Top five performers for Packers in Week 14 win vs. Falcons
By Jesse Fry
2. Bashaud Breeland
After missing the last few weeks because of injury, Bashaud Breeland made his comeback in a big way.
With the Packers up by three and the Falcons facing a third-and-four with six minutes remaining in the half, Breeland stepped in front of Matt Ryan‘s pass and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown.
Breeland also added a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter after a snap bounced off Mohamed Sanu.
Breeland will have three more games to show the Packers he belongs on this team for the 2019 season. He has certainly made his case. He is responsible for three of the Packers’ last four turnovers despite missing two games and a good portion of a third, due to injury.
Regardless of who the new coach is, any team could use a playmaker like that.
Breeland also did not make any glaring mistakes in coverage and played a solid game overall.
3. Aaron Rodgers
If there was a player who absolutely had to play well following the firing of McCarthy, it was Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers has had better games this year, but in this game he did not have to carry the team the way he had to in most weeks.
The game plan called for quicker passes and more timing routes due to the offensive line being banged up. That game plan was exactly what Rodgers needed to find a rhythm and keep the offense moving.
Rodgers moved well around the pocket and showed vintage scrambling ability. It would at least appear he is completely recovered from the knee injury as Rodgers was second on the team in rushing with 44 yards on three scrambles.
He also appeared to be a little sharper than previous weeks with his passes. The ball he dropped in to Randall Cobb for the 24-yard touchdown in the third quarter was a thing of beauty.
Rodgers now has the NFL record of 359 pass attempts without an interception. Even factoring in the 50-plus throwaways he has this year, that is still a marvelous feat.