Week 5 Quick Hits: Packers’ Offense Is Puzzling – NYTimes.com

We always think of the hurry-up offense as a passing game tool. Control the tempo through the air by wearing down the defensive pass rush and letting your quarterback find his rhythm. But great quarterbacks who truly control the game at the line of scrimmage also use the hurry-up to aid their run game. Peyton Manning has long been the best in the world at this. Sunday, however, Tom Brady was the best. Brady changed up cadences, shifted formations and diversified New England’s tempo to put Broncos defenders on their heels and free up interior rushing lanes. In response, New England rushed for a staggering 251 yards, 151 of them by Steven Ridley. The longest of the second-year pro’s 28 carries went for just 20 yards – an illustration of consistency and control on the ground. It’s scary to think that New England’s potent passing attack may just be the offense’s second-best feature this season.