Packers vs. Buccaneers: Full Report Card Grades for Green Bay
For the sixth straight year, Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy and Dom Capers are playoff-bound.
The Green Bay Packers (11-4) punched their ticket to the postseason with a 20-3 win Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-13) at Raymond James Stadium.
Rodgers, who spent the days leading up to Sunday’s contest battling the flu, which he confirmed (via Bill Michaels) bounced back nicely after perhaps his worst NFL game in the Week 15 loss at Buffalo:
"Packers Rodgers expresses that he indeed was battling the flu
— Bill Michaels (@Bill_Michaels) December 21, 2014"
But it was the defense that upstaged Rodgers and Eddie Lacy. All told, Green Bay allowed just 109 yards on 47 plays, a measly 2.3-yard average. Tampa Bay’s first five possessions were three-and-outs. McCarthy noted the significant role the Packers defense played in this win, per the team's official Twitter account:
"MM: It started and ended with the defense today. #Packers #GBvsTB
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 21, 2014"
That’s two straight games in which the opposing offense has not scored a touchdown. In today’s NFL, where seemingly every newly instituted rule favors a high-scoring game, that’s tough to accomplish, no matter the opponent.
Quarterback
1 of 10
The first few possessions did not bode well for Aaron Rodgers.
On Green Bay’s second offensive chance, Rodgers was sacked and fumbled for the sixth time in six games. Tampa Bay recovered, though the Packers defense subsequently held firm.
Rodgers suffered a calf injury on the play which he clearly favored for the rest of the game. But it didn’t look to affect his ball placement; he was as sharp as ever, as illustrated by his stats (via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette):
"#Packers QB Aaron Rodgers said he pulled his calf on 5th play of game. He finished 31-40 with 318 yards, 1 TD and 108.1 rating anyway.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 21, 2014"
The finest play from the MVP favorite came in the fourth quarter with Green Bay nursing a 10-point lead and the game still in the balance. The Bucs brought pressure from both sides, leaving Randall Cobb open on a hot route from the left slot.
Rodgers dropped back and fired a signature missile that Cobb caught and ran with for a 30-yard gain. Five plays later, Rodgers connected with Jordy Nelson for his 36th touchdown pass of the year for the proverbial dagger.
Grade: A
Running Back
2 of 10
Thanks to a five-yard reception (in addition to his 17 carries for 99 yards), Eddie Lacy ran his streak of games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage to eight games.
His most electrifying play came on the Packers’ fourth offensive possession with the game still scoreless. Rodgers pitched left to Lacy, who danced toward the sideline before sticking his left foot in the dirt and charging upfield.
He was met quickly by Bucs linebacker Danny Lansanah, but the former Packer did little to slow him down. Lacy broke through the cloud of pewter and gold jerseys and didn’t stop until he’d scored a 44-yard touchdown, the longest scoring run of his short career. Bleacher Report's Zach Kruse noted Lacy's exceptional skill set:
"Best RBs beat the free hat. Eddie Lacy beat the free hat.
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) December 21, 2014"
James Starks went nowhere quickly, totaling just three yards on seven carries. He dances behind the line of scrimmage far too much for my liking.
John Kuhn had his number called four times, rushing for two first downs—each on 1st-and-10. He was stuffed at the goal line when Mike McCarthy got cute and tried to run a sweep across the formation. Not surprisingly, the play failed.
Grade: B+
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
With the exception of Davante Adams, this group bounced back completely from its worst game of the season.
Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb showed why they’re in the conversation for best receiving duo in the league with clutch catches all game long. Cobb saw 14 targets and caught 11 of them—both career highs. Per Ryan Wood, Sunday's performance illustrated Cobb's consistency in demonstrating his skill set:
"Three days after talking about his contract, all Randall Cobb does is go out and catch 11 passes and 131 yards. He's consistent.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 21, 2014"
On the season, Cobb now totes an 87/1,207/10 slash line. For Adams, it was another disappointing performance after he showed us so much in the win over New England. He dropped two passes; the second one was somewhat inexcusable considering he was body-rocked just as the ball hit his hands. As Wood noted, Adams stood alone at the top of the drops list:
"Last week, everybody in a #Packers uniform struggled with drops. This week, so far, it's just been Davante Adams. Rough day for the rookie.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 21, 2014"
Another quiet game from the tight ends. Andrew Quarless had a nice seal block on Lacy’s long touchdown run, but he dropped a gimmie touchdown pass that eventually went Nelson’s way.
Grade: A-
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
Based on the first couple of possessions, it looked like the offensive line that had so much success in the first 14 games of the season was about to lay a stinker. Green Bay had failed to gain a first down on three straight runs from Lacy, and then Bucs defensive end Michael Johnson got free to strip-sack Rodgers.
But once McCarthy and Rodgers kicked the game into high gear, the line found a groove and had its way with the Tampa Bay defensive front.
Bryan Bulaga returned from his concussion to be part of the unit that yielded just two quarterback hits and one sack. Rodgers helped the line’s efforts by playing decisively and getting rid of the ball quickly.
Lacy had a 15-yard run wiped off the books when Corey Linsley was flagged for holding on Green Bay's third possession. I didn't agree with the call.
Grade: A
Defensive Line
5 of 10
The following stat from Tampa Bay Times writer Greg Auman will tell you all you need to know about the Packers’ defensive performance up front on Sunday:
"Bucs rushed 14 times for 16 yards today -- lowest team total in any game since 1989. Team's longest run of the day was 4 yards.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) December 21, 2014"
Now, the linebacking corps and secondary helped the effort as well, but you don’t allow fewer than 20 yards on the ground without a dominant effort from your defensive line.
