The Packers elevated RB Pierre Strong from the practice squad for the third time this year because of concern that a knee injury might keep Jacobs sidelined, combined with Emanuel Wilson having a virus and missing practice. In the end, both Jacobs and Wilson were active and played, so Strong was one of the inactive players after all.  

The only inactive player due to health was WR Savion Williams.  OL Donovan Jennings, NT Nazir Stackhouse, NT Bohanna, Edge Barryn Sorrell, and RB Strong were healthy scratches.  The return of Lucas Van Ness to the active list led to Sorrell being sidelined as the Packers decided to keep Aaron Mosby available for special teams.  The Packers also apparently prefer to have Jordan Riley active, despite his unimpressive debut last week, over either Stackhouse or the recently acquired Bohanna.  The Packers also decided to have just four defensive tackles available despite playing in the high altitude of Denver.  QB Malik Willis was active but did not play.

Injuries to Micah Parsons, Zach Tom, Evan Williams, Christian Watson, and Josh Whyle might influence some upcoming decisions the Packers have to make with players who are on the 21-day window after being activated from IR and PUP lists.  RB Marshawn Lloyd (out with a calf but who reportedly recently hurt his hamstring), Edge Brenton Cox, and DE Collin Oliver all must be activated to the 53-man roster by December 21 or they revert to the IR list, ending their respective seasons.  If the Whyle cannot recover by next Saturday for the Chicago game, the Packers will probably elevate one of their two tight ends on the practice squad. 

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN:

The run blocking was arguably adequate, especially if one grades on a curve since Denver has an excellent run defense.  The team gained 115 yards on 20 carries (5.75-yard average) and the running backs averaged 5.375 yards per carry.  Those are good numbers.  Jacobs had a big run for a 40-yard touchdown.  The run blocking was disappointing and inconsistent other than Jacobs' long touchdown run: the running backs gained 3.07 yards per carry on their other carries.  That said, the Packers had a +0.12 EPA on running plays, which is in the 88th percentile.  

The pass blocking was not very good though it held its own in the first half for the most part.  Denver had 5 quarterback hits in the first half and no sacks, though 2 additional QB hits were erased by a roughing the passer penalty.  The pocket was often very constricted because the Broncos got some interior push and their Edge players collapsed the sides of the pocket, giving Love very little room to maneuver.  The Broncos finished with 15 QB hits and 3 sacks per NFLgsis.  The Packers allowed a whopping 31 pressures, according to PFF.  The Broncos schemed up 7 unblocked pressures.  Rasheed Walker had 4 penalties called on him and Belton added another. Zach Tom left the game with about 4 minutes remaining in the second quarter and he did not return.  He was replaced by Darrian Kinnard, who probably is better at guard.  [Tom said he does not think there is any structural damage to his knee but the nature and extent of his injury remains to be seen.]

After allowing 13 pressures last week against the Bears, the Packers allowed 31 pressures, including 3 sacks, 19 hurries, and 8 QB hits.  Pro Football Focus indicated that Rasheed Walker allowed just 1 pressure!  [I have to wonder if that is a misprint.]  Walker had 4 penalties, including a hold, 2 false starts and an ineligible lineman downfield.  Belton allowed 3 pressures (2 hurries and 1 sack).  Rhyan allowed 2 hurries and 1 QB hit.  Aaron Banks allowed 5 pressures (3 hurries, 1 QB hit, 1 sack).  Banks had all kinds of trouble with Zach Allen, who had 8 pressures.  Kinnard allowed 4 pressures (3 hurries and 1 sack) in 27 pass rush snaps, a 14.8% rate.  Tom allowed 0 pressures in 18 pass rushing snaps.  

RUNNING BACKS:

Josh Jacobs gained 73 yards on 12 carries (6.08-yards/carry), including a 40-yard touchdown run.  He had one nice touchdown run erased by a silly penalty (illegal motion for not getting set in time) on Musgrave, but the Packers still got a touchdown when Jacobs caught a beautiful 14-yard touchdown pass on a very contested catch.  Jacobs caught 2 of 3 targets overall for 19 yards.  He made some tacklers miss and had a fine day.  Jacobs was good in pass protection, allowing 1 pressure on 6 pass rush blocking snaps.  He appeared to be on a pitch count. 

