The Green Bay Packers were far too sloppy on offense – with turnovers, penalties and game-changing interceptions – and weren’t disruptive enough on defense to beat the Detroit Lions at a rain-drenched Lambeau Field on Sunday.
The loss dropped it to 6-3 at the end of the bye week.
Sunday’s performance was the Packers’ third-worst performance of the season, according to Pro Football Focus’ overall rating.
Based on grades from Pro Football Focus, here are the best and worst players in the Packers’ Week 9 loss to the Lions:
Top 5 crimes
1. TE Ben Sims: 83.2
2. RB Emanuel Wilson: 77.3
3. WR Jayden Reed: 77.3
4. Lt. Rasheed Walker: 73.3
5.RT Zach Tom: 73.3
Sims was rated highly as a run blocker through 12 snaps. One of his best blocks helped Josh Jacobs complete a 37-yard run in the first half. Wilson forced two missed tackles, ran for over 10 yards, scored a touchdown and earned a solid grade as a pass blocker. Reed caught five of six targets and returned for 113 yards on 30 carries. He had three catches for 25 yards, including one problematic catch on fourth down. Walker allowed just one rush in 38 pass-blocking snaps and earned an elite pass-blocking grade. Tom allowed two pressures and had a false start, but was solid as both a pass blocker and run blocker.
Top 5 defenses
1. LB Isaiah McDuffie: 89.5
2. DE Preston Smith: 72.7
3. S Javon Bullard: 71.3
4. CB Carrington Valentine: 67.2
5. S. Xavier McKinney: 65.7
McDuffie was by far the team’s highest-rated player throughout the series. Smith had a run break and was in coverage for an incompletion. Bullard missed a tackle, but was effective both in attack and in coverage (he didn’t give up the catch). Valentine missed a reception, but allowed just one catch in 15 coverage snaps. McKinney caught the ball well and didn’t give up any catches.
Bottom 5 offense
1. WR Dontayvion Wicks: 40.6
2. WR Romeo Doubs: 43.5
3. RG Sean Rhyan: 51.5
4.RB Chris Brooks: 53.6
5. C Elgton Jenkins: 56.5
Wicks returned two passes, including one in the end zone, and finished the game with zero catches and zero yards on 18 carries. Doubs had a drop and a false start, resulting in only 28 receiving yards on 32 carries. Rhyan gave up two rushes, struggled in the running game and had a false start on third down. Brooks threw a pass on third down, but ran 9 yards in the red zone and did a good job of blocking the pass. Jenkins didn’t allow pressure to get, but he had some bad snaps and was graded as a impoverished run blocker inside.
Defense down 5
1. DL Karl Brooks: 32.8
2. LB Eric Wilson: 38.6
3. DL Kenny Clark: 39.7
4. LB Quay Walker: 50.4
5. DE Lukas Van Ness: 51.5
Brooks felt under no pressure after six quick passes and was impoverished on the run. Wilson missed a tackle, gave up three catches in his coverage and struggled against the run. Clark had no pressure on 14 passing snaps and was ineffective against the run. Walker performed well but struggled against the run and missed six catches in coverage. Van Ness rushed and stopped, but missed a reception on 24 snaps.
Special teams
Ty’Ron Hopper and Xavier McKinney had tackles that included the start of the game. Bo Melton missed a tackle and Kamal Hadden blocked a penalty on a punt return. Keisean Nixon was also disciplined for unnecessary roughness. Brandon McManus missed a 46-yard field goal. Both of Daniel Whelan’s punts landed inside the 20-yard line – his net average was 42.0.
Playing quarterback
Jordan Love: 68.3
Love completed 17 of 25 passes for 215 yards and one huge throw from immaculate pockets, but he struggled under pressure and on offense. His adjusted completion percentage was 80.0 with five drops and two sacks. Love has not been released. He completed three passes of over 20 yards and 3 of 4 passes for 52 yards in the intermediate range (10-19 yards). He was severely penalized for throwing a pick-six under pressure and several bad snaps.
Statistics worth knowing
According to PFF, the Packers dropped five passes: two from Dontayvion Wicks, one from Chris Brooks, one from Romeo Doubs and one from Tucker Kraft. Four of the five failed on the third attempt.
The first start of Jordan Morgan’s career
The Packers’ first-round pick started his first career start. He played 65 snaps at left guard. The results were mixed. He made some nice blocks in the running game, but was inconsistent and allowed four total pressures – including a quarterback hit that led to a pick-six by Jordan Love. Morgan was also deemed to be holding. His final grade was 62.6.
