That was so much fun, let's do it again. The Green Bay Packers were assured of a return engagement to University of Phoenix Stadium for the NFC playoffs before the game kicked off but they still went out and kicked some serious butt today in a 33-7 rout to finish the regular season at 11-5. The Pack will take a better record than the Cardinals (10-6) into the Wild Card matchup because the brought a take no prisoner approach to the game. The offense scored on its first two posessions and the defense chipped in with 9 points themselves including a Packers record 8 defensive touchdown by the brilliant Charles Woodson. His 45 yard return of a Matt Leinert pass in the second quarter made it a blowout at 26-0. The defense, which finished the season as the number one rushing defense in the league, also scored a safety when Clay Matthews was held in the end zone attempting to sack Leinert. Aaron Rodgers played into the third quarter and finished 21 of 26 for 235 yards and a five yard touchdown to Jermichael Finley to close out the Green Bay scoring. His passer rating of 117.1 makes 18 of 32 career starts over the 100 mark and he became just the second Green Bay quaterback ever, behind Bart Starr to finish a season with a rating over 100. Donald Driver was the top receiving target with 6 catches for 65 yards, enough to push him over 1000 for the season (a Packer record 6th) and 9000 receiving yards for his career. Ryan Grant opened the scoring with a one yard run to cap the game starting 69 yard drive, Grant's 11th rushing TD of the season. Rodgers then snuck over from the one to make it 14-0 after the first quarter. Kurt Warner played just one more series as the Cardinals realized they could not climb above the number 4 seed. Leinert entered the game and the offense surrendured a safety and after Mason Crosby connected on a 26 yard field goal upping the lead to 19-0, Woodson may have cemented his case for defensive player of the year by stepping in front of a Larry Fitzgerald slant to intercept his career high 9th pass. He got help with a convoy of blockers to the end zone, his third defensive TD of the year an 8th of his Packer career to break the team record. Arizona's only points came with just over three minutes to play. Backup Matt Flynn was intercepted by Ralph Brown who returned the pass 80 yards. One snap later, Leinert hit Fitzgerald for a three yard score but the Packers were able to run out the clock and the regular season on a very hot run, winners of 7 of their last 8 and the only loss was against Pittsburgh on the final snap of the game. Green Bay finished with 345 yards of offense and 37:27 in time of posession, compared to the Cardinals 187 and 22:33. By giving up just 48 yards on the ground, the Packers set a single season record by allowing 85 yards rushing a game, best in team history. It's hard to read too much into how this game will impact next week's contest but injuries could play a role. Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie had to leave the game with a knee injury and Anquan Boldin left with a sprained ankle. Woodson also left with a sore shoulder but Mike McCarthy said it was the only injury suffered by the Packers and he should be fine. Hard to believe this team was 4-4 at one point, but they have plowed through the second half the season by beating three playoff teams (Dallas, Baltimore and Arizona) and appear very hungry for more.
Rush Limbaugh 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
On Air Now.


Comments