Green Bay flexes dominance in 34-0 shutout

If you were wondering how good the Packers are, your questions were probably answered this Sunday when the team dismantled a hapless Minnesota Vikings defense. Adrian Peterson? Contained. Minnesota’s 3rd ranked rush defense? Trampled.

This game wasn’t close. It was a blowout. Green Bay had possession of the ball for more than 40 minutes of play. The Vikings didn’t convert a 3rd down until late in the second half; in fact, the team didn’t even amass 100 yards of offense until the second half was well underway.

It’s becoming more and more obvious that the Vikings style of play isn’t going to earn the team wins anytime soon. Modeled after the classic smashmouth style of play that dominated the 1980s and prior, Brian Baldinger noted late during the game that the Vikings were on the receiving end of a “good old-fashioned butt-kicking.”

He was right.

Brett Favre set yet another career milestone against a Minnesota secondary that seemed lost and confuse most of the day. His 351-yard performance was enough to push him over 60,000 career passing yards. His 3 touchdowns and no interceptions didn’t hurt either.

But the truth is, every player on Green Bay’s roster was successful this afternoon. Seven players had at least 4 receptions (and the team’s leader had 5) and four receivers caught passes of at least 24 yards.

Ryan Grant, someone you probably hadn’t heard of before two weeks ago, picked up 119 yards and a score on 25 carries. It’s his second 100-yard performance of the season. Not coincidentally, it’s also the second time this season he’s carried 20+ times. Don’t expect it to be the last.

It isn’t often you see a team win a game this easily, and it was just a reminder of how far Green Bay has come from just a season ago. Mike McCarthy has this team on the right track, and, if the Giants manage to defeat Dallas today, he’ll have the Packers on pace to clinch homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

Coach of the year, anyone?