Xavier McKinney is worth every penny

McKinney kept his incredible start to life as a Packer rolling on Sunday, grabbing a fifth interception in as many games to begin his career with Green Bay, setting a franchise record in the process.

The star safety also had a pick in his final game with the Giants at the end of the 2023 season, meaning he has now tied the NFL record for consecutive games with an interception. 

He also scooped up a Rams fumble forced by Kingsley Enagbare, almost had another pick of Stafford, and knocked out what would have been a third down conversion with a big hit early in the game.

There will soon reach a point where teams will have to seriously think twice throwing the ball anywhere in his vicinity

McKinney has been everything the Packers could have hoped for and more, patrolling the deep part of the field and capitalizing on mistakes by the opposing quarterback with staggering consistently.

It is mind boggling that the Giants let McKinney become a free agent. Like the Packers with Micah Hyde back in 2017, or the Bengals with Jessie Bates III in 2023, perhaps they felt paying a safety was simply not a priority, but defenders like McKinney are true difference makers, regardless of their position.

Brian Gutekunst’s track record with signing high-priced free agents was strong before this offseason, and going all out to secure McKinney’s services is another feather in his cap.

Tucker Kraft’s break out party

With multiple players out of this game for the Packers, and facing an embattled Rams defense, Sunday presented an opportunity for one or more of Green Bay’s young pass catchers to make a statement.

It was Tucker Kraft who stepped up to the plate, turning his four catches into 88 yards and two touchdowns and taking a firmer grip on the TE1 spot on the depth chart.

Kraft is quickly turning into a do-everything, high quality tight end, and seems to be improving with each passing week. He takes pride in his work as a blocker, and as a receiving threat, is showing off his top tier athleticism.

He has an impressive ability to avoid being tackled and rumble for extra yards after the catch, as was shown on his 66-yard touchdown catch, as he stiff-armed a Rams defender on his rampage down the sideline.

Kraft’s knack for breaking tackles and turning check downs into chunk plays should make him a valuable part of the offense each week as the easy button for Jordan Love.

Pass rush remains mostly MIA

Another game, another underwhelming showing from Green Bay’s pass rushers.

The Packers failed to make the QB, standing behind a beat up offensive line, uncomfortable with any regularity on Sunday, and the excuse of trying to maintain rush lanes to stop the quarterback from scrambling will not be available against 36-year-old Stafford this week.

Missing Devonte Wyatt, Green Bay’s most consistent source of pressure in the early season, certainly did not help, but the Packers front generated alarmingly little pressure every time they rushed with four.

Fortunately, Hafley managed to dial up some well timed blitzes to help his charges make enough plays to come out on top in this one, but the Packers need more from their front, which is full of highly paid veterans and former early draft picks. The trend is very concerning.

Young defenders close out the game

After Love and the offense were unable to close out the game, the responsibility fell to Hafley’s defense, who delivered the crucial stop, forcing the Rams to turn the ball over on downs and effectively end the contest.

On the decisive 4th and 5 play, it was rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper blitzing up the middle who forced Stafford to get the ball out of his hands, and rookie safety Evan Williams in coverage of Colby Parkinson who broke up the pass.

In his limited usage so far, Cooper has shown real flashes of his potential, and as a blitzer he is electric, flying downhill and getting in the quarterback’s grill in a hurry. As the rest of his role continues to grow slowly, he can be used as a real weapon in that regard.

Williams is going to be a solid defensive back in this league at worst. He is smart and plays with great effort. It was impressive to see him give up a catch on a similar route to Parkinson earlier in the drive, then make the adjustment to knock out the all-important 4th down throw.

A clean day for Brayden Narveson

The Narv-dog had his worst game in the NFL last week versus the Vikings, but rebounded with a solid day’s work in Los Angeles on Sunday, nailing his only field goal attempt from 46 yards and making all three extra points without fuss.

Narveson struck the ball cleanly all day, and with four kicks, there was little doubt the ball would make it through the uprights once it left his foot.

His numbers kicking on the road has been better than at home so far this season, so the key to him sticking around in Green Bay long term might simply be learning to kick in Lambeau, which can be tricky for the uninitiated.