Packers vs. Seahawks: Final Report Card, Player Grades for Green Bay

The Seattle Seahawks beat the Green Bay Packers 13-12 on one of the most bizarre finishes in NFL history. A questionable interception/touchdown call decided the game as the Seahawks won as time expired. The Packers fall to 1-2 on the season after the loss.

The Packers offense played a very poor first and it cost the team. With some quicker adjustments and capitalizing on long drives in the second half, the Packers wouldn't have been in the position they were late in the game.

The Packers must turn their attention to Week 4 and the New Orleans Saints. 

Let's take a look at the Packers' final post game grades and evaluations. 

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodger–B

Aaron Rodgers overcame a slow start and a truly terrible offensive line performance to put together a fine game. It wasn't a great game, but Rodgers did well enough to earn a late victory. His wide receivers didn't do enough to help it out with some drops in the end zone. Rodgers finished the game completing 26 of 39 for 223 yards with no interceptions or touchdowns. He ran for 17 yards on the night.

This hasn't been the Rodgers of late-2010 and 2011, but Rodgers has faced some tough defenses in the first three weeks. The schedule eases in terms of opposing defenses and it will be interesting to see how Rodgers responds.  

Running Backs

Cedric Benson–C+

The Packers got a big boost in the second half with Cedric Benson getting some yardage on the ground with some solid rushing attempts. Getting the running game going was huge to the Packers offense that did nothing in the first half. Benson almost gave the game away before the final play fiasco with a fumble inside the Packers' own 5-yard line. Ball control needs to be more of an emphasis for Benson. While the Packers recovered the fumble, it lost yardage and pushed the Packers closer to the end zone.

John Kuhn–B-

Kuhn played well in the second half with one carry and three receptions. He rushed for two yards and recorded 25 receiving yards. Kuhn also did a nice job in the second half helping to pass block when asked to do so. After sacks were the story of the Packers' first half, it was an important facet of the game.  

Wide Receivers

Greg Jennings–C-

Jennings didn't look healthy after struggling with the groin injury that kept him out of action last week. He caught six passes, but was only able to gain 35 yards on the night. Jennings, usually the master of yards after the catch, was unable to get anything going and failed to get first downs. 

Jordy Nelson–D

If Nelson wants to be considered an elite wide receiver, he needs to do a better job than catching two passes for 19 yards. Nelson failed to have an impact with only three targets. He looked dangerous on his 13-yard reception, but was eliminated for the majority of the game. 

James Jones–B

Jones was the Packers' best wide receiver on the night, catching five passes for 55 yards on six targets. When the Packers' offense got going early in the second half, Jones was Rodgers' go-to guy and had a big impact. 

Donald Driver–C-

Driver had the opportunity to change the game in a big way on a third down incompletion in the back of the end zone. The pass was high and fast, but it was catchable and a ball that Driver can and should have come down with. It was Driver's only target of the game. 

Randall Cobb–C-

After being one of the most featured players on the team in the first two weeks, Cobb had little impact on the game outside of a 20-yard rushing attempt. For a player of his talent, it wasn't enough. On special teams, Cobb danced around and failed to make an impact on that side of the ball as well. 

Tight Ends

Jermichael Finley–B

Finley was another part of the Packers' offense turning it around in the second half. Finley caught four passes for 60 yards, including a diving completion for 31 yards on third down. Finley played well catching four of five targets and had a great chip of Bruce Irvin during the sack-filled second quarter. 

D.J. Williams–C-

Williams got a lot of playing time with Tom Crabtree out of the lineup. The Packers really missed Crabtree's blocking as Williams struggled with the Seahawks front seven. Williams did look good on his one target, an 11-yard reception for a first down. 

Ryan Taylor–C

With most of his game-time on special teams, Taylor did have an impact on a big tackle of Leon Washington. The big play was wiped out by a penalty on the Packers, but that doesn't take away from Taylor's individual effort.

Offensive Line

Marshall Newhouse–D

Newhouse struggled mightily against the Seahawks and definitely hurt the team during the horrendous first half. Newhouse did a better job in the second half in terms of both pass and run blocking.

T.J. Lang–D+

Lang as well, didn't have a good game against the Seahawks. He also struggled getting any initial push off the snap and was a yard or two back before getting his hands up.

Jeff Saturday–C- 

Saturday wasn't as bad as some of his teammates on the offensive line as most of the pressure came from the edges. While Saturday did fine, he is responsible for line calls and the Packers' line as a whole looked confused and outmatched.

Josh Sitton–D+

Sitton was part of the Packers' offensive line that had one of the worst offensive line performances in a quarter in NFL history. Sitton wasn't solely responsible for any of the sacks, but did commit a hands-to-the-face penalty that killed a Packers' second quarter drive.

Bryan Bulaga–F

Bulaga had the worst performance on the team, responsible for multiple sacks in the first half. There were plenty of other plays were Bulaga gave up pressure as Rodgers had to throw the ball away. Bulaga just hasn't been good three games in with this being his worst performance.   

Defensive Line

B.J. Raji–B

Raji did a great job stopping the run and filling gaps when the Seahawks ran the ball. Raji was part of a front seven that did a solid job stopping the run and forcing third downs. Raji struggled to get much going with the pass rush, but he played a decent game. 

