Packers vs. Seahawks: Full Report Card Grades for Green Bay
Well, that was fun.
The Green Bay Packers exacted their revenge on the Seattle Seahawks for dealing them a loss in the 2014 NFC Championship Game to the tune of a 38-10 blowout at Lambeau Field.
Not many of the Packers' performances this season could be called "dominant," but that's exactly what the Packers were on Sunday as they delivered the Seahawks their worst loss in six years, as ESPN tweeted.
The Packers generated six turnovers but didn't turn the ball over once themselves, which is always a winning formula. Aaron Rodgers was surgical while clearly playing hobbled, and the defense created its own opportunities to shut down Seattle's offense.
This was a winning performance in all three phases of the game. Let's break down the grades for each position group.
Quarterback
1 of 10
In Week 14, Aaron Rodgers finally earns an elusive A-plus grade.
The three touchdowns, no interceptions, 150.8 passer rating and 78 percent completion percentage that Rodgers boasted when he was pulled in the fourth quarter on their own are enough to earn Rodgers a perfect grade.
Not to mention, after throwing his third touchdown pass of the game, Aaron Rodgers' passer rating was a perfect 158.3.
But the fact Rodgers did all this when he was so clearly injured and hindered in his play was downright incredible. After the game, Rodgers revealed it wasn't the existing left hamstring injury that plagued him Sunday, but a calf he thinks was injured by compensating for the hamstring (via Pro Football Talk).
It's worrisome to think about what Rodgers' injury could mean as the Packers attempt to run the table in the next three weeks. But Rodgers' determination and grit are no doubt inspiring his team to win.
Grade: A+
Running Back
2 of 10
If you hoped recent Packers acquisition Christine Michael would have a big day against his former team, that wasn't quite the case. But the Packers still managed to generate nearly 100 rushing yards on the day between multiple ball-carriers.
Michael carried the ball 10 times for 36 yards, but spent some time on the bench after a miscommunication with his blocker, Aaron Ripkowski, and his quarterback led to him running right when Rodgers expected him to go left.
Ty Montgomery was the team's leading rusher on the day, with nine carries for 41 yards and a rushing touchdown. The Packers should just make it official and make him their featured back.
Grade: B-
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
Once again, Davante Adams was the Packers' leading receiver in a game, this time catching four passes for a whopping 104 yards and a touchdown. That's an average of 26 yards per reception.
Jordy Nelson didn't have as many explosive plays, but he connected with Aaron Rodgers for touchdowns twice on the day, helping the Packers build and secure their lead.
Randall Cobb missed part of the game with an ankle injury, and Ty Montgomery missed a few plays with an injury as well. But both wideouts returned to the game, and all Packers fans looking to them to make a big impact over the next three weeks breathed sighs of relief.
The big loss of the game was Jared Cook, who suffered a chest injury after catching just one pass for 15 yards. Cook hasn't been able to stay healthy long enough to make an impact this season, and the Packers could really use a big threat to attack the seam if they make it into the postseason.
Aside from Adams, no pass-catcher had more than 45 yards in the game. The Packers scored when it mattered, but the receivers didn't have a game for the ages.
Grade: B
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
Aaron Rodgers only took one sack against the ferocious Seattle front seven, which in and of itself is a win.
Much of Rodgers' surgical night can be attributed to his offensive line, which excelled in pass protection and allowed only three hits on Rodgers other than the sack, which T.J. Lang gave up in the third quarter as time ran out.
Lang, however, is playing on a sore ankle, and his return to the lineup was a boost for the offensive line overall despite the sack.
The line didn't perform as well in run blocking, though the biggest gaffe of the day—Christine Michael and Aaron Rodgers expecting a run to go different directions—happened when fullback Aaron Ripkowski was the lead blocker.
All in all, this line hasn't gotten enough credit for what it has done to help Rodgers, especially as he deals with two separate injuries.
Grade: A-
Defensive Line
5 of 10
The Packers defense made Russell Wilson uncomfortable all day Sunday, and the defensive line did its fair share of damage.
