The Green Bay Packers got superstar efforts from their best players on offense and a productive day from the pass-rushing group to beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Here are the studs and duds from the Packers’ win over the Eagles:
Studs
QB Aaron Rodgers: A handful of drops likely took away another 75 yards or so from his final total, but he still finished with a 73.5 completion percentage, 295 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. He completed three passes over 20 yards and expertly managed pressure despite taking one sliding sack. His bomb to Marquez Valdes-Scantling – which ended in a drop – was another perfect throw that traveled well over 60 yards in the air. He’s so good at getting the Packers in the right play and then simply distributing the ball to the right guy. After 12 games, he has an NFL-high 36 touchdown passes, and his completion percentage is creeping closer to 70 percent.
WR Davante Adams: Darius Slay is a talented and experienced cornerback, but he had a nightmare afternoon against Adams, who caught six of his 10 passes and both touchdown passes with Slay in coverage. When he didn’t beat him with his release or the route, he won with physicality or athleticism at the catch point. On his 1-yard touchdown, Adams earned just a step of separation and then completed the play with a leaping catch over Slay. Later, he powered into the end zone with a vicious stiff arm to Slay’s face. His 42-yard catch in traffic was one of the most impressive catches of his incredible season.
RB Aaron Jones: The 77-yard run to clinch the win was a special one. Not many backs can make an unblocked linebacker and an unblocked safety miss in the same sequence. From there, it was off to the races. Patient, Jones allowed a hoard of blockers to arrive and help him weave into the end zone. Five of his 15 rushes gained a first down, and he forced eight missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus.
CB Jaire Alexander: There’s a good chance he was at least partially to blame for the fourth-down touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. The Packers can look past it because he was so physical and disruptive over his 60 other snaps. He stopped Miles Sanders in his tracks on a third-down draw play. Early in the game, Carson Wentz tried to test him with running back Boston Scott on a quick slant. Alexander disrupted the attempt and let the Eagles know it. Later, he broke up a perimeter pass to former Packer Travis Fulgham, and he nearly intercepted a third-down throw to Zach Ertz late in the contest.
WR Allen Lazard: He caught three passes for 50 yards, including two catches gaining first downs. On a third down in the second half, he ran past Avonte Maddox and made the running catch for 31 yards. He’s faster than most believe, even if it’s more build-up speed than instant acceleration. His best work came as a run blocker. Matt LaFleur uses him in so many ways to leverage blocks and create lanes. Unlike many receivers, he can take on linebackers and safeties in the box and get it done. Lazard is such a useful player within this offense.
DL Kingsley Keke: Twice, the second-year defensive lineman beat veteran Jason Peters for sacks. Now 38, Peters is a lumbering player at right guard. Keke won with quickness and active hands. He also chased down Carson Wentz to end a third-down scramble short of the sticks.
Duds
LB Kamal Martin: He flew downhill and whiffed on Miles Sanders on the first drive. The rookie triggers fast and wants to fly through gaps to make plays, which is a plus. He just needs more control at the tackle point. Late on the first drive, he took Sanders down for a loss. On punt coverage, he missed the best tackle opportunity on Jalen Reagor’s punt return for a touchdown. It was a bad miss in the open field.
P JK Scott: His first punt traveled all of 41 yards, setting the Eagles up with terrific field position for their second drive. Later, his punt right down the middle of the field helped spark Reagor’s long punt return for a touchdown. Of course, his tackle attempt along the sideline was memorable again for all the wrong reasons.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling: He battled hard for Aaron Jones on the long touchdown run. The score probably doesn’t happen without his effort and blocking on the play. However, he also had a big drop – negating a 50-yard play or more – and the Eagles dropped him for a loss on a jet sweep. The drop was likely the result of him trying to body catch the ball. The Packers need him to consistently make those plays. His other target could have been a big play but Rodgers was hit while trying to deliver the ball downfield.
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