The Green Bay Packers defense played like an elite unit on Sunday, regardless of its inferior opponent in the Los Angeles Rams.
Rookie cornerback Carrington Valentine was a big part of the success. He finished the day with three pass break-ups, which led the team. Overall, he looked like a veteran in his fourth start, making plays in both pass and run defense. It was especially huge considering Valentine is currently viewed as the successor to Rasul Douglas while Eric Stokes recovers from injury.
"Man, 3-7 (Valentine) played like a top-tier corner in the league and it's exciting to see," Packers All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander told reporters after the game. "And you know, he will continue to do that. Because that's the standard now. I mean, we've seen it in camp - he's young, he's hungry [and] he wants to make plays. He wants to be the best, you know, and I can't be more happy to play alongside with somebody like that."
For Valentine, Sunday's success came at no surprise. What was surprising, however, was the fact he played a major role in holding both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua to a combined five receptions for 80 yards on 14 targets. As a result, his confidence was on full display as he spoke with reporters - as it should have been.
Valentine is a true seventh-rounder with a chip on his shoulder
Football players are some of the most competitive people on Earth and even if the majority of pundits and experts say a guy is a seventh-round draft pick, it doesn't matter to them. In their mind(s), they are worthy of the No. 1 overall selection. Even if they aren't on the field.
Valentine did earn a late-round grade by many experts. And while there's a long way to go, he's using that, along with his objective draft status to fuel what has so far been an impressive rookie season when placed in the correct context.
If the Packers continue to receive more performances like the one on Sunday, then not only will it help ease the sting of the Douglas trade, it'll give the Packers both a windfall regarding Stokes' injury and a crucial building block for the future. As Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry recently said - it's a "champagne problem".
And those are the kinds of problems the Packers, along with every other NFL team, likes to have.
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