"Chips Report" From Packers Win Vs. Giants
Aaron Rodgers and Chad Clifton played extremely well yesterday in a win over the Giants, but who else earned our weekly distinctions?
Our weekly designations from the Green Bay Packers' 45-17 win over the New York Giants...
Blue Chips
- Aaron Rodgers–About all Aaron Rodgers needs to do cement himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL is win in the playoffs. Sunday was arguably his best performance in his entire career. To come off a concussion and play like he did against the Giants in a playoff-like environment was a thing of beauty. Rodgers threw for 404 yards, the most since Lynn Dickey in 1980. Just as important, he didn’t turn the ball over like his counterpart on the opposite sideline.
- Chad Clifton–Osi Umenyiora entered the game with 10 sacks. Chad Clifton not only held him without a sack, he held him to only a single tackle on the entire day. Looking like he’ll probably go to the Pro Bowl, Clifton played like it on Sunday. Perhaps he’s seeing that this is his best and last chance to win a Super Bowl. And Clifton wasn’t alone. The entire offensive line kept Rodgers upright and had just enough success on the ground to keep the sticks moving.
Red Chips
- John Kuhn–John Kuhn had the magic touch. He only had 22 yards rushing on the day but it hardly matters when all he’s doing is scoring touchdowns and converting first downs. Kuhn had two touchdowns on the ground and added another through the air on a two-yard touchdown reception from Rodgers for an impressive three touchdown performance overall.
- Clay Matthews–Clay Matthews didn’t record a single sack, but he made his presence felt. As active as he’s been in weeks, Matthews did have a tackle for a loss and made his biggest impact by forcing a fumble by punching the ball free from Giants running back Bradon Jacobs. It led to a highlight reel play by Desmond Bishop keeping the ball alive along the sidelines and eventually recovered by Nick Collins. Other candidates for red chips were Collins and Greg Jennings.
Cow Chips
- Korey Hall–It wasn’t due to his play on the field, but Korey Hall is going to find himself falling out of favor among the Packers’ brass if he hasn’t already because he just can’t stay healthy. At the midway point in the season, the website ProFootballFocus.com had Hall possibly going to the Pro Bowl. A couple injuries later and Hall is losing playing time to Quinn Johnson. It’s a shame because Hall plays decently when he’s healthy, especially on special teams.
- C.J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn–Wynn and Wilson didn’t play poorly, but they combined for only two tackles yesterday, both by Wynn. They’re still young, but they have a hard time making any sort of impact on the football game. They've made a few, but I think I can count them on one hand between the both of them.
Comments (46)
December 27, 2010 at 11:22 am
clay matthews is legit
December 27, 2010 at 11:26 am
The sky is blue. Grass is also green.
December 27, 2010 at 12:10 pm
and the bears still suck
December 27, 2010 at 12:40 pm
+1 :)
December 27, 2010 at 02:55 pm
One of the best post trifecta ever hahaha.
December 27, 2010 at 01:40 pm
lol
December 27, 2010 at 05:12 pm
Shhh...Wilde might hear you said "suck."
December 27, 2010 at 11:25 am
DD didn't have a ton of production, but the 1 handed catch was just a thing of beauty and his long catch he just laid out for. I think his presence and effort and leadership are something this team should cherish. Jennings gets the stats (and he DID have a truly impressive game--especially in YAC's) but DD is the heart of the recieving corps.
December 27, 2010 at 11:32 am
On the one-handed catch, I couldn't see the number on the jersey while it was happening, but you could just tell without seeing that that was Driver. Dude has had quite a career of one-handed catches. Total stud.
December 27, 2010 at 11:33 am
+1
Kuhn, the short yardage specialist, lead all RBs in ypc average (3.7). Probably the only thing bad you can say about MM's play-calling yesterday was using BJAX as the runner on 1st or 2nd instead of Nance. Nance definitely had more punch (3.6 v. 2.0). Hopefully he'll round out his skill set enough to be on the field more.
December 27, 2010 at 06:19 pm
For the record, It wasn't just a one handed catch. It was a laid-out, away from the body, almost under the body, LEFT HANDED, one handed-catch.
Wow, My jaw dropped to the ground when I saw that. Actually let out a holler, too, which is rare for me.
December 27, 2010 at 11:28 am
Surprised Bulaga didn't get a cow chip. Justin Tuck is one of the top DEs in the league, and it's expected that Bulaga would struggle against him. But by my count Bulaga would have given up at least 2-3 sacks had Rodgers not been amazing in maneuvering out of the pocket.