Ryan Pickett–B

Pickett also did a good job against the run. As the Packers' primary "run-stopper" Pickett was partly responsible for the Packers holding Marshawn Lynch to 3.9 yards per carry. Stopping the run was the anchor of the Packers' defense. Pickett finished the game with nine total tackles. 

Jerel Worthy–C+

Worthy played another solid game, but failed to get pressure on the quarterback like he did in Week 2 against the Bears. Worthy was hurt and had to leave the game for a while, but did return. As a young player, Worthy is expected to be inconsistent. Tonight wasn't his best.

C.J. Wilson–B-

Wilson was part of the defensive line that got good push in the rushing game, but struggled to get pressure on Russell Wilson. After leading the league in sacks the first two weeks, the Packers got one tonight with none from the defensive line.

Phillip Merling and Mike Daniels–C-

Neither of these two players had an impact on the game. They were both on the field at times, but didn't do enough to alter the outcome. Merling record one tackle, while Daniels was held off the score sheet.   

Linebackers

Clay Matthews–B+

Matthews didn't have the high sack numbers he put up in the first two weeks, but turned in a solid performance both rushing the passer and in the run game. On rushing plays, Matthews did a fabulous job rushing around the end and tracking down the ball carrier.

Nick Perry–C+

It's hard to fault Perry for his having to play in coverage at this point, but he failed when the coaches called his number. Perry did come up with a big second half sack of Russell that went on to force a Seahawks' punt.

A.J. Hawk–B-

Hawk was partly responsible for the Seahawks first touchdown as Charles Woodson had to clean up his mistake and wasn't in position to help Tramon Williams out. Despite that, Hawk played a better game than usually. He filled the stat sheet with 11 total tackles.

Erik Walden–B

Erik Walden continued to show his worth in his new limited role with Nick Perry getting the majority of the snaps. Walden got pressure on Russell and added a spark to the pass rush. Walden was wrongly flagged for roughing the passer on a ball that was intercepted. 

D.J. Smith–B

Smith had a solid performance after a shaky start to the season. He finished the game with five total tackles with one for a loss. Smith was flagged for a late hit on a sliding Russell Wilson that cost the Packers 15-yards.

Robert Francois and Brad Jones–D

Both players had solid contributions on special teams, but a double bone-headed late hurt the Packers. Either player could have been whistled for a personal foul on the play. It was Jones who was actually flagged, but both should be in the doghouse for that play.  

Defensive Backs

Charles Woodson–B

Woodson had a solid game with three total tackles and a pass deflection. Woodson was flagged for a 5-yard defensive holding penalty, but other than that it was a good game. On the Seahawks' first touchdown, Woodson was stuck in the middle having to cover for A.J. Hawk and wasn't able to help Tramon Williams who was beat by Golden Tate.

Tramon Williams–B

Williams had a very good game outside of the Seahawks' first touchdown. Williams thought he had helped on the play, but Woodson had to cover the middle of the field after Hawk gave that up. Williams was a big reason why the Packers' defense only gave up 130 passing yards. 

Morgan Burnett–B+

A game without finger pointing involving Burnett is a job well done. Burnett was efficient and didn't give up any big plays during the game. Burnett recorded two tackles on what was a relatively quiet evening for the safety.

M.D. Jennings–B+

A heartbreaking end to a very strong performance from Jennings. It appeared that Jennings had the game-winning interception, but it wasn't to be in the eyes of the refs. Other than that last play, Jennings was very solid and did a good job with Morgan Burnett taking away the middle of the field.

Sam Shields–A-

Shields apparently took his benching to heart and has stepped his game up in the last few weeks. He has started the last two games and played very well. He was wrongly called for a pass interference late, but also had some great defense to keep the Seahawks out of the end zone.

Casey Hayward–B

The rookie had a nice showing as the Packers' dime cornerback. He had a pass deflection and a gorgeous tackle that prevent the Seahawks from getting a first down late in the game. Hayward was responsible for two total tackles on the night. 

Jarrett Bush–B-

Bush did a decent job on special teams. As the gunner, he did a nice job pinning the Seahawks at the 1-yard line, but was also whistled for a penalty on a different punt. Bush had one tackle on the night. 

Jerron McMillian–B

McMillian did a good job on the night and should have been credited with an interception, but it was wiped away with an Erik Walden roughing the passer penalty. 

Special Teams

Mason Crosby–B+

Crosby did what the Packers asked him to do and hit both field goal attempts. One was good from 29-yards and the other from 40-yards. Crosby allowed two kick off returns which were both returned for 21 yards. 

Tim Masthay–A-

Masthay continued his strong season with six punts for an average of 44.5 yards per punt. Three of those punts were dropped inside the 20-yard line, including one inside the 10-yard line. Masthay did a great job of getting two punts of quickly in order to avoiding being blocked, including the final punt of the game. 

Randall Cobb–C-

Cobb didn't have his best game as a returner. He was too often dancing around instead of making a cut and hitting the hole. He had one nice kick return for 23 yards, but only gained 12 yards on three punt returns. 

Coaching

Mike McCarthy–D

McCarthy made some key halftime adjustments that gave the Packers a great chance to win the game, but the fact those adjustments came so late is troubling. The Packers needed to run the ball or use quicker routes earlier in the game rather than waiting for halftime. 

Dom Capers–B

Capers had another good game plan against a pretty uninspiring Seahawks' offense. The Packers defense did a good job defending the run and forcing the Seahawks into third downs.