Tag: Green Bay Packers

Packers PFF grades: Best, worst players from win over Saints in Week 16

Based on grades from PFF, here are the best and worst players from the Packers’ Week 16 over the Saints.

The Green Bay Packers earned their best overall grade of the 2024 season at Pro Football Focus during Monday night’s 34-0 win over the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field.

Matt LaFleur’s team was powered by a dominant run game led by Josh Jacobs and suffocating pass-rush led by Rashan Gary. The Packers led 21-0 at halftime and the Saints — who were down several key contributors — never threatened a comeback attempt.

Based on grades from Pro Football Focus, here are the best and worst players from the Packers’ Week 16 win over the Saints:

Top 5 offense

1. RB Josh Jacobs: 90.4
2. RB Emanuel Wilson: 80.9
3. RT Zach Tom: 76.6
4. WR Jayden Reed: 73.1
5. RB Chris Brooks: 73.0

Jacobs forced four missed tackles, produced two runs over 10 yards, gained five first downs or touchdowns and caught all four of his targets out of the backfield. Wilson had one run over 10 yards and two broken tackles. Tom didn’t allow a pressure over 28 pass-blocking snaps and was the team’s high-rated run blocker. Reed caught three passes, including a contested catch, and averaged over 3.0 yards per route run. Brooks forced four missed tackles on only six carries, caught one pass and earned a terrific pass-blocking grade.

Top 5 defense

1. DE Rashan Gary: 90.6
2. DE Brenton Cox: 88.7
3. S Zayne Anderson: 85.2
4. LB Edgerrin Cooper: 81.2
5. CB Eric Stokes: 80.6

Gary played only 23 snaps but produced six hurries on 18 pass-rushing snaps. Cox had five pressures (including a sack and QB hit) on only 17 pass-rushing snaps, and he added a run stop. Anderson intercepted a pass, nearly intercepted a second pass and didn’t give up a completion in coverage. Cooper delivered a team-high four stops and allowed only 14 yards against his coverage. Stokes gave up just one catch on three targets for four yards in coverage.

Bottom 5 offense

1. TE John FitzPatrick: 53.6
2. WR Bo Melton: 56.7
3. WR Christian Watson: 57.9
4. TE Ben Sims: 58.0
5. C Josh Myers: 62.3

FitzPatrick played 19 run-blocking snaps but earned only an average blocking grade. Melton had one run for 14 yards but was only average as a blocker. Watson carried twice for 23 yards but was only targeted once in the passing game. Sims was average as a blocker. Myers gave up two pressures and was only OK as a run blocker.

Bottom 5 defense

1. DL TJ Slaton: 35.5
2. DL Colby Wooden: 40.0
3. DE Kingsley Enagbare: 49.9
4. DL Karl Brooks: 50.1
5. LB Eric Wilson: 51.6

Slaton, Wooden and Brooks all earned poor run defense grades. Enagbare had two pressures on 16 pass-rushing snaps but earned only an average grade overall. Wilson missed two tackles and gave up two completions for 29 yards in coverage.

Special teams

Edgerrin Cooper delivered two more special teams tackles and earned an elite grade. Chris Brooks, Bo Melton, Arron Mosby and Brandon McManus all had tackles, and Melton missed a tackle. Lukas Van Ness and Kingsley Enagbare had a penalty. McManus made two field goals over 45 yards, including a season-long 55 yarder.

Quarterback play

Jordan Love: 68.7

Love was excellent from clean pockets, completing 13 of 18 passes for 170 yards (72.7 completion percentage, 9.4 yards per attempt) when not pressured. He threw his lone touchdown pass under pressure. Love completed only 1-of-4 passes thrown over 20 yards in the air. He had one “big time throw” on a 37-yarder to Jayden Reed and zero “turnover worthy plays.” Two of his passes were batted down, and three were thrown away. Love wasn’t sacked despite being under pressure on 10 dropbacks.

Stat to know

Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler was under pressure on 20 of his 38 dropbacks, good for a pressure percentage of 52.6. The Packers were credited with 30 total pressures, including at least three pressures from five different players — six from Rashan Gary, five from Brenton Cox, four from Lukas Van Ness, three from Devonte Wyatt and three from Karl Brooks. The pass rush has come alive over the last two games.

