Packers 31 Browns 13: Finley out; Boykin stars; defense bends, doesn’t break

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jarrett Boykin (11) reaches over Cleveland Browns defensive back Buster Skrine (22) to score a touchdown after catching a pass in the 4th quarter at Lambeau Field. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports photograph

The Green Bay Packers got a late touchdown from second-year receiver Jarrett Boykin that helped seal a hard-fought 31-13 win in the rain over the Cleveland Browns at Lambeau Field.

Marred only by the apparent head injury suffered by tight end Jermichael Finley, the Packers did just enough on offense and got two fourth down stops on offense deep in their own territory to secure the win.

Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley (88) catches a pass to score a touchdown during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lambeau Field. Finley went out of Sunday’s game with a head injury, his second in about the past five weeks. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports photograph

Using another bend-but-don’t-break defensive effort, the Packers also got a quietly effective day from their all-world quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, who finished his day 25-of-36 for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Rookie running back Eddie Lacy was also a battering ram once again, collecting 82 yards on 22 carries as he helped close out the twenty-third win of the Packers last 24 games at Lambeau Field.

Boykin, who had a slow start in the game, picked things up as he and Rodgers seemed to develop chemistry. He finished with eight receptions for 103 yards and one touchdown in place of Randall Cobb, who is out of the lineup for at least the next seven weeks.

How the injury to Finley plays out will be an important factor in how the Packers move forward. This is Finley’s second head injury in the past five weeks and it’s highly unlikely that the tight end will be in the lineup when the Packers travel to Minnesota next week to take on the Vikings. In fact, a head injury over such a short period of time will most likely keep Finley out of the lineup for multiple weeks.

But we’ll have to see how things play out.

Here are the scoring and game statistics, courtesy of SI.com

These statistics are followed by the highlights from the first half, as well as the first half statistics, also provided by SI.com.

Enjoy …

• Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

Jermichael Finley 10 yd pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby kick), 12:22 Drive: 4 plays, 40 yards in 1:38
Green Bay 7-0

Eddie Lacy 1 yd run (Mason Crosby kick), 3:44 Drive: 11 plays, 56 yards in 5:49
Green Bay 14-0

2nd Quarter

Billy Cundiff 46 yd FG, 5:11 Drive: 12 plays, 60 yards in 6:25
Green Bay 14-3

Mason Crosby 26 yd FG, 0:03 Drive: 14 plays, 61 yards in 5:08
Green Bay 17-3

3rd Quarter

Billy Cundiff 44 yd FG, 5:03 Drive: 7 plays, 20 yards in 1:45
Green Bay 17-6

4th Quarter

Jordy Nelson 1 yd pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby kick), 8:30 Drive: 5 plays, 69 yards in 2:39
Green Bay 24-6

Jordan Cameron 2 yd pass from Brandon Weeden (Billy Cundiff kick), 6:09 Drive: 7 plays, 20 yards in 2:21
Green Bay 24-13

Jarrett Boykin 20 yd pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby kick), 3:44 Drive: 4 plays, 54 yards in 2:23
Green Bay 31-13

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First half highlights

Once again, the Green Bay Packers defense has dominated and have helped lift the home team to a 17-3 first half lead over the Cleveland Browns at Lambeau Field.

Aaron Rodgers threw for an efficient 111 yards on 12-of-18 passing and Jermichael Finley racked up 47 yards on three receptions – one that went for a first quarter touchdown when he broke three tackles inside the five yard line to score standing up.

Eddie Lacy led a balanced attack that started the first couple of possessions with the pass and then moved to the run late in the first quarter when Lacy picked up the majority of his 50 first half yards. Lacy scored from a yard out to give the Packers a 14-0 lead.

The bend-but-don’t-break defense was even better than that in the first half as they gave up 147 total yards. They also got off the field on third down.

The biggest story of the first half was the play of the rookies in this game. The linebackers, Nate Palmer and Andy Mulumba led the way by making sure tackles at and behind the line of scrimmage.

Receiver Jarrett Boykin led the team with four receptions, but Finley led with his 47 yards.

The Packers received the opening kickoff of the second half …

Stay tuned …

Packers

Browns

Packers

Browns

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/10/20/5497/index.html#ixzz2iIqw0R00