Packers Take Down Vikings | Ticket King Green Bay

The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings met at Lambeau Field Sunday afternoon in a crucial early NFC North matchup. The winner would stake out to an early division lead through two weeks, and that winner proved to be the Green Bay Packers. The team raced out to a 21-0 lead, and held on for a 21-16 victory. Here are some rapid reactions to the game.

Packers: This game could not have started any better for the Packers. After going deep to Davante Adams on the first play from scrimmage. From there, an Aaron Jones run set up a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jamal Williams. The Vikings first drive ended with a missed field goal. The Packers got the ball back and marched on a methodical, eleven play touchdown drive. The Vikings failed on their next drive when Kirk Cousins fumbled, and the Packers took that gift and scored. That was pretty much the end of the highlights for the Packers offense. Mike Zimmer made adjustments, and the Vikings defense clamped down, keeping the Packers off the scoreboard for the rest of the game. The second half of the game revealed the much expected growing pains for Matt LaFleur.

Vikings: The loss falls upon Kirk Cousins. Cousins finished the day 14-32 for 230 yards, a touchdown, two interceptions, and a lost fumble. The interception in the fourth quarter was a ball Cousins simply should not have thrown. It was first down, the Vikings were running the ball on the Packers, and he had three shots at a touchdown if he just makes the right decisions. Cousins made bad decisions all game and missed open receivers. In the second half, the Vikings didn’t abandon the run game, but they also put too much on Cousins, asking him to throw thirty-plus passes. Cousins is not a game changer, literally. The Vikings will adjust, and their run game is for real. Also, give credit to the Packers defense yet again. They kept the Vikings out of the end zone just enough times to give the Packers the win. It’s another home game for Green Bay this Sunday, when the Denver Broncos come to town.

Packers vs Bears Week One | Ticket King Green Bay

The 2019 NFL season has finally arrived. Usually the reigning Super Bowl champions kick things off by hosting the season opener.  Since this is NFL’s one hundredth season, they will literally kick things off with the oldest rivalry in the NFL. It’s the Packers versus Bears, and this game will be played at the NFL’s oldest (although modern) stadium, Soldier Field. For the Bears, it begins a season in which they are out to prove they are not a one-hit-wonder and their division title last year was no fluke. For the Packers, it is the start of a new era under head coach Matt LaFleur. It will also be the first time we see Aaron Rodgers in a new offense, or take a snap in 2019 for that matter.

How will Aaron Rodgers look? As stated above, this will be Aaron’s first live game action in this offense. He sat out the preseason due to back tightness, and the hot topic of many football talk shows has been just that. Some are saying it wasn’t a good idea for him to sit out the entire preseason, especially since this is a new offense. Still, he’s led the team through training camp, has studied the scheme, and tested it against the Packers defense. It’s not like he’s just been air dropped into the situation, with just 48 hours to learn the plays.

Tonight signals a change in the Packers offense. Not just because it is a new system, but because of what will be part of the focal point on offense. Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams are essential for setting up the play action, blocking, and keeping opposing defenses in check. These are two very talented young running backs, and it is a matter of them both staying healthy.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling won the third receiver job, Eq. St. Brown goes on injured reserve, J’Mon Moore gets cut, Jake Kumerow is the fourth receiver, and the Packers kept not only Trevor Davis but Darrius Shepherd and Allen Lazard as well.

The Packers rebuilt their linebacking unit this off season, specifically the pass rushers. They signed Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith on the same day and spent their top draft choice on Michigan’s Rashan Gary. MikePettine doesn’t want speed in his front seven. He wants strength and power. He wants to rush the passer by overpowering the offensive line and collapsing the pocket, not trying to run around them.

The Packers begin 2019 with two new starting safeties. They poached Adrian Amos from the Bears in free agency and spent a first-round draft choice on Darnell Savage from Maryland. If Savage and last year’s first-round cornerback Jaire Alexander both pan out, the Packers will be torched vertically no more.

Anything can happen in week number one. Teams that rise above make adjustments mid game, and hold on to get that first win under their belts. Still, few of us expect the Packers to win this game. Final score- 27-13 Bears.