December 27, 2010 at 11:36 am
The one sack and the two pressures were all that Tuck got credit for though. Not good, but Tuck has gotten a lot more from other tackles.
December 27, 2010 at 12:38 pm
He's a ROOKIE and just fathom the experience he is obtaining for future years.As long as he has a brain in his head to keep it there.
December 27, 2010 at 11:35 am
I know in a game like this there are an abundance of options for blue and red chips, so I'm not quibbling with any of the choices, but I just want to give a shout-out to Raji. His push up the middle yesterday (and all year) was awesome, and it's something that we sorely lacked last year. In my (decidedly amateur) opinion, that seems like one of the biggest contributors to our defensive improvement.
December 27, 2010 at 01:47 pm
Nothing amateur about that take. Any successful 3-4 has 'that dude' in the middle. His duties very from scheme to scheme but all good 3-4's have one. BJ's coming on strong. Here's hoping Jenkins gets healthy in a hurry for this playoff run, we miss him badly.
GBP 4 LIFE
December 27, 2010 at 11:39 am
There were just too many Blues to go around and not very many negatives, but a cow chip in my opinion is the return game overall. Tramon just can't get going North & South on PR's (even on his INT he went backwards trying too hard to make something happen!). Shields had 4 KR's for a 15 yd average?? Yuk. As I recall, this NYG team has struggled a little recently covering on ST's--yet we got absolutely nothing going.
December 27, 2010 at 02:14 pm
You'd think with Slocum's schemes and coaching that there would be wide lanes for Shields and Williams to run to.
December 27, 2010 at 02:53 pm
Seriously, with potentially up to 10 HC vacancies coming this year, perhaps someone will consider Slocum for an open position. Good grief...
December 27, 2010 at 11:34 pm
why in god's name have they not been trying someone else out on punt returns - at least in practice? (or have they?) tramon hasn't looked great all year and we need him healthy as much as (almost) anyone...everyone time he returns one i think what a terrible idea that was for both reasons.
December 27, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Up to now I've always been sceptical about some of your judgements, Mr. You-got-the-most-awesome-pic-here-bar-none or like others may refer, Brian.
That one, however, is dead on. Glad someone finally talks about the day Clifton had.
December 27, 2010 at 12:21 pm
I actually think Wilson was the one to get pressure on Manning for his last pick of the day to Hawk. I think the D-line played well in getting pressure in Manning's face!
December 27, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Eli Manning held on to the ball too long.
December 27, 2010 at 12:41 pm
That sleeve is soaking wet already,cry on something else.
December 27, 2010 at 04:05 pm
Why would I cry?
December 27, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Stats don't show, but in the first half, after a playaction, Donald Driver was wide open in the endzone. However, Rodgers didn't have time to hit him, though he noticed him, because Osi Umenyiora was on his face. Clifton had been beat badly on a spin move, and Rodgers had to move away from Osi, thus ending the chance of another TD.
Not saying he played bad, because Osi is a pro bowler, and, in the end, Clifton held him to 0 sacks.
But a TD wasn't scored because of Clifton. That shouldn't warrant a blue chip IMHO.
December 27, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Your serious aren't you?
When has overall game play been reduced to one play erases the rest.
The trench war is a constant battle where no one wins them all.
December 27, 2010 at 01:10 pm
I'm dead serious. In a close game, that's as big as JJ's drop on 3rd down. BTW, it was not only that play. In a lot of runs he missed his guy, and was left facing the backfield where the RBs were stuffed.
Again, he was facing an elite opponent, and he more than held his own for most of the game. I have no problem with him getting a red chip. Clifton played well, let that be clear.
But, the way I look at it, Blue Chips are for perfect games. And a TD erasing play takes that off the board.
Jennings had a better game than Clifton IMHO. Raji had a better game than Clifton. Staying on the line, Sitton had a better game than Clifton.
December 27, 2010 at 02:00 pm
I see your point RS and know the play you're talking about with Clifton.
The BIG difference between that and JJ's drop(s) (nobody is mentioning the perfect back shoulder throw he whiffed on) is that Clifton is going against a guy who gets paid to do a job same as he does (and he's very good at it), JJ's drop was all on him, not a thing to do with any Giants player. Your LT is gonna lose some and we all know that, but JJ just flat out dropping a pin-point pass when no defender even enters into the equation is in a totally different category. I can forgive Clifton for losing a couple times to a pro-bowler, but JJ dropping uncontested TD's is unforgivable.
