Patriots @ Packers
Final Score: Packers 27, Patriots 24 (OT)
Writer: Justin Havelock (@HavelockJustin on Twitter)
Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots managed to keep this game interesting into overtime, but Aaron Rodgers’ 500th career passing touchdown (regular and post-season) would not be overshadowed by the debut of rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe.
New England Patriots
Quarterback
Bailey Zappe: 10/15, 99 Yards, TD, Fumble (Lost)
Brian Hoyer: 5/6, 37 Yards
Brian Hoyer was the starting quarterback in Week 3 but came out of the game with a head injury after only six pass attempts. Rookie Bailey Zappe took the reins in his stead and looked quite solid with a 66.6% completion percentage and 6.6 YPA. (If a third-string quarterback making his career debut and almost beating the Packers in Lambeau Field isn’t a sign that Halloween is just around the corner, those spooky numbers should be.)
Zappe stirred up quite a bit of controversy with his first career touchdown after the officials missed a blatant delay of game penalty. It was a nice touchdown pass though and while the game script didn’t demand too much of him, Zappe looked quite composed in his NFL debut.
Bailey Zappe becomes the first ‘22 rookie quarterback to throw a TD this season 👀
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/hfxGchysfh
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 2, 2022
Running Back
Damien Harris: 18 Carries, 86 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, -2 Yards
Rhamondre Stevenson: 14 Carries, 66 Yards | 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 23 Yards
The Patriots went run-heavy in quarterback Bailey Zappe‘s career debut and both running backs were able to reap the rewards. Damien Harris posted over 4.7 YPC and a touchdown that helped the Patriots take this game into overtime.
Damien Harris puts the @Patriots back in front 👀
📺: #NEvsGB on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/YPHqeLC4zg pic.twitter.com/qjOpAIeMY7— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2022
Rhamondre Stevenson led the team in targets, receptions, and scrimmage yards this week. He should continue to have big performances like this one as long as he stays on the field.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Nelson Agholor: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 46 Yards
DeVante Parker: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 24 Yards, TD
Kendrick Bourne: 1 Carry, 15 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 23 Yards
Hunter Henry: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards
Lil’Jordan Humphrey: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 9 Yards
While the Patriots leaned more on their running game in this matchup, Nelson Agholor looked solid this week with Bailey Zappe at quarterback. Agholor had a pair of 20+ yard catches to help the rookie keep moving the sticks and keep this game close. DeVante Parker caught a controversial 25-yard touchdown after the officials missed a delay of game penalty on Zappe’s first career passing touchdown. Parker lost a yard with his only other reception of the game, so be careful when reading the box score here.
Kendrick Bourne was not heavily involved in this game but did contribute when he got involved, first with a 15-yard carry and later in the game with a big 16-yard catch for the Patriots. Hunter Henry saw all of the targets at the tight end position after Jonnu Smith left the game late in the first half with a right ankle injury. Lil’Jordan Humphrey caught his only target of the game early in the second quarter. Despite the absence of both Smith and Meyers, Humphrey appeared to have a minimal role in a low-volume passing game with Bailey Zappe under center.
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers: 21/35, 251 Yards, 2 TD, INT | 1 Carry, -1 Yard
Aaron Rodgers entered this game with 498 passing touchdowns in his career (including the post-season) and simply would not be denied the opportunity to score his 500th at Lambeau Field. After struggling early with only 44 passing yards in the first half, Rodgers came out strong in the second half posting 207 passing yards and two passing touchdowns.
In the fourth quarter, rookie wide receiver Romeo Doubs endeared himself to Rodgers with this touchdown grab, earning the first Lambeau Leap of his career in an extra special way.
Rookie Romeo Doubs catches Aaron Rodgers’ 500th TD pass and we are tied in Green Bay!! 👀🚨 pic.twitter.com/7uVigwS9Cx
— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) October 2, 2022
Rodgers joined Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Brett Favre as only the fifth quarterback of all time to throw 500+ passing touchdowns in their career.
Tony Romo's reaction to Aaron Rodgers' F-bomb. 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Mxj4KIO06u
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 2, 2022
Jack Jones Pick-6 on Aaron Rodgers. What a play. 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/UYMYJH5dl8
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) October 2, 2022
Running Back
Aaron Jones: 16 Carries, 110 Yards | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 5 Yards
AJ Dillon: 17 Carries, 73 Yards | 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 11 Yards
Aaron Jones rebounded strongly this week after posting only 36 rushing yards last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jones erupted for 110 rushing yards (6.8 YPC) against a Patriots run defense that had yet to allow more than 60 rushing yards this season. Jones looked explosive all night, rushing for several big plays including this 20-yard gain that also drew a face mask penalty to pick up an extra 15-yards at the end of the play.
Con todo y el castigo, poco pudieron hacer para detener a Aaron Jones 🤷♂️😮#GoPackGo empezó a carburar a la ofensiva
📺: @FOXSportsMX #NFLMX pic.twitter.com/2OKLFzXsJM
— NFL México (@nflmx) October 2, 2022
AJ Dillon carried on as the 1B in the Packers’ run game with a rebound performance of his own. The Packers have seemed intent on using him as more than just a change-of-pace running back, as Dillon has yet to be out-carried by Jones this season. Only two of Dillon’s carries against the Patriots went for more than ten yards, but the Packers appeared committed to giving Dillon the opportunity to return to the form he showed last season in which he averaged over 4.2 YPC.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Allen Lazard: 8 Targets, 6 Receptions, 116 Yards
Romeo Doubs: 8 Targets, 5 Receptions, 47 Yards, TD, Fumble (Lost)
Robert Tonyan: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 22 Yards, TD
Christian Watson: 1 Carry, 15 Yards, TD | 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 8 Yards
Randall Cobb: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 42 Yards
Josiah Deguara: 1 Target
Allen Lazard had one of the best games of his career this week as his 116 receiving yards are the second-highest in his career and his most since Week 3 of 2020. Lazard’s targets, receptions, and receiving yards have all increased steadily since returning from an ankle injury. His stock may be increasing in this passing game, especially with Sammy Watkins still on the Injured Reserve.
For the second week in a row, Romeo Doubs saw a team-high eight targets and scored a touchdown for the Packers. Doubs also fumbled for the second week in a row, but growing pains should be expected for the rookie wide receiver as he continues to adjust to the NFL. Doubs nearly added a 40-yard touchdown later in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t quite manage to hold onto it.
No catch. Romeo Doubs drops the ball in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/tEwFarRRz0
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) October 2, 2022
Robert Tonyan came up with a big touchdown on 2nd & 19 that briefly gave the Packers the lead in the second half. However, through Week 4, the Packers are tied for 23rd in the league in total targets to the tight end per FantasyPros. Christian Watson made the first Lambeau Leap of his career this week, scoring a rushing touchdown. Watson’s score was the first rushing touchdown by a Green Bay wide receiver since 2016.
Randall Cobb may prove to be more valuable to the Packers’ organization than to fantasy managers. Cobb continued to come up big in key situations this week with two of his three receptions coming on critical third downs. Once in the third quarter with a 24-yard gain that led to the game-tying touchdown and again in overtime with an 11-yard pick-up that helped set up the game-winning field goal. Josiah Deguara dropped his lone target this week in an offense that targets its tight ends at a surprisingly low rate.