Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers: Full Report Card Grades for Green Bay
Death, taxes and the Lions losing in Wisconsin.
The Green Bay Packers (12-4) are winners of the NFC North for the fourth straight year after defeating the Detroit Lions (11-5), 30-20, at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
Detroit’s loss marks the 23rd consecutive game in which the Lions played the Packers in Wisconsin (either at Lambeau Field in Green Bay or at County Stadium in Milwaukee) and came away without a victory. And they’ve gone 21 straight seasons without winning the division.
With the Seahawks winning over the Rams, the Packers earned the No. 2 seed in the NFC—great news for Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a calf injury during the win and was sidelined for two series.
"One calf is enough...#AaronRodgers
— Andrew Brandt (@adbrandt) December 28, 2014"
Detroit wiped out a 14-point lead in Rodgers’ absence. Then the MVP front-runner came back on the field with a vengeance, leading touchdown drives on two of the Packers’ next three possessions (a blocked field goal was the result of the other).
Heal up, A-Rod. We need you in two weeks.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Coming into Sunday’s game, conventional wisdom dictated that Aaron Rodgers needed to have a decent game for a shot to win his second league MVP. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has been outstanding in December, and J.J. Watt just tallied the second 20-sack season of his young career.
But what Rodgers did Sunday—playing a near-perfect game after previously being carted off the field—virtually ensures the 10-year pro of winning the prestigious award.
"McCarthy: Clearly another MVP performance by Aaron Rodgers. #DETvsGB
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 29, 2014"
After an 0-of-3 start passing, Rodgers connected on 17 of his next 19 passes. He mixed in a 13-yard scramble on 3rd-and-8. Two plays later, he threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb but fell to the ground writhing in pain and grabbing his left calf.
With Rodgers out, Matt Flynn stepped in and was on the field for four offensive snaps (by my count). He handed off to James Starks and Randall Cobb, completed a six-yard pass to Eddie Lacy and was sacked after holding the ball for far too long.
The highlight of the night, undoubtedly, was Rodgers’ one-yard touchdown sneak to put the Packers up by two scores in the fourth quarter. On 2nd-and-goal, Rodgers snuck to his left, following the backside of left guard Josh Sitton, and just stuck the ball across the goal line for the score.
"Of course Rodgers sneaks in from the 1-yard line with a bad calf. No Lambeau Leap. Small belt, smile and point.
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) December 29, 2014"
You can’t ask for anything more.
Grade: A+
Running Back
2 of 10
The Lions entered Sunday’s contest with the league’s stingiest run defense, allowing opponents to average just 63.8 yards per game on the ground (Denver is No. 2, allowing 80.6).
Don’t tell that to Eddie Lacy.
"Eddie Lacy just became the first rusher to hit 100 yards against the #Lions defense this season. 26 carries, 100 yards.
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) December 29, 2014"
Lacy went for 22, five and eight yards on the Packers’ first three plays from scrimmage. He was stellar for the majority of the game, though he did lose his third career fumble to stymie a 76-yard drive.
James Starks ripped off a 21-yarder on his first carry but totaled just five more on his next four runs.
Grade: A-
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
The Packers are going to need a third legitimate option after Nelson and Cobb if they want to go anywhere in the playoffs. Can Richard Rodgers be the answer?
It sure looked like it on Sunday.
"I'm liking the progress of Richard Rodgers. Seems like he's been making a couple big catches every week now.
— Jacob Padilla (@JacobPadilla_) December 28, 2014"
Rodgers caught all five of his targets for 40 yards, including a contested six-yarder on 3rd-and-4 to extend the drive that eventually resulted in Rodgers’ sneak to put the Packers up 28-14. It could have been a much different ballgame if that ball’s not caught and Green Bay is forced to punt.
Randall Cobb caught both of Rodgers’ touchdown passes and finishes his 2014 season with 12 touchdowns, one shy of teammate Jordy Nelson, who had a decent season of his own:
"Jordy Nelson sets the Packers single-season receiving record. First #Packers WR with more than 1,500 yards in a season.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) December 28, 2014"
Nelson dropped a touchdown on a play that ended up being wiped out due to defensive pass interference.
Grade: A
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
With Rodgers’ mobility lacking due to the calf injury, the line needed to play at its best, both in the run and pass game.
And the big boys up front responded.
The Packers totaled 152 yards on the ground, 18 yards more than the previous season high allowed by the Lions’ No. 1 rush defense.
"#Packers offensive line, Lacy and Starks making a statement early: No fear against league's top run D.
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) December 28, 2014"
"Rodgers: The (offensive) line's been great. They've been the key to our success the last 8-10 weeks. #DETvsGB
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 29, 2014"
Rodgers was hit just once and was not sacked. Flynn got sacked on one of his two dropbacks, but that was more on him holding the ball than the line.
The only thing the line didn’t do was decapitate Ndamukong Suh after he stepped on Rodgers' ankle—twice—though T.J. Lang did take exception to it, something Rodgers’ brother Luke noticed and was appreciative for:
"I love TJ Lang.
— Luke Rodgers (@thelukerodgers) December 29, 2014"
Grade: A+
Defensive Line
5 of 10
Mike Daniels is a treat to watch.
