Has the Cam Newton bandwagon lost a wheel? Well not according to the announcers of the game and those who think the No. 1 overall pick is the next coming of Jesus Christ of this years NFL QB's. Yes, the kid has potential and he did throw for more than 400 yards again, as well as, he can sidestep pass rushers, run for scores and seems very poised standing in the pocket. But let's not get this kid's head so filled with so many accolades yet, because realistically, he is still 0-2 as a starter. A QB's passing yards do not mean or equal a victory.
It was nice seeing Aaron Rodgers and the Super Bowl Champions Green Bay Packers, who had a tough job, but got it done by spoiling Newton's home debut. Rodgers 308 yard/2 TD passing day was not comparable to Newton's 432 yards which, consequently, is another NFL rookie record for passing yardage in a game. Newton's 2 games = 2 records.
But it was A-Rod that directed his team to a victory. Aaron found Greg Jennings for a 49-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter, the go-ahead score in a run of 23 straight points that erased an early 13-0 deficit. Then, after Clay Matthews stopped Newton a yard shy of the marker on a fourth-down run inside the 5, Rodgers found Jordy Nelson for an 84-yard touchdown that made it a two-possession game and helped the Packers hang on. John Kuhn added the first score on a goal-line plunge for the Packers' first touchdown, while Mason Crosby kicked three field goals.
Then Newton started making mistakes, the rookie had three interceptions, two by Charles Woodson and the other by Morgan Burnett. Woodson also had a fumble recovery. Newton was also sacked 4 times by the Packers defense.
Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said; "It wasn't clean by any means, we can sit here and pick apart all the things that didn't go right, but most importantly, we finished it as a football team."
Packers safety Nick Collins was carried off the field on a stretcher after he injured his neck while trying to tackle Jonathan Stewart in the fourth quarter. The team said Collins had "normal feeling and complete movement" in his extremities but would be kept overnight in a hospital for observation.
Also a huge congrats to Packers receiver Donald Driver who's 10-yard catch allowed him to become the Packers' all-time receiving leader with 9,666 yards.
Oh, did you see that block on Captain Munnerlyn that sprung Jordy Nelson for the game-clinching touchdown by Packers Greg Jennings? Wow, I know Munnerlyn didn't, that was so AWESOME!
People will be talking about the consecutive 400 yard passing games that the Packers secondary has given up, but again injuries there do have somewhat of an effect. (Williams, Collins) But what about Green Bay's defense inside the 20? Opponents have only scored three touchdowns in eleven series, now that is some tough "Goal Line" stances.
As is with Cam Newton, the Packers are still working out some early kinks and hopefully they can pull it all together, and take out Da Bears next Sunday and go 3-0!
PS. Just for the record, very disappointed in the NON-REVIEW of TE JerMichael Finley's TD. And that is just what it was, a TD.
GO! PACK GO!