Hail Rodgers: Why the Green Bay Packers beat the New York Giants
By Kenn Korb
Finding Rhythm — And Keeping It
The Packers didn’t begin the evening with much of a sustained rhythm on offense. Like I said before, their first five drives ended in punts; two of those were three-and-outs, and only one lasted longer than four plays.
If it wasn’t for the defense and some freebie drops by the Giants, the team would’ve been blown off the field.
Luckily, the defense held the score close long enough for them to work past those struggles and find the rhythm which had been missing.
It began on the sixth offensive drive. Aaron Rodgers dropped back, quickly diagnosed the coverage, and lofted a strike to Davante Adams for 31 yards. Rodgers himself pointed to this throw as where he found a rhythm; from there, neither he nor his team looked back.
Two plays later, Rodgers found Adams in the end zone after buying what seemed like forever in the pocket; 7-6, Green Bay. Next drive a couple rushes by Montgomery and quick throws to Randall Cobb and Montgomery set up what became the incredible half-ending Hail Mary between Rodgers and Cobb; 14-6, Green Bay.
Though Green Bay would end the next two offensive drives without points (a punt and a turnover on downs), the overall rhythm had not been lost; their next four drives turned into three touchdowns and a field goal, getting the team to its eventual 38 points.
It all began with their play in the waning minutes of the first half.