His sack came on the second-to-last play and was mostly meaningless, but he had an active night on the interior defensive line and was in Matthew Stafford’s face for a good portion of the game.
"Mike Daniels has played a whale of a ball game. Tenacious
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) December 29, 2014"
Just before Daniels’ sack, Datone Jones forced an errant throw from Stafford with interior pressure, and the play drew an intentional grounding flag. Stafford was in the end zone, so Jones got credit for a safety.
Grade: A
Linebacker
6 of 10
At one point this season, I thought Clay Matthews was done.
But with 6.5 sacks in the last four games, along with a host of tackles for loss, Matthews’ game has been on point. The way he’s shifted to more of an all-around player has been fun to watch. He’s not afraid to take on blockers at the point of attack.
"Clay Matthews is playing behind the line of scrimmage today. That much is clear.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 28, 2014"
But I could do without his complaining to the refs while the play is ongoing.
Julius Peppers tallied two passes defensed but didn’t record a tackle. He did force some pressure on Stafford, beating right tackle Garrett Reynolds before Reynolds was moved to guard to replace Larry Warford.
Grade: B+
Secondary
7 of 10
Morgan Burnett continues to play good football. He wasn’t the best player on the field like last Sunday’s win at Tampa Bay, but he was still excellent.
Casey Hayward got his hands on two passes and probably should have intercepted one of them, but he took his eyes off the ball at the last minute. He also added a tackle for loss.
Tramon Williams was victimized for one of Calvin Johnson’s two touchdown catches after Megatron won at the line of scrimmage and got behind Williams for an easy fade completion. But the defense, as a whole, did a decent job on Johnson, who caught only four of his 11 targets.
Sean Richardson played more than usual, replacing Sam Shields in base defense.
Grade: B-
Special Teams
8 of 10
First, the good: Micah Hyde’s 55-yard punt return for a touchdown was a huge spark after the letdown of being stopped at the goal line.
Next, the bad: Everything else.
"Special teams woes continue w/blocked FG. That's 3rd FG & 7th kick blocked this year. #Packers
— Rob Reischel (@robreischel) December 28, 2014"
In addition to the blocked field goal, Tim Masthay was pretty bad, too. If he wasn’t hitting line drives with no hang time, his coffin corner attempts were careening out of bounds far too early or bouncing into the end zone.
And the 11 Packers on the field had no idea what they were doing on Detroit’s onside punt after the safety. Randall Cobb muffed it and the Lions recovered. And they nearly recovered the next onside kick after it squirted through Morgan Burnett’s hand.
Jeremy Ross returned a kick 41 yards to Detroit’s 39-yard line. The defense held and forced a three-and-out.
"Despite Micah Hyde's heroics today, #Packers special teams are still a mess. Could be costly in 2 weeks.
— Rob Reischel (@robreischel) December 29, 2014"
Grade: C-
Coaching
9 of 10
Mike McCarthy is a wonderful play designer and play-caller, but his calls as of late at the goal line have left me wanting more.
After Eddie Lacy carried the offense down the field on Green Bay’s first possession, McCarthy went with John Kuhn and two pass plays on first, second and third down with just a yard to go. Then, on 4th-and-goal from the one, Lacy got his shot, but the run was bottled up, thanks in large part to its design to go off tackle.
"Mike McCarthy is a very smart offensive mind but he often gets too cute with situational play calling. Just play.
— Peter Bukowski (@BukoTime) December 28, 2014"
But I did love that he came to his quarterback’s defense after the game, calling out Suh for stepping on his MVP player.
"Mike McCarthy calls Suh's step on Rodgers "ridiculous" and "there's no place for that" and "I don't understand it, frankly."
— Carlos Monarrez (@cmonarrez) December 29, 2014"
Special teams coach Shawn Slocum won’t be around much longer if his unit continues to play like crap. The return touchdown from Hyde was great, but the unit got dominated on the whole, and the Lions have a bad special teams unit themselves.
Grade: C
Overall Grades
10 of 10
| Positional Unit | Overall Grades |
| Quarterback | A+ |
| Running Back | A- |
| Wide Receiver and Tight End | A |
| Offensive Line | A+ |
| Defensive Line | A |
| Linebacker | B+ |
| Secondary | B- |
| Special Teams | C- |
| Coaching | C |
| Cumulative Grade | A- |
This game had it all. Green Bay totaled 138 yards on its first two drives but with no points to show for it. Then Hyde got his hands on a punt and took it to the house.
A 14-0 lead disappeared when the likely league MVP collapsed to the ground writhing in pain. Then he heroically trotted back on the field and quickly led two touchdown drives to salt the game away.
After a 1-2 start, many a Packers fan was in panic. But buoyed with wise words from the quarterback to “R-E-L-A-X,” the team rallied to win 11 of its next 13 and ensure itself of a first-round bye and at least one home playoff game.
"Aaron Rodgers finished the regular season with a passer rating of 112.2. First player in NFL history with 100+ rating in 6 straight seasons.
— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) December 29, 2014"
The league announced that the Packers will host their eventual division round foe at 1:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 11. Two wins and another trip to the Super Bowl. Three wins and the Lombardi returns to Green Bay for the second time in five seasons.
Giddy up.
Follow me on Twitter @PeterSowards.
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