Packers offensive line bounces back in major way vs. Panthers

The Packers struggled along the offensive line in Los Angeles. They bounced back against the Panthers on Sunday.

The Green Bay Packers’ disappointing performance against the Chargers in Los Angeles had roots in an uncharacteristically unfocused afternoon from the five starters along the offensive line.

That group bounced back in a major way on Sunday against the talented defensive front of the Carolina Panthers.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked just twice, including once for a short loss after an extended passing play, and he was rarely under pressure despite dropping back to pass 30 times in slippery conditions. The offensive line also dominated the line of scrimmage in the run game, opening gaping holes for running backs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams – who rushed 26 times for 156 yards and three scores.

According to Field Yates of ESPN, Rodgers was pressured on just four total dropbacks and running backs were provided 3.6 yards before contact per rush against the Panthers.

“I think offensively the line deserves a lot of credit,” Rodgers said Sunday. “They were obviously frustrated by their performance last week and you look at today, we had a coverage sack and then one of those phantom minus half-yard sacks when I ran around there too long. Overall, the protection was really good and they controlled the line of scrimmage.”

In Los Angeles, the Packers committed four pre-snap penalties and gave up three sacks, including two on early third downs in the first half. The offense never got going, and many along the offensive line took the blame for the struggles.

They also took it on themselves to bounce back against a Panthers team that led the NFL in sacks entering Week 10.

Mission accomplished.

David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga largely handled the Panthers’ edge rushers, while Elgton Jenkins, Corey Linsley and Billy Turner were highly effective moving people in the run game.

The Packers knew they had to bounce back from a poor performance, play better across the board and get to the bye week at 8-2. The offensive line led the way back on Sunday, protecting Rodgers against a terrific pass-rush and helping Jones and Williams out-rush Christian McCaffrey in an important win for Matt LaFleur’s team.

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Packers CB Tramon Williams quietly having strong season

The 36-year-old cornerback is having a quietly strong season for the Packers in the slot.

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The interception was a gift, the result of a smart play by safety Adrian Amos in the end zone during the Green Bay Packers’ 24-16 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Veteran cornerback Tramon Williams was in the right place at the right time. He made the diving interception behind Amos, taking points off the board and giving the Packers an NFL-leading fourth pick in the end zone this season.

Williams, now 36, has been in the right place at the right time all season.

Quietly, Williams is having a strong and steady year. He not only has the highest overall grade at Pro Football Focus among Packers cornerbacks, but he’s allowed a passer rating against his coverage of only 67.3, according to Pro Football Reference.

Williams’ interception was his first during the 2019 season and his first for the Packers since the 2014 season.

Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine plugged Williams in as the slot cornerback over the summer, figuring his football intelligence and experience would give the Packers a smart, savvy player to handle coverage duties from the inside.

For long stretches in 2019, slot receivers have done little against the Packers defense.

Williams is a big reason why. He’s played 74 percent of the defense’s snaps while allowing Jaire Alexander and Kevin King to handle responsibilities on the perimeter.

How good has Williams been? The Packers view Josh Jackson’s best position at slot cornerback, but the 2018 second-round pick hasn’t been active last two weeks because Williams is fully entrenched in the nickel.

While Alexander and King have the flashy numbers, and Amos and rookie Darnell Savage have salvaged the safety position, Williams’ steady presence shouldn’t be overlooked. Even at 36, he’s thrived as the Packers’ slot cornerback through the first 10 games.

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Packers tally 14 pressures from OLB Za’Darius Smith vs. Panthers

Za’Darius Smith didn’t have a sack, but he was ultra productive rushing the Panthers QB on Sunday.

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Za’Darius Smith didn’t have a sack on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, but the Green Bay Packers outside linebacker was nothing if not ultra-productive rushing the passer.

Position coach Mike Smith told Wes Hodkiewicz of the team’s official site that the Packers recorded 14 total pressures from Smith.

The official box score credited Smith with nothing more than three quarterback hits. A good day at the office, to be sure. But box scores often lie, and clearly Smith was far more impactful as a rusher than his traditional statistics indicated.

The same was true for Kenny Clark, who set a new career-high with 10 pressures but didn’t have a sack.

The Packers lined Smith up all over the defensive front, and he won pass-rushing battles from both edges and inside against the guards. On several reps, he had Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen in his sights but couldn’t finish the sack.

