Green Bay Packers: Five keys to the Packers victory

Sep 20, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) questions a call against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

High-quality blocking

I’ve already mentioned the abilities of the quarterback and running game, but while those two areas did well, none of that would have been possible had the offensive line not done its part.

I’ve gone on record in past posts talking about how good this line was last season and about how they could be an even more talented group this year. A game like this exemplifies those notions.

This line, despite missing Bryan Bulaga because of a torn meniscus, was able to hold off a cadre of rushers for most of the night and give their skill players time to make enough plays to win.

Michael Bennett. Cliff Avril. Bruce Irvin. Brandon Mebane. Ahtyba Rubin. Jordan Hill.

All names of productive (and in some cases, dominant) rushers. And between them, there were only 2 sacks and three tackles for loss on the night.

With the low number of blitzes called, this was about as literal as things get on a football field to embodying the mantra of “beat your man”; in the majority of cases, it was the Packers’ linemen who were winning that battle.

Outside of some struggles by David Bakhtiari versus power rushes to his side, the pressure was almost never an issue on Rodgers. Even on some occasions where it was the line managed to give him just enough of an opening to escape and extend the play. Filling in for Bulaga, Don Barclay played pretty well himself; it’s usually a good thing when you don’t hear a lineman’s name mentioned in a game, and I can’t recall hearing him called out by the broadcast team even once.

On a night where many will only talk of the big names we all know, much credit is as usual due to the unheralded big men who protect them.

Next: Slowing Down Beast Mode