PACKERS REPORT CARD
Here's a position-by-position analysis of how the Green Bay Packers graded out during their 31-17 loss Sunday to the New England Patriots.
Quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers (89.2 rating) didn’t turn the ball over but didn’t come up with an MVP performance when it was needed. He also had a couple mistakes that cost points – a delay penalty in the red zone in the first quarter and failed conversion on a third-down keeper in a two-minute drill at the end of the first half. Grade: CRunning back: Aaron Jones continues to be one of their most dynamic weapons (5.4-yard average on 14 carries), but also lost a huge fumble at the start of the fourth quarter with the game tied at 17. Grade: BOffensive line: Rodgers was under pressure all game (one sack, six hits). Guard Byron Bell and backup tackle Jason Spriggs, who replaced injured Bryan Bulaga (knee) in the second quarter, gave up too much rush on the right side. Grade: C
Wide receivers: Rookie Marquez Valdes-Scantling (three catches for 101 yards) is becoming a real deep threat. Another rookie, Equanimeous St. Brown, shows promise too but ran the wrong route on a zero blitz and missed the chance at a long touchdown. Randall Cobb had only a 4.8-yard average on five catches. Grade: BTight ends: Jimmy Graham (four catches for 55 yards) had a 15-yard touchdown but is starting to show his age.
Grade: C
Defensive line: Mike Daniels had a sack, but the interior rush was a little spotty overall. The run defense as a whole was
good but had trouble getting a handle on converted receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (11 carries, 61 yards) early.
Grade: BInside linebacker: Blake Martinez is improving as a blitzer, and Antonio Morrison had a big sack. But neither made a turnover play on a day when the Packers badly needed one. Grade: C+
Outside linebackers: Nick Perry (ankle) was a non-factor again in 29 snaps, and Reggie Gilbert’s limitations have come to the fore when he’s not playing against backups like in the preseason. Clay Matthews flashes but isn’t chasing down run plays from behind like he used to. Grade: CCornerbacks: Kevin King’s hamstring injury in the first half was costly, and the Patriots picked on Bashaud Breeland in his 2018 debut. But overall this group covered OK against the great Tom Brady. Grade: BSafeties: No glaring problems in coverage with Tramon Williams starting in place of the traded Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Josh Jones playing 51 snaps because of Jermaine Whitehead’s ejection and Kentrell Brice’s knee injury. But Williams missed a big tackle on Josh Gordon’s 55-yard touchdown, and nobody made a big play, either. Grade: C+
Special teams: Punter JK Scott bounced back after a poor performance in the clutch last week – he had a net average of 42 yards, and the only one returned was for zero yards. There were no big special-teams mistakes other than a roughing-the-punter flag on tight end Robert Tonyan, but no big plays on a night when the offense needed a boost. Grade: C