RANTS & RAVES
RAVE
The Packers picked just the right time to finally let Williams catch his breath. The hard-charging rookie was a oneman band in the backfield throughout regulation and into overtime, handling all 21 carries for 113 yards and a bulldozing touchdown on which he carried safety Chris Conte for three yards into the end zone. Williams also showed nice burst on a career-long 25-yard scamper in the second quarter. McCarthy finally spelled Williams after he picked up a first down with a 12-yard catch and run in overtime, calling Aaron Jones’ number on first-and-10 from the Bucs 20. Jones, made active for this game after missing the last two with a knee injury, promptly broke free for the game-winning 20-yard touchdown.
RANT
If Rodgers does indeed return this season, it will be interesting to see whether Jordy Nelson comes back to life. Nelson again was a shadow of the receiver who led the NFL in touchdowns last season and once was a feared deep threat. He made a team-high five catches but gained only 17 yards, consistently unable to gain yards after the catch. Davante Adams was a frequent victim of Hundley’s inaccuracy, making only four receptions for 42 yards while unable being to catch up to several errant throws.
RAVE
The Packers were without their top cover cornerback in Kevin King and needed someone who could keep up with the Buccaneers’ towering All-Pro
Mike Evans — whose sheer size (6-41⁄2, 231) makes for a tough matchup – and speedy DeSean Jackson. Damarious
Randall and Davon House accepted the challenge and stood tall, limiting Evans to two catches for 33 yards and Jackson to two for 24. Winston (21-for-32, 270 yards, 2 TDs, no interceptions, passer rating 112.8) burned the Packers by spreading receptions around to 10 different receivers, but the Packers kept the Bucs’ big guns under wraps.
RAVE
There were as always some annoying penalties, but in all, it was a good day for Packers special teams. Fackrell made the big play on the deflected punt (which wasn’t ruled a blocked punt because the ball made it back to the line of scrimmage, where Jermaine Whitehead corralled it). Trevor Davis averaged 30.3 yards on four kickoff returns,
Justin Vogel had a net average of 42.3 on four punts, Jeff Janis spearheaded an aggressive punt-coverage unit and
Mason Crosby was 2-for-2 on field goals and boomed four of his five kickoffs for touchbacks, with the other return held to 20 yards.