The Green Bay Packers got back on the victory train thanks to the stellar play by their defense against the Buffalo Bills. The Green Bay Packers moved to 2-1-1 and are in second place in the NFC North after a 22-0 victory over the Buffalo Bills at Lambeau Field. Although the Packers failed to put up a complete effort, it was an encouraging sign for their team. Especially the defense. Green Bay took advantage of a rookie quarterback in Josh Rosen and a Bills’ offense that lacks weapons. They did exactly what they were supposed to do in this situation. The offense didn’t look great, but that’s to be expected from time to time. That’s especially true considering Randall Cobb was inactive and the Packers lack experience behind him on the depth chart. Need to know Josh Jones was active for the first time this season. Jimmy Graham caught his first touchdown as a member of the Packers. Jaire Alexander got his first career interception. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix picked off his third pass of the season. Aaron Jones found the end zone for the first time in his second season. He returned from suspension last week. Geronimo Allison dropped three passes and left the game with a concussion after his third. The Packers defense dialed up the pressure and had seven sacks on the day. The Packers forced three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble). Rodgers threw his first pick of the season and also lost a fumble. Stats<doc-sep>The Buffalo Bills (1-2) shocked many national experts when they traveled to Minneapolis and handed the reigning NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings a 27-6 setback Sunday afternoon. Can the Bills pull another upset when they travel to Green Bay for a Week 4 showdown with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers (1-1-1)? Buffalo opens as a 9.5-point underdog vs. the Packers, but the Bills might be catching Green Bay at the right time. Rodgers, hobbled with a knee injury, isn’t at 100 percent with an injury that could affect his performance. The Packers are dealing with injuries along the offensive line, meaning an opportunity is there for Buffalo to get after Rodgers on Sunday. The Bills will need a repeat of Week 3, when Jerry Hughes, Trent Murphy, and co. applied consistent pressure on Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins to topple another quality NFC foe. This will be the 13th meeting between these teams, and Buffalo leads the all-time series 8-4. The last time Buffalo faced the Packers, the legendary Bacarri Rambo came away with a pair of interceptions off Rodgers, Dan Carpenter booted four field goals, and Marcus Thigpen returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown as the Bills won 21-13 Dec. 14, 2014 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The last time the Bills traveled to Lambeau, it wasn’t pretty. Behind a pair of Aaron Rodgers touchdown passes and a pair of Trent Edwards interceptions, Green Bay throttled Buffalo 34-7 on Sept. 19, 2010. In that game, the Packers led only 13-7 at halftime, but Rodgers tossed a pair of TDs and added a nine-yard touchdown run to send Buffalo to an 0-2 start to the season. Here’s how to watch the game from home: TV Schedule Date: Sunday, September 30, 2018 Time: 1 p.m. Eastern Channel: The game will be carried locally on CBS on WIVB 4 in Buffalo, WROC 8 in Rochester, WTVH 5 in Syracuse and Utica, WRGB 6 in Utica and Albany, WCWN3 in Albany, WENY 36-2 in Elmira, and WBNG 12 in Binghamton and Elmira. View the broadcast map. Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Dan Fouts (analyst), and Evan Washburn (sideline reporter). Location: Lambeau Field | Green Bay, Wisconsin Radio: WGR 550AM (Buffalo), WCMF 96.5 FM and WROC 950 AM (Rochester), Fan 590 AM (Toronto), WTKW 99.5 FM and WKTV 105.5 FM (Syracuse), and the rest of the Buffalo Bills Radio Network. Radio Play-by-Play: John Murphy and Mark Kelso in the booth with sideline reporter Sal Capaccio. Online: NFL Game Pass, NFL.com Game Center Friday Injury Report: Buffalo Bills: Full participant: CB Phillip Gaines (elbow), S Micah Hyde (toe), DE Shaq Lawson (hamstring), DE Trent Murphy (ankle). Limited participant: TE Charles Clay (shoulder/hip), TE Jason Croom (knee), RB LeSean McCoy (rib), RB Marcus Murphy (rib). Game day status: Questionable: Clay, Croom, McCoy, Murphy. Green Bay Packers: Limited participant: T Bryan Bulaga (back), TE Jimmy Graham (knee), S Josh Jones (ankle), CB Kevin King (groin), LB Nick Perry (concussion), QB Aaron Rodgers (knee). Did not practice: WR Randall Cobb (hamstring), G Justin McCray (shoulder), DL Muhammad Wilkerson (ankle). Game day status: Questionable: Cobb, Jones, King, Perry, Rodgers. Doubtful: McCray. Out: Wilkerson.<doc-sep>The Green Bay Packers (1-1-1) are returning home to play the Buffalo Bills (1-2) at Lambeau Field Sunday after suffering their first defeat – a road loss to the Washington Redskins – last week. Here are five things to watch and a prediction for the Packers’ Week 4 matchup: 1. Protect the pocket The lifeblood of the Bills’ upset over the Vikings last Sunday was the defense’s ability to rush four and consistently collapse the pocket, particularly from the edges. The Packers will have four of their five starters along the offensive line, including both starters at offensive tackle. David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga need to keep Jerry Hughes, Lorenzo Alexander and Trent Murphy out of disruptive areas around the quarterback. Aaron Rodgers is gaining a little more mobility each week, but he’s still fairly anchored to the pocket. 