Felipe's Positives - Week 14, 2024
The Green Bay Packers fall to the Detroit Lions in a hard-fought 34-31 loss at Ford Field.
The Packers are 9-4 after a tough 34-31 loss to the Lions on Thursday night. Even with the setback, they still have a 98% chance of making the playoffs. If anything, this game showed they can hang with anyone.
Green Bay now has ten days to prepare for their Sunday night matchup with the Seattle Seahawks and hopefully get some guys back from injury.
Let’s shift to some positives from Week 14.
1-Josh Jacobs (Once again)
Death, taxes, and Josh Jacobs shining on Felipe’s Positives. Jacobs delivered his second three-touchdown game of the season and is now over 1000 rushing yards. He is Green Bay’s best offensive player and it’s not even close. The offense flows better every time he’s involved, whether he’s dominating on the ground or contributing through the air.
2-Jordan Love
Despite finishing the first half with just three completions (The lowest for a Packers QB since 2013), Jordan Love found his rhythm and led Green Bay to 24 second-half points. He made several beautiful throws and navigated the pocket efficiently under pressure. Furthermore, this was his third straight game without an interception. Love is been fueled by the power of Toyotathon over the last few weeks.
3-Christian Watson
Yes, his fumble was costly, but Christian Watson topped 100 receiving yards for the second time this season. His 59-yard catch helped set up a score for Green Bay. He’s arguably the most dynamic player on offense, and the Packers’ offense is at its best when he’s having a good day.
4-Elgton Jenkins
Elgton Jenkins was the only offensive lineman on the team to not allow a single sack ,QB hit, hurry, or pressure last night, according to Pro Football Focus. That’s the level of play you expect from a Pro Bowl-caliber guard against a top-five DVOA defense.
5-The team culture
Now listen (or in this case, read), losing isn’t fun. However, the Packers went toe to toe with the best team in the league at their place, despite being hurt by some controversial calls. Green Bay was visibly hyped in that game—maybe too much at times—but that’s the energy winning teams and winning cultures have. They’ll come out stronger from this, and if they face the Lions again this year, I like their chances of winning.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Felipe is a Brazilian Packers writer covering the #GoPackGo for CheeseheadTV, Zone Coverage, and Packers Talk. Additionally, he contributes to Cheeseheads Brazil. Follow him on twitter at @Aceti_Felipe.
__________________________
Comments (21)
GregC
December 06, 2024 at 02:35 pm
I'll give some props to Dontayvion Wicks, who caught all four passes thrown his way and continues to creep back toward respectability. I love the way he snatches the ball out of the air (when he doesn't drop it!) and the way he moves when he has the ball in his hands. Did anyone else notice the great play he made diving for a first down? It went unnoticed by the broadcasters.
Also, Kenny Clark was awesome. Colby Wooden made a great play to stuff a run, and Karl Brooks almost made a great play, but he broke through the line so quickly that he went after the QB as the ball was handed off and missed the running back! I think he'll do better next time that happens.
Coldworld
December 06, 2024 at 02:55 pm
Wicks and Wyatt had good games. That is positive.
murf7777
December 06, 2024 at 03:40 pm
Regarding Wicks, I love the way he moves without the ball.....he has D. Adams moves off the line or during a route run.
Coldworld
December 06, 2024 at 03:42 pm
If he learns to catch consistently he’s blessed with elite off ball talent, no doubt about it.
Lphill
December 06, 2024 at 03:08 pm
Offensive slow start in first half was unacceptable no moral victory here Love and MlF went against a JV defense and lost .
Coldworld
December 06, 2024 at 03:47 pm
They blew away the OL. Pure and simple. They attacked the line and LaFleur had no plan for it. The OL has been an issue for years but it comes from how we view it. The Stenavich philosophy has undone us for years and was eviscerated last night. We are a finesse line for whom run blocking is a bonus not a a foundational requirement and promotes finesse over power. Last night a bunch of largely back ups shredded that myth (it’s been tattered in most post seasons for years). We won’t get better with this OC. We need a wholesale change of philosophy and to draft to give that effect not protpeyaute the coaches’ flawed ideas.