Packers get ‘good news’ on Christian Watson’s knee injury

The Packers got good news on Christian Watson’s knee injury coming out of Monday night’s win over the Saints.

The Green Bay Packers got “good news” on Christian Watson’s knee injury and there’s a possibility he could play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

Watson was injured after a player landed on Watson’s knee at the end of the run on Monday night against the New Orleans Saints. While the Packers were concerned post-game on Monday, testing on Tuesday revealed nothing more than a bruise.

“We got good news on him, so it’s more just a bruise,” coach Matt LaFleur said Tuesday. “It was when the guy fell on him on the sideline. Still have to be able to function, so we’ll see how he practices this week and see where we’re at.”

Watson left the game in the first half, briefly returned and then exited for the rest of the contest. He finished with two runs for 23 yards and zero catches on one target.

The Packers have a short week coming out of a Monday night game in Green Bay and going into a Sunday afternoon game in Minnesota, potentially complicating Watson’s path back to the field this week. The Packers finish the season at home against the Chicago Bears.

Watson has 29 catches for 620 yards and two touchdowns and four rushes for 23 yards over 14 games. He’s averaging 21.4 yards per reception and 11.9 per target, both career highs.

Packers run game proves dynamic, versatile again during win over Saints

The Packers rushed for 188 yards and got production from nine different rushers during the 34-0 win over the Saints.

The Green Bay Packers used nine different players to rush for 188 yards during Monday night’s 34-0 win over the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field.

Josh Jacobs averaged 5.3 yards per carry and scored another touchdown on 13 attempts, backups Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks combined for 75 rushing yards and two scores, Packers receivers rushed for 42 yards, and both Jordan Love and Tucker Kraft converted sneak attempts for first downs.

The Packers’ 188 rushing yards tied for the team’s second most in a game this season. Green Bay now ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing yards and fifth in rushing touchdowns through 16 weeks.

Jacobs got the party started, and his 20-yard run on the opening possession — in which he stiff-armed Tyrann Mathieu to the ground to end the run — set the tone early. Wilson and Brooks were bruisers with the ball in their hands, especially in the second half as the Packers rested Jacobs. Matt LaFleur got Christian Watson (2 carries, 23 yards), Bo Melton (1 carry, 14 yards) and Jayden Reed (1 carry, 5 yards) involved, and the Packers converted 3rd-and-1 with Kraft’s third successful sneak of the season and 4th-and-1 with an easy sneak from Love.

Of the Packers’ 24 first downs, 14 came on the ground.

On a night when Love hit a couple of explosive plays but was inconsistent overall, the Packers still scored 34 points and ran away with the win because the run game was so productive and reliable.

LaFleur’s team can win in multiple ways. This is a Packers team that can win the battle at the line of scrimmage and play a physical brand of ball, which is often required outdoors in December and January. They can also create explosive plays in the passing game, play suffocating defense and be reliable on special teams — imagine that! Brandon McManus and Daniel Whelan have been excellent.

The run game will be vital as the Packers approach the gauntlet awaiting in the NFC playoffs. Finesse teams don’t last. Physical ones do. The Packers are built to last behind what is looking more and more like a dominant run game on offense.

Brenton Cox Jr. leads Packers’ pass-rush in dominant win over Saints

Brenton Cox Jr. had a sack and a team-high six pressures during the Packers’ shutout win over the Saints.

Defensive end Brenton Cox Jr. continues to emerge as a legitimate pass-rusher for the Green Bay Packers down the stretch of the 2024 season. On Monday night against the New Orleans Saints, Cox Jr. led the team with six pressures as the Packers pressured rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler on 52.6 percent of dropbacks, per Next Gen Stats.

Cox Jr. sacked Rattler for a 7-yard loss in the third quarter. He also had another quarterback hit and a run stop after no gain. Even on a questionable roughing the passer penalty, the second-year edge rusher displayed an ability to quickly beat the block of right tackle Trevor Penning and disrupt the quarterback.

Cox Jr. now has a sack in back-to-back games and three of the last four. Despite playing in only six games, Cox Jr. has 4.0 sacks — ranking fourth on the Packers defense — and six quarterback hits. The trade of Preston Smith during the bye opened up opportunities, and Cox Jr. has taken full advantage.

Devonte Wyatt also had a key sack before the half, giving him 5.0 sacks on the season, and Keisean Nixon produced a strip-sack turnover as a blitzing cornerback. Lukas Van Ness ranked second with five pressures against the Saints, per Next Gen Stats.

