After a 29-22 victory over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, the Green Bay Packers are back in the hunt for the NFL Playoffs. At 5-6, the Packers’ offensive struggles have been the result of a new starting quarterback in Jordan Love and the NFL’s cheapest and most inexperienced wide receiver group. The defense has been surprisingly consistent (if frustrating at times) throughout the season.
It may come as a surprise that the Packers’ defense has not allowed an opponent to score 24 points in a game since October 29. In fact, they have only given up at least 24 points three times this season. This season, their 20.4 points per game allowed ranks ninth in the NFL.
Of course, the defense has flaws of its own, and one of the most noticeable heading into Thanksgiving was a lack of healthy starters. Injuries sidelined Jaire Alexander, Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford, and De’Vondre Campbell.
The Packers’ defense needed a boost before their game against the Lions, and they found it in a fake quote that went viral on social media.
The Green Bay Packers’ defense was inspired by a fake quote during their game against the Detroit Lions.
The following quote, attributed to Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, circulated on social media in the days leading up to the game:
The issue with the quote is that St. Brown never said it.
Despite the fact that it was a fabricated quote, the Packers defense took it personally. According to Kassidy Hill, defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery was overheard saying to Jordan Love after the game, “ask 14 if he knows anybody’s name on the defense now.”
Regardless of the falsified quote, Green Bay’s defense understood the message: without many of their starters, they were a ragtag group of backups who couldn’t compete with the Lions. They certainly proved them incorrect.
Rashan Gary had three sacks, Jonathan Owens returned a fumble for a touchdown, and the defensive line spent most of the game in the backfield.
PFF’s Highest-Graded Green Bay Packers Defenders vs. the Detroit Lions
According to PFF, the top five highest rated Packers defense players against the Lions were:
Rashan Gary has a score of 91.9.
91.5 Karl Brooks
71.3 Jonathan Owens
Enagbare, Kingsley: 71.2
71.1 Kenny Clark
Gary, Brooks, Enagbare, and Clark combined for 21 pressures, with Gary recording three sacks. Owens led the team with 12 tackles while allowing only 16 receiving yards on four targets (three receptions).
It’s also worth noting that rookie seventh-round pick Carrington Valentine finished the day with the team’s second-highest pass coverage grade (69.1).
In other words, the Packers’ young players, many of whom started the season as backups, were up to the task on Thanksgiving.
Hopefully, they’ll be ready for another when Kansas City visits Green Bay on Sunday night.
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