Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles was supposed to be a measuring stick for the Green Bay Packers. Afterall, they had yet to beat a team considered to be a solid playoff contender yet this season. Their test against the Eagles was supposed to give us some answers about Mike McCarthy’s team.
There’s still more tests to take and more measuring to be done, but the Packers passed their first test with flying colors, rolling to a 53-20 win over the Eagles at Lambeau Field.
The Packers put together 50+ point performances in each of the last two games and that is a franchise record.
Aaron Rodgers passed for 341 yards and three touchdowns, extending his streak of touchdown passes without an interception in home games to 29. Rodgers has thrown 322 consecutive passes at home without throwing a pick, surpassing New England Patriot Tom Brady’s record of 288 for the longest streak in NFL history.
In five home games this season, Rodgers has completed 96 of 144 passes for 18 touchdowns and no interceptions for a 138.1 passer rating.
Coupled with Detroit losing (14-6) at Arizona, the Packers moved into a tie with the Lions at the top of the NFC North with 7-3 records.
The Packers are now 5-0 at home and have outscored the last four teams 128-9 in the first half.
AUDIO: Mike McCarthy on winning at home :22
The Packers hit the Eagles for some big plays early. Up 3-0, the Packers had 3rd and long three times and converted, which seemed to take the air out of the sails of the Eagles.
AUDIO: Aaron Rodgers on 3rd down success :22
It doesn’t appear to matter who the opponent is. When the Packers are playing at Lambeau Field, they’re unbeatable at the moment. Aaron Rodgers is red-hot and his offensive line is giving him all the time in the world to throw the football.
AUDIO: Josh Sitton says if they can keep Rodgers upright, they’ll do fine :21
Rodgers has had plenty of help. Micah Hyde returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown and defensively, the Packers picked off Mark Sanchez twice, one of which was returned by Julius Peppers for a touchdown. It’s the second pick-6 of the season for Peppers. Casey Hayward also recovered a fumbled shotgun snap and returned it for an easy touchdown.
LeSean McCoy, who rushed for 155 yards against the Packers in an Eagles victory last season, was held to 88 yards on 23 carries on Sunday.
There’s still six games left and plenty more for the Packers to do. But Sunday’s win was a measuring stick for the Packers. They’ll hit the road to face the Vikings next week, then face a hot New England team led by Tom Brady back at Lambeau Field in two weeks.
One of the other tests for the Packers is to beat a quality opponent on the road. That question might not be answered until the playoffs.