Wisconsin News and Sports
Nathaniel Hackett
Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett interviewed virtually for the Atlanta Falcons vacant head-coaching job on Thursday.
Hackett overseas a Packers offense that ranked 3rd overall, tied for first in scoring, second in third-down efficiency and first in red-zone offense.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur was excited for his offensive coordinator when speaking with reporters during a zoom call on Thursday. [Read more…]
Robert Tonyan
Last year, the Green Bay Packers were one of the healthiest teams in the National Football League. This year, they’re far from it, but it hasn’t stopped the green and gold from a perfect 4-0 start.
Playing without Davante Adams, Marcedes Lewis and Kenny Clark, the Packers rolled to a 30-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night at Lambeau Field. Aaron Rodgers passed for 327 yards and four touchdowns, with three of the scoring strikes going to tight end Robert Tonyan.
The Packers have now opened a season by scoring at least 30 points in four straight games for the first time in franchise history.
Tonyan’s touchdown receptions came from 19, 8 and 21 yards. He finished the night with six catches for 98 yards. His five touchdowns for the season ties him with Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans for the NFL lead. [Read more…]
Joe Philbin
The Green Bay Packers’ three-game losing streak is history. Aaron Rodgers threw a pair of touchdown passes as the Packers build a 34-7 lead and held on for a 34-20 victory on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Aaron Jones also added 78 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Packers, while Bashaud Breeland returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown. The Packers improved to 5-7-1 with the victory, giving coach Joe Philbin his first victory as interim head coach.
Matt Ryan passed for three touchdowns for Atlanta, but two of them came in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach.
Julio Jones finished with eight receptions for 106 yards and two scores for the Falcons, who have now dropped five-straight games.
The Packers improved to 5-1-1 at home this season and will travel to Chicago on Sunday to face the Bears.
Rodgers breaks passing record
Aaron Rodgers has now thrown more consecutive passes without an interception than any quarterback in NFL history. Rodgers finished 21-of-32, breaking Tom Brady’s record of 358 passes without a pick from 2010 to 2011.
Mercedes Benz Stadium
The Green Bay Packers were already playing without a significant disadvantage when both of their offensive tackles, David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga were held out of Sunday nights game in Atlanta. Then take away Mike Daniels (hamstring) and Jordy Nelson (quad) in the early part of the game and the task became next to impossible.
The Packers started the second half trailing 24-7 but had the ball. That’s when quarterback Aaron Rodgers was hit from behind with his pass ruled behind the line of scrimmage. Atlanta’s Desmond Trufant scooped up the loose ball and rumbled 15 yards for a touchdown that would put the Falcons up 31-7, on their way to a 34-23 victory over the Packers in the first game at new Mercedes Benz Stadium.
The Packers went with second year offensive lineman Kyle Murphy at left tackle and Justin McCray at right tackle.
Aaron Rodgers was sacked three times but hit several more. He finished 33 of 50 for 343 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. [Read more…]
Clay Matthews
Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews had his share of bad luck last season. Multiple injuries saw the former USC product struggle to put up any kind of numbers, finishing 13th on the team in tackles with 24. He posted a career low in sacks with five.
Matthews missed four games with injury and was severely limited in several others with shoulder, hamstring and ankle injuries.
To give you an idea what kind of shape the Packers were in, one only has to look at Jordy Nelson, who finished the season with fractured ribs. He told reporters on Tuesday that he’s not sure how the Packers would have been able to get ready for the Super Bowl, had they beat Atlanta in the NFC Championship game.
Once the season ended, several players welcomed the time off to heal. [Read more…]
Davante Adams
As it turns out, wide receiver Jordy Nelson isn’t the only injury concern for the Green Bay Packers as they get ready to face the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game on Sunday.
Nelson is considered a longshot to play with broken ribs and Davante Adams’ status is also in question after he suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter of the win over the Cowboys last Sunday.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Adams isn’t expected to practice until late in the week, probably not until Saturday.
Adams caught five passes for 76 yards against the Cowboys after setting career highs with 75 catches for 997 yards and 12 touchdowns for the season. [Read more…]
The Green Bay Packers showed interest in free agent running back Steven Jackson,
Steven Jackson (UPI Photo / Bill Greenblatt)
but in the end, the Packers just couldn’t afford the deal.
Jackson signed a 3-year deal worth $12-million with Atlanta, adding a potential key weapon to the Falcons offensive arsenal for the upcoming season. Jackson’s deal includes $4-million in guaranteed money.
Jackson has rushed for 1,000 yards in eight straight seasons and will potentially add a lot to the Falcons attack. At the age of 30, nobody doubts his ability for the upcoming season. But what about the next two years after that?
The Packers are roughly $18-million under the salary cap, but they’ll need most of that money to sign Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews to extensions. It’s still possible the Packers could still resign WR Greg Jennings if he’s still available in free agency. Jennings paid a visit to the Minnesota Vikings yesterday.
The Packers still have a visit planned for free agent running back Peyton Hillis next week.
I talked with Missourinet Sports Director Bill Pollock about the first few days of NFL Free agency this week.