Green Bay Packers grade card: Position evaluation vs. Bills
Here's a position-by-position analysis of how the Green Bay Packers graded out during their 22-0 victory Sunday over the Buffalo Bills:
Quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers (76.9 rating) missed a few throws and hung onto the ball a little long a couple times but still threw for 298 yards while playing on a painful knee injury. Grade: B
Running backs: Jamaal Williams already has established himself as a good pass blocker, and Ty Montgomery and Aaron Jones picked up the blitz in this game, too. Jones again showed his explosion as a runner (30-yard gain). Grade B+
Offensive line: Both Bills sacks were by defensive backs, so the Packers’ line kept a solid Bills front four from getting home. Jones' quickness helps the run game, but his 30-yard run was well blocked. Grade: B
Tight ends: Lance Kendricks had his best blocking game since he signed with the Packers in 2017, but neither he (one catch) nor Jimmy Graham (three receptions for 21 yards) were a factor in the pass game. Grade: B
Wide receivers: The little things were missing. Geronimo Allison had a drop over the middle that left him open to a hit that concussed him, and rookie Marquez Valdes-Scantling failed to come back to a fourth-down pass that nearly became a pick-6 the other way. Grade: C+
Defensive line: No sacks, but Kenny Clark and Mike Daniels pushed the pocket enough to make a difference in the pass rush, and along with Dean Lowry came through on a third-and-one stop early. Grade: A-
ANALYSIS: Inside pass rushers must keep bringing pressure
Outside linebackers: Kyler Fackrell had three fourth-quarter sacks and chased down Allen to keep a short scramble from turning into a big play. Grade: B+
Inside linebackers: Blake Martinez isn’t playing as well as he did last year but had a sack on a blitz. Antonio Morrison is physical but slow. Grade: B-
Cornerbacks: You didn’t hear their names much except on Jaire Alexander’s interception, so that’s a sign of a good day, even against an overmatched quarterback. Grade: B+
Safeties: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix made one of the most impressive plays of the game when he drove hard on a pass and hung on to the interception after a big collision with 245-pound Kelvin Benjamin. But like the cornerbacks, he and Kentrell Brice weren’t tested much by rookie quarterback Josh Allen. Grade: B
Special teams: Mason Crosby missed an extra point but was 2-for-2 from 50-yards-plus. JK Scott’s punting was fine (42.8-yard average, two downed inside the 20), and the coverage teams gave up nothing (minus-one-yard on punt returns, 18.5-yard average on two kickoff returns). Grade: B