Mike Daniels pushed the pocket all game long and came away with a half-sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit. Stuffing the run on first and second down allowed the defense to play sub defense on third down and get after Josh McCown in favorable down-and-distance situations.
Datone Jones capped off the day with an athletic interception and runback of 18 yards before he was tackled by Bucs running back Charles Sims. He was trying earnestly for a pick-six, but he was stopped 13 yards shy of the goal line.
Grade: A
Linebacker
6 of 10
Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, welcome back.
The duo combined for 4.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and one pass defensed as the Packers notched a season-high seven sacks of McCown on the day. The team's official Twitter account shared sack stats for Matthews and Peppers:
"It's Clay Matthews' second-straight 2-sack game, and Julius Peppers' first 2-sack game for the #Packers.
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 21, 2014"
Matthews brought his sack total to 10, the fourth time in six seasons he’s reached double digits.
Defensive end/linebacker Mike Neal got in on the action with a third-down sack near the end of the third quarter. Green Bay got the ball back with good field position as a result and ended the ensuing drive with a field goal to give the Pack a two-score game.
Brad Jones kept his role as the dime linebacker and was able to notch a quarterback hit on McCown after destroy Sims’ pass-protection efforts. The pass was completed to Vincent Jackson for a decent gain, but it was good to see him win that matchup.
Undrafted free agent Jayrone Elliott forced the errant throw from McCown that led to Jones’ interception.
Grade: A+
Secondary
7 of 10
Morgan Burnett, have yourself a day. Burnett relayed that the guys were "fired up and ready" in their players-only meeting (via Wood):
"Morgan Burnett said #Packers had players-only meeting Saturday night: "We sat down and had a heart to heart. Guys were fired up and ready."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 21, 2014"
Burnett was named one of the team’s six playoff captains earlier this week—despite no guarantees of making the playoffs—and he showed up in a big way against Tampa Bay, particularly in run support. Wood described Burnett's performance as "pitching a tent":
"Morgan Burnett has pitched a tent at the line of scrimmage. He's just wrecking the Bucs running game.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 21, 2014"
Remember the 16 yards on 14 rushing attempts by the Bucs? So much of that had to do with Burnett knifing through the line of scrimmage and stopping Doug Martin and Charles Sims before they could get going. He led the team with 10 tackles (nine solo) and combined with Mike Daniels early for a sack.
HaHa Clinton-Dix improved his tackling as well, and he made a nice play on a deep ball intended for Mike Evans early in the contest. He did lose track on a 40-yard completion to Vincent Jackson, though.
Sam Shields and Tramon Williams had quiet games thanks to the Bucs’ inept pass offense.
Grade: A+
Special Teams
8 of 10
The Packers had nowhere to go but up after their poor showing on special teams in the Week loss at Buffalo, but they didn’t play much better at Tampa Bay, as Rob Reischel pointed out:
"Special teams woes continue. They seem certain to kill #Packers at some point this postseason.
— Rob Reischel (@robreischel) December 21, 2014"
Three of the five upheld penalties came on punts by Tim Masthay and Michael Koenen. Masthay’s 34.5-yard average was his second-lowest of this season. He netted just 26 yards on his second attempt, one of his worst efforts this season.
Four yards gained on four punt returns.
Mason Crosby was good from 42 and 25 yards but hooked a 48-yard attempt.
It was yet another below-average performance.
Grade: D
Coaching
9 of 10
Dom Capers and his players get an A+ for their performance Sunday. They played full tilt from the first snap to the last, and there was sure tackling at each level of the defense. Gaps were filled, and assignments were held.
Offensively, I liked the way McCarthy adjusted after the slow start offensively: Green Bay employed a hurry-up offense that wore out the Tampa Bay defense.
One play I vehemently disliked was the sweep call to John Kuhn on 3rd-and-goal at the Bucs’ 1-yard line. I don’t mind the fullback plunge up the gut, but asking for Kuhn to run with the ball cross the formation and then cut upfield is not playing to your player’s strengths. Naturally, Kuhn was stuffed for a loss. WBAY-TV's Chris Roth provided his analysis of the situation:
"Kuhn on goal line is fine, but running straight ahead, not sideways
— Chris Roth (@rothchris) December 21, 2014"
On the subsequent play, McCarthy spread the field with four wide receivers on fourth down. This was a great play call for two reasons: You’ve got the best player in the world at quarterback, and if you fail to convert, you’re handing the ball to an inept offense at the 1-yard line.
It wasn’t a resounding victory by any stretch of the imagination, but it was good to see the team respond after such a disappointing loss in Week 15.
Grade: C+
Overall Grades
10 of 10
| Positional Unit | Overall Grade |
| Quarterback | A |
| Running Back | B+ |
| Wide Receiver and Tight End | A- |
| Offensive Line | A |
| Defensive Line | A |
| Linebacker | A+ |
| Secondary | A+ |
| Special Teams | D |
| Coaching | C+ |
| Cumulative Grade | B |
The Packers had to win this game, and they did—that’s the bottom line.
It wasn’t an offensive explosion that we’ve seen on a few occasions this year, but it was one of the best efforts we’ve seen from the defense in 2014. Wood and ESPN's Rob Demovsky shared some stats that illustrated just how well the defense played:
"#Packers defense allowed no TDs in their past two games. It's the first time they've done that in consecutive games since 2009 season.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 21, 2014"
"#FireCapers RT @jasonjwilde: Also, that marks the second straight week that the #Packers defense has set a season low for yards allowed.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) December 21, 2014"
The win over Tampa Bay and Detroit’s win over Chicago sets up an epic Week 17 battle between Green Bay and Detroit for the NFC North title and a first-round bye.
Giddyap.
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