NFL Backup Quarterbacks Battle Across the League | Ticket King Green Bay

For those of us in Wisconsin, the time discussing the current backup quarterback battle going on in Packers camp between DeShone Kizer and Tim Boyle have taken up all the airspace. However, there are plenty of other backup and third-string quarterback battles going on across the league. Let’s highlight some of them.

Vikings:  This is an organization that has never been to keen on handing the backup quarterback position to a player who has never taken an NFL snap but that is what they are currently considering. Sean Mannion was chosen to be the backup, but Kyle Sloter, the former undrafted free agent, has been nothing but impressive. In his first couple of seasons with the Vikings, during the preseason and practice, Sloter has looked confident and poised. The Vikings could very well hand him the backup quarterback position and cut Mannion. That would probably mean that Jake Browning would head to the practice squad.

Saints: Teddy Bridgewater, the former Vikings first-round draft choice who was signed last year to be the backup, is losing his grip on the role to Taysom Hill. This former undrafted free agent has gotten better and better with each passing day. The Saints could very well elect to trade Bridgewater at the end of camp to a backup quarterback-needy team, recouping a draft choice, and signing somebody they like off of somebody else’s scrap heap to be on their practice squad.

Steelers: This could very well be Big Ben’s final season. If that is the case, the Steelers need to find his replacement. Neither Joshua Dobbs or Mason Rudolph are really the future. They are, however, in a heated battle to be the backup quarterback. Joshua Dobbs’ interception this week didn’t help his cause. This one is really tight.

Chargers: The Chargers backup quarterback battle is between Cardale Jones and the veteran Tyrod Taylor. They are going to have to cut one at some point, as rookie Easton Stick is going to require being kept on the 53-man roster. Right now, the advantage goes to Jones.

Raiders: It should be noted that Jon Gruden has said that Nathan Peterman is growing on him. However, Mike Glennon has been better. In fact, he threw two touchdown passes this week in a very impressive performance that all but solidified his back up job.

Buccaneers: This is a battle between a pair of veterans with some serious game experience. Ryan Griffin is in his sixth season, and in extended play this week he went 14 for 21 for 201 yards and a touchdown pass. Blaine Gabbert meanwhile did not look good, completing 5 of 12 passes, for just 42 yards.

Packers Family Night Recap 2019 - Ticket King Green Bay

The Packers held their annual Family Fun Night on Friday, which is a glorified scrimmage to help prepare them for preseason play. Let’s go through a rundown of what happened.

Aaron Rodgers- This was our first chance to see Rodgers in this new offense, and he looked very  comfortable. He found the likes of Jake Kumerow, Davante Adams, and Geronimo Allison for big gains down the field and looked sharp on smaller throws as well.

Davante Adams- Adams looked solid when he was on the field, specifically on that big catch from Rodgers. He and Rodgers should be just fine in this new offense.

Geronimo Allison- This was our first chance to see Allison, after missing most of the season a year ago. Allison will be the team’s number two receiver in this new offense. He looked in rhythm with Rodgers early, especially on a quick slant.

Trevor Davis- He has a lot of work to do this preseason to keep his roster spot. It was a case of “So far, so good.” He was the best player on the field Friday night, making big plays and leaping catches downfield for big gains. Still, it was just a glorified practice and we will see how he does in preseason play.

Jake Kumerow- If Kumerow wants to be the third receiver he sure helped his cause Friday night. He made a big catch downfield from Rodgers and showed off his footwork along the sidelines as well.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling- The second of three receivers battling for the slot job, Scantling looked solid, nothing impressive though.

J’Mon Moore- Moore struggled in front of the friendly crowd, and will be taking a seat on the back of Packers wide receiver bus soon.

Deshone Kizer/Tim Boyle- The backup quarterback battle got a lot more interesting Friday Night. Kizer strubbled when outside of the big rush, and that is not a measurement of NFL quarterback success. His worst moment was the interception and run back by Tony Brown. Boyle didn’t look spectacular, but he he made up ground, based on Kizer’s performance.

Sam Ficken- This backup kicker had the moment of the night, finishing Family Night with a 64-yard field goal.

