Packers find some positives as Bills breeze to win
Packers punt at deadline, head to Detroit to tame struggling Lions
In what was supposed to be a premier game in the NFL season, the Buffalo Bills had an absolute cakewalk 27-17 victory against the Packers this past Sunday in which the Pack never really had a chance.
After spotting the Bills 14 points early, Green Bay tried their best to get back into the game throughout, however penalties negating touchdowns and big returns, along with two failed fourth down conversions spelled failure for the team, leading to a fourth straight loss.
What kept hope alive for most of the remainder of the game was the play of a few Packers who have been rewarded for their effort with some cheese.
The Cheeseboard 🧀
Aaron Jones 🧀
I feel like a broken record at this point. He’s the best Aaron on the team this year. When he gets the ball he does special things with it. This week he had 20 carries for 143 yards. True workhorse back stats which is what this team needs him to be — and what the coaching staff need to utilize him as — in order to have success the rest of the way.
Romeo Doubs 🧀
As predicted, the rookie WR storyline this season has very much been a rollercoaster. There are weeks Romeo Doubs showcases his potential through athletic, jaw-dropping receptions and there are others he is a no show. This week was the former. Doubs had four catches for 62 yards, but the obvious highlight was his turnaround catch for a touchdown. Doubs turned around at least twice to track the ball in the air and make a magnificent catch in the back of the end zone. An interesting anecdote: after Doubs dropped this touchdown pass against the Patriots, Matt LaFleur worked with him on holding the ball as he goes to the ground and how to maintain possession through the catch. That advice paid off it seems.
David Bakhtiari 🧀
More than once was David Bakhtiari giving Von Miller a tour of the entire football field. The former all-pro left tackle held up well against the former all-pro edge rusher, not allowing a single pressure all game and earning a 88.8 offense grade from Pro Football Focus. There were multiple times and Bakhtiari made Miller essentially trace a half circle around Rodgers from one end of the line to the other in the backfield. When he’s healthy, Bakhtiari is still that dude it seems.
Jaire Alexander 🧀
We can’t fault Jaire for who he was told to cover this game. Instead of playing Jaire on Stefon Diggs, Jaire was lined up across from Gabe Davis at the behest of Defensive Coordinator Joe Berry. In doing so, Jaire earned himself a 91.3 coverage grade from PFF, allowing zero receptions on five targets his way, snagging an interception off Josh Allen and recording a sack as well. If he did this against Stefon Diggs, he might’ve gotten two cheese for his effort.
Cheeseboard after 8 games:
Aaron Jones: 🧀 x 6
Rashan Gary: 🧀 x 4
De’Vondre Campbell: 🧀 x 3
Jaire Alexander: 🧀 x 3
Preston Smith: 🧀 x 3
Romeo Doubs: 🧀 x 3
Aaron Rodgers: 🧀 x 2
AJ Dillon: 🧀 x 2
Elgton Jenkins: 🧀 x 2
Kenny Clark: 🧀 x 2
Keisean Nixon: 🧀 x 2
Pat O’Donnell: 🧀 x 2
Rasul Douglas: 🧀 x 2
Quay Walker: 🧀 x 2
Allen Lazard: 🧀
Eric Stokes: 🧀
Darnell Savage: 🧀
David Bakhtiari: 🧀
Jarran Reed: 🧀
John Runyan: 🧀
Mason Crosby: 🧀
Randall Cobb: 🧀
Robert Tonyan: 🧀
Rudy Ford: 🧀
Sammy Watkins: 🧀
Zach Tom: 🧀
Packers punt at deadline
Any longtime Packers fan should know that expecting the team to make a significant move at the deadline is an act in futility.
Are you ready for a laughable list? According to Pro Football Reference, here is a list of the Packers in-season trades since 1994:
2019: Traded Trevor Davis to the Oakland Raiders for 2020 6th round pick (Jon Runan)
2018: Traded Ha-Ha Clinton Dix to the Washington [REDACTEDS] for a 2019 4th round pick (traded away); and Ty Montgomery to the Baltimore Ravens for a 2020 7th round pick (Jonathan Garvin)
2016: Traded a 2018 pick (didn’t convey) to the Kansas City Chiefs for running back Knile Davis.
2010: Traded a conditional 2011 pick (didn’t convey) to the Jaguars for defensive back Anthony Smith
2004: Traded CB Mike McKenzie to the Saints for QB J.T. O’Sullivan and a 2005 2nd round pick (Nick Collins)
2003: Traded a 2004 conditional pick (didn’t convey) to the Cowboys for Reggie Swinton
1997: Traded Wayne Simmons to the Chiefs for a 1995 5th round pick (Corey Bradford)
1998: Traded a conditional 4th round pick to the Buffalo Bills for running back Darick Holmes.
Almost 30 years of football and the Packers have made nine in-season trades in that time, none of which were for significant, game-changing players that contributed to a title team.
All of that is to say: the Packers were never going to make a move this deadline and they shouldn’t have. Especially as they looked down the road and saw a possible rebuild fast approaching. They are more than one receiver away from contending and sacrificing high draft capital to plug a hole with the WR2s that were on the market would’ve been bad practice.
Does Gutey need to make more trades in-season? Absolutely, but only when they’re contending and makes sense to do so. To have them make a move this year, but not in 2019, 2020 or 2021 would’ve been maddening since those version of the Packers were much closer to a title than this team is.
Until then, let him showcase his talent in the draft and continue to find studs and build the roster that way — however frustrating it might be come the end of October.
Preview of Packers-Lions, score predictions
After facing one of the league’s most vaunted defenses last week, the Packers SHOULD have it easier this week as the head to Detroit to take on the division rival Lions — who boast one of the leagues worst defense this season.
The Lions look like a young team as they have lost four of their six games by four points or less. All of those games have more or less been shootouts including a 38-35 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and a 48-45 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
While their defense has not played well, their offense is another story. Led by Jared Goff and breakout star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, when the Lions offense is clicking, it’s dangerous.
St. Brown and running backs D’Andre Swift and former Packer Jamaal Williams are plenty talented to carve up undisciplined defenses. Seeing how this run defense holds up against Swift and Williams will definitely be something to watch for.
That bad defense should allow to the Packers offense to get into a rhythm and hopefully build some momentum to finish the second half of the season. Look for the Packers RBs to have big games and my fingers are crossed Rodgers and subsequently Doubs breaks out this game.
Players to watch:
Numac: Aaron Rodgers
Jordan: Aaron Jones
Score predictions:
Numac: 34-26 Packers
Jordan: 27-25 Packers