5 Biggest Takeaways from Green Bay Packers' Week 1 Win
The win wasn't a given in the Green Bay Packers' season-opening clash with the Chicago Bears on Sunday, with penalties and defensive issues forcing the Packers to play from behind through the first half.
But in the third quarter of Sunday's matchup, the Packers took a lead they wouldn't again relinquish, leaving Chicago with a 31-23 victory and beginning the season 1-0.
Between the penalties and issues with the run defense, this Packers squad may not have looked as dominant as fans and analysts might have projected it to be heading into the season. But for every negative, there was a positive: James Jones' productive return to the team and Ty Montgomery's kick return prowess.
Let's break down the five biggest takeaways from Week 1 action and look forward to the Packers' next matchup against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2.
The Run Defense Is Still a Liability
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The Packers may have beaten the Bears in convincing fashion on Sunday, but that doesn't mean the team was without major flaws. Chief among them: a run defense that doesn't appear to be much improved from its 2014 showing.
Matt Forte gashed the Packers for 141 yards on 24 carries on Sunday, averaging 5.9 yards per attempt and finding the end zone once. Jay Cutler, Jacquizz Rodgers and Jeremy Langford added another 48 rushing yards.
The Packers opened the season with the strategy that helped their run defense improve to No. 8 in the league in the second half of the 2014 season after sitting at dead last after the first half: move Clay Matthews inside on rushing downs.
However, it appears that Green Bay's personnel still have issues executing defensive coordinator Dom Capers' scheme. Getting defensive linemen Datone Jones and Letroy Guion back after Week 1 and Week 3, respectively, could provide a boost to the unit, but that won't fix the issues at linebacker.
Starter Sam Barrington left the game after exacerbating an existing ankle injury, giving Nate Palmer the nod beside Clay Matthews in the base and dime defenses. Normally, at full strength, Palmer would come in on third downs to replace Matthews.
Though Palmer has good coverage skills, he wasn't stout on first and second downs. And safety Sean Richardson, whom the Packers are paying $2.55 million this season after matching his offer from the Oakland Raiders in free agency, was responsible for much of Forte's success. On one particular run, he was slow to change direction, and Forte made off for a 22-yard gain.
We'll see if a healthy Barrington and the return of Jones and Guion can help steady this unit. But if the Packers are going to allow more than 100 rushing yards next week against Seattle, their offense may not be able to bail the defense out.
James Jones Takes Offense to Another Level
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Sure, the Packers still would have been able to get down the field and into the end zone with Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery and Jeff Janis this season.
But add James Jones into that mix, and the Packers are going to be hard to cover in the red zone.
Jones had four receptions for 51 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. He should have had three scores, but one was negated due to a holding penalty. Because of Jones' sure hands and veteran skill level, the Packers went 4-of-5 in the red zone against the Bears, a fantastic start to the season in an area where they struggled in 2014.
Jones didn't attend training camp with Green Bay, and he didn't have a lot of time to practice with Aaron Rodgers before taking the field as the Packers' No. 3 wideout against the Bears.
But it almost appeared as if he had never left. With a playbook that didn't change much since he last took a snap with the Packers in the 2013 season and his familiar signal-caller throwing him the ball, Jones could be on track to reach Jordy Nelson's 13 touchdowns in 2014...and then some.
Upon his return to Green Bay, Jones said, per Packers.com's Mike Spofford:
"I feel like I'm still playing at a high level. I don't necessarily feel like I'm falling off, but I have a lot of people to prove wrong. If there's any time to do it, it's right now with the best quarterback in the league to help me out, so we’ll see how it goes and I’m excited about it.
"
As Jones showed on Sunday, there's a lot to be excited about heading into Week 2 against Seattle and beyond.
Penalties Left Points on the Field for Packers
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First, there was an offside penalty on Sam Shields that kept a drive alive for the Bears and eventually put seven points on the board rather than three.
Then, an offensive holding call on David Bakhtiari called back an eight-yard James Jones touchdown reception, which would have been his second of the day at the time and his third when all was said and done.
All in all, the Packers committed 10 penalties for 74 yards, two of which either gave the Bears points or took points off the board for Green Bay.
Perhaps it was season-opener jitters. Perhaps the Packers need to settle down and work on their technique in practice.
But their mistakes put an immense amount of pressure on Aaron Rodgers and the offense to play at a high level to overcome the setbacks, and with a defense that could have performed better, that situation won't always result in a win, especially against opponents like Seattle.
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Ty Montgomery Is Revitalizing Kick Returns
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Ty Montgomery didn't have a reception as a wide receiver on Sunday, but the rookie did his part to help the Packers win over the Bears.
On three kick returns, Montgomery gained 106 yards, for an average of 35.3.
The Packers averaged just 19.1 yards in kick returns in 2014, which was 31st in the league.
As Packers writer Mark Daniels noted, Montgomery's 41-yard kick return matched Green Bay's longest of the entire 2014 season by DuJuan Harris.
It was a positive showing overall for Green Bay's special teams, which limited Chicago to 63 yards in kick returns and 11 yards in punt returns. Tim Masthay, who was 26th in the league in 2014 in average net yards per punt with 44.1, averaged 48.5 on Sunday.
Rookie fullback Aaron Ripkowski also got a chance to return kicks, but after a sloppy catch, he didn't advance the ball. Expect Montgomery to continue to be the go-to man...and some more explosive returns are sure to be in his future as well.
Damarious Randall Can Play at a High Level Outside
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When the Packers were in their base defense on Sunday, veteran cornerback Casey Hayward joined Sam Shields on the outside.
Hayward spoke to Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Friday about his role as a starting cornerback, which he feels is safe this season:
"I'm a starter," Hayward said. "I've been playing well. I've been playing like a starter despite some of the rumors."
Rookies Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins and LaDarius Gunter all played well during training camp and the preseason, leaving some to speculate whether Hayward's starting job on the outside might be open to competition.
Certainly, nothing Hayward did Sunday showed that he'll be bumped down the depth chart anytime soon, but rather, Randall looked like someone who could contribute in a big way on the outside for the Packers.
Randall led the team in passes defensed on Sunday with two. In coverage on Alshon Jeffery, he prevented a touchdown in the end zone.
The rookie did line up on the edge in the nickel, with Hayward moving inside to the slot. That's where Hayward, rated the best slot corner in the league by Pro Football Focus, excelled in 2014.
Hayward, entering his fourth season with Green Bay, has paid his dues, and as long as he can play at a high level, he might keep the starting outside job all season.
But with Randall proving he can be a force on the edge as well, the Packers should always make sure they're playing to their strengths.
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