Green Bay vs. San Diego: Grading the Packers' Performance Against the Chargers

The Green Bay Packers have now won a franchise-record 14 straight games. That is quite an accomplishment for the third-oldest franchise in the sport, much less the one with the best winning percentage and most championships.

Green Bay is Titletown once again and looking to stay there. Perhaps no unbeaten team has ever looked as good and as vulnerable at the same time.

This is great for blogs and sports talk. Skip Bayless pointed out Wednesday morning on ESPN First Take that the Packers are the "31st-worst pass-defense."

Yes, Skip, that would be the second-best.

And if you paid attention to all the stats instead of just those that support your now completely irrational opinion that the Packers should have taken Brett Favre back instead of turning the reins over to Aaron Rodgers (who everyone else on the planet sees is the best in the league), you would know that second-best is at least closer to where they are than second-worst.

Opposing quarterbacks have the 10th-lowest passer rating against the Packers' defense. It is not for lack of talent faced, like Pro Bowl candidates from the past and present such as Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers.

The Packers' own passing offense is so potent that other teams have to pass a lot to try to keep up. The best quarterback and receivers in the world make this team look unbeatable. The 7-0 record through the bye included four road games and two against teams with a winning record.

At the same time, Green Bay does give up the second-most passing yards in the NFL. The running game, run-defense and special teams are middle of the pack, making this team look vulnerable. Four of the seven teams faced had losing records.

After Green Bay's win in San Diego, the debate about this team's place in history rightly continues. As you can see from this report card on that game, the Packers excelled and struggled in all the same areas they did in the regular season (see these links for offensive and defensive mid-term grades)...

Quarterback: A+

The difference in this game and all Packers games continues to be the quarterback position. Both had four touchdowns and averaged more than eight yards per attempt, but Rodgers avoids the mistakes his opponents make.

Rodgers has three interceptions all year—two were off the hands of his receivers.

Philip Rivers had three interceptions in this game—two were returned for touchdowns.

Rivers has 14 interceptions for most in the league. The Packers have forced 16 for most in the league. This was the third quarterback to throw as many picks in a game as Rodgers has all season.

As anyone who watched the amazing efforts and abilities of Brett Favre all go down the tubes with a red zone interception can tell you, knowing Rodgers is under center brings serenity. He can make the plays of a gunslinger with the security of a game-manager.

Rodgers was nearly flawless, missing on only five passes. It was his second straight game with over an 140 passer rating, and he continued his NFL-record streak of games over 110 at nine—including the Super Bowl.

He was under constant pressure and was sacked four times, but minimized the damage to 15 yards with his feet. He also added 52 yards on eight rushes (6.5 average), and that includes a 1-yard loss on a kneel-down.

Running Back: C+

I felt given the difficulty in protecting Rodgers, the Packers should have run the ball more.

James Starks had a 20-yard run that helped him get 66 on 13 carries (5.1 average), though that amounts to about a 3.5-yard average the rest of the time. Ryan Grant added four carries for 16 yards (4.0), and John Kuhn had one for two yards.

The Packers' backs did help eat clock in the second half with a couple first downs, and running at that time does hurt their average. But without a touchdown, 18 rushes for 84 yards still amounts to average yards per carry against San Diego, who came into the game near the bottom in yards per carry allowed.

Meanwhile in the passing game, the backs were not largely to blame on any of the sacks but were not much help, either. Starks had a catch for nine yards and Kuhn another for four, suggesting they were not making themselves especially available on check-downs.

Receivers: B

Packers receivers also did not help Rodgers in terms of pressure. Two of the four sacks were after enough time had elapsed to expect someone to get open, but the Chargers' secondary had some successes in coverage.

Green Bay's wide receivers were held to just 190 yards on just 14 receptions (13.6), but Jermichael Finley added five more for 44 yards (8.8) and a score. Jordy Nelson led the unit with five receptions and 105 yards (21.0), Greg Jennings had six for 46 (7.7) and James Jones had a 21-yard catch. Donald Driver continued to be the odd man out with two for 18 yards, and was the only player to have a catch and no points.

