I was fearful that this game would illustrate the decline in Peyton's game. I really don't like seeing great players ravaged by time and playing like a shadow of their former self. Happily that wasn't the case last night, and 18 had one of his best games in the last two seasons. However I would stop a long way short from stating that he had returned to elite form, as some mediots would have it. Two weeks of rest certainly helped his arm strength, but his throws still lack their former zip, maybe because he is still using more of his upper body to get the distance.
As 50-Yard-Line pointed out GB lost their two starting corners early in the game, which probably messed up their game plan, though its hard to work out if they ever had a competent one to begin with. They couldn't stop the run, they couldn't protect the outs and they had no answer to Denver's TEs. They got some pressure on PM but not enough to cause him to make a mistake (and it wasn't pressure that caused his one INT). I am still not fully convinced about Denver's Offensive Renaissance, after all, one swallow does not a summer make. Stop the run, lower the temperatures and let's see that passing game again before I consider that part of their team a playoff threat. Their defense, on the other hand, is the best in the league by a good margin, and one that makes our end of the month clash worrisome.
Rodgers looked befuddled and lost without Jordy Nelson out there to help bail him out. Cobb did well considering he was double teamed most of the time. However I disagree that Rogers had no-one to throw to. There were open receivers in space occasionally and Rogers either ignored them or didn't see them (Adams in particular). Rodgers is poor at overcoming adversity, and the Denver Defense appeared too large a hill for him to climb. He still has the prettiest mechanics of any QB, and has exceptional pocket presence and movement, but his bugaboo remains a lack of steel when behind against an imposing foe.
