Packers feeling good on short week

Aaron Rodgers wasn't sacked and Aaron Jones had a light workload against Denver.

NFL players almost universally despise Thursday night games. Still, the Green Bay Packers should be in relatively decent shape headed into this week’s game against Philadelphia.

On 29 dropbacks against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was hit only once – the 27-yard completion to fullback Danny Vitale in the third quarter. Rodgers hadn’t enjoyed a sack-free game that he started and finished since Nov. 28, 2016, against Philadelphia. Rodgers had been sacked seven times and absorbed 16 hits in the first two games.

The pass protection was first and foremost on Rodgers’ mind when asked if he would leave Lambeau Field feeling ecstatic about being 3-0 or with tempered happiness given another sporadic performance by the offense.

Video: Huber's postgame thoughts

“I have to say this is one of the cleanest games my jersey has ever looked,” Rodgers said following the 27-16 victory over the Broncos. “I took basically one shot. I hit the ground one time, so I’m ecstatic. I’ve been at this for a long time and to go home with my body feeling this good is a credit to the offensive line for sure. I’m feeling really good. I’m probably going to have a little Scotch and look at some Philly tape.”

The Packers kept Rodgers clean against what is statistically the NFL’s worst pass rush. Outside linebackers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb had 26.5 sacks last season but zero this season. In fact, the entire Broncos defense has zero sacks. While Miller won his share of matchups against Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga, Rodgers managed to stay out of harm’s way.

On Thursday, the Packers will face an Eagles defense that is enduring the same struggles in terms of the talent and potential vastly outweighing the results. Last year, the Eagles tied for eighth in sacks and led the league by a wide margin in quarterback hits. Through three games this season, the Eagles have only two sacks. In Sunday’s loss to Detroit, the Eagles had zero sacks and three quarterback hits.

It’s not only Rodgers who should be feeling good. Top running back Aaron Jones, a week after career highs in rushes (23) and touches (27), played only 22 snaps and had 11 touches against Philadelphia.

The Eagles, on the other hand, have been hit hard by injuries. Against Detroit, receivers Alshon Jeffery (calf) and DeSean Jackson (abdomen) were sidelined by injuries, as were defensive tackles Malik Jackson (injured reserve) and Tim Jernigan (out a month with a broken foot). Top cornerback Ronald Darby dropped out of the game with a hamstring injury.

That’s good news for Rodgers, with a chance to get to 4-0 on Thursday.

“It feels amazing, it really does,” he said of his health. “Usually these short weeks, your body is killing you until about Wednesday and then the next day you play. That will not be the case for me this week, so I’m feeling really good about that. I really appreciate the offensive line for the way they protected today and it’ll be a nice week of preparation.”