The Green Bay Packers were unable to overcome major offensive line and defense problems for the talented Detroit Lions offense in a 34-31 loss at Ford Field on Thursday night.
While the Packers earned the highest passing grade of the season from Pro Football Focus, they also finished with the lowest passing grade in pass blocking and another below-average defensive rating.
Based on grades from Pro Football Focus, here are the best and worst players in the Packers’ Week 14 loss to the Lions:
Top 5 crimes
1. QB Jordan Love: 83.8
2. Wicks WR Dontayvion: 78.6
3. LG Elgton Jenkins: 72.9
4.RT Zach Tom: 72.0
5.RB Chris Brooks: 69.3
Love played without turnovers despite being under pressure on almost 40 percent of his possessions and made two significant shots while playing brilliantly from immaculate pockets. Wicks caught four passes, averaging 2.72 yards per route, and forced a missed tackle. Jenkins was penalized for holding the ball, but otherwise threw the ball away in pass protection. Tom allowed a sack and a false start penalty, but was the highest-rated run blocker on the team. Brooks was outstanding on three pass-blocking opportunities and also earned a first down on the ground.
Top 5 defenses
1. DL Kenny Clark: 80.1
2. CB Keisean Nixon: 76.4
3. DE Arron Mosby: 76.4
4.DL Devonte Wyatt: 73.9
5. DE Lukas Van Ness: 68.4
Clark had a team-high and season-high six stops and also hurried as a pass rusher. Nixon intercepted a pass, broke up a pass and made 10 tackles without a miss. Mosby was in a hurry and stopped. Wyatt made a quarterback hit and two stops. Van Ness was in a hurry and stopped.
Bottom 5 offense
1. C Josh Myers: 37.1
2. TE Ben Sims: 43.5
3. WR Jayden Reed: 44.5
4. WR Christian Watson: 56.3
5. TE Tucker Kraft: 61.2
Myers gave up two pressures and posted the worst pass-blocking grade (0.0) of his NFL career. Sims gave up pressure as a line blocker and was feeble as a run blocker after 10 snaps. Reed went down and didn’t catch or touch the ball in 25 snaps. Watson caught the ball four times for 114 yards, but struggled with run blocking, drew a critical OPI penalty and lost a fumble. Kraft had difficulty blocking the run.
Defense down 5
1. CB Javon Bullard: 30.0
2. DL Colby Wooden: 41.2
3. DL TJ Slaton: 46.9
4. DE Brenton Cox Jr: 47.9
5. DL Karl Brooks: 51.6
Bullard returned three catches – including two on third-down conversions – and had the lowest run defense rating. Wooden made an impressive catch on third down, but otherwise had no impact on the game as a pass rusher. Slaton didn’t get any pressure in 25 passing snaps. Cox Jr. he felt no pressure and struggled with the run. Brooks almost blew the running game, but he had no pressure or stoppage.
Special teams
No punts or kickoffs were returned, so no special teams tackles were made or missed. Robert Rochell was penalized for stopping after returning by boat. The Packers didn’t return a kick or a punt. Brandon McManus made his only field goal and all four extra points, and Daniel Whelan placed two punts inside the 20-yard line.
Playing quarterback
Jordan Love: 83.8
Love had a total of two huge throws and zero turnovers, averaging 11.6 yards per attempt from immaculate pockets and 11.5 yards per attempt on offense. He completed 4 of 6 passes thrown more than 10 yards in the air for 126 yards and a score. The Lions had Love under pressure on nine of their 24 losses, or 37.5 percent. Jayden Reed had the only fall and Love climbed three times.
Statistics worth knowing
Throwing to the middle of the field, Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 16 of 21 passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns. One of the incompletes was a Sam LaPorta drop. He also completed 13 of 16 passes out of play. The Packers had no say in defending the middle of the field, especially on downfield plays.