Overall, the Packers produced nine quarterback hits and three sacks of Allen, who was surprisingly elusive despite consistent pressure.

After 10 games, Smith ranks second in the NFL with a career-high 20 quarterback hits. He’s also sixth in the NFL in sacks with 8.5 and third among outside linebackers in total pressures.

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Packers-49ers flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 12

The Packers’ Week 12 trip to play the 49ers in San Francisco has been flexed to “Sunday Night Football.”

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The Green Bay Packers will do battle with the San Francisco 49ers in primetime in Week 12.

The NFL flexed the previously scheduled late-afternoon matchup to “Sunday Night Football,” putting the showdown between the NFC’s current No. 1 and No. 2 seed under the lights of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Nov. 24.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. CT.

The Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles were originally scheduled to play on “Sunday Night Football.” That game was moved back to the noon CT timeslot.

The matchup between the Packers and 49ers could determine the NFC’s No. 1 seed going into Week 13. The Packers are 8-2 entering the bye week, while the 49ers will have a chance to improve to 9-1 with a game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

The Packers have already played four primetime games. They are 3-1 in those games, with wins over the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs and a loss to the Eagles.

Davante Adams: Packers in a ‘blessed position’ entering bye week

Packers WR Davante Adams understands the golden opportunity ahead of his team coming out of the bye.

Davante Adams is fully aware of the golden opportunity in front of the Green Bay Packers.

Not only are the Packers 8-2 and in first place in the NFC North entering the bye week, but the team is healthy on both sides of the ball – setting up a chance for the Packers to make a legitimate run at a first-round postseason bye over the final six weeks of the season.

“We are in a blessed position with our record and with our health right now. We have to make sure we don’t take that for granted and take care of business,” Adams said Monday.

The Packers have an NFL-high five wins over teams with a winning record, including Sunday’s victory over the Carolina Panthers. They’ll face another coming out of the bye when they travel to San Francisco to play the 49ers, who are currently in possession of the top seed in the NFC.

An 8-2 start, created by a 5-1 mark at home and important road wins in Chicago, Dallas and Kansas City, has put the Packers in a favorable spot, especially considering four of the team’s last six games are against teams currently possessing a losing record.

Now, the Packers have to take advantage of the opportunity ahead. The week off could provide a chance to rest up and get healthy, even if there isn’t a major injury on the roster currently.

Adams said he’ll be staying in Green Bay during the bye, both to workout at the facility and continue rehabbing his still-healing toe back to full health.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers took an opportunity after Sunday night’s win to lay out expectations for players during the bye week.

“I hope guys realize how important this week is to get mentally balanced and then to come back and get ready for a tough road trip,” Rodgers said. “Hopefully those guys understand how important the opportunity is and not doing anything stupid that’s going to jeopardize their role in that opportunity.”

Adams said Rodgers talked with the entire team on Monday.

“Just a friendly reminder just to conduct yourself in the right way during the break,” Adams said.

Older players on the roster, including Rodgers and Adams, understand the process and how rare these kinds of opportunities are.

“We’re asking for guys to do their part. And buy into something. This is optional accountability. You have the option to buy into what we’re doing, or not. It doesn’t stop when you leave the building. You carry that ‘G’ where ever you go,” Rodgers said.

Packers RB Aaron Jones is a red-zone scoring machine

Packers RB Aaron Jones has turned 22 carries in the red zone into 11 rushing touchdowns in 2019.

Why have the Green Bay Packers been so effective in the red zone during the first 10 games of the 2019 season?

Look no further than running back Aaron Jones, who has become a red-zone scoring machine for the Packers offense.

Jones has turned 22 carries inside the 20-yard line into an NFL-high 11 touchdowns. No other player has more than nine rushing touchdowns from inside the red zone.

The efficiency of Jones’ ability to find the end zone is most impressive.

His 50 percent scoring rate in the red zone is far and away the best among primary ball-carriers in the NFL.