Other receivers cannot be expected to have production given they were almost never on the field. But as a whole, 19 catches and 234 yards (12.3) is solid when it is not accompanied by bad penalties, drops or fumbles.

Offensive Line: D

Many Packers fans have been calling for Chad Clifton to be replaced for years. They were shocked by his selection to the Pro Bowl last year.

That is because the average fan only notices an offensive lineman when he has a penalty or gives up a sack. Clifton does both because he faces the most dynamic pass-rusher on the field on nearly every snap.

While Marshall Newhouse is playing well, the line as a whole has shown it needs Clifton back. Four sacks against a team that is known for them only in the past tense is unacceptable, especially when your quarterback is mobile and has a quick release he can use to find a cadre of receivers.

Green Bay had 136 yards rushing on just 29 carries (4.7), but that is actually a smudge on the line's record, not a credit to them. They gave the backs little help, and those yards were sacks turned into gains by Rodgers.

About the best thing that can be said is they only had two false start penalties.

Defensive Line: D

This defense is not the same this year, and the main reason is the line. As Pete Dougherty outlined in the Green Bay Press Gazette, opposing quarterbacks can step up to avoid the pass-rush of Clay Matthews this year because there is no Cullen Jenkins getting pressure up the middle.

B.J. Raji is being hurt more than anyone, and he was held off the stat-sheet entirely Sunday. Ryan Pickett got three tackles, and both C.J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn added one.

But it is not about tackles or even sacks—it is about lack of pressure and not holding the point of attack. San Diego was without its top rusher, having to rely on someone averaging under four yards per carry. He had 19 carries for 83 yards (4.4) and a touchdown.

On the plus side, the line deserves some credit for three offensive line penalties and an intentional grounding.

Linebackers: C

A mixed bag for the linebackers.

Frank Zombo returned to the field and split time with Erik Walden, but Zombo missed a key tackle and was beaten in coverage. His counterpart was the better player in the passing game as well as the run (three tackles and a sack).

A.J. Hawk quietly had a solid day (six solo tackles and an assist), but Clay Matthews, III, was just quiet (one tackle).

Desmond Bishop was once again the unit's best player with eight solo tackles, three assists and a sack. However, he was torched twice by Antonio Gates, who is the best tight end in football ,but was not totally healthy.

Tight ends (nine catches, 99 yards and a score) and backs (five for 61) had big days in the passing game, and that is largely on the linebackers. The responsibility for covering Gates did shift in the second half, but rather than alleviate responsibility for this unit, it serves as an indictment.

Secondary: C

The secondary also had good and bad things in its performance. Rivers had four touchdowns and 385 yards, but this unit forced a fumble and had three picks, coming within six yards of all three being scores.

Charles Woodson (six tackles, an assist and the forced fumble) drew the difficult task of covering Gates when it was clear the linebackers could not. He was called for one hold and two pass interferences (23 total yards), and only one of those was even iffy.

Charlie Peprah had three tackles, two assists and two of the picks with one score, but blew coverage on a play that resulted in an easy touchdown for Vincent Jackson. Morgan Burnett (two tackles) also blew a coverage for a Jackson score.

Tramon Williams got his first pick of the season and returned it to give the Packers a 21-7 lead, and added five tackles and an assist. But he was most responsible for giving up 141 yards on seven catches to Jackson. Sam Shields added three tackles.

Special Teams: C-

Special teams nearly cost the Packers this game. An onside kick went through one player and was not controlled by another before San Diego recovered, and the quick touchdown that followed got them within a score of tying the game.

On the ensuing kick, Charles Woodson was left with no blocking from the hands team and was held to a 9-yard return. Other than that, this unit was above average.

Randall Cobb had an 11-yard punt return and averaged about 25 yards per kick return without a penalty. Kick coverage allowed a 42-yard return and thus nearly a 30-yard average, and punt coverage allowed returns of 14 and nine yards.

Mason Crosby hit his 47-yard field goal to keep his streak intact and put all eight kicks into the end zone with five touchbacks. Tim Masthay had punts of 53 and 55 yards, contributing to the coverage woes with their depth.