Emanuel Wilson gained 3 yards on 2 attempts.  He allowed a pressure even though he only pass protected on 2 snaps.  Wilson had a muff on a kickoff return that forced him to take a kickoff out of the end zone.  That led to poor field position.  He ran into RT Kinnard's back on one bad-looking run, though Kinnard had been pushed back off the line of scrimmage.  Brooks gained 10 yards on 2 carries and caught 1 of 2 targets for 6 yards.  He did not allow a pressure in 3 pass blocking reps.   He had 2 assisted tackles on special teams.

The Packers need to keep paying Jacobs.  PFF assigned an initial grade of 84.4 to Jacobs.  

QUARTERBACKS:

Much was asked of Jordan Love and he delivered much of the time.  However, eventually tight pockets and 15 quarterback hits led to bad results.  I am not a fan of continuously throwing off of one's back foot, but perhaps that is just me and I have to admit that Love had reason to fade back given the pass rush and the continuous interior push the guards and center allowed. 

In the first half, Love got the ball out extremely quickly.  He completed 17 of 22 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown, good for a 122.3 passer rating.  Love finished with 24 completions on 40 attempts (60%) for 276 yards (6.90 yards/attempt).  He threw for 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions.  His passer rating was 68.3.  That means Love completed 7 of 18 for 61 yards in the second half with no touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  He ran for 29 yards on 3 scrambles with a long of 24. 

TIGHT ENDS:

Musgrave caught his 4 of his 5 targets for 52 yards with a long of 26.  He was penalized for not getting set in time after he went into motion.  Musgrave continues to show that he can be a useful member of the team.  Fitzpatrick caught 3 of 4 targets for 18 yards.  Josh Whyle had no targets.  He left the game very early after he tried to run block on a third and 1 and was demolished by the Broncos' 200-pound safety, Talanoa Hufanga, leading to a 2-yard loss.  That forced the Packers to kick a 53-yard field goal.  Whyle was diagnosed with a concussion, so he did not return.  The tight ends did not allow a hurry in 3 pass blocking reps.    

WIDE RECEIVERS:

Watson caught 3 of his 5 targets for 29 yards with a long of 19.  He left the game with a chest injury after falling heavily to the ground while trying to catch a bomb.  Although he went to the hospital, word is that Watson will fly back with the team to Green Bay tonight.  Jayden Reed caught 5 of his 6 targets for 55 yards with a long of 29.  Matthew Golden caught 3 of 4 targets for 55 yards with a long of 26.  Wicks caught 1 of 2 targets for 6 yards.  Romeo Doubs caught 2 of 3 targets for 36 with a long of 26.  Bo Melton was targeted once but had no completions.  He made a nice downfield block on Josh Jacobs' touchdown run.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES:

Wooden had 3 tackles (1 solo) and a stop.  Brooks had 1 solo tackle and a stop.  Brooks, Wooden, and Jordan Riley each had 1 hurry.  There was very little interior push, which allowed Nix to step up most of the time.  Brinson had 2 tackles (1 solo).  Jordan Riley had no official statistics.  The unit was pretty stout.  The Broncos gained 89 yards on 31 carries, a 2.87-yard average.  Their running backs gained 71 yards on 23 carries, a 3.09-yard average, with a long of 8.  The Packers once again decided to have only 4 defensive tackles active for this game, despite that altitude and their defense visibly getting tired last week.  The Packers played 1.95 defensive tackles on average per play.  