Compare to some notable others:

– Dalvin Cook: 9 TDs on 35 carries (25.7 percent)
– Mark Ingram: 8 TDs on 26 carries (30.8 percent)
– Christian McCaffrey: 7 TDs on 32 carries (21.9 percent)
– Josh Jacobs: 7 TDs on 32 carries (21.9 percent)
– Derrick Henry: 7 TDs on 22 carries (31.8 percent)
– Ezekiel Elliott: 6 TDs on 40 carries  (15.0 percent)
– Sony Michel: 6 TDs on 29 carries (20.7 percent)
– Todd Gurley: 6 TDs on 26 carries (23.1 percent)
– Jordan Howard: 6 TDs on 22 carries (27.3 percent)
– Nick Chubb: 5 TDs on 31 carries (16.1 percent)
– David Montgomery: 5 TDs on 18 carries (27.8 percent)
– Chris Carson: 4 TDs on 31 carries (12.9 percent)
– Tevin Coleman: 4 TDs on 21 carries (19.0 percent)
– Alexander Mattison: 1 TD on 22 carries (4.5 percent)
– Leonard Fournette: 1 TD on 32 carries (3.1 percent)

The Packers are third in the NFL in touchdown percentage inside the red-zone. They’ve scored 24 touchdowns on 38 trips, good for a percentage of 68.6.

Jones scored three more red-zone touchdowns on Sunday against the Panthers. He broke a tackle of Luke Kuechly and scored from five yards out in the first quarter. He fought his way into the end zone from a yard out in the second quarter. And he burst through the second level and past a diving safety to score from 13 yards out in the third quarter.

Overall, Jones has 12 touchdowns from inside the red zone this season. His decisiveness and quickness as a runner allow him to find holes and get through cracks, and he’s much tougher in a crowd than his frame suggests.

And it isn’t just Jones who has become a red-zone monster for the Packers. Running back Jamaal Williams has turned six catches inside the 20-yard line into five touchdowns, which leads the team.

Together, Jones and Williams have 18 total touchdowns in the red zone through the first 10 games of the 2019 season. Coach Matt LaFleur has used the pair to take pressure off of Aaron Rodgers in the confined areas of the scoring area.

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Packers notes: Matt LaFleur regrets playcall on final play of first half vs. Panthers

Packers coach Matt LaFleur regrets the play he called at the end of the first half against the Panthers.

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said if given another opportunity, he’d still go for a touchdown in an end-of-the-half scenario, but he’d want to call a different play.

The Packers got stuffed by Carolina Panthers defensive lineman Gerald McCoy on the final play of the second quarter when McCoy blew into the backfield and stopped Jamaal Williams for a loss.

The missed opportunity didn’t end up costing the Packers, but LaFleur still regrets calling that play in that situation.

“Just going back to that, I don’t like the playcall,” LaFleur said Monday. “We didn’t practice it for that situation. I put that on my shoulders. I have to do a better job of making sure that we’re well prepared for whatever they may show, and I don’t think I did a good enough job in that regard. Still would go for it again, if that opportunity presented itself.”

The Packers got a penalty to get to the 2-yard line with two seconds left, decided to forego the easy field goal and used a timeout to help provide time to find the right play.

McCoy said after Sunday’s game that he picked up on a few pre-snap keys and knew when to jump the snap. That advantage allowed him to blow past left tackle David Bakhtiari and stuff Williams just as he was getting the football on an inside run.

LaFleur said the Packers had been getting significant push up the middle in the first half, and he was confident the offensive line could open up enough room for Williams to get three feet.

“I thought we could cram it up for a yard and it didn’t work,” LaFleur said Sunday.

Aaron Jones, who scored three touchdowns on Sunday against the Panthers, wasn’t on the field.

Packers want to specialize role for MVS: Second-year receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling has just one catch for 4 yards over the last three games, and he was on the field for just 11 snaps during Sunday’s win over the Panthers.

LaFleur said Valdes-Scantling is still recovering from an injury suffered in a win over the Oakland Raiders on Oct. 20. But he also wants to refocus on finding specialized ways of best using his unique skill set.

“Number one, he has battled through a little bit of an injury, which definitely has slowed him down,” LaFleur said. “But we also have to look critically at ourselves and what we’re asking him to do and making sure we’re putting him in position to get some of those balls. He does have a great talent. He’s a guy that, when he rolls off the ball, he is tough to defend because he runs so well. We have to put him in position where he can use that to his advantage. You can’t coach or teach that speed.”

Valdes-Scantling’s one target against the Panthers was a deep shot from Aaron Rodgers on third down. It was thrown into double coverage, and Valdes-Scantling was unable to go up and make a play on the ball in the air.

Although there’s risk of tipping their hand with personnel, it’s possible the Packers will use Allen Lazard, Jake Kumerow and Geronimo Allison as intermediate receivers and Valdes-Scantling as the designated vertical threat over the final six games.

