The Green Bay Packers won their sixth straight game on Sunday Afternoon. They defeated last year’s NFC East Champion in the Washington Redskins 24-10. Benefitting from an efficient day from Aaron Rodgers, the star quarterback completed 27 of 35 passes for 274 yards and three touchdown passes. Along with this, Davante Adams continued his rapid pace during the 2021 season. The former second-round pick hauled in six passes on seven targets for 76 yards and a score.
However, the story of the day would be the Packer’s defense. They buckled down in the red zone after a historically poor start to the season. Forcing their opponent into five scoreless trips when they got inside Green Bay’s 30-yard line, the team recently had let every opponent find the end zone when they got inside the 20 heading into week 7. With a short week against the undefeated Arizona Cardinals on tap, here are my Washington Football Team vs. Green Bay Packers: 3 takeaways.
Washington Football Team vs. Green Bay Packers: 3 Takeaways
3. Pressure on Taylor Heinicke
Stepping up big to help earn the win over Washington, the Green Bay’s pass rush was relentless all afternoon long. They consistently got pressure late in the game on Henickie and knocked the veteran signal-caller off his spot. Still without Za’Darius Smith as he rehabs from a nagging back injury, Preston Smith was also inactive for the first time in his career. Stepping up amongst a shorthanded unit, Rashan Gary led the way with two sacks and four quarterback hits.
He flipped the momentum of the game at the start of the second half. The former 13th overall pick was able to turn the corner and knock the ball out of the quarterback’s hand to set the Packers up with a short field. Cashing the ball into the end zone three plays later, the team will need their pass rush to continue to be great, with Kyler Murray, Patrick Mahomes, and Matthew Stafford looming over the next month and a half.
2. Rodgers Enjoys Another Efficient Day
Once again enjoying another MVP caliber performance, Rodgers made key plays to help the Packers capture the victory. He led a seven-minute drive to help open the scoring. This was after receiving the game’s opening kickoff. Making a vintage throw to help put the ball in the end zone, the 37-year-old found Adams after rolling right and throwing back across his body.
Finishing out the opening 30 minutes with a 10-yard touchdown strike to Allen Lazard, he was also able to find tight end Robert Tonyan following a turnover on Washington’s first possession of the second half. Better as the game went on and the protection in front of him cleaned up, Rodgers was not sacked in the second half. This was after being taken down three times in the first half. He is now up to 16 touchdown passes and just three interceptions on the year.
That Rodgers ➡️ Adams connection 💰
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/6nSiasGNkl
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 24, 2021
1. Packers Red Zone Defense Shines
Entering week seven, Green Bay’s red zone defense was operating at a historically poor clip. Almost a guaranteed touchdown for opponents when they entered the 20-yard line, the team had allowed 15 of 15 trips to result with the ball in the end zone. This had been the worst performance by any defensive group over the last 40 seasons. However, the unit was finally able to turn it around on Sunday afternoon. They got stops on all four of Washington’s trips into the red zone.
An important factor in the game, the streak would first end late in the third quarter. Up 21-7 at the time, Henickie thought he found the end zone after diving in on a three-yard touchdown run. However, after it was called back due to a penalty, the quarterback would be stuffed on a fourth-down sneak on the next play to give the Packers the ball back.
The @Packers red zone defense is ON ONE today 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/HWtqmwbTqT
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 24, 2021
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