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At Lambeau Field this afternoon, the Green Bay Packers got off to a very sluggish start, but they figured things out a bit in the second quarter and lead the Jacksonville Jaguars heading into halftime. Two touchdowns from Aaron Rodgers — one on a deep pass and one a short run — have the Packers sitting with a 17-10 lead at the break.
The first quarter was a lesson in frustration, however. The Packers went three-and-out on their opening drive and again on their third, and a 52-yard Jaguars field goal had the Packers trailing heading into the second quarter. But on the first snap of that period, Rodgers found Marquez Valdes-Scantling with a deep ball and MVS rumbled into the end zone for a 78-yard touchdown.
The Packers would give the lead back a few minutes later, however, when JK Scott’s booming punt outkicked his coverage. Keelan Cole found a seam and took the return 90 yards for a touchdown, making Scott look foolish on his tackle attempt down the field. But Rodgers struck back with the help of Davante Adams and Jamaal Williams, who helped him move the football down the field. On second and goal from the five-yard line, Rodgers rolled right off a play-fake and scampered into the end zone for a 14-10 Packers lead.
Green Bay got a chance to extend their lead late in the half further, as Adrian Amos picked off Jake Luton and returned the ball to the 30-yard line. Rodgers should have had a touchdown to Davante Adams, but a holding penalty on Billy Turner wiped away the score. Instead, Mason Crosby came on to hit a 39-yard field goal at the end of the half to bring the lead up to seven points.
Rodgers has had a very efficient half after the offense’s early struggles, completing 16 of 20 passes for 200 yards and the touchdown to MVS. Jamaal Williams leads the way in rushing with 7 carries for 29 yards while Davante Adams has six receptions for 38.
Join us for the second half here as we follow along with the rest of today’s game.