Sternberger earns trust: Rookie tight end Jace Sternberger might have earned himself a bigger role on offense after impressing coaches during a 15-play cameo against the Panthers on Sunday.

The Packers’ third-round pick didn’t have a catch or a target, but he handled his business as a blocker. At least twice, he cut off the backside on a split zone run. He also got to the second level and blocked Shaq Thompson on one explosive run from Jamaal Williams.

“We definitely had the intent to put him in the game. We had a couple of plays that were specifically for him. Some of the cross sifts and inserts. He did a nice job. He earned our trust. I’m excited about him for the future,” LaFleur said.

Sternberger could give LaFleur and the Packers offense an athletic move tight end to use over the final six weeks of the season.

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Packers lead division, hold No. 2 seed in NFC after 10 weeks

The Packers are in first place in the NFC North and the second seed in the NFC after 10 weeks.

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The Green Bay Packers are entering their Week 11 bye with an 8-2 record and sole possession of first place in the NFC North. They’re also currently holding the No. 2 seed in the conference, setting up Matt LaFleur’s team to make a legitimate run at a first-round bye over the final six weeks of the season.

The current NFC North and NFC standings:

NFC North

1. Packers (8-2)
2. Vikings (7-3)
3. Bears (4-5)
4. Lions (3-5-1)

NFC

1. 49ers (8-1)
2. Packers (8-2)
3. Saints (7-2)
4. Cowboys (5-4)
5. Seahawks (8-2)
6. Vikings (7-3)

7. Rams (5-4)
8. Eagles (5-4)
9. Panthers (5-4)
10. Bears (4-5)

The Packers play four of their final six games on the road, beginning in Week 12 at 49ers. With a win, the Packers can take over control of the No. 1 seed in the conference.

The team’s final six games include only two games against teams currently possessing a winning record:

Week 12 at 49ers (8-1)
Week 13 at Giants (2-8)
Week 14 vs. Redskins (1-8)
Week 15 vs. Bears (4-5)
Week 16 at Vikings (7-3)
Week 17 at Lions (3-5-1)

The Packers are 3-0 in the NFC North but finish with three straight games within the division, including back-to-back road games. It’s looking increasingly more likely that the Week 16 game in Minnesota will determine the division winner.

According to the New York Times playoff predictor, the Packers have a 95 percent chance at making the postseason and a 57 percent chance of winning the division. A win over the 49ers in Week 12 would boost the team’s chances of securing a first-round bye to almost 80 percent.

Packers DL Kenny Clark sets career-high for pressures in win vs. Panthers

Clark had 10 pressures on Sunday against the Panthers, setting a new career-high.

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He didn’t have a sack, but Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Kenny Clark put on a pass-rushing show on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

According to Pro Football Focus, Clark tallied 10 total pressures, setting a new career-high for a single game.

At least three different times, Clark had a chance to sack Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen but couldn’t finish the play. In the second half, his instant interior pressure helped Preston Smith sack Allen on third down, forcing a punt. He also nearly delivered a sack on a three-man rush on the Panthers’ final drive.

Clark was productive as a pass-rusher, stout on the inside against the run and aware in the screen game. He ended up as the Packers’ highest-graded player, per PFF.

It was the kind of breakout game the Packers needed from Clark, who was uncharacteristically quiet during the month of October.

The Packers now head into the bye week with the momentum of a dominant performance from the defensive front. Not only did Clark produce big pass-rushing numbers, but Za’Darius Smith consistently found his way into the backfield and Preston Smith delivered two third-down sacks.

Don’t be surprised if Clark comes on strong over the final six games. He’ll get a chance to get his body healthy and rested during the bye week, and appealing matchups loom, especially down the stretch within the division. The Packers need Clark, their best interior player by a mile, to be a difference-maker as Matt LaFleur’s team attempts to win the NFC North and secure a first-round bye.

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Studs and duds from Packers’ 24-16 win over Panthers in Week 10

Studs and duds from the Packers’ 24-16 win over the Panthers at a snowy Lambeau Field in Week 10.

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The Green Bay Packers rebounded from a forgettable trip to Los Angeles with a memorable win over the Carolina Panthers at a snowy Lambeau Field in Week 10.

Matt LaFleur’s team is now 8-2 and in possession of a top-two seed in the NFC entering the bye week.