Packers Position Battles Begin | Ticket King Inc.

The Green Bay Packers are set to begin their 2019 Training Camp this week. However, position battles began as soon as offseason activities started after the draft. Let’s take a look at where we stand heading into camp.

Backup Quarterback Battle: Deshone Kizer vs. Tim Boyle- Let’s begin by saying that undrafted free agent rookie Manny Wilkens is not competing for the backup quarterback position. Rather, he is competing to get some other team’s attention, or possibly perform so well he makes the Packers choose between Kizer and Boyle, cutting the loser, and putting Wilkens on the practice squad. But back to Kizer vs. Boyle. As of this moment, Kizer is holding the edge. Boyle has a live arm, as we saw last year in camp, and if he performs well, he could take the job from Kizer.

Right Side of the Offensive Line: (Cole Madison vs. Lane Taylor vs. Jason Spriggs vs. Brian Bulaga vs. Elgton Jenkins) The three to the left, David Bakhtiari, Billy Turner, and Corey Linsley, that’s about as good as it gets in the NFL. The Packers signed Billy Turner to a big free-agent contract this offseason, Corey Linsley is an All-Pro, and I dare you to find me a better offensive lineman on the planet right now than David Bakhtiari. But the right side of this line, it’s anyone’s ball game. From what we are hearing, right now it’s still Taylor and Bulaga, but they are hanging in there by a thread. Some are cheering for Madison and Jenkins. Spriggs is getting one last shot. This is going to be the battle of camp.

Third Wide Receiver Position: (J’Mon Moore vs. Eq. St. Brown vs. Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. Jake Kumerow) Davante Adams has grown into a monster of an ace receiver and despite his injuries last year, Geronimo Allison is going to be the number two. The third spot is up for grabs. The three draft choices a year ago all had their moments, and nobody had a better camp in the league a year ago than Kumerow. As of this moment, St. Brown holds the edge, slightly, over MVS.

First Defensive Lineman Off the Bench:
(Rashan Gary vs. Montravius Adams vs. Kinglsey Keke vs. Tyler Lancaster) Two of the three starting defensive lineman are going to be Dean Lowry, who was recently signed to a contract extension, and Kenny Clark. We know this for a fact, and they are all both outstanding talents. In a shocking move, the Packers cut lose former All-Pro Mike Daniels, who was aging, and coming off a major injury. This was done to save cap space, possibly to extend Blake Martinez and/or Kenny Clark. But who will be the third starter? Adams begins this battle at the top by default. However, the rookie Keke has looked good and Lancaster wants it bad. Don’t forget about the first-round draft choice Rashan Gary, who will split time between rushing as a defensive lineman on passing downs and playing outside linebacker on rushing downs."

Eight Best Aaron Rodgers Throws | Ticket King Green Bay

Packers future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers’s career has been full of some of the most amazing throws in NFL history. Let’s rank the best ones.

8. Dances With Jaguars- In week one of the 2017 season, the Packers were in Jacksonville. They were facing third and 10 from the 29-yard-line with 20 seconds to go in the first half when Aaron Rodgers found Adams for the touchdown with 14 seconds left while being dragged to the turf.

7. 4^th and 20- When the Packers traveled to Arizona for the divisional playoff game in 2016, they found themselves trailing by seven with less than a minute to go, facing a 4^th and 20 from the shadows of their own goalposts. Rodgers escaped to his left and heaved one deep to an amazingly open Jeff Janis, who caught it and kept the Packers season alive. This is one of the best throws in NFL history, and it wasn’t even the best throw on this drive.

6. The Greatest Throw Never Made- In 2016 during their home game against the Lions, Aaron Rodgers made one of the most amazing throws in NFL history, and nobody remembers because it was an incomplete pass. He escaped to his left, and while falling away from his throwing arm, heaved a football 74 yards down the field, just out of the reaching arms of Trevor Davis.

5. Super Bowl Bullet- Late in Super Bowl 45, the Packers were facing third and 10 from their own 25, and their season was hanging in the balance as the Steelers were picking up steam. Rodgers dropped back to pass and fired a 20-yard bullet of absolute perfection to Greg Jennings. That was the moment the Packers finally realized what they had in the kid from Southern California.