December 27, 2010 at 03:44 pm
From impact standpoint, it's the same deal. One could argue that Clifton's miss was even more importantly, because it was an easy TD, while JJ's was a first down.
But I agree with the rest. No doubt. Clifton's job was much, much harder than JJ's. Like you said, he was facing an elite opponent, and he more than compensated for that the rest of the game.
The same can't be said about JJ's play. It was all on him, it was an easy catch, he hadn't beat his receivers, it was the playcalling and Rodgers, all he had to do was catch the ball and run with it...
Brian Carriveau
December 27, 2010 at 03:05 pm
By that reasoning, did you see the 13 incomplete passes Aaron Rodgers threw? I don't think the standard for a blue chip should be so high to be almost unattainable.
December 27, 2010 at 03:41 pm
Not the same reasoning, as a lot of those were results of drops and pressures, and none of those were TD erasing plays.
December 27, 2010 at 09:32 pm
Perhaps Brian, you could post for us what you define as "blue", "red", and "cow" chip status?
Brian Carriveau
December 28, 2010 at 05:45 pm
All these decisions are highly subjective and there's really no science to it. I try to pick the top two performances and make them blue chips and take the next two and make them red chips. As you can imagine, it's not always easy. In losses, sometimes it's hard finding blue chippers and in blowout wins like the Giants game, it's hard finding cow chips.
December 27, 2010 at 01:09 pm
I guess you didn't see Bulaga getting beat like a rented mule on almost every play.
December 27, 2010 at 01:13 pm
What a beautiful game. I'm still giddy. I think I will be all week!
December 27, 2010 at 02:26 pm
His 2nd foot wasn't down,but I'm still giving it up for 37! Nice work rook!
December 27, 2010 at 05:10 pm
I'm sorry, and I know I'm Korey's biggest homer ever, but putting him on the cow chips because he gets hurt is just silly. The Packers may need to unload him (sob). But it's not like he isn't trying his best. Give his body a cow chip, but not him.
Hmph.
December 27, 2010 at 08:33 pm
According to Coach Trgo, (by way of JSO), CJ Wilson had two QB hits.
Wynn has not impressed me at all this season in his limited appearances. CJ Wilson, on the other hand, I think has held his own for a rookie D-lineman and has even flashed a tiny bit at times- again, talking about the season as a whole.
I don't agree with cow-chipping these two young players in a defensive performance that kept Eli Manning at a 51% completion rate and the vaunted Giants' rushing attack at 78 yards from RBs. Granted, the score factored into the rush game, but none the less... They may not have lit it up, but neither Wilson or Wynn seemed to be a huge liability, either
December 27, 2010 at 10:02 pm
How about H. Green? For a guy picked up late, Green has played pretty dang well & help's Raji overall game.
Another 20 Lbs & Green reminds me of the Gravedigger Gilbert Brown.
December 28, 2010 at 12:52 am
Hmmm...I guess B.J. Raji can never get a 'chip' then if he doesn't after Sunday's performance. Registered a sack and plugged the middle of the best rushing team in the NFL. Raji is an All-Pro nose tackle in his 2nd year. He is a bonafide stud and probably TT's 2nd best draft pick to Rodgers.
I can't wait to watch him wreak havoc for the next decade in green and gold.
December 28, 2010 at 10:33 am
Second best draft pick to Rodgers? No, that would be CM3.
December 28, 2010 at 03:15 pm
I disagree. There are far fewer big guys like Raji with his skills out there than there are guys like Matthews. Don't get me wrong, Matthews was a phenomenal pick as well, but our defense would be worse off without Raji in the long run than without Matthews.
December 28, 2010 at 03:22 pm
easily...
December 28, 2010 at 03:27 pm
Are ya SURE H. couldn't replace Raji on the line if Jenkins and Pickett played at the end spots? He had an impressive burst of speed while chasing down a Giants RB last game...
December 28, 2010 at 06:21 pm
There isn't a guy like Raji in the league right now IMO. I also of am firm belief that an elite interior rusher is superior to an elite outside rusher. A guy who is constantly pushing the pocket back or collapsing it completely is the most valuable player a defense can have.
During the 2009 draft I felt Raji could have gone #1 overall and was absolutely ecstatic when he fell to us.