Green Bay Packers vs. Miami Dolphins: Full Report Card Grades for Green Bay
Have you caught your breath yet?
The most exciting Green Bay Packers game in recent memory ended in dazzling fashion, with Aaron Rodgers hitting Andrew Quarless on a four-yard touchdown strike with just three seconds left, putting Green Bay up 27-24. The Packers improved to 4-2 while the Miami Dolphins slipped to 2-3.
The final drive also featured a 4th-and-10 conversion, a recovered Rodgers fumble by T.J. Lang and a fake spike that ended up in a 12-yard reception for Davante Adams, the rookie's sixth catch of the day.
The offense wouldn't have had the opportunity if not for a crucial stop by the Packers defense, which had given up three consecutive touchdown drives in the second half before forcing Brandon Fields' third punt of the ballgame.
In all, the 11-play, 60-yard drive was everything you could ask for as a football fan, and it showed the doubters everywhere that No. 12 is a bad, bad man.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Much has been said of the lack of fourth-quarter comebacks from Aaron Rodgers. Talking heads in the media—cough, Skip Bayless—make Rodgers out to be a front-running quarterback who doesn't have the moxie to bring his team from behind.
They'll be singing a different tune after this one.
Under duress for most of the afternoon, Rodgers was at his best when it mattered most, his third touchdown pass capping off a sensational day for the 10-year veteran. He now has gone five games without an interception, and his 15-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio is tops in the league.
He was also Green Bay's most effective rusher, totaling 34 yards on seven carries.
"Rodgers: "You need character wins like this. ... We were able to make enough plays to win."
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) October 12, 2014"
Grade: A+
Running Back
2 of 10
After a banner day running the football last week, it looked as if Green Bay's ground game was back at 2013 form.
But, with just 86 yards on 26 attempts (3.3 yards per carry) by Packers running backs, it's clear that's not the case.
James Starks played admirably enough, sparking the game-winning drive with a 12-yard carry on the first play and later converting a third down with a 10-yard checkdown reception. And the chants of "KUHHHHHHHHHHHN" were heard loud and clear at Sun Life Stadium on each of the fullback's four attempts.
Eddie Lacy, though, averaged less than three yards per attempt and did not show the decisive downhill running Packers fans still love. The run blocking wasn't great, but it shouldn't have to be with Lacy's size and tenacity.
Grade: B-
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
Another day, another game with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown for Jordy Nelson.
The former Kansas State Wildcat continues his assault on defensive backs around the league, with Rodgers looking his way early and often, totaling 16 targets.
Rookie Davante Adams had his best game as a pro. Rodgers targeted Adams on the first two plays of the game, and the wideout caught both for five and 18 yards. He showed his smarts on his final catch, Rodgers' fake spike-and-throw, getting as much yardage as he could before going out of bounds. We all know what happened next.
Randall Cobb leads the NFL with seven touchdown catches, adding one Sunday.
The receiving group did have two drops on the final drive, but overall it was a good outing for Rodgers' weaponry.
Grade: A-
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon are imposing pass-rushers, and they imposed their will on the Packers' offensive line.
The duo had its way with Green Bay tackles David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga, each tallying 1.5 sacks. In all, Miami's defense totaled three sacks, six quarterback hits and numerous hurries—seemingly on every dropback.
Mike McCarthy was forced to keep his tight ends and running backs in to help with protection in an effort to give his quarterback ample time to throw the football.
The run blocking wasn't much better.
But, give credit to guard T.J. Lang, who showed great hustle and awareness when he jumped on Rodgers' fumble on the final drive. Without that recovery, the game would've been over and the Packers 3-3.
Grade: C+
Defensive Line and Edge Players
5 of 10
Burn the tape on this one, Clay.
Four-time Pro Bowler Clay Matthews played one of his worst games in a Packers uniform, failing to record a tackle. He did make the stat sheet with a pass defensed and quarterback hit, though.
The Dolphins utilized the zone read with athletic Ryan Tannehill, and Matthews was stuck in the mud more often than not.
Mike Neal recorded Green Bay's lone sack and added a tackle for loss.
Miami had been rushing the ball well coming into the game, but Dolphins running backs totaled just 63 yards on 20 carries. The defensive line was getting good push and was complemented by secure tackling from the secondary.
Grade: C
Linebacker
6 of 10
Please come back, Jamari Lattimore.
As reported by Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, Lattimore suffered a neck injury during the game. His spot was filled by Brad Jones, who is not very good. Obviously. With Sam Barrington inactive and Lattimore injured, it was up to Jones and A.J. Hawk to man the inside linebacker spots, and it was not a pretty second half.
Jones' ineptitude was epitomized when he whiffed on Lamar Miller's 21-yard reception in the fourth quarter. One play later, Miami scored a touchdown to go ahead by four.
Hopefully Lattimore's not out for an extended period of time. The middle of Green Bay's defense is soft as Charmin without him.
Grade: D
Secondary
7 of 10
The injuries didn't stop at inside linebacker.
Sam Shields and Tramon Williams suffered patellar tendon and ankle injuries, respectively, in the span of three plays, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Neither player was able to return.
Shields picked off his second pass before exiting, high-pointing a deep pass intended for Brian Hartline down the left sideline.
Williams gave up a touchdown to Jarvis Landry on Miami's first possession of the second half when Dom Capers brought the house on an all-out blitz. Tannehill lobbed it over the outstretched arms of Williams where Landry was there to receive it.
Without Shields and Williams, Jarrett Bush played the slot corner with Casey Hayward and Davon House on the outside. Hayward had an interception, and House had one slide through his fingers.
Green Bay's safeties—Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Micah Hyde and Morgan Burnett—were everywhere on the field and outstanding in run support, totaling 16 tackles, two tackles for loss and one pass defensed.
Grade: B+
Special Teams
8 of 10
Green Bay's special teams were not very special.
After the offense's second drive of the game stalled, Tim Masthay's punt was blocked and recovered by the Dolphins at Green Bay's 16-yard line. A goal-line stop by the defense held Miami to no points, but it could have been a lot worse.
Micah Hyde had punt returns of 17 and 21 yards, easily his best performance. Neither was set up by good blocking; instead, Hyde was dragging tacklers and using his athleticism to create yardage.
Grade: C
Coaching
9 of 10
There was so much familiarity between Mike McCarthy and Joe Philbin, and the game bore that out.
Philbin's offense started slow but rolled in the second half before a punt on its final possession. McCarthy's offense started strong, meandered in the middle and then finished with a bang on Rodgers' game-winning touchdown throw.
Game-opening and game-winning scores are indicative of good coaching and preparation. The players handled the heat and humidity well.
Shawn Slocum and Ron Zook need to get the punt protection cleaned up. Green Bay was fortunate the blocked punt did not come back to haunt it.
Grade: B
Final Grades
10 of 10
| Positional Unit | Overall Grade |
| QB | A+ |
| RB | B- |
| WR | A- |
| OL | C+ |
| DL | C |
| LB | D |
| Secondary | B+ |
| Special Teams | C |
| Coaching | B |
| Cumulative Grade | A |
Winning on the road in the heat and coming from behind against a decent team with a last-second touchdown—that's as good as it gets.
It only gets harder for the Packers, who now have a date with the 3-2-1 Carolina Panthers next Sunday in Green Bay before traveling to the Superdome for a QB showdown with Drew Brees' New Orleans Saints.
But if the Packers can continue to play with the heart they did in their triumphant win over the Dolphins, this team could be poised for a deep playoff run.
Follow me on Twitter @PeterSowards.
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