TimesFour

October 31, 2010 – New Meadowlands Stadium

It had taken the Green Bay Packers the better part of half a season to figure out just who they were and what they needed to do to reach their goals. The process had required a lot of trial & error, a lot of uncertainty, a lot of skill and more than a little luck.

But after a gutty, tense, crucial win over the rival Minnesota Vikings the previous week, the Packers were convinced they had turned a corner. They made the plays they needed to make, they executed at the right times, they had found ways to persevere when it seemed like they might fold.

Tramon defends a pass to Cotchery

It was a good start on the road back, but it was only a start.

Now things got really interesting. Over the course of the next several weeks, they’d face the meat of their schedule–playing the AFC powerhouse New York Jets, the always dangerous Dallas Cowboys, the Vikings in the haunted house Metrodome, the surging Atlanta Falcons, the improving San Francisco 49’ers, the unpredictable Lions at Ford Field and then a Sunday Night clash in Foxboro, Massachusettes, against the always-dynamic New England Patriots.

But it started against the Jets…Yes, those lead with the chin, trash-talking, Jets with demonstrative and animated Rex Ryan as their head coach.

Cocky & loud and more than a little obnoxious, by force of will the Jets had made themselves impossible to ignore. They had assembled a formidable football team, adding the likes of LaDanian Tomlinson, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, and linebacker Jason Taylor to a roster that had reached the AFC title game the year before.

They were 5-1 coming off a bye week & playing at home in front of those hard-to-ignore Jets fans. On the surface, it looked like a nearly impossible task for the Packers.

But these Packers were not the Packers of 3 weeks earlier. These new Packers, especially on defense, were playing with a swagger of their own and they bristled at the fact no one gave them a chance vs. the AFC power.

The result was an ugly, ragged, miserable fist-fight of a football game, but the Packers came out on top, adding another layer to the growing confidence that would propel this team as the season continued.

“We wanted to come in here and prove what we were all about,” said linebacker Clay Matthews, who posted a huge 4th quarter sack on QB and former USC teammate, Mark Sanchez. “We’ve had a few close losses that we thought we should have won so we wanted to let our play do the talking.”

The Packers were efficient enough on offense, managing just 237 total yards. The key was they did not turn the ball over while forcing 3 Jets turnovers.

The Jets didn’t do much to help their own cause, calling a bizarre fake punt in the first half that resulted in a Mason Crosby field goal. They also dropped 5 passes, suffered 2 interceptions and lost a fumble.

“We were a little rusty,” coach Rex Ryan said.

Crosby’s first field goal staked the Packers to a 3-0 halftime lead. His 2nd field goal came midway through the 4th quarter & was courtesy of a questionable Charles Woodson interception that Jets players were adamant was not!

Woodson with an Interception

“Don’t get me started on the officiating,” Taylor said. “Unless you want to pay my fine.”

Nonetheless, Rodgers drove the Packers deep into Jets territory after that takeaway, holding the ball for more than 4 minutes & Crosby closed out the drive with a 21-yard field goal.

The suddenly desperate Jets knew they needed a touchdown, forcing them to try and convert a 4th down deep in their own territory with more than 2 minutes to play. It failed and the Packers converted a third field goal to close out the scoring and secure the unexpected and highly satisfying victory. It was the first Packers road shutout since 1991 & the first time the Jets had been blanked since 2006.

“I wish we could play it again, do it over,” an annoyed Ryan said after the game. “But there are no ‘do-overs’ in this league.”

It was yet another step in the right direction for the Packers who could palpably feel their fortunes changing. “We wanted to come in here & match the Jets’ intensity and show them we can play with anybody.” safety Nick Collins said afterward.

Mission accomplished, Mr. Collins. Next up the dangerous Dallas Cowboys come into Lambeau field.