Packers Report Card: Grades From Statement Victory Over Lions

Two plays, two beautiful throws, one giant answer to the Lions pulling within one score.

Love’s protection was mostly flawless. Love was rarely under duress. Lions star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was silent for most of the day, finishing with zero tackles and one quarterback hit.

“It started up front. The O-line did great today,” tight end Tucker Kraft said. “They were passing stuff off early. They were doing great with picks. They were getting their depth. They were using their eyes, their hands. Josh was in there in pass pro. You’ll see – he was a dawg in there today. We were trying to take care of the edge rushers with a lot of chips. It was just the front seven, front eight up there just trying to contribute and keep the quarterback safe.”

Next up? Dan Quinn and his ferocious Washington Commanders defense, which held the New York Giants to six points and sacked Russell Wilson twice.

Grade: A

Rush Offense

If there were one disappointing facet from Green Bay’s performance, it was the run game. Josh Jacobs is coming off one of his best seasons in the NFL but found tough sledding against Detroit’s defensive front. Jacobs finished the day with 66 yards on 19 carries, which was solid production after rushing six times for 8 yards in the first half. Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson added two carries for 5 yards.

Ultimately, the biggest run of the game was Jordan Love’s quarterback sneak that converted a fourth-and-1 deep in Lions territory to set up Jacobs for the clinching touchdown.

This facet of the game could be interesting going into Thursday night’s game against Washington.

Right tackle Zach Tom left the game with a hip injury and left guard Aaron Banks with an ankle injury. Coach Matt LaFleur didn’t have any updates after the game; in regard to Tom, Love said, “I don’t think it was anything too major.” If they’re not available on a short week, Jacobs will be running behind an offensive line trying to replace two starters.

For Sunday, however, the run blocking left a lot to be desired.

Grade: C

Pass Defense

The buzzword throughout the facility after the game was “dominant.” Green Bay’s defense was exactly that. It allowed six points while the game was in question; only a desperation heave from Jared Goff that was caught in the back of the end zone by rookie Isacc TeSlaa allowed the Lions to find the end zone.

Apart from that, All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was relatively quiet, catching four passes for 45 yards. Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs had 10 catches but only 31 yards. The leading receiver for the Lions was tight end Sam LaPorta, but most of his heavy lifting was done on one catch for 32 yards against a busted coverage.

When Green Bay’s rush was not getting home, the secondary and linebackers covered up Detroit’s receivers.

Keisean Nixon, the team’s new top cornerback with the departure of Jaire Alexander in the offseason, understood the new front would help, but they had to make a statement in their first game.

“We just comin’ for that smoke this year. I had smoke with No. 1 (Lions receiver Jameson Williams) all game, told him he’s got to come see me,” Nixon said.

“Them boys ain’t the same team, anyways. Them boys washed. We ain’t worried about no St. Brown,” Nixon added.

Whether that’s true or not, Green Bay’s pass defense was electric on this day, and a big part of that came from their defensive front.