After re-watching Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears, here are five six things worth knowing:
1) The Bears don't have much talent left on defense after trading away Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith, but that shouldn't diminish the play of the O-line on Sunday. The guys up front did their job, keeping quarterback Aaron Rodgers clean and giving the backs room to run. Left guard Elgton Jenkins had one of his best games of the season and finally seems to be rounding into form. Zach Tom, subbing for David Bakhtiari at left tackle, had a few shaky snaps but was otherwise solid.
2) It's probably not a coincidence that AJ Dillon is warming up as the weather cools down. The former Boston College star had his second consecutive strong game on Sunday, rushing for 93 yards and a TD. Cold temps and a hard playing surface suit the third-year pro. Dillon's size (6-0, 245) helps his footing, and let's face it, very few defenders are anxious to tackle him on a 30-degree afternoon. It's also probably not a coincidence that his recent success coincides with the emergence of dynamic rookie wide receiver Christian Watson and the improved play of a suddenly stable offensive line.
3) Until a couple of late interceptions, quarterback Justin Fields picked Green Bay's defense apart for three quarters. It was jarring to see him target inside linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, who was in the midst of an All-Pro season only 12 months earlier. But that was then, and this is now. The 29-year-old struggled to keep up with Cole Kmet, a capable but hardly dynamic tight end. While Campbell was probably rusty after missing the previous four games with a knee injury, he just doesn't look like the same guy. He's not reacting as quickly as he did a year ago, nor is he playing with the same physicality.
4) Looking ahead to 2023, the most encouraging news from Sunday might've been the solid play of young defensive linemen T.J. Slaton and Devonte Wyatt. They made the most of limited opportunities (nine snaps each). Slaton is really coming on. The massive (6-4, 335) second-year pro from Florida stayed low to the ground and rocked back center Sam Mustipher on multiple running plays. Wyatt, who's done next to nothing all season, finally made an impact by fighting off a block from right guard Teven Jenkins and helping to stuff David Montgomery on a key third down in the fourth quarter.
In the top video, Slaton (#93) uses perfect technique to make the play. In the above video, Wyatt (#95) overcomes a shaky start and finishes strong.
5) Preston Smith did a good job versus the run on Sunday, but he didn't disrupt Fields at all as a pass rusher. In fact, the veteran outside linebacker is averaging only two pressures a game since Rashan Gary suffered a torn ACL in Week 9 at Detroit. Prior to that, Smith was averaging more than twice that number. Green Bay owes the 30-year-old a $7.5 million bonus next spring, and while general manager Brian Gutekunst will likely pony up, it's far from a certainty. The former Mississippi State star is a solid player, but solid players don't typically get paid $13 million per season - even in today's NFL.
6) Some fans might not even know he's on the roster, but Eric Wilson is having a terrific season on special teams. The veteran inside linebacker, who blocked a punt less than two weeks after being signed off the Saints' practice squad in early October, had a couple of tackles on Sunday. He's a major reason why kick coverage has been so solid this season despite being tested more than any other unit in the league. Wilson, along with fellow veteran newcomers Rudy Ford, Dallin Leavitt, Keisean Nixon, and Corey Ballentine, has helped turn a major weakness into one of this season's few positives.
OVERALL: I had the urge to feather my hair and put on a pair of Bell Bottoms because Sunday is what the late 70s felt like for Packers fans. The longtime division rivals played in a meaningless game broadcast by some network's D team. Back then, the Bears won more than their fair share of battles, but that's when Lynn Dickey and Randy Wright were at QB for Green Bay. And while Rodgers didn't play much better than a typical journeyman, he wasn't about to lose to an opponent that traded away its best defenders weeks ago and whose sole focus is maintaining a high pick in the 2023 draft.
[yop_poll id=" 77"]
I’m curious to see how this configuration of the offensive line does against better front 7s. None of the starters vs. the Bears were older than 26, so there’s reason for optimism.
The 70’s …..Scott Hunter, Jerry Tagge, Barry Smith, etc., fans thought it couldn’t get much worse until the John Hadl trade happened. Let’s hope our talent evaluators aren’t leading us back down that road again.
We’ve become spoiled – I know I have – that the Packers beating the Bears in December felt like little more than a “meh” moment. While this team isn’t very good, it’s good to see at least some of the rookies and young guys showing something. Obviously Watson’s emergence is very hopeful. He’s certainly a lot less polished than Adams was as a rookie, but he’s got SO much more flash and explosion. Hopefully we have a few guys in which to see Doubs and Watson together. Also hopeful that Gutey may very well have found the LT of the future. Wyatt’s been disappointing but I do remember an article by Silverstein saying that that is one of the toughest positions to play well in as a rookie.
This was supposed to be a team that was buoyed by an elite defense while the offense found an identity. While the O is finding more of an identity and showing promise, the D is just so, so dsappointing. Amazing how many players on that side of the ball have taken a step back: Rasul, Campbell, Lowry (remember he actually played pretty well last year), Stokes, Preston, Clark, even Amos. It’s astonishing.
Gutey has to keep finding those cheaper FA’s on one-year deals and then moving on. He did well with Campbell and Douglas. This year Nixon has been a great contributor.
And on a different note, the Love situation has to be the most fascinating Packers situation we’ve seen in, well, 15 years. That will be quite something to watch unfold…..