Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy hinted earlier in the week that this wasn’t going to be your average third preseason game, a game where the starters normally play at least a half and in some cases early into the third quarter. McCarthy said they had players they needed to look at which could alter the way the normal “dress rehearsal” game is played.
AUDIO: Mike McCarthy said they wanted to win the game, but… :17
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers played just one series, which resulted in a 38-yard Mason Crosby field goal. It means the Packers first offense
under Rodgers, hasn’t scored a single touchdown in three preseason games. Rodgers has only played a total of five series and 45 snaps in the first three preseason games. His passer rating is 102.3, but no touchdowns.
Rodgers won’t likely play much at all in the final preseason game at Kansas City next week, if at all. That means he and the first unit will have to be ready with little game preparation for the regular season opener at San Francisco in two weeks.
The Packers played well defensively in the loss. They sacked quarterback Russell Wilson four times and had a fifth negated when they accepted a 10-yard holding penalty against the Seahawks.
AUDIO: Clay Matthews picked up a sack and said they got after Russell Wilson :21
Graham Harrell took over for Aaron Rodgers and put together one solid drive but couldn’t finish with a touchdown. Harrell’s pass to Jermichael Finley in the end zone was overruled on replay. Harrell played a total of five series and finished with a quarterback rating of 56.2.
Vince Young played two series in the second half and led an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. He rushed three times for 39-yards and tossed a 1-year touchdown pass, appearing to take the lead in the battle for the number 2 quarterback job.
The Packers struggled to run the ball in the third exhibition game and the running backs had no room to roam. Eddie Lacy had 8 carries worth a net of a negative 5-yards. DuJuan had 3 carries for 2 yards before leaving with a knee injury. Johnathan Franklin had 4 carries for just 1 yard. As a team, the Packers rushed for 75 yards on 23 carries (3.3 avg). But 39 of those yards came on Vince Young scrambles. Alex Green had 31 yards on a single run. That means Green and Young accounted for 70 of the teams 70 rushing yards.
AUDIO: TJ Lang on the lack of a ground attack :20
The Packers have the day off today and will return to the practice field on Sunday.