Click here to see all recaps on a single page
| Other Week 12 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF at KC | CAR at ATL | CHI at STL | CIN at PIT | GB at NO | HOU at CLE | IND at SD | MIN at JAX |
| NE at MIA | NYG at ARI | NYJ at TEN | OAK at DEN | PHI at BAL | SF at DAL | TB at DET | WAS at SEA |
Week 12 Game Recap: Green Bay Packers 29, New Orleans Saints 51
What you need to know
| Green Bay Packers |
The Green Bay Packers played well in the first half of the game, putting up 21 points. Unfortunately, something apparently got into the Saints' secondary at half time and Green Bay only managed one score in the second half and turned the ball over three times.
QB Aaron Rodgers threw three interceptions, including two to CB Jason David, and struggled with his accuracy throughout the game. Rodgers also missed WR Greg Jennings, who was wide open, for a sure touchdown early in the game. The young quarterback's seemed to make good decisions on where to go with the ball but he was just unable to accurately make the passes he needed in this game.
Rodgers relied heavily on WR Greg Jennings, who had an outstanding game receiving. WR Donald Driver was very quiet in the loss and WR Jordy Nelson and TE Donald Lee were also not very productive. WR Ruvell Martin scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion but did not have his number called until the fourth quarter.
The Packers defense was helpless against the Saints high powered offense. The Saints were seemingly able to score at will as they piled on the points. QB Drew Brees tossed four touchdowns and threw for over 300 yards in the win. The only turnover for the Packers' defense was on a ball thrown by Saints' WR Lance Moore. Moore was hit as he threw it and the ball hung up in the air until DB Aaron Rouse grabbed it.
| New Orleans Saints |
The New Orleans Saints seemed able to score at will against the Green Bay Packers. QB Drew Brees and RB Pierre Thomas led the charge as the Saints were able to end this game early with three unanswered third quarter touchdowns.
QB Drew Brees threw four touchdown passes in the victory including two for 70 yards. The Saints benefited from some good field position thanks to turnovers and solid kick returns and they took full advantage. Brees appeared to injure his leg in the first half and walked around gingerly for a few seconds before getting back into the huddle. He appeared fine for the rest of the game. QB Mark Brunell played the final minutes of this contest as the game was firmly in hand.
RB Pierre Thomas was the lead back for the Saints. RB Deuce McAllister was unable to get anything going but did manage to become the all-time touchdown leader for the Saints' franchise in the third quarter. RB Mike Bell saw action late in the game as the Saints tried to eat up clock and protect their key players from injury. RB Reggie Bush watched from the sidelines in street clothes.
WR Lance Moore scored twice and made a series of nice plays. He flew by the Packers' secondary on his first score and extended his entire body to break the plane with the football for his second score. WR Marques Colston was held without a catch until he hauled-in a 70 yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. Both TE Jeremy Shockey and TE Billy Miller were reliable targets for Brees and Miller scored a touchdown after blowing by LB A.J. Hawk in coverage.
The Saints defense played inspired football in week 12. After the Packers were able to match the Saints score for score in the first half, New Orleans pulled in three interceptions in the second half and appeared to know where QB Aaron Rodgers was going with the ball on every play. CB Jason David and CB Randall Gay played well and DB Roman Harper laid a vicious hit on WR Greg Jennings in the second half that was originally flagged as a dangerous hit but the referees conferred and called back the penalty.
What you ought to know
| QB Aaron Rodgers, Pass: 23 - 41 - 248 - 2 TD / 3 INT, Rush: 8 - 36 - 1 |
QB Aaron Rodgers managed a strong first half performance but struggled against a suddenly inspired Saints' defense in the second half. Rodgers threw three interceptions in the final two quarters and only put together a single scoring drive as the Saints piled on the points.
At times, Rodgers was quick to leave the pocket and run. He missed a wide-open WR Greg Jennings the first quarter on what would have been an easy score. He was often inaccurate throughout the game but demonstrated a lot of arm strength by putting a lot of zip on the ball.
Rodgers' third pick was late in the game on a desperate fourth down pass after the game was far out of reach for Green Bay.
| RB Ryan Grant, Rush: 18 - 67 - 0, Rec: 3 - 19 - 0 (3 targets) |
RB Ryan Grant was relatively quiet in the loss. He was the featured back but the team was forced to abandon the run in the second half as the Saints jumped out to a large lead. He looked strong in spots and was clearly the featured back for Green Bay.
| RB Brandon Jackson, Rush: 2 - 5 - 0, Rec: 1 - 13 - 0 (1 targets) |
RB Brandon Jackson was seldom used by the Packers and did not see the field much.
| WR Greg Jennings, Rec: 8 - 101 - 1 (15 targets) |
WR Greg Jennings had a strong game in the defeat. He ran his routes well and was targeted by QB Aaron Rodgers frequently. Rodgers missed Jennings for a sure touchdown in the first quarter but repeatedly went back to the dependable young receiver. Jennings took a big hit in the fourth quarter from Saints' DB Roman Harper but miraculously managed to hang onto the football.
