Green Bay Packers: Instant Takeaways & Highlights from Week 15 Win

The game ended up closer than what we thought early on, but the Green Bay Packers won. Here are the instant takeaways and some highlights from their performance.

The Green Bay Packers’ offense scored three touchdowns on their first three possessions but then went cold just before the half and into the third quarter. But against a struggling Carolina Panthers team and a strong performance from the Green Bay defense, the Packers still came away with an eight-point win.

The Packers are now 11-3 and still in control of the NFC’s top seed. As I do every week, here are my instant takeaways and a few highlights from their performance.

• This week, Aaron Jones got a new agent, and this week Aaron Jones had a big day on the field. The two aren’t correlated by any means, but Jones shows why he’s deserving of a big payday. However, I still don’t see it happening in Green Bay.
• Krys Barnes wore the green dot on defense over Christian Kirksey and out-snapped him as well. As ILB1, Barnes had a heck of a game. He was all over the place and forced this crucial fumble at the goal line.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1340478861255954432

• Overall I thought this was a very good game by the Green Bay Packers’ secondary. Although I can’t include Kevin King in that group, it was another rough performance for No. 20.
• Speaking of the CB position, Josh Jackson was a healthy scratch for the second time in three weeks. CB will be a top priority this offseason.
• Adrian Amos has been playing very well over the last month, and that continued tonight.
• Every week, Kamal Martin finds his way into the backfield. I love watching him fly around, but he needs to start playing with a bit more control and finishing those plays. When he does, watch out.
• This was by far the offensive line’s worst performance since the Tampa game earlier this year.

• Lucas Patrick had a particularly rough game.
• While they struggled a bit in pass protection, the Green Bay RBs found a lot of success between the tackles.
• Once again, it was another solid performance by the Packer run defense. They held Carolina to just over four yards per carry.
• After a hot start, that Packer offense went COLD. The running game was slowed, nothing open downfield, and pressure on Rodgers.
• As they say, turnovers come in bunches, and these last few weeks, they are coming in bunches for Green Bay.
• Rodgers’ 40th touchdown came to none other than Big Bob, and it was Rodgers’ third season with at least 40 touchdown passes.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1340469378467254272

• When in the red zone, or the gold zone, I should say, Rodgers and the Packers have been so darn good this season.
• Rodgers has put up some gaudy numbers this season, but not so much tonight.
• Well, the special teams unit didn’t do anything too egregious, so I guess that’s good. Right?
• Teddy Bridgwater doesn’t throw downfield a lot, but when he has, the Panthers have been efficient. However, the Packers did a nice job at limiting those big plays.
• We saw some uncharacteristic drops from Davante Adams and Allen Lazard tonight. That certainly didn’t help the Packers’ offense that was struggling to move the ball.
• With Jamaal Williams sidelined, we saw AJ Dillon briefly. And he looked pretty good out there. But this is all we saw of him.

• Overall this might have been the Packers’ best all-around performance on defense. Decent pressure on Bridgewater, they weren’t burned in the running game, and the secondary was solid as well.
• Carolina was 4/13 on third and fourth downs and 1/5 in the red zone.
• Although, the defense was burned by Bridgwater running the ball a few times.
• Coming into the game, Carolina’s defense led the NFL in fumble recoveries with 13, but ironically it was their offense who put the ball on the ground twice.
• A lot of WR screens, shallow crossers, quick outs, not many deep shots downfield for Green Bay. And Adams was held in check for the most part.
• Mason Crosby is 16/16 on field goal attempts this season.

• The Green Bay Packers move to 11-3 and still control their own destiny. The Tennessee Titans come to Lambeau next week.