On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers compiled the most rushing yards in a single game for the franchise since November 2004 and quarterback Aaron Rodgers had his highest passer rating (99.5) since Week 6. They dominated the Dallas Cowboys, 28-7, on the same day that head coach Mike McCarthy resumed his duties as the primary offensive play caller.
Packers’ offense back on track after Mike McCarthy takes over play-calling duties
The Packers are looking better after Mike McCarthy took over as the primary play caller on offense.
“The decision was made because I feel as a leader of this football team, I had to make sure I maximize all the opportunities and resources and give our team a chance to win,” McCarthy said, via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
It was a surprising decision after McCarthy said days earlier that he needs to “shut up more” as the team supports offensive assistant Tom Clements as the play caller. But McCarthy, who gave up play-calling duties in the offseason to better focus on the bigger picture, changed his mind before the Week 14 matchup.
“Play calling is a lot about rhythm and flow,” McCarthy said. “I’m a big believer in that, and you have to have a quarterback that can manage it. It’s really the play caller’s responsibility to feed him. Keep feeding him, spit it to him as fast as you can get it to him and he does the rest. And there’s no one better at it (than Rodgers).”
Rodgers had one of this best games in recent weeks, completing 22 of 35 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Although Rodgers had less control over audibles at the line with McCarthy calling the shots on Sunday -- including a season-high 44 running plays -- his head coach said he handled it well.
“The balance we were able to have was key,” McCarthy said. “Aaron was impressive in the management of it.”
When Eddie Lacy can put up 124 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, something is working. The Packers rushed for 230 yards as a team, with James Starks adding 71 yards himself. When the Packers were up 14-7 in the fourth quarter, McCarthy called a Starks draw on second-and-25, and Starks took it all the way in for a touchdown. It was great execution by the players on the field, but also a great call by McCarthy.
The Packers, who were also one of the worst teams in third-down situations coming into their game against the Cowboys, managed to convert half of their 14 attempts Sunday.
“We ran some passes from under center, which we hadn’t done in a while,” Rodgers said. “All of that kind of starts with the run game.”
The Packers are starting to pick up momentum after a rough middle of their season. They have won two straight after losing four of their previous five games, and now they are back in control of the NFC North. If the players can continue to execute and McCarthy can keep them on the right track, the Packers are one of the most dangerous playoff-bound teams.
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