Rookie defensive end Dean Lowry got his second sack in as many games, proving to his coaches that he's making the most of his opportunities. He also had a QB hit. With Mike Pennel suspended again, it's been promising to see the young lineman step up.
Mike Daniels also got a hit on Wilson and was a force in the run game, consistently beating his man at the line and then taking down the ball-carrier on several occasions.
Seattle rusher Thomas Rawls did total 67 yards on 12 carries, but the Seahawks didn't have a single rushing score on the day, and the Packers held Wilson to just 19 yards using his legs.
Grade: A-
Linebacker
6 of 10
The Packers linebackers were swarming Russell Wilson all day at Lambeau.
Datone Jones played out of his mind, with a sack and five quarterback hits on Wilson. He also registered a tackle for loss.
Jayrone Elliott also brought Wilson down and registered an additional hit on the passer. The two stepped up in the absence of Nick Perry and with Clay Matthews' snaps limited as he deals with a shoulder injury.
On the inside, Blake Martinez was still inactive, so Joe Thomas lined up alongside Jake Ryan. Ryan teamed up with Elliott for a big stop on Thomas Rawls on a 4th-and-1, but Ryan had a mostly quiet day. Thomas led the team in tackles.
Grade: A-
Secondary
7 of 10
The Packers secondary had a field day against Russell Wilson and the Seahawks.
Wilson could barely get a pass out without inadvertently connecting with a Packers defender. Cornerback Damarious Randall had two picks on Wilson, while safety Morgan Burnett, cornerback Quinten Rollins and defensive back Micah Hyde each got in on the action as well.
The Packers, who have been vulnerable to tight ends this season, also did a great job shutting down Seattle's Jimmy Graham, who didn't have his first reception until the fourth quarter.
Grade: A
Special Teams
8 of 10
Luckily, the Packers' day on special teams ended on such a positive note, Mason Crosby's missed field goal early in the game didn't matter much in the end.
It was Ty Montgomery, not Randall Cobb, who was back to return kicks this week, and he averaged 18 yards on two returns.
Punter Jacob Schum averaged 38.5 yards on four punts, including a long of 49 yards, and pinned three of them inside the 20-yard line.
The big moment of the day on special teams was an eerie echo of the 2014 NFC Championship Game against Seattle, when the Seahawks attempted an onside kick toward the end of the game. Once again, it was up to a tight end—this time, Richard Rodgers—to secure the ball. Unlike, Brandon Bostick, however, Rodgers succeeded, and it was a non-issue.
Grade: B+
Coaching
9 of 10
With the Packers having won three games in a row, including arguably their most complete over the Seahawks on Sunday, no one is really calling for Mike McCarthy's job now.
It always seemed like a long shot that the Packers coach would be fired this season, but over the last three weeks, the head coach is proving why the Packers have put their trust in him for 10 seasons.
McCarthy's last three games have been marked by creative game plans and successful play calls. He has schemed to the level of his opponents and figured out how to outscore them. Meanwhile, Dom Capers' defense has held the Packers' last three opponents to fewer than 14 points.
Examples of McCarthy's creativity included the move at the beginning of the fourth quarter, when Ron Zook and McCarthy sent punter Jacob Schum out with the offensive line and moved Montgomery under center. The Seahawks, who were already under the gun to make up a huge deficit in the fourth quarter, had to use a time out.
McCarthy has even dealt with the Packers' lack of a running game head-on, adjusting his traditional play-calling style as a result.
Sure, McCarthy's challenge of Jordy Nelson's catch in which he did not maintain possession was a poor decision. But the Packers weren't in a position to be unable to lose that time out.
The Packers outplayed and out-coached the Seahawks in all three phases of the game. That is no small feat.
Grade: A-
Final Grades
10 of 10
Quarterback | A+ |
| Running Back | B- |
| Wide Receiver and Tight End | B |
| Offensive Line | A- |
| Defensive Line | A- |
| Linebacker | A- |
| Secondary | A |
| Special Teams | B+ |
| Coaching | A- |
| Final Grades | A- |
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