Leatherhead
December 06, 2024 at 04:07 pm
Again, if "They blew away the OL", how did we score 31 points? If LaFleur had no plan, how did we score 31 points?
So the OC, Stenovich, has to go, because having a Top 5 offense isn't good enough. I'm glad to see you come right out and say it.
Bitternotsour
December 06, 2024 at 04:36 pm
31 in their house should have been enough. Two missteps resulting in field goals rather than TD's was the difference
Leatherhead
December 06, 2024 at 05:23 pm
This was a one or two play game. The PI call on Watson, the non-call on the slap to Love's helmet, the noncalls on the Lions pick plays.......
I don't understand how a person looks at this game and comes to some of the apocalyptic conclusions they do. We're pretty good, we're getting better, we're going to make the playoffs.
I don't expect the youngest team in the league to win three straight playoff games on the road.
Bitternotsour
December 06, 2024 at 05:33 pm
Detroit will not relish a visit by the Packers in the playoffs. That team is ripe to be had.
NorthernFinn
December 06, 2024 at 05:39 pm
I don’t think it’s a Steno problem, I think the talent on the OL needs upgrading. Josh Meyer had a PFF score or 0.0 on passing downs! Then there is ML calling run plays into stacked boxes. What happened to the quick rhythm passing game?
And finally I think Cambells 4th down gambles will cost the Lions a game in the playoffs.
edp1959
December 07, 2024 at 06:30 am
It's real simple if you watch the game and pay attention. Dan Campbell gave the Packers 7 points and a turnover created another short field. How many actual drives showed any kind of dominance by the Packer's offense. Love have 3 completions and 31 yards in the first half; they sure are getting their money's worth by spending $50 mil per year.
Minniman
December 06, 2024 at 04:31 pm
I'm with Leatherhead on this one - I saw that their D-line was about 55-to-45 better than GB 's O-line, but I didn't see them getting blown off the field.
Do the Packers OL need to improve? For sure - compared to the Lions OL they definitely need to improve their outside zone prowess (so Jacobs doesn't have to bail them out - although his 2 rushing TD's were largely OL assisted).
LeotisHarris
December 06, 2024 at 06:08 pm
"We are a finesse line for whom run blocking is a bonus not a a foundational requirement and promotes finesse over power."
CW, everyday life is contentious enough for me without pissing on an electric fence, but I need to ask; if your statement above has merit, how in the heck do we have the third leading rusher in the NFL in our backfield?
GregC
December 06, 2024 at 04:28 pm
This is an article about positives.
Minniman
December 06, 2024 at 04:41 pm
..... and it's great to see! Good, Bad and Ugly and Gameballs\Lamecalls sometimes come up with BS ticky\tacky comments just because they have to.
By being in this contest right to the end, this team should well and truly believe that they can make a run - and the number of returning starters at the business end of the season should bolster this.
By losing a close one the the #1 NFC seed, the Packers will well and truly remain grounded and committed to building (as opposed to over-hyping themselves too early).
GregC
December 06, 2024 at 05:30 pm
I don't like Good, Bad and Ugly articles because two of the three things are bad, and they end on a total downer note, with the Ugly. I like to focus on the positives. Off the top of my head, I could think of 10-20 great plays that the Packers made last night, even in a losing cause. These super-talented players bust their tails for us every week. They are a joy to watch.
jlc1
December 06, 2024 at 04:54 pm
Don't think of it as a positive but some Packer player said afterwards they aren't scared of the Lions. Guess what? They aren't scared of you.
Leatherhead
December 06, 2024 at 05:29 pm
I would have students say they weren't afraid of anything . I always took the opportunity that there are some things out there that are legitimately worth being afraid of, and that a smart person understands that.
Fear is a close cousin to respect. You might not fear the large, snarling dog, but you do respect what could happen if things go south.
GregC
December 06, 2024 at 05:33 pm
So you think it would be better for the Packers to be scared of the Lions?
Leatherhead
December 06, 2024 at 05:55 pm
I think the Packers should respect what the Lions can do. That passing game of theirs is legitimate.