While the individual performances were impressive, the Packers’ overall pressure rate was most important. Green Bay has been dominant up front against Rattler and Geno Smith/Sam Howell in back-to-back weeks, producing pressure on over 50 percent of dropbacks in both wins. Jeff Hafley continues to call well-timed blitzes and the Packers are getting more consistent pressure with only four rushers on key downs.

Even in a rotational role, Cox Jr. has been a big part of the pass-rushing dominance. Can he keep ascending and give the Packers a reliable quarterback disruptor come the postseason?

Breaking down Packers’ 34-0 win over Saints in Week 16

Packers 34, Saints 0: Here’s what went right, what went wrong and what it means for the Packers moving forward.

For the second straight week in primetime, the Green Bay Packers started fast, led big in the first half, overcame a little lull in the second half and cruised to a comfortable win — this time a 34-0 final over the shorthanded New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field on Monday night.

The Packers went over 30 points for the fifth straight game and secured the NFL’s first shutout of the 2024 season.

Matt LaFleur’s team opened up a 21-0 lead after scoring touchdowns on three consecutive possessions to open the game, and Jeff Hafley’s defense produced two takeaways and seven other stops in a dominant performance against a Saints team missing their top quarterback, running back and receiver.

The Packers are 11-4 and have clinched a playoff berth.

Here’s what went right, what went wrong and what it means for the Packers moving forward:

What went right

— The Packers took the opening kickoff, drove 63 yards in 10 plays and scored a touchdown — using four completions from Jordan Love and 40 total yards from Josh Jacobs to go up 7-0 early. The offense has been setting the tone early in games.

— The Packers defense gave up under 200 yards, had three sacks and produced two turnovers. The Saints never entered the red zone, and both takeaways came with the Saints inside the 30-yard line. Devonte Wyatt’s sack late in the first half took away another scoring opportunity.

— Running back Josh Jacobs turned 17 touches into 107 total yards and a touchdown. He ripped off a 20-yard run on the opening drive to set up a touchdown, caught four passes for 38 yards and once again scored from inside the 5-yard line.

— Brenton Cox Jr. had a sack, two quarterback hits and a team-high six total pressures (per Next Gen Stats). He was disruptive all night. So was Lukas Van Ness, Rashan Gary and Devonte Wyatt. The pass-rush had rookie Spencer Rattler under pressure on 52.6 percent of dropbacks. The emergence of Cox and Van Ness is especially encouraging for the present and future of the pass-rush.

— Tucker Kraft and Jayden Reed both had a pair of catches gaining 30 or more yards.

— Brandon McManus made a season-long field of 55 yards, hit from 46 with ease and connected on all four extra points. He had no issues on a December night at Lambeau Field.

— The Packers rushed for 188 yards, didn’t give up a sack and mostly dominated the line of scrimmage. Nine different players had a rushing attempt. Jacobs ran hard early, Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks combined for 75 rushing yards and two scores, and receivers Christian Watson, Bo Melton and Jayden Reed added 42 rushing yards. The Packers are a dynamic and versatile rushing team.

— Tucker Kraft and Jordan Love both converted first downs on sneaks. The Packers are now 3-for-3 when Kraft does the sneak.

— The Packers were 3-for-3 on fourth down. The Saints were 0-for 2. The Packers also scored four touchdowns on four red zone trips.

— Zayne Anderson logged his first career interception during his first career start.

What went wrong

— Jordan Love went through a rough patch to start the second half. He completed only two of his first seven passes for six yards coming out of the break, but he did hit Jayden Reed for a big third-down conversion in the fourth quarter.

— Christian Watson left with a knee injury. The Packers will be holding their breath waiting for results this week. He’s been a key part of the offense’s breakout since the bye.

— The Packers had a pair of penalties on special teams, including one that backed up the second drive inside the 10-yard line and another (a tripping penalty on Lukas Van Ness) that turned into a 26-yard penalty after a poor punt from Daniel Whelan.

— The Packers also had a pair of penalties handing the Saints a first down. Brenton Cox Jr. was called for a questionable roughing the passer penalty, and Kingsley Enagbare had a hand to the face penalty on third down. Colby Wooden was flagged for unnecessary roughness following a fourth down stop.

