Happy Halloween from Packers Wire!
The Green Bay Packers are using the trick-or-treating holiday to prepare for their matchup against the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions, a frighteningly good football team who will arrive at Lambeau Field on Sunday with their fangs out and bad intentions.
Can Matt LaFleur’s team defeat the cat-faced bogeymen and start the week on an incredible five-game winning streak?
Speaking of ghouls, here are some players who have been TERRIBLY good for the Packers this season:
Sr. Xavier McKinney
The former giant must look like a ghost because the quarterbacks haven’t seen him all season. McKinney has six interceptions, the most in the NFL, including one in six of the first eight games, along with a fumble recovery and a third sack on an attempt. Entering Week 9, he ranks as the third-best safety in PFF’s overall grade and second in coverage grade. He only allowed seven catches in coverage, but also defended seven other passes. Can McKinney continue to scare quarterbacks with game-changing mistakes?
TE Tucker Kraft
In second grade, Kraft became a real monster. Not only was he a terrifying move blocker in the run game, but he’s like Frankenstein with the ball in his hands – no one can stand up to him. Kraft ranks second in touchdown catches (5) and yards after the catch (250) and first in average yards after the catch (10.4). Last week, Kraft caught a 67-yard pass on a long play, converted his team-high fifth touchdown pass and had a key block on a career-high pass on Malik Willis’ 51-yard completion to Jayden Reed on the final drive. No disguise needed here; Kraft dresses like the perfect tight end for Matt LaFleur’s offense on any given day.
RB Josh Jacobs
Yards after contact are to Jacobs what blood is to a vampire. The Packers running backs make their living by bouncing off tackles and gaining powerful yards. In fact, his 510 yards after contact ranks second among all running backs, behind only Derrick Henry (521) in Week 9. Jacobs is also fourth in missed tackles forced and runs of 10 or more yards and fifth in total yards. He has the characteristics of a monster when he has the ball in his hands. The Jaguars certainly found him slippery and slippery last week – Jacobs forced eight fumbles and gained nearly 100 yards after contact. Imagine how tough it will be to face Jacobs after Halloween, when temperatures drop in Green Bay and the weather becomes unsettled.
WR Jayden Reed
Reed has been a nightmare on drops (team-high seven), but he’s also been terrifying defenses most weeks this season. Reed ranks 13th in the NFL in receiving yards and 20th in total yards despite a recent frigid streak. He is on pace for over 1,000 receiving yards and 1,200 total yards. He also leads all receivers in rushing yards (110). Although the game was tranquil for most of last week, Reed received one last blow when he caught a 51-yard pass from Malik Willis for the game-winning field goal in Jacksonville. Perhaps a gigantic game will lend a hand him snap out of his recent zombie-like phase.
RT Zach Tom
Tom is like a scarecrow; he just calmly does his job every week. Scarecrows keep the birds out of the fields, Tom keeps the riders out of his pockets. The third-year Packers offense has allowed just nine tackles in eight games and currently ranks eighth overall in PFF’s offensive tackle rating. This isn’t a trick, kids. Tom’s ability to deflect edge brushes is terrifyingly good. His run-blocking improvements have made him one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL.
QB Malik Willis
Like a wizard, Willis turned terrible situations into gold for the Packers this season. Willis, acquired in a tardy August trade with the Titans for a bag of candy, recorded two wins as the starting quarterback and a winning streak in helping the Packers defeat three different teams in the AFC South. Even a witch couldn’t conjure up better revenge for the former Titan. Willis is averaging 9.7 yards per attempt and has a passer rating of 130.3. What kind of magic are Matt LaFleur and Tom Clements working in Green Bay’s quarterback room?
Sr. Evan Williams
The rookie backup came to Green Bay as a fourth-round pick and has perfectly embraced the role of Robin in Xavier McKinney’s Batman. Williams has an interception (to end the game against the Colts), a forced fumble (leading to a touchdown), a pass breakup on fourth down (to end the game against the Rams), and a two-point conversion (in the two-point win against the Cardinals). He was an enforcer against the run and a sneakily good player in coverage. Like a pirate hunting for gold, national scout Sam Saele discovered another great West Coast player for the Packers.
LB Eric Wilson
The NFL was ready to give up on Wilson, but the Packers dug him out of the graveyard and revived his career. He’s not a zombie or a mummy. Wilson has long been a feared presence on special teams, and now he consistently makes gigantic plays as Jeff Hafley’s middle linebacker. In eight games, Wilson recorded two sacks, 12 stops, an interception and a pass breakup. In PFF’s overall defensive rating, the Packers are second only to Xavier McKinney. The trick for Hafley will be to constantly find ways to get him on the pitch.
