This is what a superior team is supposed to do to an inferior opponent. Yes, Detroit came back from a 21-0 deficit to grab a 25-24 lead in the 4th quarter. But Detroit held that 1 point lead for 2 1/2 minutes before the Packers scored 24 unanswered points. As close as this game was at 25-24, I was only upset they blew a big 21 point lead and I wasn't worried that QB Aaron Rodgers would lead another scoring drive.
Did the Packers let up after building a big early lead or did Detroit just step up? With a receiver as good as WR Charles Johnson, Detroit is built for making a comeback. Detroit had 311 yards on offense, and 129 came from Johnson. S Atari Bigby was hurt late in the 1st half, and S Aaron Rouse came into replace him. He's a good player, but he was the problem on both long TD passes to Johnson. After Johnson beat the cornerback, Rouse took a bad angle and whiffed on both tackles as Johnson ran in for a TD. Rouse is playing on a bad ankle, so that didn't help him and hopefully he looks better next week.
As good Rodgers was against Detroit, unfortunately you have take that performance down a notch when considering how bad Detroit's defense is. Atlanta's rookie QB Matt Ryan looked as good last week as Rodgers did this week, and Ryan fell back to earth in week 2 against a real defense in Tampa, going 13 for 33 with 2 INTs. Detroit's pass rush only got to Rodgers for one sack, and one fumble, and Detroit's secondary kept leaving WR Greg Jennings uncovered. RB Ryan Grant rushed for only 20 yards after Atlanta's RB Michael Turner torched Detroit for 220 yards last week and that doesn't look impressive.
Still the offense managed 447 yards, 324 in the air, looked great on 3rd down, and only had 1 turnover which is very good. Watching big plays from WRs Jordy Nelson and James Jones goes to show how deep and dangerous their group of receivers are. The offensive line did a good job protecting Rodgers, he had to run around at times but he also was able to sit back on a lot of other plays. RB Brandon Jackson showed some big play ability, and even rookie RB Kregg Lumpkin looked good on a few plays.
The Packers defense looked great, when not trying to cover Johnson. They were after QB Jon Kitna all day, and were all over his passing routes when he was trying to rally in the 4th quarter. They shut them down on 3rd downs. And the big INTs...CB Charles Woodson is so important to their defense. He is the only cornerback who makes plays like that and he did it on a broken toe that kept him out of practice all week.