Sunday, September 14, 2008

Halftime: Packers 21 - Lions 3

The Packers totally dominated the Lions in the first half. Following on their 1st quarter score, the Pack continued to exploit the Lions' pass defense. The Packers moved down field quickly at one point in the 2nd quarter on a 62-yard bomb from QB Aaron Rodgers to WR Greg Jennings. It was Rodgers' longest pass of his career. Jennings was wide open and the only thing that prevented him from scoring on the play was that he had to wait for the ball. It didn't take long after that, though, for the Pack to get into the endzone for their second score. On another 3rd-and-goal, Rodgers connected for a TD pass, this time to Donald Driver. Packers 14 - Lions 0.

The Packers' next score came on 29-yard TD from Rodgers to rookie WR Jordy Nelson who went in untouched for not only his first NFL catch but his first NFL touchdown. Packers 21 - Lions 0.

The Lions finally got a drive going in the last few minutes of the half as the Packers' defense basically went into a prevent-style defense, which of course never prevents much of anything. Detroit had to settle for a 38-yard field goal after stringing together a series of first downs.

The Packers defense registered three sacks on Lions' QB Jon Kitna in the half, two of them courtesy of Aaron Kampman. Aside from the final Lions' drive of the half, the defense acquitted itself well, albeit helped by some first quarter drops by Lions' receivers on what should have been some very easy catches that could have changed the tone of the half.

As it is, look for the Lions to come out throwing most of the second half. If the Packers' defensive front can keep getting to Kitna, and the Packers' offense can keep clicking the way it did in the first half, the Pack will be putting this one in the "W" column in another 30 minutes of game time.