2. Time to feature 33 The football needs to be in Aaron Jones’ hands. Can the Packers find ways to make it happen Sunday with some consistency? It’s time to feed Jones, giving him cutback lanes, opportunities in the screen game and more chances to run the route tree out of the backfield. He can make life so much easier for Aaron Rodgers, especially if the Bills are going to sit back and consistently play seven in coverage. Jones is dynamic with the ball. 3. Cover 2 beaters Expect the Bills to play plenty of Cover 2, which employs two safeties deep and five underneath defenders playing zone concepts. The Packers need to do a few things well against the look, starting with running the ball well against six- and seven-man fronts. High-low concepts against the corners and vertical routes attacking the safeties are also common. Running it well is crucial for setting up playaction and attacking the soft areas underneath, particularly in the middle of the field. 4. Return of Micah Former Packers defensive back Micah Hyde returns to Green Bay as one of the Bills’ best defenders. He’s coming off an All-Pro year in Buffalo after transitioning into playmaking role as a full-time safety for the Bills. You can bet he’ll want to make a big play or two Sunday, but don’t sleep on the rest of the Bills’ secondary: Cornerback Tre’Davious White all but shut down Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs last week. 5. Rattle the rookie A veteran defensive coordinator like Mike Pettine should be able to cook up the kind of disguised coverages and blitzes capable of making life difficult on Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen. Allen can move around and make things happen on the run, but all rookie quarterbacks are prone to mistakes from the pocket, especially when a defense can trick their eyes and make it hard to process information. Maybe this is the week the Packers can put together 60 minutes of good defense. Prediction: Packers 20, Bills 17 (1-1-1) Only 20 points at home is a conservative guess, but the Packers offense hasn’t been sharp and the Bills have a defense capable of making Aaron Rodgers work for it every drive. The guess here is a close game ultimately decided by one or two Josh Allen turnovers.<doc-sep>
The Green Bay Packers used seven sacks and two interceptions of rookie quarterback Josh Allen to help shutout the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Lambeau Field. Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham, Aaron Jones ran in his first touchdown of the 2018 season and Mason Crosby connected on three field goals to complete the 22-0 victory. Here’s a rundown of the scoring: FINAL SCORE: Packers 22, Bills 0 Packers 6, Bills 0 – Rodgers to Graham gives Green Bay the lead Aaron Rodgers hit Ty Montgomery for a 43-yard gain on third down and then capped off the scoring drive with a short touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham, giving the Packers a 6-0 lead with 5:15 left in the first quarter. Montgomery produced 56 total yards on the six-play scoring march. Mason Crosby missed the extra point wide right. Packers 13, Bills 0 – Jones powers TD drive Aaron Jones plowed over a Bills defender at the goal line and found the end zone, extending the Packers’ lead to 13-0 over the Bills at Lambeau Field. Jones was the engine of the drive, producing 50 total yards – including a 30-yard run and a 17-yard catch on third down. The Packers went 83 yards in nine plays, the longest scoring drive for Green Bay in 2018. Mason Crosby’s extra point sailed through. Packers 16, Bills 0 – Alexander INT sets up Crosby FG Jaire Alexander’s first career NFL interception took away a scoring opportunity for the Bills and gave the Packers a chance to end the half with another score. Aaron Rodgers led the offense 40 yards in seven plays, setting up Mason Crosby’s 52-yard field goal as time expired. Rodgers completed first-down passes to Ty Montgomery and Geronimo Allison on the drive. HALFTIME: Packers 16, Bills 0 Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham and Aaron Jones scored his first touchdown of the 2018 season during a one-sided first half, helping the Packers take a 16-0 lead into halftime. Packers 19, Bills 0 – Another Crosby FG Mason Crosby’s 36-yard field goal extended the Packers’ lead to 19-0. Green Bay used the opening drive of the second half to go 57 yards in 10 plays and set up Crosby’s kick. The drive stalled after a Jimmy Graham drop and a well-timed blitz from the Bills in the red zone. Packers 22, Bills 0 – Crosby pushes lead to 22 Mason Crosby connected on his second 52-yard field goal of the afternoon, pushing the Packers’ lead to 22-0. Aaron Rodgers’ 38-yard completion to Marquez Valdes-Scantling put the Packers into scoring territory.