How five Packers players to watch performed vs Steelers
The Green Bay Packers lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-19, but it was mostly a good game to see an offensive evolution. It was Jordan Love's most solid game in several weeks, probably since week 1, and the offensive line played well too. The defense, especially against the run, was the reason for the loss, […]
The Green Bay Packers lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-19, but it was mostly a good game to see an offensive evolution. It was Jordan Love's most solid game in several weeks, probably since week 1, and the offensive line played well too.
The defense, especially against the run, was the reason for the loss, but that will happen until the Packers decide to make significant coaching changes.
Let's analyze the individual performances we stressed before the game.
Jordan Love
The Packers quarterback was as solid as he's been the entire season. He wasn't helped much by his receivers, with several drops, but it's clear how better Love plays when the offensive line does a good job. There are still some connection issues with Luke Musgrave, but Love was calm and effective for most of the game. The first fourth-quarter interception was much more on Christian Watson, who is a big target but plays as if he was a short gadget receiver.
The second one to finish the game was bad, but Love had to try something in the final play. And before that, he had led a nice final drive to give the Packers a chance.
Considering it was a challenge against the best defense the Packers have faced so far this season, it's a promising sign of development for the first-year starter.
Aaron Jones
It wasn't a great game for Aaron Jones as a runner, because the Steelers front is powerful. He got only 35 yards on 13 attempts (2.7 yards per carry). But Jones was still impactful as a receiver, with four catches, helping Jordan Love as a checkdown option.
The bad was a fumble on a trick play after receiving a pass from Dontayvion Wicks. He recovered it, but he missed a chance to complete a big play.
Zach Tom
It's basically impossible to have a totally clean game against TJ Watt, but Zach Tom came close. He had a couple of holding calls and allowed a sack on a play where the Packers inexplicably made a normal dropback instead of a playaction on first down.
Beyond that, Tom was solid and helped Jordan Love. Most of the pressure Love received was from the interior, which is a good sign for both tackles — Rasheed Walker was solid too coming back to the starting lineup.
Isaiah McDuffie
McDuffie wasn't as impactful as he was against the Los Angeles Rams last week, but he didn't make many mistakes either. That's both an important fact for a depth piece, and also a sign that off-ball linebackers aren't truly important unless you have a truly elite player like Roquan Smith or Fred Warner.
The Packers were bad against the run, but it was mostly because of schematic decisions and being beat at the line of scrimmage, which says more about Joe Barry and the defensive line.
Carrington Valentine
Valentine had a defensive pass interference in the first half when covering Diontae Johnson. He was forced to make the penalty to avoid a touchdown after getting beat. Other than that, he was challenged as much as Corey Ballentine, which probably shows how Valentine is respected by the opposition.
He's not the ideal CB1 as a rookie, but considering the circumstances for a rookie seventh-rounder, his performance was as good as the Packers could expect.
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