Blogs

01

Fake field goal goes the distance

Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears – as originally written by Mike Spofford:

On the Chicago 27-yard line following consecutive sacks and needing to get all the way to the 1 for a first down, the Packers had holder Tim Masthay throw a shovel pass to tight end Tom Crabtree, who was moving from left to right behind the line while kicker Mason Crosby was running left as a decoy.

Crabtree caught the flip cleanly, and with the help of downfield blocks from backup linemen Evan Dietrich-Smith and Don Barclay on Chicago safety Chris Conte, Crabtree cruised into the end zone untouched.

• GAME DATE: SEPT 13, 2012

02

Daniels drops Skelton to the turf

Week 9: vs. Arizona Cardinals – as originally written by Mike Spofford:

DE Mike Daniels notched his second sack of the season and his first since Week 2. That also came at an important time, with the Cardinals at midfield in the final minute of the first half.

• GAME DATE: NOV 4, 2012

03

D.J. Smith sacks Jay Cutler

Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears - as originally written by Mike Spofford:

Inside linebacker D.J. Smith sacked Cutler on a blitz on Chicago’s very first snap of the game, and that set a tone for the rest of the night.

• GAME DATE: SEPT 13, 2012

04

Alex Smith brought down by Clay Matthews

Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers - as originally written by Mike Spofford:

Outside linebacker Clay Matthews had six multi-sack games in his first two seasons (including playoffs), but enjoyed just one such game last year.

So it was a good sign to see him start 2012 strong with 2½ sacks on Sunday, just shy of his single-game career high of three sacks, which he accomplished in the first two games of 2010. He went on to post 13½ sacks that year (17 including the postseason).

• GAME DATE: Sep 13, 2012

05

Clay drops Cutler

Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears - as originally written by Mike Spofford:

The main guy up front was Clay Matthews, who was credited with 3½ sacks, though it could easily be argued he had four by himself. While his teammates were singing his praises – “Clay is always a monster,” Raji said – Matthews was crediting the secondary for some coverage sacks and his fellow rushers for their contributions.

• GAME DATE: SEPT 13, 2012

06

Cobb weaves through traffic for six

Week 9: vs. Arizona Cardinals - as originally written by Mike Spofford:

Cobb had just three receptions, but two went for touchdowns. On the first, a 13-yard slant, Cobb said he actually took Donald Driver’s place in the formation at Driver’s urging, and then Driver and tight end Jermichael Finley threw the key blocks that left Cobb one-on-one with safety Adrian Wilson, who whiffed on a spin move.

“I went to line up in my spot, and ‘Drive’ pushed me over and told me to go get it,” Cobb said. “He gave me the opportunity.”

• GAME DATE: NOV 4, 2012

07

Saints field goal sails wide left

Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints - as originally written by Vic Ketchman:

They finally got a call to go their way, and it helped the Packers hold on for a 28-27 win over the New Orleans Saints.

Garrett Hartley’s field goal attempt from 43 yards with 2:58 to play in the game split the uprights and appeared to give the Saints a two-point lead, until a holding penalty moved Hartley back and necessitated a re-try, which he missed wide to the left.

• GAME DATE: SEPT 30, 2012

08

Cobb takes 49ers punt to the house

Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers – as originally written by Mike Spofford:

Randall Cobb’s biggest play of the game came in the return game with a 75-yard punt return for a score that got the Packers back in the game in the fourth quarter.

“I saw the field open up to the wide side, tried to race them to the sidelines, and I got three good blocks along the way,” Cobb said. “When I set the kicker up, I knew I had a chance. As a returner, if you get tackled by the kicker, you’ve got some problems.”

• GAME DATE: Nov 4, 2012

09

Rodgers hits Crabtree for a 72-yard score

Week 9: vs. Arizona Cardinals - as originally written by Mike Spofford:

On his birthday, TE Tom Crabtree hauled in a 72-yard TD that finished off the scoring in the Packers’ 31-17 victory over Arizona at Lambeau Field. The unassuming and normally blocking tight end lined up in the backfield, slipped out past linebacker Paris Lenon and then had no one between him and the end zone as he snagged a perfect throw in stride from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

• GAME DATE: NOV 4, 2012

10

Kuhn picks up 1st down on fake punt

Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints - as originally written by Vic Ketchman:

The Packers attempted a fourth-down, fake-punt run by John Kuhn that converted a fourth-and-one from the Packers 17. Gutsy call? Conservative critics would apply other language to describe the play call, which occurred with the Packers leading 14-7 early in the second quarter.

“They gave us a look. They played heavy to the protection. It was a well-executed play by our punt team. Based on the pre-snap, I thought it was going to be an even bigger play,” McCarthy said.

• GAME DATE: SEPT 30, 2012