OT Luke Tenuta, RB Emanuel Wilson, and TE Luke Musgrave were moved from IR to the 21-day Practice Window but none of them were activated for today's game.  The Packers promoted Safety Benny Sapp and WR Bo Melton from the practice squad.  AJ Dillon and Jaire Alexander returned to action against the Panthers.  The inactive players due to injury were Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Darnell Savage, and presumably, DeVondre Campbell.  OLB Brenton Cox, OT Caleb Jones, and CB Robert Rochell were healthy scratches.  QB Sean Clifford was active but did not play.

The offensive line opened up some holes as run blockers, particularly in the first half.  The Packers finished with 162 yards rushing on 34 carries, for a 4.8-yard average.  The running game was particularly strong in the first half as the Packers gained 117 yards on 18 carries, good for a 6.5-yard average.  The Packers had 5 possessions in the first half (including the final possession when they got the ball with just 18 seconds left in the half).  The Packers scored on each of their first four possessions (2 touchdowns and 2 field goals).  Things got a little more sluggish in the second half as the Packers rushed 16 times for 45 yards (2.81-yard average).  The Packers also had five possessions in the second half, but punted on three of them.  Worse, they were all three and outs.  The pass protection was good.  Love was hit twice and sacked once.  Love scrambled once. 

Rhyan continues to get equal snaps regardless of whether Runyan is having a better game.  I generally support that decision since Rhyan will be back for 2024 and Runyan will be an unrestricted free agent.  Newman came in as a tackle eligible on a goal line play.  Nijman did not alternate with Walker at left tackle, and rightfully so: Walker has won that spot rather decisively.

Kraft caught 4 of 6 targets for 60 yards.  He continues to play almost every play.  Kraft appeared to be favoring an arm or shoulder towards the end of the game and did not return to the field.  Kraft's blocking has improved in general.  The Packers are no longer asking him to block DEs and big OLBs as much, or when they do, they have another players, sometimes a TE or a RB, there to help him.  Kraft has been a bright spot.  Sims and Deguara had no statistics other than a fumble recovery by Deguara.  The Packers have been running a play during which the TE goes into motion and reverses his direction after crossing the center to cut the backside DE or OLB.  Deguara cut OLB Brian Burns to spring Aaron Jones for his long run.  The block was rather inelegant, but it got the job done.  There was some suggestion that Musgrave might return in time for next week's Vikings game.  That would be great, but I hope the Packers can pair Kraft up with Musgrave at times.  Fingers crossed that Kraft's injury won't necessitate him missing any time.

Aaron Jones gained 127 yards on 21 carries for a 6.0-yard average.  He caught 1 of 3 targets for 8 yards, including a pass poorly placed by Love.  There is no question that the offense is much better with a fully healthy Jones.  He can turn short gains into long gains much better than Dillon or Taylor can.  While Jones, Dillon, and Taylor are all reliable pass-catchers, Jones can run a more diverse route tree and also provides the threat of a mismatch if lined up against an ILB.  Yet, he is getting older.  He played in his 9th game out of 15 so far, and just recorded his 100th rushing attempt of the 2023 season.  And his average is down to 4.3-yards per carry.  Easy to say just use a second round pick in 2024 and let Jones go, but the Packers did use a second round pick on Dillon.  I don't want Dillon back as the number one running back in 2024.  This will be a tough decision for the Packers, who have plenty of positions in need of attention during next year's draft.

Dillon gained 12 yards on 7 carries, a 1.7-yard average.  He was used primarily in short yardage situations, and appeared to be on a snap count as he nurses a broken thumb.  Dillon did score a touchdown and continues to run hard.  Taylor gained 4 yards on 3 carries and caught his only target for minus one yard, though it was a play that was doomed from the start: its failure had nothing to do with Taylor's ability.

