During the preseason, when the hype was at its highest, this might have been how fans envisioned their Green Bay Packers playing this season.
The Packers demolished the visiting Carolina Panthers 38-17 Sunday, winning in every phase from the first series to the fourth quarter, when both teams signaled the outcome was decided and the backup quarterbacks were sent in.
On the Packers’ first possession, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was nearly flawless the whole game, found receiver Jordy Nelson for a 59-yard touchdown pass to set off a breakneck pace for the Packers’ offense in the first quarter.
In short order, the Packers had engineered two more scoring drives, and running backs Eddie Lacy and James Starks added touchdown runs of 5- and 13-yards, respectively, as the Packers jumped out to a 21-0 lead.
After one quarter of play, Rodgers was 10 for 11 for 132 yards and a touchdown.
His 147.0 quarterback rating would improve to 153.4 by halftime, adding five more completions on six attempts, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to receiver Randall Cobb.
A Graham Gano field goal before halftime put Carolina on the board, but behind 28-3.
“I thought we clearly took the game over there in the first half and were in control in the second half,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s a great day to be a Green Bay Packer.”
By the end of the game, Rodgers would have a rating of 154.5. He completed 19 of 22 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns. It was his sixth consecutive game without an interception.
Rodgers also rushed three times for 21 yards. Lacy led the Packers on the ground with 12 carries for 63 yards. Starks, who injured his ankle but was able to return, had seven carries for 36 yards.
In the second half, Rodgers found rookie receiver Davante Adams for a 21-yard touchdown early in the third quarter. Later in the third, kicker Mason Crosby connected on a 34-yard field goal to put the Packers ahead 38-3.
In the fourth quarter, Panthers got a touchdown from quarterback Cam Newton on a 13-yard throw to Kelvin Benjamin, and quarterback Derek Anderson, who came in with 4:21 to play, threw a 1-yard touchdown to Brenton Bersin.
“We just got outplayed in every phase of the game,” Newton said. “We need to start fast on offense. Two three-and-outs is unacceptable.”
The Packers’ defense forced punts on Carolina’s first five drives. Outside linebacker Julius Peppers had 1.5 sacks. Clay Matthews shared half a sack with Peppers. Nick Perry also got a sack.
“Our defense is playing more like the 2010 season,” Rodgers said. “We’re shutting teams down and starting fast.”
Casey Hayward intercepted a Newton pass late in the third quarter. A few plays later, Carolina’s Luke Kuechly was flagged for shoving an official after a play. Though it appeared Kuechly did not realize it was an official, he was ejected from the game.
Newton finished the day 17 of 31 for 205 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He had a quarterback rating of 72.6, the sixth game in a row the Packers’ defense held an opposing quarterback to a rating of 85.0 or below.
“We hit our targets,” McCarthy said. “Defensively, we needed to stop Cam Newton. He was our focus all week. We have a lot of respect for what he does in that scheme.”
Besides Starks, the only injury in the game for the Packers was cornerback Davon House, who left the game with an injured finger. Cornerback Tramon Williams, who injured his ankle last week in Miami, was able to play. Sam Shields, who injured his knee last week, did not.
Rookie inside linebacker Sam Barrington made his first start in place of Jamari Lattimore, who is returning from a stinger but did play extensively.
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