Sam's Grading the Pack Week 4: I Thoroughly Enjoy Allowing ZERO Points

Before I say anything, let's all note that the Bills suck. Yes, they shutout a good Vikings team last week, but this team shot themselves in the foot very often. Buffalo dropped a potential pick-six, couldn't block their quarterback from backup edge rushers, and really didn't do themselves any favors in every facet of the game.

Now, let's give credit where credit is due: Defense. I haven't seen an effort level from a Green Bay defense like this in a very, very long time. No one got flagged for Roughing the Passer. Kyler Fackrell had five career sacks coming into today, and he went on a second-half tear for THREE sacks, helping the Pack get to SEVEN on the day. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Jaire Alexander added picks, and Kenny Clark both stripped the ball from a scrambling Josh Allen and recovered it. Reggie Gilbert once again provided more pass rushing than Nick Perry or Clay Matthews, while Blake Martinez and Oren Burks both held their own inside.

The offense looked decent too, with Aaron Rodgers finishing two yards shy of a 300-yard day. Aaron Jones was explosive out of the backfield again, recording his first Touchdown of the year, and Jimmy Graham pulled in his first Touchdown catch as a Packer. The O-Line (except for Bryan Bulaga) put together their best game as a unit, with David Bakhtiari leading by example as per usual. Mason Crosby nailed all three of his Field Goal attempts, and JK Scott booted two of his four punts within the twenty. All in all, the Packers looked in control every step of the way against Buffalo, a good feeling to have going into Detroit next weekend.

OVERALL: B-

Offense: B- QB/RB: B WR/TE: B OL: B-

Defense: B- DL: B- LB: B DB: C+ Special Teams: B-

BEST GRADE: A+: Kyler Fackrell, OLB

Eight players earned a grade of "A-" of higher, but Kyler Fackrell was in a league of his own with an A+. The third-year edge rusher tallied two Sacks his rookie year and three in 2017, but a huge fourth quarter led to matching his single-season high in one game. He's struggled in the handful of weekly snaps on defense over his first two years, but in a season where both starting edge rushers (Nick Perry and Clay Matthews) have underwhelmed, a career day for Fackrell comes at a perfect time for Green Bay.

WORST GRADE: C-: Bryan Bulaga, RT; and Josh Jackson, CB

It's a good week when the worst grade is a C-. Still, for the fourth straight week, Bryan Bulaga is the earner of one of the worst grades. This was his best performance of the season, as he only allowed two bad plays on the right side, but he still committed a hold and finished with a below-average grade. Justin McCray isn't in this category this week because, well, he didn't play. Veteran Byron Bell started in his place and put up a much better performance than any Justin McCray has had in his life. Josh Jackson did a decent job in coverage, but tallied two 15-yard penalties, ending his fourth career game with a "C-" grade. I have no worries with the second-rounder.

MVP Watch: Despite a "B" grade this week, Aaron Rodgers still maintains a slight lead over Davante Adams for first place in the Team MVP race. Geronimo Allison falls back to third, Mason Crosby remains in fourth, and defensive leaders Blake Martinez and Kenny Clark join punter JK Scott in a three-way tie for fifth.

STATS OVERVIEW:

Passing - Rodgers: B (22/40, 298 Yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 76.9 Passer Rating; 5 Rush, 31 Yds);

Rushing - J. Williams: C+ (11 Rush, 27 Yds); Montgomery: B (5 Rush, 18 Yds; 2 Rec, 56 Yds); A. Jones: A- (11 Rush, 65 Yds, 1 TD; 1 Rec, 17 Yds)

Receiving - D. Adams: B+ (8 Rec, 81 Yds,; Allison: B+ (6 Rec, 80 Yds); Graham: B+ (3 Rec, 21 Yds, 1 TD); Valdez-Scantling: C+ (1 Rec, 38 Yds)

Defense - 2 INT (Clinton-Dix, Alexander), 7 Sacks (Fackrell x3, Martinez, Gilbert, Whitehead, Matthews/Perry)

Questions? Comments? Concerns? General Feedback? Is Green Bay's defense actually formidable? Please let me know!

Thank you and God Bless,

Samuel R. Fuller