Cheesehead
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Multiple postgame questions centered around not trying to run the ball at some point during the sequence, but Rodgers wasn’t questioning those decisions.
“I like the calls. I felt we were really close on a couple of those to scoring and tying it up,” he said. “The trust is high with Jimmy. He expects to make one of those two plays down there.”
Rodgers did question himself on the final chance, though. After a run play on first-and-goal from the 7 got the ball to the 3 and the clock down under 30 seconds, he tried to hit Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a quick slant at the goal line.
Valdes-Scantling and undrafted rookie Darrius Shepherd criss-crossed on Rodgers’ right side and all of Philadelphia’s coverage converged on Valdes-Scantling cutting inside. No one stayed with Shepherd fading to the outside.
The contested pass was tipped and picked off by linebacker Nigel Bradham with 20 seconds left, sending 77,509 fans home frustrated.
“I thought Marquez was going to win (his route). It’s so tight down there,” Rodgers said. “If I hold it a tick, obviously I’m going to see Darrius (open in the corner). It’s disappointing for it to end like that.”
Equally disappointing was the play of Green Bay’s defense, which had a truly rough outing for the first time this season. The Eagles controlled down-and-distance with a power running game that racked up 176 yards on the ground at a 5.3-yard clip. Former Bears running back Jordan Howard (15 carries, 87 yards, two TDs) and Miles Sanders (11-72) repeatedly gashing the Packers’ front.
Tight end Zach Ertz (seven catches, 65 yards) also proved to be a tough matchup as QB Carson Wentz threw three TD passes on just 16 completions. He was efficient (113.2 passer rating) and mistake-free, benefiting from a ground game that kept Philadelphia’s offense in favorable short-yardage situations all night.
“Until I go back and look at the film I can’t tell you right now,” Head Coach Matt LaFleur said of the leaky run defense. “But I know we’d better fix it, otherwise for teams that’s going to be their blueprint, to run the football and grind it out.”