It’s tough to win — or even play semi-competent football on offense — when the quarterback isn’t being protected. The Green Bay Packers helped illustrate this undeniable football fact during Thursday night’s 34-20 loss to the Detroit Lions.
The Packers offensive line — which was without left tackle David Bakhtiari and left guard Elgton Jenkins — allowed a season-high 22 pressures during the defeat to the Lions, per Pro Football Focus.
“They whipped us, they manhandled us,” coach Matt LaFleur said.
Every single starting member of the offensive line gave up at least two pressures. Four of the five — not counting right tackle Zach Tom — were charged with allowing a sack. The Lions finished with five sacks and six quarterback hits.
Pressures allowed by Packers OL vs. Lions:
— RT Zach Tom: 6
— LG Royce Newman: 5 (1 sack)
— RG Jon Runyan Jr: 5 (1 sack)
— LT Rasheed Walker: 4 (2 sacks)
— C Josh Myers: 2 (1 sack)
Walker and Runyan also committed penalties.
Aidan Hutchinson (eight) and John Cominsky (seven) combined for 15 of Detroit’s 22 pressures. Tom gave up a team-high six pressures but his task — blocking Hutchinson on most snaps — was the most difficult.
Some context is always required. Walker and Newman are backups at left tackle and left guard, respectively, and both Runyan (ankle) and Tom (knee) were playing through injuries.
Overall, Jordan Love was under pressure on 20 of his 42 dropbacks, or 47.6 percent, a season-high.
“It’s hard to throw from your back,” LaFleur said.
Love’s numbers help drive home the point.
When playing from a clean pocket (no pressure), Love completed 17 of 22 passes for 198 yards and one touchdown. He completed 77.3 percent of his passes and averaged 9.0 yards per attempt.
When passing under pressure, Love completed 6 of 14 passes for 48 yards and an interception. He completed 42.9 percent of his passes and averaged 3.4 yards per attempt. Love also took five sacks losing 43 yards, so the 20 pressured dropbacks against the Lions gained all of five total yards.
Good quarterbacks dominate from a clean pocket and can mitigate disaster from pressured looks. Love has been very good from clean pockets but also struggled under pressure through four starts in 2023.
How does it get better for the offensive line?
Bakhtiari is on injured reserve and may not return this season. Jenkins is dealing with a knee sprain but wasn’t placed on injured reserve, suggesting he could return as soon as Week 7 when the Packers come out of the bye.
The Packers may need to make a change at left guard. Newman has starting experience but his down-to-down performance level isn’t good enough. The Packers could move Tom around, which would allow Yosh Nijman a chance to enter the starting lineup at offensive tackle. Another option would be giving second-year guard Sean Rhyan an opportunity to make his starting debut at left guard, which would leave Tom at right tackle where the Packers prefer him once Jenkins returns.
The Packers face the Las Vegas Raiders next. That means dealing with Maxx Crosby, one of the NFL’s best edge rushers. But the Raiders aren’t nearly as deep as the Lions in terms of pass-rushing ability up front. In fact, the Raiders rank 28th in the NFL in pass-rushing grade at PFF entering Week 4.