The Packers left Detroit on the other side of game-winning field goal going their way last Thursday as the fell to the Lions 34-31. The game was a bit of a slog offensively and the Lions put up 34 points so the defense wasn’t exactly shining either.
But that doesn’t mean there weren’t a few bright spots throughout the game worthy of some high quality cheddar.
Week 14 Candidates
Jordan Love: 12-for-20, 206 passing yards, 1 TD // 4 carries, 23 rushing yards (83.8 PFF grade)
Josh Jacobs: 18 carries, 66 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs (68.7 PFF grade)
Kenny Clark: 8 tackles (5 solo), 1 TFL (80.1 PFF grade)
Keisean Nixon: 10 tackles (3 solo), 1 INT, 1 passes defended (76.4 PFF grade)
Christian Watson: 4 catches on 7 targets, 114 receiving yards (1 fumble) (58.3 PFF grade)
Week 14 Cheeses
🧀 Keisean Nixon 🧀
It’s been an up and down year for Keisean Nixon. For all intents and purposes he’s had to play out of position for most of the season as the Packers have to plug and play multiple players in their secondary. But the constant has been Nixon who is quietly — and surprisingly to many fans including myself — having a solid year. He is second on the team in coverage snaps this year, only behind Xavier McKinney, but is fifth in reception percentage at 66.7. He gets a lot of the ire of fans because he often being thrown at — he leads the team in targets with 60, next closest is Javon Bullard with 46 — however, he at the very least he is out there and making plays. As evidenced by his interception of Jared Goff last week, swinging momentum back to the Packers after Christian Watson’s fumble. And for that, he gets a cheese this week.
🧀 Kenny Clark 🧀
After his slow start, Kenny Clark has come on as of late and the Packers run defense as a result has been much better. Beginning with the 49ers game, the Packers have recorded rush defense grades of 73.5, 74.4 and 59.8 according to PFF. This week’s number against the Lions isn’t ideal, but for all intents and purposes holding David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs to less than a 100 yards on the ground combined is going to work just fine. Against Detroit, Clark recorded six (!) STOPs, according to PFF, tied for second most of his career and the most he’s had in one game since 2019. Kenny Clark’s recent resurgence in the run game has solidified the line and been a huge boon for this defense. If he can keep up this type of production, it could be the boost the defense needs from the front to make a serious run.
🧀 Josh Jacobs 🧀
I’m running out of things to say about Josh Jacobs. At the very least, I’m just happy Matt LaFleur has finally learned to trust his star running back after years of fans begging him to do the same with Aaron Jones. In the last month, he had 291 yards on the ground and EIGHT touchdowns. Just an absurd month for RB1 and the constant the Packers need in the backfield right now. His 3 TDs on Thursday kept the Packers in it and with any certainty, he’ll need to keep scampering into the end zone as the Packers set their sights on New Orleans in the next two months.
Cheeseboard through Week 14
Josh Jacobs 🧀 x5
Xavier McKinney 🧀 x4
Tucker Kraft 🧀 x3
Jayden Reed 🧀 x3
Edgerrin Cooper 🧀 x2
Rashan Gary 🧀 x2
Jordan Love 🧀 x2
Zach Tom 🧀 x2
Quay Walker 🧀 x2
Eric Wilson 🧀 x2
Daniel Whelan 🧀 x2
Jaire Alexander 🧀
Karl Brooks 🧀
Kenny Clark 🧀
Romeo Doubs 🧀
Kingsley Enagbare 🧀
Brian Gutekunst 🧀
Elgton Jenkins 🧀
Matt LaFleur 🧀
Keisean Nixon 🧀
Lukas Van Ness 🧀
Christian Watson 🧀
Evan Williams 🧀
Malik Willis 🧀
De’Vonte Wyatt 🧀