Green Bay Packers Week 14 Report Card: Grading Every Key Defensive Player

The Green Bay Packers defense played exceptionally well against the Oakland Raiders. In fact, it was probably their most complete game as a team.

They held the Raiders to only 16 points and caused five turnovers. Sure, they gave up 355 total yards, but those yards didn't turn into points, and many of those yards came in the fourth quarter when the game was already wrapped up.

Here are grades for every key defensive player that saw the field in Week 14 for the Packers.

Howard Green, DE

Howard Green got the start this week, and his performance left much to be desired.

Green struggled while he was on the field at getting pressure on the quarterback.

He also didn't have much success at stopping the run.

Hopefully, we don't see too much of Green in the upcoming weeks.

Final Grade: D

B.J. Raji, NT

This was supposed to be the year that B.J. Raji became one of the better defensive lineman in the league.

However, through 13 games it appears as if Raji has taken a step backward in his development.

He was once again held ineffective on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

Raji was a key member of the defense that lifted the Green Bay Packers to the Super Bowl last year. Let's hope that that player comes back soon.

Final Grade: D+

Ryan Pickett, DE

Out of all the defensive linemen on the field for the Green Bay Packers, Ryan Pickett played the best.

He got penetration against the run and made a few key stops for the Packers.

Pickett is having a quiet but productive season this year.

It would still be nice to see him get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but this late in the season, we'll take whatever we can get.

Final Grade: B-

Jarius Wynn, DE

While filling in for C.J. Wilson and Mike Neal earlier in the season, Jarius Wynn was having a very impressive season.

He has begun to fade as the season has progressed, but he is still capable of making an impact.

The biggest ability he brings to the table are his pass-rushing skills.

If he can get back to consistently getting pressure in the backfield, he could find himself starting come playoff time.

Final Grade: C

C.J. Wilson, DE

It wasn't a great day for the defensive linemen for the Green Bay Packers, and C.J. Wilson was no exception on Sunday.

While he wasn't on the field for much of the game, when he was on the field, he didn't make much of an impact at all. He only recorded one tackle on the day.

Final Grade: C-

Clay Matthews, OLB

Most people will look at the fact that Clay Matthews didn't record a sack against the Oakland Raiders and say that he didn't have a very good game.

However, Matthews was crucial in Carson Palmer's interception in the first quarter.

Sure, D.J. Smith was the one who made the interception, but Matthews' pressure on Palmer was what caused the errant pass.

His numbers are nowhere near as impressive as they were last year, but he still makes a huge impact in every game he plays.

Final Grade: B+

D.J. Smith, ILB

As a sixth-round draft pick out of a small school, no one really expected D.J. Smith to make much of an impact, unless it was on special teams.

However, because of an injury to Desmond Bishop, Smith has been given the opportunity to play, and he took full advantage against the Oakland Raiders.

He had an interception in the first quarter and finished the game with 10 total tackles.

Final Grade: A

Robert Francois, ILB

Robert Francois is another young player that was given the opportunity to play this week because of an injury.

With A.J. Hawk out of the game, Francois stepped up in a huge way.

He had eight total tackles and made two key defensive plays.

The first play was an awesome interception in the end zone, and the second was a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

Francois looked very good against the Oakland Raiders.

Final Grade: A

Erik Walden, OLB

It still doesn't make sense to me why Erik Walden is getting so much playing time.

Granted, he did recover a fumble for a touchdown, but other than that he didn't make much of an impact at all.

Walden is supposed to take pressure off of Clay Mathews by getting after the quarterback, but he was once again unable to do that on Sunday.

Final Grade: C+

Frank Zombo, OLB

Frank Zombo recorded his first sack of the season on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

Sure, it came when the game was already sealed up, but it was still nice to see Zombo's effort.

If he can continue to make an impact like the did against Oakland, it could help the defense immensely. 

Final Grade: B

Charles Woodson, CB

It was another good game for Charles Woodson, who recorded six tackles and his seventh interception on the season.

Woodson is quietly putting together another All-Pro season and is definitely in the running for Defensive Player of the Year honors.

If the Packers want to continue to impress like they did on Sunday, Woodson needs to continue his high level of play.

Final Grade: A-

Morgan Burnett, S

In his first full season as a starter, Morgan Burnett is having a quality season.

He led the Green Bay Packers with 10 tackles on Sunday, and he was all over the field making plays.

In past weeks, the Packers have allowed big passing plays, but that didn't happen against the Oakland Raiders, so that is a plus for Burnett.

If he can continue to be active in the secondary, the Packers will be a much better team defensively.

Final Grade: B

Charlie Peprah, S

It's been an up-and-down year for Charlie Peprah, and Sunday was sort of a "middle-ground" game for him.

He didn't do anything exceptionally well, but he also didn't make any big mistakes.

There were a few times he had good coverage, and a few times he let a guy beat him.

Overall, it was a so-so game for Peprah.

Final Grade: C

Tramon Williams, CB

This year hasn't been the best year for Tramon Williams.

His reputation as a shutdown cornerback has taken a hit, as he has attempted to make plays rather than play solid coverage.

While he played quality defense on Sunday, he was still beat too often by less-talented players.

I will, however, give him props for nearly making a leaping interception in the first half.

Final Grade: B

Sam Shields, CB

All Sam Shields need to do for Green Bay is come in the game and play solid coverage on a team's No. 3 wide receiver.

That is exactly what he did against the Oakland Raiders, and he came away with an interception in the process.

It was a good game for Shields.

Final Grade: A

Jarrett Bush, CB

For some reason, I always get a little nervous when Jarrett Bush is on the field for the Green Bay Packers.

Now, he didn't do anything horrible on Sunday, but his impact wasn't really felt, either.

He's clearly no Sam Shield off the bench, but he could have also played much worse than he did against the Oakland Raiders.

Final Grade: C

M.D. Jennings, S

M.D. Jennings played in only his fifth game for the Green Bay Packers, and the undrafted rookie out of Arkansas State played well in the short amount of time he was on the field.

There were no amazing plays from him, but he didn't let anyone get past him either, which is all you could ask for from a backup, rookie safety.

Final Grade: C+