Green Bay Packers defensive back Chandon Sullivan produced a standout performance over 56 snaps during the Packers’ 21-13 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Sullivan showed up in every aspect of playing in Mike Pettine’s secondary. He fearlessly played the run in the box, confidently covered downfield and continued to blitz effectively.
It’s becoming less and less difficult to figure out why 2018 second-round pick Josh Jackson isn’t playing much for the Packers defense. Sullivan, who was claimed off of waivers in May, is the more complete player.
Evidence can be found in a half-dozen plays from Sunday’s win.
Early in the first quarter, Sullivan entered the game as a nickel linebacker. The Bears, sensing how light the Packers were playing in the box, ran the football. Sullivan was up to the task. He played his run fit, filling the gap to the left of Kenny Clark, and he stepped into the hole and helped Clark make the run stop at the line of scrimmage.
He made another impressive play in the run game in the second quarter. Playing slot cornerback, Sullivan brushed off the block attempt from receiver Anthony Miller and made a perfect form tackle on David Montgomery in the open field after only four yards.
The Bears tried to take advantage of him once again a few plays later with an end-around pitch to Cordarrelle Patterson. But Sullivan got wide, won leverage against the receiver, held the edge as the outside contain and helped stop the play after a minimal gain.
Later in the half, he made two big plays in the passing game to help the Packers get off the field.
On the first, Sullivan stuck with Miller in a scramble drill situation on 4th-and-7. His blanket coverage didn’t result in a pass breakup, but he recovered deep, crowded the space along the sideline and didn’t allow Miller to make the catch in bounds. Turnover on downs.
Sullivan nearly created an interception in the red zone on the next series. On third down, Sullivan came unblocked off the right side of the line, moved Mitchell Trubisky off the spot to the left and hurried his underneath throw, which was almost intercepted by rookie Darnell Savage, who undercut the route and had a legit chance to catch the pass.
The Bears’ last gasp play to end the game nearly ended in a touchdown, but Sullivan saved the day. He chased down tight end Jesper Horsted in the open field and wrestled him down before he could pitch the ball to his right to Allen Robinson. The resulting fumble was recovered by Tramon Williams to end the contest.
One small knock on the performance: Sullivan had a chance to intercept a prayer from Trubisky on fourth down in the fourth quarter, but he couldn’t corral the ball as he slid to his knees. It didn’t really matter. The Packers took over near midfield, and Sullivan likely would have been tapped down inside the 30.
Overall, Sullivan was the primary player in coverage on five different passing attempts from Trubisky on Sunday. Only one of those passes was completed.
Quarterbacks are completing just 39.1 percent of passes into Sullivan’s coverage this season. He’s allowing 4.8 yards per target and a passer rating of 36.5, both best among Packers defensive backs this season.
Pettine is trusting Sullivan to play a variety of roles. He’s been used mostly at slot cornerback, but he’s also played snaps at inside linebacker, safety and perimeter corner.
Jackson is the high draft pick and Tony Brown had a great summer, but Sullivan has solidified his status as the Packers’ fourth cornerback behind Williams, Jaire Alexander and Kevin King. Sunday’s effort showed why Pettine and the Packers have so much faith in him.
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