What it means

The Packers are playoff bound, officially. Matt LaFleur’s team is now 11-4 and has a legitimate opportunity to get to 13 wins. While the NFC North title is no longer a possibility, the Packers can get as high as the fifth seed — which would mean playing either the NFC West or NFC South winner on the road to open the postseason. More than anything, the Packers look like they are playing their best football as January approaches. Green Bay is 5-1 since the bye and now ranks in the top 10 in both scoring offense (No. 7) and scoring defense (No. 6). This is a complete, well-balanced football team with the postseason nearing.

Highlights

What’s next

Going on the road to play the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on a short week this Sunday. The game — which was flexed to 3:25 p.m. CT — will determine if the Packers have a shot at getting the No. 5 seed. The Vikings have won eight straight games and are 13-2, in contention for the NFC North and fighting to be the No. 1 seed.

Rashan Gary scared ESPN’s Lisa Salters after loudly crashing Jordan Love’s interview

Gahhhhhhh!

Hey, I get it.

The Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff spot with an easy win Monday night over the New Orleans Saints, and so of course the team was fired up as it made the postseason.

We saw proof of that as ESPN’s Lisa Salters was interviewing Toyota Merchant Jordan Love when his Packers teammate Rashan Gary jumped in and screamed loudly, “STOP PLAYING WITH HIM! ONCE AGAIN! PUNCH THE TICKET!”

Salters remarked that Gary scared her, and frankly, I was a little scared too. Here’s that funny moment from Monday night that left us all a little frightened.

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Good, bad and ugly from Packers’ 34-0 win over Saints in Week 16

The good, the bad and the ugly coming out of the Packers’ 34-0 win over the Saints in Week 16.

The Green Bay Packers are 11-4 and playoff bound are dominating the New Orleans Saints in a 34-0 primetime win on Monday night at Lambeau Field.

Matt LaFleur’s team scored on three straight possessions to create a 21-0 first half lead and Jeff Hafley’s defense did the rest, producing the NFL’s first shutout of the 2024 season with two takeaways and two fourth down stops.

A huge betting favorite, the Packers did what was expected: Dominated a shorthanded opponent from start to finish.

Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly coming out of the Packers’ win over the Saints:

The Good

The start: The Packers produced touchdown drives of 63 yards, 96 yards and 67 yards to open the game. Josh Jacobs was dominant, Jordan Love created explosive plays and the Packers offense consistently converted on third or fourth down and in the red zone. This was the Packers at their very best. For the second straight week, the Packers scored on three or more straight possessions to open a game and opened up a three-score lead.

The defense: Jeff Hafley’s group didn’t allow a point or even a trip into the red zone against nine Saints possessions, creating the first shutout of the 2024 season and the first from the Packers since 2021. And while the Saints were shorthanded on offense, the Packers were missing four preferred starters. New Orleans finished with 196 total yards and only 67 rushing yards.

Another playoff berth: The Packers will be in the postseason for the second straight year under Jordan Love and for the fifth time in six years under Matt LaFleur. Is this the year that the Super Bowl drought comes to an end in Titletown? The Packers are 11-4 overall but will have to do it the hard way as a wildcard team in the loaded NFC. This looks like a well-balanced football team that can win in multiple ways and is starting to play its best football late in the season.

The Bad

Love’s start to second half: The Packers passing game cooled off in a big way to start the second half. Love completed just two of his first seven passes for six total yards before hitting Jayden Reed for a 37-yard gain with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Despite a strong start, Love finished 16 of 28 passing for 182 yards and one touchdown. He didn’t have a turnover, but the Saints dropped a pick on a batted ball. Love’s passer rating was just 88.1, snapping a five-game streak at 100.0 or better.

The Ugly

Christian Watson’s injury: Watson injured his knee at the end of a run in the first half, and he had to exit the game after briefly returning and trying to play through the issue. Coach Matt LaFleur admitted there is concern over the severity of the injury but more testing is required on Tuesday. Watson rushed twice for 23 yards and was open several times on Monday night. Losing him before the postseason would be a big blow to an offense that has caught fire with Watson producing explosive plays since the bye.

Matt LaFleur provides injury updates for Josh Jacobs, Christian Watson, Jaire Alexander, Evan Williams after win over Saints

Packers coach Matt LaFleur provided quick injury updates on running back Josh Jacobs, receiver Christian Watson and safety Evan Williams coming out of Monday night’s 34-0 win over the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field. 