4. Hail Rodgers #1- Aaron Rodgers has become known for his impressive deep throws late in the game, and this was the one started it all. In 2015 the Packers went into Detroit reeling, their season on the line and found themselves trailing 20-0 at the half. Rodgers orchestrated the impressive comeback, which was capped by one of the most amazing, awe-inspiring heaves in football history. Rodgers threw the ball 70 yards in the air and came within 20 feet of hitting the lights of Ford Field.

3. Windy City Bomb- In 2016, the Packers went into Chicago in Week 15 for one of the coldest games in recent memory having won three in a row, but having no room for error. They marched out to a two-score lead, and let the Bears come back and tie the game. In the game’s final moments, the Packers were facing third down when Rodgers moved to his left and went deep for Nelson who caught it. Rodgers ran the team to the line of scrimmage, spiked the ball, and Mason Crosby made the game-winner moments later. Many pundits believed that the Packers would lose if the game went to overtime as the Bears had all of the momentum and their offense was in rhythm.

2. Hail Rodgers #2- In that same divisional playoff game in the desert, the Packers were down seven with time for one last heave. The Cardinals decided to blitz and chased Rodgers back across midfield before he finally turned around and heaved the ball 61 yards while getting smacked to the turf into the waiting arms of Jeff Janis. For the record, McCarthy should have gone for two after that and won the game.

1. Dallas Dagger- Following a crushing sack, the Packers were facing third and long from their own 33-yard line when Aaron Rodgers huddled the Packers up and drew up a play in the dirt. Once they snapped the ball, Rodgers rolled out to his left and fired a 41-yard frozen rope to Jared Cook who dragged his feet just enough to stay in bounds. Crosby came on moments later and sent the Packers to Atlanta. I can only think of one other quarterback in NFL history, Rodgers’s predecessor, who should even consider trying that throw, much less attempt it.

Let's Meet our New Green Bay Packers | Ticket King

As we continue to get ready for the 2019 Packers season, we will be introduced to a host of new faces. Let’s profile some of them.

Za’Darius Smith: As one of the four big free agent signings, Smith comes to the Packers after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens. Smith was a fourth-round selection by the Ravens in 2015 and played his college football for Kentucky, where he earned third-team all-SEC honors in 2014. Smith originally hails from Greenville High School in Alabama.

Preston Smith: The second of the Packers four free agent signings, the 26-year-old Preston Smith comes to the Packers after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Washington Redskins. Smith was a second-round draft choice by the Redskins in 2015 from Mississippi State and earned first-team all-SEC honors in 2014. Preston Smith originally hails from Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Adrian Amos: As the third of the four free agent signings, the 26-year-old Amos comes to the Packers after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Chicago Bears, where he was a 5^th round draft choice in 2015. Amos played his college football for Penn State and originally hails from Calvert Hall College High School in Townson, Maryland.

Billy Turner: The fourth of the free agent signings, the Packers will be the fourth team of the for the 27-year-old, but that is not a deterrent. Turner was a third-round draft choice by the Miami Dolphins in 2014. After some early struggles, he was released in 2016. He was claimed by the Baltimore Ravens and released three days later. He was then claimed again by the Denver Broncos. He never stopped working at his craft the entire time, and in 2018 emerged for the Broncos. His hard worked paid off this offseason when the Packers gave him a four-year, twenty-eight million dollar contract. Turner played his college football North Dakota State where he was a three-time FCS National Champion and originally hails from Mounds View High School in Arden Hills, Minnesota.

Rashan Gary: The first of two Packers first-round draft choices of 2019, Gary is an edge rusher who played his college football for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, where he was a two-time first-team all-Big Ten performer. He hails from Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, New Jersey, where he was the 2015 USA Today National Defensive Player of the Year.

Darnell Savage: The second of the Packers two first-round draft choices in 2019, the 21-year-old safety played his college football for Maryland, where he was a second-team all-Big Ten performer in 2018. Savage originally hails for Caravel Academy in Bear, Delaware.