Packers still a work in progress even with shutout of Bills

1:02 pm | September 30, 2018 | Go to Source | Author:

4:33 PM ET

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Nothing like a bad quarterback – or at least a rookie who isn’t ready to play – to make the Green Bay Packers feel better about themselves.

Sure, there were enough notable performances from the home team in Sunday’s 22-0 victory at Lambeau Field:

Jimmy Graham’s first touchdown with the Packers
Aaron Jones’ dominance, even in a still-limited role
A Clay Matthews (half) sack without a penalty
First-round pick Jaire Alexander’s first career interception (that wasn’t wiped out by a roughing flag)
The Packers’ first shutout in nearly eight years.
And perhaps most important, a more mobile Aaron Rodgers

But Josh Allen isn’t Tom Brady, Jared Goff, Matt Ryan Kirk Cousins or even the suddenly dangerous Mitchell Trubisky – with his six touchdown passes on Sunday. They’re all quarterbacks still on the Packers’ schedule, and they’re all more dangerous than the Bills’ first-round pick.

No wonder Rodgers for weeks has called the Packers “a work in progress.”

Five dropped passes on four different drives cost the Packers points. They punted twice and settled for a field goal on two others.

Without Randall Cobb (hamstring), the Packers played rookie Marquez Valdes-Scantling as the third receiver and his miscue on a route would have been a pick-6 if Bills cornerback Ryan Lewis hadn’t dropped the ball.

But the biggest difference was in the quarterbacks.

Much like Dom Capers’ defenses did, new coordinator Mike Pettine feasted on a rookie quarterback. The Packers sacked Allen seven times (three of them by Kyler Fackrell), picked him off twice and forced a fourth-quarter fumble to clinch their first shutout since a 9-0 win over the Jets on Oct. 31, 2010. The Bills totaled just 145 net yards, while Allen completed just 16 of 33 passes for 151 yards with two interceptions and passer rating of 36.3.

Alexander benefited from an amateurish decision by Allen to heave a ball late over the middle into the end zone, where Alexander picked it off in the second quarter. Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dixthen picked off Allen in the second half for his third interception of the season.

Matthews and Nick Perry shared a sack in the second quarter and no, Matthews wasn’t flagged for roughing the passer for the first time in four games this season.

There were signs of progress on offense, too.

Rodgers moved better than at any time since he injured his left knee in the opener. He scrambled for a 10-yard gain to set up the Packers’ set touchdown and then again for 15 yards to set up a field goal to close the first half.

Rodgers went 22-for-40 with 298 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to Graham for his first in Green Bay and his first interception of the season on a twice-tipped pass.

Jones showed why eventually he will be the Packers’ go-to running back. And by eventually, perhaps that will be next Sunday at Detroit. Jones still played after Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery took their turns, but much like when he made his season debut a week earlier at Washington, he was instant offense.

Jones’ first possession featured a run for 30 yards, a screen pass for 17 and a 3-yard touchdown. Jones rushed 11 times for 65 yards as a part of a 141-yard rushing day that put the Packers at 2-1-1 after the first quarter of the season.