DEFENSIVE ENDS:

Gary had 3 solo tackles and a QB hit.  Van Ness had 2 solo tackles and Parsons had 2 tackles (1 solo).  Enagbare had 1 solo tackle and a QB hit. He allowed a completion for 15 yards.  Gary, Parsons, and Van Ness each had 1 run stop.  Parsons had 5 pressures, all hurries, in 23 pass rushing snaps, good for a fine 23.8% pass rush rate.  PFF gave Parsons an 89 grade.  Enagbare had 4 hurries in 19 pass rushing snaps, a 21.1% rate.  Gary had 4 hurries in 24 opportunities, a 16.7% rate.  Van Ness had 1 hurry in 11 chances.  The Broncos allowed 18 pressures overall.  Nix often had good pockets and adequate time to pick apart the Packers secondary, especially when they were in zone. Mosby had an assisted tackle on special teams. 

LINEBACKERS:

Walker had 9 tackles (3 solo) plus a tackle for loss.  PFF assigned that TFL as a run stop to Walker.  He allowed both of his targets to be completed for 28 yards, a 118.8 passer rating.  Cooper had 8 tackles (7 solo) with 2 tackles for loss, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery.  He had 2 run stops, 1 hurry on 2 pass rushing snaps, and a forced fumble.  He allowed 2 of his 4 targets to be completed for only 7 yards.  This was one of Cooper's best games.  McDuffie had 1 solo tackle and a QB hit.  He had 1 stop and he did not rush the passer.  He was not targeted, per PFF.  Hopper had no defensive statistics but he had 2 tackles (1 solo) special teams.  McDuffie had an assisted tackle on special teams.

DEFENSIVE BACKS:

Mckinney had 7 tackles (6 solo) and he had 3 passes defensed, one of which should have been an interception and another that might have been.  PFF correctly notes that McKinney did not allow any of his 4 targets to be completed, which results in a 39.6 passer rating allowed.  He had 3 run stops.  Evan Williams had  5 tackles (4 solo).  PFF assigned 1 run stop and noted that he allowed 2 completions on 2 targets for 27 yards, a 118.8 passer rating allowed. Nixon had 5 tackles (4 solo) with 1 run stop.  PFF credited Nixon with allowing 6 of 7 passes to be completed for 90 yards, a 158.3 passer rating allowed.  He allowed at least 2 touchdowns.  Bullard had 3 tackles (1 solo).  He allowed both of his targets to be completed for 38 yards and a touchdown, a 158.3 pass rating allowed.  Valentine had 2 solo tackles and a pass defensed.  He allowed 7 completions on 8 target for 93 yards and a touchdown, a 154.7 passer rating allowed.  Everyone in the secondary had a brutal day except McKinney and according to PFF, Nate Hobbs.  PFF assigned an initial grade of 83.5 to Hobbs and 92.1 to McKinney.

Bo Nix finished 23 of 34 (67.65%) for 302 yards (8.88 yards/attempt) and 4 touchdown, good for a 134.4 passer rating.  Nix calmly stood in secure pockets and picked apart the Packers' zone defense.  He showed more escape ability and ability to throw accurately on the run than I thought he possessed.  Nix is not nearly as fast as Caleb Williams: Parsons and even Gary were able to close the distance even if they never sacked Nix. 

Make no mistake: there were roughly 5 passes that the Packers could have intercepted, with at least 2 being chances that the DB had a very good chance at.  Valentine had a pick 6 if he had just broken on the pass a tick faster, but instead it was completed for a nice gain.  A couple of tipped passes fell harmlessly to the ground for Denver.  Sitting back in that zone could have worked, but it did not.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Whelan punted once for 57 yards but it was a touchback, so his net was just 37 yards.  McManus made all of his extra points and all of his field goals.  Emanuel Wilson muffed a kickoff return and had to bring it out of the end zone, which resulted in starting at the 14 yard line.  The Packers did manage to get a field goal despite the poor return and limited time left in the half. 

All statistics nflgsis or pro football focus.

Photo coutesy of Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images.

OL: 5.03 (not as high as the last few weeks)

RB: 1.00

TE: 1.24 (down a bit due to the injury to Whyle)

WR: 2.73

DT: 1.95

DE: 2.12

LB: 2.35

DB: 4.57