 98 yards and three touchdown grabs, and running back Jamaal Williams caught another 8 for 95 yards. For the second straight week the running game was a sideshow, but with Rodgers looking in vintage form, it didn’t matter.

The Packer defense improved somewhat, at least in the first half when they stopped the Falcons on three 3-and-outs, and 3 points total. The second half was a different matter however, with Matt Ryan picking apart the secondary on two long touchdown drives to open the half, and leading drives into Packer territory on the next two. Still, the defense did just enough stiffening to prevent further damage on downs following sacks by Za'Darius Smith. The Packers forced no turnovers, and have just forced 3 in 4 games, although they are not the only team this season that doesn’t seem to go after the ball much (the Texans’ defense has not forced a single turnover, and half the teams have forced 4 or fewer).

But the offense has yet to turn the ball over itself, and as long as it keeps the opponent’s defense on its heels all game long as it has been, the Packers look like a team that not only expects to win, but is expected to despite the fact the schedule is doing this team no favors, with three of their next four games on the road against probable playoff teams. Next week is a bye week, but Week 6 will see a match-up against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, both of whom now seem to be on the same page, and this may be the game we find out just how good this team is.