The bye week is over and the Green Bay Packers (6-3) will soon begin preparing for the Chicago Bears – who will host Matt LaFleur's team at Soldier Field for a Week 11 showdown in the NFC North.
Before we begin Bears week, let's take one last look at the Packers' first half of the season. According to Pro Football Focus' overall grade, the Packers only rank 22nd in the NFL. Disappointing marks in run blocking, run defense and special teams have lowered the Packers' overall grade after nine games.
Who was good? Who needs to improve? Grades from PFF can help point the way.
Here are the best and worst players from the Packers' first nine games of the 2024 season:
Top 5 offenses
1. RB Josh Jacobs: 83.9
2. RT Zach Tom: 83.3
3. RB Emanuel Wilson: 80.0
4. QB Malik Willis: 77.4
5. WR Jayden Reed: 71.6
Jacobs ranks fifth in run grade (86.9), second in yards after contact (590_) and fifth in forced missed tackles (33) through nine weeks. Tom has allowed just one sack and 11 total pressures while ranking third among offensive tackles in run blocking grade (84.6). Wilson has forced 14 missed tackles and completed six runs of 10 yards and three of 15 yards, while Willis has completed nearly 75 percent of passes in pass protection while averaging 9.7 yards per attempt. Reed has five runs of at least 10 yards averaging 2.63 yards per route run (sixth among WRs), ranking second in yards from the slot and leading all WRs in rushing yards.
Top 5 defense
1. S Xavier McKinney: 89.5
2. S Evan Williams: 87.4
3. LB Eric Wilson: 78.4
4. CB Jaire Alexander: 74.9
5. LB Edgerrin Cooper: 69.6
McKinney has six interceptions and seven total takeaways. He ranks second among safeties in coverage grade and has only missed three tackles as a blitzer while generating three pressures. Williams has allowed just six completions in coverage and has both a forced fumble and an interception. Wilson has two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception while performing at high levels as a blitzer and in coverage. Alexander has allowed two touchdowns in coverage, but also two interceptions and a solid overall coverage grade. Cooper has five pressures, 13 stops, a strip sack and a pass breakup over 238 snaps. The rookie has an elite pass rush grade of 90.4.
Below 5 attack
1. TE Luke Musgrave: 47.0
2. WR Malik Heath: 48.7
3.C Josh Myers: 49.9
4. WR Dontayvion Wicks: 53.3
5. OL Jordan Morgan: 59.2
Musgrave ran 45 routes but managed just five catches for 22 yards before suffering an ankle injury. He also struggled as a blocker. Heath ran 32 routes but only had 26 receiving yards and didn't excel as a run blocker. Myers Wicks has dropped six passes and is 0 of 9 in contested catch chances, and he ranks last among WRs in catch and drop percentage. Morgan has the worst pass-blocking grade among the Packers' offensive linemen this season, and his run blocking has been mediocre.
Defending the bottom 5
1. DL TJ Slaton: 42.7
2. DE Lukas Van Ness: 47.6
3. LB Quay Walker: 47.7
4. DL Kenny Clark: 50.7
5. CB Eric Stokes: 51.1
Slaton has just eight pressures (zero sacks) on 99 pass-rushing snaps, four missed tackles and a poor run defense grade (44.8). Van Ness has converted 141 pass-rushing snaps into just six pressures, and he has three penalties and three missed tackles. Walker tackled well, but he gave up a lot of power in coverage and wasn't effective against the run. Clark has 16 pressures, but just two quarterback hits and zero sacks, and he has three missed tackles. Stokes has allowed a team-high 293 receiving yards in coverage over 225 coverage snaps this season.
Special teams
Eric Wilson leads the team with 171 special teams snaps. Zayne Anderson has a team-high seven tackles, while rookies Javon Bullard (three tackles, two assists), Edgerrin Cooper (three tackles) and Ty'Ron Hopper (three tackles, two assists) have all been top contributors. Bo Melton has a team-high three missed tackles. The Packers were penalized 12 times and had 12 missed tackles on special teams. Brayden Narveson and Brandon McManus combined for 18 of 24 field goals and all 22 extra points. Daniel Whelan ranks ninth in punting rating and sixth in net punting average. Keisean Nixon returned just seven kickoffs with a long of 37. Jayden Reed currently ranks last in the NFL in punt return rating.
Quarterback game
Jordan Love: 71.3
Love has 10 big throws and 10 turnover-worthy plays, and his big-time throw percentage is down and his turnover-worthy play percentage is up compared to last season. His adjusted completion percentage (adjusted for drops, etc.) is 74.1, while his average depth of target remains high at 9.5 yards. He was injured by 16 drops. Love was great when he was staying clean or not being blitzed, but he struggled greatly both under pressure and when blitzing. Despite battling knee and groin injuries, Love only had to climb five times.
Malik Willis: 77.4
When keeping a clean sheet this season, Willis completed 27 of 35 passes for 335 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Two of his three touchdown passes came from the game. He is also 3 of 5 for 120 yards on throws over 20 yards through the air. Willis fought eight times. He has forced five missed tackles and has 122 rushing yards after initial contact.
