For the first time in a long time, the Green Bay Packers are in the win column. The defense allowed just three points and the offense, true to Matt LaFleur’s word, unleashed Aaron Jones to the tune of 20 carries. All told, the Green Bay rushing attack, which ranks near the bottom in the NFL, ran for 184 yards and a touchdown.
Jordan Love also played well, completing 20 of 26 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown (115.5 passer rating). Most importantly, his young group of pass catcher and inconsistent offensive line put early mistakes behind them and showed just how dangerous they can be when they don’t get in their own way.
Going forward, if the Packers are to start stacking wins (Jaire Alexander said earlier this week they will run the table), they are going to need their rookie players to step up and make big plays in each game. Quite a few of them did in this game, and these three were among the most important.
Green Bay Packers 2nd Round Tight End: Luke Musgrave
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Luke Musgrave, the Packers first second round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, is an amazing athlete with a boatload of potential. The problem has been his balance after the catch has caused him (and the Packers) from really blowing up defenses.
He had one such catch in the third quarter of this game, hauling in a 25-yard pass from Love inside the red zone. However, Musgrave could not maintain his balance after the catch, and the Packers ended up settling for a field goal on that particular drive.
Musgrave got another opportunity later, though, and did not let it pass him by (though did almost trip over himself again):
Luke Musgrave with elite hands and elite BALANCE
pic.twitter.com/aOqVUc42hy— RELA 𝕏 (@itzzSKL) November 5, 2023
The rookie tight end led all Packers receivers with 51 yards. That was his highest yards total since Week One (when he had 50) and gives him 249 receiving yards on the season.
If Musgrave continues to build off of this performance, he will become the first rookie tight end in Packers history (and the history of all NFC North teams) to reach 500 receiving yards.
Green Bay Packers 7th Round Cornerback: Carrington Valentine
Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
With Eric Stokes on IR and Rasul Douglas traded, 2023 seventh round pick Carrington Valentine got his first career start. He was tasked, often, with defending Rams’ standout Puka Nacua, who finished the game with just three receptions for 32 yards.
For his part, Valentine finished with three passes defended, despite being targeted frequently in the passing game.
The highlight came when he broke up a pass intended for Nacua and gave him the famous Dikembe Mutombo finger wave. After the game, Valentine said of that play (via Ryan Wood):
“I’m here. Honestly. I watch film. I know what it is, and I’m here. I’m here to compete. He had a lot of hype coming into the game, and I took the challenge.”
Valentine, who himself had a great deal of hype surrounding him in training camp and preseason, was a big reason why the Packers decided to trade Douglas. Gutekunst and Murphy both said that giving younger players (like Valentine) developmentary snaps was more important for the team going forward (and Douglas gets to play on a Super Bowl contender).
Green Bay Packers 7th Round Safety Anthony Johnson Jr.
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Green Bay entered the game against the Rams without both of their starting safeties. Darnell Savage is on IR and Rudy Ford suffered a calf injury in practice. That left Jonathan Owens and rookie Anthony Johnson Jr. as the team’s starting safeties.
Both played well, with Owens recording a sack and leading the team in tackles. For his part, Johnson got his first career interception off of a Jaire Alexander tipped ball.
Anthony Johnson Jr (@anthon21johnson) gets his first NFL Interception! #CyclonesInTheNFLpic.twitter.com/1iASSaOprc
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) November 5, 2023
Amazingly, Johnson is in just his second year ever playing safety. Previously, he played cornerback at Iowa State, but was convinced by his coaches to move to safety to improve his chances of being drafted. Johnson had just two interceptions in his entire college career.
Hopefully there are many more to come in the NFL.
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