Stars, studs and duds from Packers’ 34-20 loss to Lions
The Green Bay Packers are 2-2 after getting outplayed in every phase by Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions on Thursday night at Lambeau Field. The Lions scored six times, led 27-3 at half, outgained the Packers by almost 200 yards and held the football for almost 38 of the 60 minutes.
The final score was 34-20, but it took a pair of scoring drives to open the second half for the Packers to get within two scores.
Here are the stars, studs and duds from the Packers’ loss to the Lions:
Stars
OLB Rashan Gary: Four more pressures on just 14 pass-rushing snaps. Gary had a quarterback hit and drew a holding penalty. The Packers defense really needs him to become a full-time player and provide full-time disruptive production, but the team is smartly working him back slowly from a major injury.
K Anders Carlson: He made a 38-yarder to kick off the scoring, and his 50-yarder in the fourth quarter was a no-doubter. The rookie is still perfect through four games.
Studs
WR Romeo Doubs: He mistakenly broke off a route and went off-schedule on Jordan Love’s second interception, but the rest of the night was strong. Doubs caught a career-high nine passes and averaged 2.47 yards per route run. His 15-yard catch on fourth down kept the Packers’ first touchdown drive alive, and he drew a pass interference penalty late in the first half. However, three of his catches and 40 of his receiving yards came on third-and-long where the receptions did not convert first downs.
P Daniel Whelan: His five punts averaged 51.8 yards, with a season-best net average of 45.8. He forced two fair catches and averaged 4.85 seconds of hangtime. His best punt was a 52-yarder that forced a fair catch. He also had a 51-yarder that pinned the Lions inside the 20-yard line after a penalty. His shortest punt was a 47-yarder that forced a fair catch.
S Rudy Ford: The veteran showed speed ranging to his left to intercept Jared Goff on a pressured throw on the Lions’ first possession. Overall, Ford was solid in coverage and making tackles. PFF charted Ford with eight tackles and zero misses, although several of his tackles came at the end of big plays cleaning up for other’s mistakes and preventing touchdowns. That’s a safety’s job.
Duds
LG Royce Newman: He’s a backup for a reason, but the Packers must consider a change at left guard if Elgton Jenkins isn’t ready to play next week. Newman was a liability in the run game and allowed five pressures, including a sack. On the sack to end the first half, Newman got bull-rushed 10 yards into the backfield. He also combined with Josh Myers to give up a sack off a double-team block and got beat by Alim McNeil on a stunt for another takedown.
RG Jon Runyan Jr: He injured his ankle in the first half and struggled the rest of the way, giving up five pressures — including a sack — and committing a penalty.
OLB Kingsley Enagbare: He started at outside linebacker and delivered two assisted stops against the run, but he also got shutout on eight pass-rushing snaps, wasn’t good enough down-to-down defending the edge against the run and lost the edge on Kalif Raymond’s 40-yard run. Enagbare was also responsible for one of four special teams penalties (false start on punt).
CB Rasul Douglas: The Lions beat him on third down for a 35-yard completion to rookie tight end Sam LaPorta and then got him on a double-move to Amon-Ra St. Brown for a touchdown on the same drive. Douglas also missed a tackle and was a non-factor against the run.