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur provided quick injury updates on running back Josh Jacobs, receiver Christian Watson, cornerback Jaire Alexander and safety Evan Williams coming out of Monday night’s 34-0 win over the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field.

The news was good on Jacobs but concerning for Watson and Williams.

On Jacobs, who barely played in the second half: “He wanted to go back in, but there’s was no need for it. I actually told him at halftime that we’ll give you another series in the second half but I want to get you out. Just being a short week, want to get him ready for Minnesota.” Jacobs finished with 107 total yards and a touchdown on 17 touches (13 carries, four receptions).

On Watson, who exited with a knee injury: “There’s some concern there, certainly. We’ll get some more testing done tomorrow and hopefully I’ll have an answer for you tomorrow.” Watson was injured at the end of a run in the first half. He returned to the game for a brief period but exited and didn’t return in the second half.

On Alexander, who practiced fully all week but was inactive for a fifth straight game: “Just didn’t feel like he was quite there yet.” Alexander is attempting to come back from a knee injury suffered in late October. His status for next Sunday in Minnesota is TBD.

On Williams. who didn’t play due to a quad injury suffered in practice this week: “There’s concern. I would think he’s going to be out a period of time. Nothing long term, just one of those deals. It’s unfortunate. I think it happened on the first play of practice (on Saturday). I know he’s bummed because it’s the second time it’s happened to him. But hopefully we’ll get him back in time for the playoffs.” Zayne Anderson started in place of Williams on Monday night and produced an interception. Williams previously missed time after suffering a soft-tissue injury before Week 9.

Packers 34, Saints 0: Highlights from Green Bay’s Week 16 win

Highlights and post-game pressers coming out of the Packers’ 34-0 win over the Saints on Monday Night Football.

The Green Bay Packers got three straight touchdown drives to open the game and a shutout performance from Jeff Hafley’s defense to power Monday night’s 34-0 win over the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field in Week 16.

The Packers are now officially playoff bound for the second straight season and fifth in the last six years after clinching a berth with the win.

Quarterback Jordan Love hit receiver Dontayvion Wicks for a touchdown on the opening drive, running back Josh Jacobs produced 107 total yards and a score and Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks both scored touchdowns. The Packers defense produced two takeaways, three sacks and two fourth-down stops in creating the NFL’s first shutout of the 2024 season.

The Packers are now 11-4 after 15 games. Matt LaFleur’s team will finish with a trip to play the 13-2 Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis next Sunday before hosting the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field in the season finale.

Packers vs. Saints highlights

Matt LaFleur’s post-game pass conference

Jordan Love post-game press conference

Packers produce NFL’s first shutout of 2024 season in win over shorthanded Saints

The Packers beat the Saints 34-0, producing the NFL’s first shutout of the 2024 season.

The Green Bay Packers gave up only 196 total yards and produced two takeaways, three sacks and two fourth-down stops in a 34-0 shutout win over the shorthanded New Orleans Saints on Monday night at Lambeau Field.

The shutout was the first in the NFL during the 2024 season.

The Saints came into the primetime contest without quarterback Derek Carr, running back Alvin Kamara, receivers Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Marquez Valdes-Scantling and tight end Taysom Hill. The Packers were missing four defensive starters — linebacker Quay Walker, cornerback Jaire Alexander, defensive back Javon Bullard and safety Evan Williams — but still dominated.

The Saints had nine possessions but never even entered the red zone. The Packers got a strip-sack from Keisean Nixon and an interception from Zayne Anderson in Green Bay territory to stop potential scoring opportunities. Before the half, a sack from Devonte Wyatt knocked the Saints out of field goal range and forced a Hail Mary attempt.

The Packers finished with six quarterback hits, four passes defensed and five tackles for loss. The Saints rushed 20 times for only 67 yards and had just two passing plays gaining 20 or more yards.

Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler completed 15 of 30 passes for 153 yards and an interception. His passer rating was 51.1. He also led the Saints in rushing with 28 yards.

Rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper had eight tackles and a tackle for loss, Wyatt produced two tackles for loss, Anderson intercepted one pass and nearly had a second and Brenton Cox Jr. had a sack and two quarterback hits.

The Packers are now going into Week 17 with the NFL’s No. 6 ranked scoring defense.