{"id":5133,"date":"2016-10-30T22:41:46","date_gmt":"2016-10-31T02:41:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=5133"},"modified":"2016-10-30T22:41:46","modified_gmt":"2016-10-31T02:41:46","slug":"green-bay-packers-week-eight-takeaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2016\/10\/30\/green-bay-packers-week-eight-takeaway\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Bay Packers Week Eight Takeaways"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Green Bay Packers<\/strong> traveled to Atlanta, Georgia<\/strong>\u00a0in a week eight matchup against the Atlanta Falcons\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0hours before the game, both wide receivers\u00a0Randall Cobb<\/a><\/strong> and Ty Montgomery<\/a><\/strong> were declared inactive. This may have been the downfall of the Packers as they lost a close one, 33-32. Here are the Green Bay Packers week eight takeaways.<\/p>\n

Green Bay Packers Week Eight Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Aaron Rodgers<\/a><\/strong> Great Again<\/h3>\n

The absence of\u00a0Randall Cobb at\u00a0wide out and Ty Montgomery as a receiver\/running back was bound to lead to a high volume of passes. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw the ball 38 times, completing 28 passes,\u00a0for 246 yards and four touchdowns. Rodgers found seven different receivers and spread the ball around on scoring plays.\u00a0Jordy Nelson<\/a><\/strong>, Jeff Janis<\/a><\/strong>, Trevor Davis<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and Geronimo Allison<\/strong><\/a> were all on the receiving end of touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Rodgers was also the leading rusher for the Packers. With both Eddie Lacy<\/a><\/strong> and James Starks<\/a><\/strong> out due to injury, Ty Montgomery would have been used\u00a0as a hybrid back. However, Montgomery was inactive due to an illness; therefore, Knile Davis<\/a><\/strong> and Don Jackson<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0filled in. They combined for 14 yards on seven carries. Rodgers carried the ball six times for 60 yards.<\/p>\n

Defense Struggles Against Strong Offense<\/h3>\n

The battered Packer defense struggled today against a high-powered Atlanta offense. Falcons running back\u00a0Tevin Coleman<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0was inactive due to a hamstring injury leaving\u00a0Devonta Freeman<\/a><\/strong> and Terron Ward<\/a><\/strong> to take the work load. Freeman and Ward\u00a0combined for 81 yards on 17 carries. Freeman also\u00a0rushed for a touchdown, the first given up since week one.<\/p>\n

The Packers also struggled against the pass. However, they were able to keep wide receiver\u00a0Julio Jones<\/a><\/strong> in check. Jones caught just three passes for 29 yards, all in the first half. Matt Ryan<\/a><\/strong> was able to win by spreading the ball out as eight different receivers caught a pass from Ryan in the game. Mohamed Sanu<\/a><\/strong> and Taylor Gabriel<\/a><\/strong> would each catch a touchdown along with Devonta Freeman catching a touchdown for his second score.<\/p>\n

Week Nine Preview<\/h3>\n

The Packers are now 4-3 on the year, and the Minnesota Vikings<\/strong> appear to be the front runners to win the division halfway through the year. If the Packers want to have any chance of winning the NFC North division title,\u00a0they need to get better defensively and get Montgomery and Starks healthy. The Packers head back home to take on the 3-5 Indianapolis Colts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n