The Packers got their Mojo back!!!

Following the Packers’ 27-13 win over the Bengals on Thursday night at Paul Brown Stadium, Aaron Rodgers was quoted as saying “I think we did enough to satisfy coach. I think we’re going to be ready,”

It was the Packers’ first win of the preseason following disappointing performances against the Chargers and Browns. Needing to get back to the kind of play that led the Packers to a 15-1 record in 2011, Rodgers and the offense led the way in an up-tempo attack that featured two touchdown runs by Rodgers.

When I compare Rodgers to any other Quarterbacks this pre-season, including starting quarterbacks with a bright future like Andrew Luck and Jake Locker, it is obvious that nobody comes close to being able to consistently do the things that Aaron Rodgers can do out there. No doubt about it, this team will go as Aaron Rodgers goes this season. Unless something unforeseen happens, that means all the way to the top.

Even though Rodgers’ 52 yards rushing and 2 rushing Touchdowns led the Packers, it was newly-acquired running back Cedric Benson's 38 yards on six carries that seemed to pump new life into the Packers running game and helped to ease the concerns of PackerNation.

Cedric Benson looked natural running the ball. He’s an instinctive, powerful ball carrier. Another weapon for this Packer Offense. Not since the days of Ahman Green did we Packer fans really know what a solid running game can look like. The Packer Offense might be even better than last year.

Rodgers completed 12 of 22 passes for 154 yards. “I just threw a real bad ball,” Rodgers said of the stunning 2nd quarter interception. I find myself disappointed when ever the Packers have to punt or fumble. I am shocked when he throws an interception. That is how spoiled we in PackerNation are to have the best player in the NFL playing for the Packers. Making a human error shocks the fans, crazy.

Otherwise, everything about his play and the play of the first team offense and defense through a half of action was impressive. The Bengals Defense did a good job covering the Packers talented receivers and did mount some pass rush against the Packers average Offensive Line but Rodgers did a very good job of pulling the ball down and making things happen with his feet.

The defense got into the act when linebacker Erik Walden led a goal-line stand at the 1-yard line. On third down, Walden sacked Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, forcing a 30-yard field goal. Dalton completed only five of 17 passes for 40 yards. Clearly both Defenses played well and the difference in the game was at the Quarterback position. Andy Dalton is a good young Quarterback but Aaron Rodgers is a Super Bowl champion, the league MVP, and in the prime of his career.

“I thought the whole football team improved today. I thought the defense and the whole team had a lot of bounce, a lot of juice. I thought we played smart. I was very impressed with the defense,” McCarthy said.
Walden is competing with first-round draft pick Nick Perry for playing time at outside linebacker.
“I think he’s had a heckuva camp. I’m sure he’ll grade out very well tonight,” McCarthy said of Walden.
These quotes surprised me a bit. Obviously Eric Walden has improved a lot and is no longer on the bubble as far as making this roster. It will be Nick Perry in the opener however as Walden serves his one game suspension. All is well now with the Packers except...

Backup quarterback Graham Harrell struggled through the second half, completing only five of 12 passes for 26 yards. Mike McCarthy keeps making excuses for him explaining that injuries to tight ends Tom Crabtree and Ryan Taylor sabotaged the Packers’ game plan.
“Our offensive plan for our No. 2 group went out the window with our tight end situation. That’s something you won’t see but we’ll take into consideration with his grade,” McCarthy said, referring to Harrell.

The Packers were without starting tight end Jermichael Finley, who left the team in Cincinnati to be with his wife when she went into labor. Tight end D.J. Williams was out of action with an injury.
At 1-2, the Packers have one preseason game remaining, against visiting Kansas City, but the attention turns to the regular-season opener against the San Francisco 49ers.

“The bigger objective is the evaluation of our team,” McCarthy said of what remains of the preseason.
What was important last night was getting ready for the games that count.
“We got better today, so we’re definitely a step closer to being ready for the regular season than when we left Green Bay. That was the goal,” McCarthy said.

Well Packer Nation that is more coach speak than I usually include in Packertalk. I think the real truth is that Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson now realize that letting Matt Flynn get away was a mistake. Having a solid backup could be the difference between home field throughout the playoffs in the NFC and just winning the division. Having to rely on Graham Harrell to win a playoff game would be moribund.

I think we will see Graham Harrell get to start and play with the starters for a while on Thursday night vs. Kansas City in the final pre-season game. There is no reason to put Aaron Rodgers out there but I think the rest of the Offense needs more playing time to be ready to go on September 9. I don't know how it will go or how long he plays. I hope seventh round draft pick B.J. Coleman gets the whole second half or more but maybe neither one will make the 53 man roster. I still think that after the cut down days, Monday and Friday of next week, a veteran Quarterback will become available and the Packers will pick him up.

For now it is a cut down from 90 to 75 players on Monday. Many guys who played in those first two pre-season games and in the second half of this one will be cut on Monday. Maybe some will get a chance to tryout on another team but many will need to find a new line of work.

To players in danger of being cut I say this: "May the odds be ever in your favor"