RANTS & RAVES
RANT
The Packers appeared ready to roll with their thunder-and-lightning combination of Williams and Aaron Jones after they teamed up to torpedo Tampa Bay. But neither found much running room against a Browns defense designed to make Hundley throw. The Packers’ longest run in the first half came when safety Jermaine Whitehead dashed for seven yards and a first down on a fake punt. Williams hammered away at the Browns’ defense, carrying 15 times for 49 yards while Jones lost two yards on his four carries. But if Rodgers returns as expected, the Packers’ rookie running backs figure to benefit as much as anyone from a more pass-oriented attack.
RAVE
McCarthy again acknowledged last week the Packers needed to get the ball into the hands of their play-making receivers. Cobb, who wasn’t even targeted against Tampa Bay, was particularly busy early and finished with eight catches for 39 yards. Adams made a gamehigh 10 catches (on 14 targets) for 84 yards and two TDs, including some nifty runs after the catch. Nelson and Geronimo Allison each contributed four catches and Williams caught seven, most notably a 30-yard touchdown reception on the game’s first drive when he lined up wide outside like a receiver and was completely overlooked by the Browns defense.
RAVE
The Packers’ secondary was in dire straits with rookie cornerback Kevin King (shoulder surgery) ruled out for the season and Davon House somehow playing despite being listed as doubtful with a shoulder injury of his own. That left safeties playing cornerback and left Damarius Randall to primarily matchup against talented Browns receiver Josh Gordon. Things looked ugly at the start, with Gordon and rookie Corey Coleman getting open against a soft zone and each scoring a touchdown. But after a couple of big catches early, Gordon wound up with only three for 69 yards. Kizer cooled off as the stakes got higher, finishing 20-for-28 for 214 yards, 3 TDs, 2 interceptions and a passer rating 99.4.
RAVE
So that’s why the Packers kept sticking with Davis as their punt returner! After a season’s worth of questionable judgments — including Sunday when he allowed a punt to land and roll all the way down to the Packers’ 3 — the second-year speed burner made up for it with the 65yard return in OT and put Green Bay in position to win. Special teams also provided Whitehead’s first down on a fake punt and a strong day from Justin Vogel (four punts for a 47.8-yard average and a long of 55).