Here are the studs and duds from the Packers’ win:

Studs

DL Kenny Clark: Statement game from No. 97. He was a step away from at least three sacks, and he put himself in the backfield on at least eight different passing plays. The Panthers often tried blocking him one-on-one with center Matt Paradis but that was a big mistake. Clark was too strong and too quick. On the second play from scrimmage, Clark walked Paradis into the backfield and took down Christian McCaffrey after a short gain. Later, he diagnosed the third-down screen and was the first defender there to make the stop. He’ll be thinking about those missed sacks during the bye week, but don’t be surprised if he explodes for a multiple-sack game at some point over the final six weeks.

OL Elgton Jenkins: Another standout performance from the rookie offensive lineman. He didn’t allow a single pressure and was the primary hole-opener on several explosive runs. On 3rd-and-9 on the Packers’ first touchdown drive, Jenkins looked beat but recovered, passed off the stunt and then completely eliminated rookie Brian Burns from the rush. His block at the point of attack opened up Aaron Jones’ first touchdown run. In the third quarter, he dominated. Several chunk runs by Jamaal Williams all came behind Jenkins’ blocking.

WR Davante Adams: A week after producing only 41 receiving yards on 11 targets, Adams turned his 10 targets into 118 yards. He caught a pair of passes over 30 yards, including one that set up a touchdown and another that converted a 2nd-and-26. His 38-yard catch was a thing of beauty. He won off the line, stacked the cornerback vertically and then waited until the last second to put his hands up to make the catch, giving the cornerback no chance to find the ball or make a play. On the Packers’ first touchdown drive, Adams’ patient route from the slot produced an easy 15-yard completion. His receiving yards total would have been well over 150 had he completed a catch on a deep shot from Rodgers in the second half. Donte Jackson broke it up at the last second. With a slightly better throw, Adams might have made the catch uncontested and scored.

OLB Za’Darius Smith: It’s hard to believe he didn’t have a sack. Several times, he won immediately but couldn’t get Kyle Allen on the ground. On one rush, he jab-stepped hard inside and beat the left tackle clean, forcing a holding penalty and eventually creating a sack for Tyler Lancaster. Two plays later, he was in the backfield in under two seconds but Allen got rid of it. He’s always an effective rusher on the inside against guards.

OLB Preston Smith: Both of his sacks came on third down. The first was the result of pure speed and quickness around the corner. He got to the outside shoulder, accelerated through contact and chased down the quarterback in the pocket. Kyle Allen was lucky to hold onto the ball. The second sack looked similar. He used quick hands and feet to get the edge and turn the corner, and Kenny Clark’s interior pressure kept Allen right in Smith’s aim as he entered the pocket. Finally, Smith finished off the game’s last play with a stop after Kyler Fackrell hit Christian McCaffrey in the backfield.

RB Aaron Jones: He’s such a special player. He made Luke Kuechly miss in the hole on his 5-yard touchdown run to open the game. On his 28-yard scamper in the second half, he made a sharp cut inside, burst into the second level and beat the diving tackle attempt of the safety. At times, it looks like he’s gliding across the turf at a different speed than everyone around him. His third touchdown was a perfect example. Three defenders had him boxed in but he exploded into the second level and left all three in the dust. Safeties must have nightmares about trying to tackle him in the open field. In the fourth quarter, Jones turned a sure-fire loss into an explosive run when he sprinted outside and turned the corner after the Panthers plugged up the middle. He also had a 16-yard catch negated by a penalty, and Rodgers missed him wide open in the middle of the field for what likely would have been an easy catch-and-run touchdown in the third quarter.

S Adrian Amos: Two point-saving plays make Amos worthy of a spot here. He read Kyle Allen’s eyes and should have had an end-zone interception in the third quarter, but his play on the ball still created an easy pick for Tramon Williams behind him. That took at least three points off the board. Later, Amos ranged over from the middle of the field and knocked away a two-point try.

Duds

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling: He played only 11 snaps. It’s clear Jake Kumerow and Allen Lazard have passed him on the depth chart. On his one target, Valdes-Scantling had a disappointing effort at the catch point of a deep shot from Aaron Rodgers. Over the last three games, he has one catch for four yards.

P JK Scott: Just like last year, Scott struggled in the cold, wintery conditions. He averaged 35.3 yards per punt and twice gave the Panthers excellent field position with poor kicks, including a 32-yarder out of bounds in the first half. A pair of punts inside the 20-yard line in the second half helped redeem the performance slightly. He must be better in adverse weather conditions.

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