Jennings was the target of Rodgers' first interception. He had fallen during the play but it likely did not matter as CB Jason David read the pass well and jumped the route.
| WR Donald Driver, Rec: 4 - 43 - 0 (8 targets) |
WR Donald Driver was targeted regularly by QB Aaron Rodgers but the tandem was not able to connect with any consistency. Rodgers was a bit inaccurate during the game and had trouble hitting his targets.
| WR Jordy Nelson, Rec: 3 - 21 - 0 (6 targets) |
WR Jordy Nelson was the target on QB Aaron Rodgers' second interception. Nelson appeared to stop instead of finishing the route.
| WR Ruvell Martin, Rec: 2 - 14 - 1 (5 targets) |
WR Ruvell Martin was not targeted until the fourth quarter but was involved in the Packer's final score and also caught a two point conversion from QB Aaron Rodgers.
| TE Donald Lee, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (2 targets) |
TE Donald Lee only managed one catch in the loss. Even after the team fell behind big, he was not targeted regularly by QB Aaron Rodgers.
| PK Mason Crosby 0 - 0 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points |
PK Mason Crosby did not attempt field goals and was perfect on extra point attempts in the loss.
| GB Rush Defense |
The Packers were able to limit the production of RB Deuce McAllister and RB Mike Bell from the Saints but RB Pierre Thomas ran well against them.
| GB Pass Defense |
The Packers were exploited by QB Drew Brees and the Saints' passing game. They let up two passing touchdowns of 70 yards and were basically unable to stop the Saints offense. DE Aaron Kampman was able to get consistent pressure on Brees and spent a lot of time in the backfield but was unable to get a sack. As a team, the Packers only brought Brees to the ground once. The only turnover was an interception by DB Aaron Rouse on WR Lance Moore's lone pass.
| QB Drew Brees, Pass: 20 - 26 - 323 - 4 TD / 0 INT |
QB Drew Brees was nearly flawless against the Green Bay Packers. He connected on two passing scores of 70 yards and hit WR Lance Moore for two scores on the way to a resounding victory. Brees and the Saints eased up offensively in the fourth quarter but the damage was already done.
Brees led the team on a series of impressive scoring drives by mixing up long and short passes. He exploited mismatches when possible and seemed to be in control of the game from the start. After falling to the ground in the first half, Brees limped around for a few seconds but stayed on the field and appeared fine for the rest of the game.
| RB Pierre Thomas, Rush: 15 - 87 - 2, Rec: 3 - 34 - 0 (5 targets) |
RB Pierre Thomas was easily the best running back for the Saints in week 12. He ran well and made the right cuts when necessary. He was hardly touched on his 31 yard scamper into the end zone in the fourth quarter and put in a determined effort to convert the fourth and one situation on the play that helped set up the score.
Thomas was also effective running with the ball after catching it.
| RB Deuce McAllister, Rush: 5 - 5 - 1, Rec: 1 - 2 - 0 (1 targets) |
RB Deuce McAllister was not effective running the ball for the Saints. He did not appear to have much power or elusiveness. His touchdown score was from three yards out and made him the all-time touchdown leader for the franchise. McAllister failed to convert a two point conversion on the final score of the day.
| RB Mike Bell, Rush: 6 - 6 - 0 |
RB Mike Bell only saw action late in the fourth quarter when the game was already well out of reach.
| RB Reggie Bush |
RB Reggie Bush did not play because of injury and watched the game in street clothes on the sidelines.
| WR Lance Moore, Pass: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rec: 5 - 115 - 2 (8 targets) |
WR Lance Moore was the Saints' most reliable and explosive receiver in week 12. Moore made an outstanding effort on both touchdown scores in order to get into the end zone. On the first score, he wheeled around DB Atari Bigby and sprinted toward the end zone after making the catch. On the second touchdown, QB Drew Brees hit him over the middle and Moore extended his body completely to break the plane with the ball as he fell to the ground.
On another play, Moore showed great awareness and realized he had not been touched down by the defender and scampered for a few extra yards.
Moore also threw an interception on an attempted double pass play. He was hit hard as he let the ball go and it floated in the air into the defenders' arms.
| WR Devery Henderson, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (2 targets) |
WR Devery Henderson was quiet despite the gaudy numbers put up by the Saints as a team. He only reeled in a single catch.
| WR Marques Colston, Rec: 1 - 70 - 1 (1 targets) |
WR Marques Colston only had one reception in the game but he made it count as it was a 70 yard touchdown late in the third quarter.
| TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 5 - 57 - 0 (5 targets) |
TE Jeremy Shockey provided a big and reliable target over the middle for QB Drew Brees. Shockey did not appear to show any signs of a lingering injury.
| TE Billy Miller, Rec: 4 - 36 - 1 (5 targets) |
TE Billy Miller ran well with the ball after the catch, fighting for any extra yardage he could get. He was hit by QB Drew Brees in the end zone for a score after he had beat LB A.J. Hawk in coverage over the middle of the field.
| PK Garrett Hartley 1 - 1 FG, 6 - 6 XP, 9 points |
PK Garrett Hartley did not miss any field goals or extra points. The team elected to go for two points on their final score and failed the attempt.
| NO Rush Defense |
The Saints' rush defense was only tested in the first half but they held RB Ryan Grant in check. The Packers were forced to abandon the run early in the second half.
| NO Pass Defense |
The maligned New Orleans Saints' secondary played inspired football in week 12.
In the second half, they picked off QB Aaron Rodgers three times including two by CB Jason David. The defensive backs seemed to know what was coming as they consistently jumped routes and batted balls away from the Packer's receivers. They also managed pretty solid pressure on Rodgers and forced him to scramble on numerous occasions.
