The Green Bay Packers got a few big performances from rookie pass-catchers on offense and a couple of pass-rushers on defense but were unable to survive a barrage of big plays created by Baker Mayfield during Sunday’s 34-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
At Pro Football Focus, the Packers earned season-low grades in coverage and on defense overall.
Based on grades from Pro Football Focus, here are the best and worst players from the Packers’ Week 15 loss to the Buccaneers:
Top 5 offense
1. LT Rasheed Walker: 88.7
2. WR Dontayvion Wicks: 78.8
3. WR Jayden Reed: 76.3
4. LG Elgton Jenkins: 75.5
5. RT Zach Tom: 73.0
Walker received an exceptional 90.7 rating as a run blocker while giving up only one pressure (hit) in 26 pass-blocking plays. Wicks averaged more than 3.0 yards per route ran, grabbed six out of seven targets, and gained 43 yards after the catch. In addition to catching six receptions overall and making a contested grab, Reed averaged more than 3.0 yards per route ran. Jenkins performed well in the run game and gave up just one hurry on 43 pass-blocking attempts. Tom is similarly suited as a run blocker; one pressure permitted (hurry). Most of the time, the offensive line performed admirably.
Top 5 defense
1. OLB Kingsley Enagbare: 90.7
2. DL TJ Slaton: 69.0
3. OLB Lukas Van Ness: 68.3
4. S Jonathan Owens: 66.3
5. OLB Rashan Gary: 62.4
A sack, strip, and recovery on Enagbare’s one impact snap resulted in an outstanding pass-rushing rating despite his 25 snap total. Slaton had 23 snaps against the run and three run stops. Throughout 26 snaps, Van Ness recorded a sack and a run stop. Owens got two stops and ten tackles without a miss, enough for a near-elite tackle grade. Gary had a run stop and four hurry-ups.
Bottom 5 offense
1. DL Colby Wooden: 26.6
2. LB Quay Walker: 29.5
3. CB Carrington Valentine: 34.4
4. CB Corey Ballentine: 46.0
5. CB Eric Stokes: 46.8
Wooden earned the team’s lowest run defense grade and didn’t have a pressure over 15 total snaps. Walker missed a tackle, graded very poorly against the run and gave up four catches for 69 yards and a touchdown in coverage. Valentine broke up one pass but otherwise gave up six catches for 68 yards. Ballentine received the defense’s second-lowest coverage grade overall. Stokes allowed four catches on four targets for 67 yards and a touchdown in coverage. Sunday was the Packers’ lowest-graded game defensively and in coverage by a wide margin in 2023.
Special teams
The Packers didn’t have a penalty or a missed tackle on special teams. Tucker Kraft was the highest-graded special teamer, while Jonathan Owens made a tackle. Daniel Whelan had a punt inside the 20-yard line and Anders Carlson made all four of his kicks, including two field goals.
Quarterback
Jordan Love: 66.6
Love completed 7 of 10 passes beyond 10 yards and nailed two passes that were thrown over 20 yards in the air, however he was penalized for two penalties (one of which included a game delay) and two plays that were deserving of a turnover (one of which had a lost fumble). Only 13 of the 41 dropbacks saw him under pressure, and he was superb when he was in clear pocket, going 24 of 28 for 214 yards and one score.
Stat to know
With just two contested catch opportunities, the Buccaneers gained 182 yards following the catch. The Bucs averaged 8.3 yards after the catch per throw, while Baker Mayfield’s 22 completions were all deemed to be uncontested. Five different Packers defenders were assigned to cover at least 50 receiving yards.
