Packers best Patriots in battle of NFL elite

The two best teams in the NFL clashed at Lambeau Field on Sunday in what was billed as the game of the year. The matchup in Green Bay between the Packers and Patriots was one of the most anticipated of the season, and the teams did not disappoint.

Both teams exchanged blows for all 60 minutes, with the game resulting in a 26-21 decision in favor of the Packers. The victory for Green Bay resulted in an identical 9-3 record for each team. Both teams sits atop their respective divisions, and both are poised for deep runs into the postseason.

The Patriots entered the day as owners of a seven-game winning streak, during which they had averaged a shade under 40 points per game. Those seven games had seen them comfortably dispatch each of the three other division leaders in the AFC.

Meanwhile, the Packers are close to unstoppable at Lambeau Field. In their previous four home games, they had averaged 47 points per contest. Including this week’s victory, they are winners of eight of their last nine games.

It is hard to dispute that the Packers and Patriots are the NFL’s top dogs, especially given how they played on Sunday.Neither team committed a turnover for the duration of the game. There weren’t many penalties; both teams committed only four infractions, and there were no bonehead plays or coaching blunders.

Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are two of the best the sport has to offer, each spearheading a high-powered offense.

While the Packers led for the entirety of the game, Brady and the Patriots managed to keep the score close. Two touchdown passes from Brady to Brandon LaFell cut the deficit to 16-14, then again to 23-21.

Every time New England seemed to regain the momentum, however, the Packers were able to make a play. The Patriots defense just couldn’t get off the field enough against Rodgers and the Packers. Rodgers is arguably the best quarterback in the league at getting out of the pocket and making throws downfield while on the run.Whenever New England looked to regain possession, down only a few points, Rodgers kept drives alive for Green Bay. 

The Packers converted a whopping 10 of 17 third down opportunities. Five of those seven missed third downs came in the field goal range of kicker Mason Crosby, who made four of his five field goal attempts.For all Rodgers’ playmaking ability, the Patriots often were able to concede only three points instead of seven. This kept them within striking distance for the entirety of the contest.

Both quarterbacks finished with solid stats. Brady was 22 of 35 for 245 yards and two scores, while Rodgers compiled 368 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 24 of 38 pass attempts. In the end, Rodgers and his Packers made a few more plays than their counterparts on the Patriots, including converting a third-and-four with two-and-a-half minutes remaining on a pinpoint pass from Rodgers to Randall Cobb. That first down allowed the Packers to assume the victory formation and kneel out the rest of the clock.

Winning such a tense game against a high-end opponent should be satisfying for the Cheeseheads in Green Bay, as they proved to be the best team in the NFL. With the best record in the NFC, the Packers are in a position to capture home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and, as New England learned first hand, they’re incredibly tough to defeat at Lambeau Field.

As far as the Patriots are concerned, there should be no panic. They made no big mistakes and didn’t leave Green Bay regretting plays they should’ve made. The Patriots ran into a great football team that was able to make a few more plays down the stretch than they were. Given the recent history of games in Green Bay, it seems safe to say that not many teams could go into Lambeau and play the way the Patriots did.

Both before and after the game, some media outlets marketed the contest as a potential Super Bowl preview, and given the high-quality and high-tension game they played Sunday, fans would likely be excited for a Super Bowl rematch. There is a long time between today and the championship, but it would not be shocking if the Packers and Patriots met again in Glendale, Ariz. on Feb. 1.