The bye week is over and the Green Bay Packers (6-3) will soon begin preparing to face the Chicago Bears, who will host Matt LaFleur’s team at Soldier Field during Week 11 of NFC North play.
Before we move on to Bears week, let’s take one last look at the first half of the Packers’ season. The Packers rank only 22nd in the NFL in terms of overall rating from Pro Football Focus. Disappointing grades on the run-blocking, defensive and special teams teams have lowered the Packers’ overall rating after nine games.
Who was good? Who needs to improve? PFF grades can support point the way.
Here are the best and worst players from the Packers’ first nine games of the 2024 season:
Top 5 crimes
1.RB Josh Jacobs: 83.9
2.RT Zach Tom: 83.3
3. RB Emanuel Wilson: 80.0
4. QB Malik Willis: 77.4
5. WR Jayden Reed: 71.6
Jacobs ranks fifth in run rating (86.9), second in yards after contact (590_, and fifth in missed tackles forced (33) through nine weeks. Tom has allowed just one sack and 11 total pressures, ranking third among offensive tackles in the run blocking class (84.6). Wilson had 14 missed tackles and had six runs for 10 yards and three runs for 15 yards, while also performing solidly as a pass protector, completing nearly 75 percent of his passes for an average of 9.7 yards per attempt, with no interceptions or interceptions. Reed is averaging 2.63 yards per route (sixth among WRs), ranks second in yards from the slot, and leads all WRs in rushing yards.
Top 5 defenses
1. S. Xavier McKinney: 89.5
2. S Evan Williams: 87.4
3. LB Eric Wilson: 78.4
4. CB Jaire Alexander: 74.9
5. LB Edgerrin Cooper: 69.6
McKinney has six interceptions and seven tackles. He ranks second among safeties in coverage, and as a blitzer he has only missed three tackles while generating three pressures. Williams allowed only six completions in his coverage and had both a forced fumble and an interception. Wilson has two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception, while also scoring well as a tackler and coverage guard. Alexander has allowed two touchdowns in coverage, but also has two interceptions and an overall good coverage level. Cooper has five pressures, 13 stops, a strip sack and a pass breakup in 238 snaps. The freshman has an elite 90.4 rushing grade.
Bottom 5 offense
1. TE Luke Musgrave: 47.0
2. WR Malik Heath: 48.7
3. C Josh Myers: 49.9
4. WR Dontayvion Wicks: 53.3
5. OL Jordan Morgan: 59.2
Musgrave ran 45 routes but caught only five balls for 22 yards before suffering an ankle injury. He also had problems as a blocker. Heath has played 32 routes, but has just 26 receiving yards and hasn’t made any impression as a run blocker. Myers Wicks has dropped six passes and is 0-for-9 in catch opportunities contested and ranks last among WRs in catch-for-loss percentage. Morgan has the worst pass blocking record of any Packers offensive lineman this season, and his run blocking is only average.
Defense down 5
1. DL TJ Slaton: 42.7
2. DE Lukas Van Ness: 47.6
3. LB Quay Walker: 47.7
4. DL Kenny Clark: 50.7
5. CB Eric Stokes: 51.1
Slaton has just eight pressures (zero sacks) on 99 pass rush snaps, four missed tackles and a destitute run defense rating (44.8). Van Ness turned 141 pass-rush snaps into just six tackles, with three penalties and three missed tackles. Walker performed well on offense, but lost a lot of production on defense and was ineffective on offense. Clark has 16 tackles but just two quarterback hits and zero sacks, and he also missed three tackles. Stokes has allowed 293 yards receiving this season, the most on the team.
Special teams
Eric Wilson leads the team with 171 special teams snaps. Zayne Anderson has a team-high seven tackles, while rookies Javon Bullard (three tackles, two assists), Edgerrin Cooper (three tackles) and Ty’Ron Hopper (three tackles, two assists) have made the biggest contributions. Because Melton has the most three missed tackles on the team. The Packers were penalized 12 times and missed 12 tackles on special teams. Brayden Narveson and Brandon McManus combined to make 18 of 24 field goals and made all 22 of their extra points. Daniel Whelan ranks ninth in the boat class and sixth in net boat average. Keisean Nixon only had seven first downs, a long streak of 37. Jayden Reed currently ranks last in the NFL in punt return rating.
Playing quarterback
Jordan Love: 71.3
Love has 10 “big throws” and 10 “missable plays,” and his successful throw percentage is down and his pass-worthy percentage is up from last season. His adjusted completion percentage (adjusted for drops, etc.) is 74.1, while his average depth of target remains high at 30 feet. He was injured after 16 falls. Love is great when kept pure and not under attack, but it really thrives both under pressure and when under attack. Struggling with knee and groin injuries, Love only climbed five times.
Malik Willis: 77.4
Willis, who has been spotless this season, completed 27 of 35 passes for 335 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Two of his three touchdown passes came after play action. He is 3 of 5 on throws over 20 yards for 120 yards. Willis climbed eight times. He forced five missed tackles and has 122 rushing yards after the first touch.
