NFL Special Report: New England Patriots pull ahead of the Green Bay Packers (Part I)
The NFC North title is all but lost for the Green Bay Packers thanks to a fourth quarter comeback by the New England Patriots. The 8-6 Packers are second in the NFC North, a game behind 9-4 Chicago Bears. After suffering a 27-31 defeat at the hands of the
Patriots, the only way for the Packers to stay in the race for the title would be for them to win their last two games and for the Bears to lose all three of their remaining games. The Saints are looking set for a wild card entry into the Playoffs, which leaves
one wild card spot open that the Packers and the New York Giants are fighting for.
The New England Patriots are scheduled to face the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins in the next two weeks. Neither team is likely to defeat New England. The Patriots have secured their playoff spot and the AFC East title after beating the Green Bay Packers
and establishing a 12-2 record.
The Packers caught the Patriots off guard with a 17 yards on-side kick at the kickoff. The Packers pounced on the ball at the 47 yard line. Packers’ Nick Collins recovered the ball for Green Bay. Quarterback Matt Flynn started the drive on New England’s
side with a 4 yards pass to James Jones. Running back Brandon Jackson started the rushing game for the Packers. Green Bay continued to rush the ball for 4 plays until New England’s 30. Flynn threw 19 yards in two plays to take the Packers inside the red zone.
On the 7 yard line, Green Bay suffered a setback as defensive end Eric Moore sacked Flynn for 6 yards.
Flynn missed the next pass on 3rd and 12. The Packers decided not to risk the drive with a touchdown attempt and instead went for the field goal on the next play. Mason Crosby attempted the field goal and the 31 yard attempt was good. New England
did not allow the Packers to hold their three point lead for long.
In the first offensive drive of the game for New England, quarterback Tom Brady threw 25 yards pass to Ron Gronkowski. Brady threw a short middle pass to the tight end which he carried to Green Bay’s 43. However, on the very next play Packers hit back with
a 7 yards sack on Brady. Nose tackle B.J. Raji delivered the hit on the quarterback however, Brady would not be denied. He tried to pass to Gronkowski however, cornerback Charles Woodson made sure that Brady would not be able to connect. On the next play,
he threw 17 yards to Deion Branch setting up the first touchdown for the Patriots. On the final play of the drive, running back Ben-Jarvus Green-Ellis rushed 33 yards to the end zone for touchdown. With the extra point, the Patriots put a 4 points lead over
the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers regained possession from the Patriots in the final minute of the quarter. Green Bay advanced two yards before the quarter ended and started the 2nd quarter on the 33 yard line. From the 33 and on 3rd and 7, quarterback Matt
Flynn threw a 66 yards, deep right pass to James Jones for touchdown. Cornerback Devin McCourty was covering Jones and safety Brandon Meriweather charged in from the left as Flynn released the ball. The two collided with each other and opened up the field
for James to run unimpeded all the way to the end zone for touchdown.
Half way through the drive the Packers launched themselves on another scoring drive. The Packers started on the 18 yard line and moved slowly up the field. Flynn attempted 7 passes in the play and connected for 47 yards. 20 yards worth of penalties on New
England and 8 yards rushing from Green Bay put the Packers on New England’s one yard line. Flynn passed the final yard to Greg Jennings inside the end zone for touchdown.
Tags: