Packers 31 Raiders 21: First teams bring solid effort
The Green Bay Packers‘ defense was solid overall and the offense did just enough to lead to a 31-13 win over the Oakland Raiders tonight at Lambeau Field.
Not only did Aaron Rodgers have a decent night (9-20, 139 yards, 2 TDs), but backups Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien handled their duties well, making it very possible that the Packers carry three quarterbacks into the regular season.
Clearly, Tolzien played much better than Flynn, who completed just 4 of 10 passes for 37 yards, while Tolzien was 8 of 11 for 107 yards and 1 touchdown.
At this point, one would have to think Tolzien has the upper hand as the backup. Next week’s game will be big in making that determination.
The question remains as to who will be tagged as the backup.
Tolzien looked very comfortable with his reads and quick deliveries in the fourth quarter – much better than Flynn, in my opinion. DuJuan Harris also carried the ball with a reckless abandon that helped give the Packers yet another back who gives the Packers a triumvirate that could be one of the best in the league.
Defensively, the Packers first and second teams made enough plays to keep the Raiders out of the end zone, with the exception of the touchdowns scored early and late.
First half highlights
An Eddie Lacy-dominated first drive of the game, followed by a touchdown pass fromAaron Rodgers to Jordy Nelson, and a touchdown pass to Andrew Quarless highlighted the first 30 minutes of the Green Bay Packers vs. Oakland Raiders preseason game from Lambeau Field as the Packers took a 22-7 lead.
Throw in a solid running game led by all three of the Packers running backs – Eddie Lacy, James Starks, and DuJuan Harris, and the Packers offense was opportunistic though not consistent in the early going.
But led by Aaron Rodgers, the Packers first team offense moved the ball well through the air with completions to tight ends and running backs. With the exception of Nelson’s touchdown catch, the Packers’ wide outs were invisible in the first half.
But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing as Rodgers was taking what the Raiders were giving them.
Rodgers finished his night 9-20, 139 yards, 2 TDs. The Packers ran 39 plays and 6 series with him in.
In addition to the scoring drives, the Packers defense was solid, with the exception of a breakaway run for a touchdown by Maurice Jones-Drew on the Raiders first drive.
Julius Peppers, Morgan Burnett, Sam Shields, Micah Hyde and Davon House all made big plays for the Packers defense.
As for injuries, B.J. Raji went out early with an arm injury and didn’t return.
Second half highlights
After a fumble by the Raiders on their opening drive of the first half, The Packers, with Matt Flynn under center drove down to the Raiders 32 on DuJuan Harris’s legs and then got a great block by Harris as Flynn hit Myles White down to the 13 for a first down.
A facemask penalty by Packers offensive lineman Andrew Tiller moved the team backward before the Packers settled for three on a 41-yard field goal by Mason Crosby to give the Packers a 25-7 lead with 4:10 left in the third quarter.
Aug 22, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) looks on from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Raiders, with Matt McGloin under center, moved the ball steadily against the Packers second- and third-stringers, but on first and 10 from the Packers 30, preseason superstar “sack master” Jayrone Elliott sacked McGloin to set up a third and a mile pass attempt that went incomplete and ended in a punt.
With 28 seconds in the third quarter, the Packers, with Scott Tolzien at quarterback, took over for their second drive of the second half.
Tolzien had his first pass knocked down and then Green Bay ran for a couple of yards before the whistle ended the third quarter.
On third and 10 to start the fourth, Tolzien hit Jake Stoneburner for a first down and then followed that by hitting Ryan Taylor for another first down.
Tolzien capped the drive with a toss to the right side of the end zone to Alex Gillett who made a circus catch for the touchdown to increase the Packers lead to 31-7 after the two-point conversion failed.
The Raiders next possession included two runs for three, and on third and 4, the ball was tipped incomplete and the Raiders punted once again.
Tolzien again led the Packers on their next drive. A short run by Perkins before was followed by a Tolzien to Chris Harper pass to the Raiders 47 for a first down.
Two runs gained nothing to set up a third and 10 pass to Justin Perillo for 12 and another first down.
A holding penalty against the Packers pushed them back 10 yards, and on third and 11 from the 35, Tolzien threw incomplete toward Jeff Janis to set up a 53-yard field goal attempt by Mason Crosby that hooked wide left at the 4:29 mark of the game
That was followed by a quick touchdown drive in garbage time for the Raiders. The two-point conversion was incomplete and the score stood at 31-13.
In an attempt to run out the clock, the Packers punted with 1:10 left and the Raiders had one last shot with 1 minute remaining … McGloin once again moved the team down the field to a touchdown and two point conversion to cut the Packers lead to 31-21.
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