Doubs caught 4 of his 5 targets for 79 yards.  Doubs caught his only target in the first half for 13 yards.  He was the only wide receiver on the team to catch a pass in the second half.  Indeed, of the wide receivers, only Doubs (4) and Melton (2) were targeted in the second half.  Love's other 3 second-half attempts were one each to Kraft, Jones, and one was a throwaway.  Kraft caught his target for a big 20-yard gain down to the Carolina 13-yard line.  Melton caught 4 of his 6 targets for 44 yards, including all 4 of his targets for 44 yards in the first half.  We know Melton has blazing speed, but he also caught some comebacks and looked like he could run most of the route tree.  It makes one wonder why Melton has been stuck on practice squads now that he is getting some snaps.  Wicks caught both of his targets for 29 yards, including a touchdown during which he knew he was going to take a hit.  Unfortunately, he left the game near the end of the first half and did not return.  One also wonders why Wicks did not get more snaps earlier in the season, though he had some injuries.  Heath caught his only target for no yards.  I like the toughness and physicality Heath brings to a team that needs it, but that's a lot of snaps for zero yards.  Toure did not catch either of his 2 targets.    

Love completed 17 for 28 attempts (60.71%) for 219 yards (7.82 yards/attempt) with 2 TDs and 0 interceptions.  He had a passer rating of 109.1 for the game and 101.6 in the first half.  Love completed 5 of 9 passes for 85 yards in the second half.  Kraft caught a 20-yard pass, Doubs caught 3 of 4 for 66 yards and Taylor caught a pass for minus 1.  Love scrambled once for 11 yards and added another yard on a sneak for a touchdown.  Love was poised and in control.  It was a solid outing.

The defensive line was all about pass rush against Carolina, and there was a good amount of it.  While Wyatt and Clark were the only linemen to record quarterback hits, the push was very good all day, allowing Preston Smith to have a fine day.  The line did not make many tackles.  Wyatt led the way with 3 assisted tackles.  Clark, Brooks and Wooden each added one assist and Slaton had one solo tackle.   Carolina RBs gained 46 yards on 19 carries, a 2.42-yard average.  WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (2 for 33 yards and a TD) and QB Young (4 for 17) added 50 yards on 6 carries.

McDuffie had 8 tackles (5 solo) including a tackle for loss.  Quay Walker had 5 tackles (1 solo) and a half sack.  Preston Smith had 3 tackles (2 solo) and 4 quarterback hits.  Gary had 2 solo tackles and 1 QB hit.  Van Ness had 2 assisted tackles and 2 QB hits (and another wiped out by a roughing penalty).  He also ran into the punter to give Carolina a new set of downs.  Enagbare had 2 assists. The Packers hit Bryce Young 10 times and had 2 sacks.  They probably would have had more hits and sacks but Young has some wheels on him when he chooses to use them.  He had no problem gaining the corner on Green Bay's edge players.  The other reason is that Young got the ball out quickly by necessity.  Young started out wild high and also off the mark, as well, but he settled in.

The Packers cannot cover anyone.  One would think with a good pass rush the defense would take away quick hitters but that didn't happen.  Young was 7 or 15 in the first half.  Part of that should not be credited to the Packers because some of his throws resembled foul balls in baseball: they were not even near the playing field much less a player.  Young was 16 of 21 in the second half.  He settled in.  He had to get the ball out quickly and there was always somewhere to go, plus with his speed he could escape the pocket when necessary.  I don't understand why Ford is in the doghouse.  Johnson was brutal in coverage and when he wasn't committing penalties.  Is it simply because Ford might not return in 2024?  I am not at all sure that Stokes is superior to Valentine, but I can see why they want to see what Stokes has.  Still, not picking up Stokes' fifth year option next May seems like a foregone conclusion.  Carolina had 3 decent receivers in Chark, Thielen and Tremble, who combined for 86 first-half yards but added 165 yards in the second half to finish with 251 yards between those three players.  The Packers do not have 3 DBs who can cover.

Johnson had 8 tackles (6 solo).  Owens had 6 tackles (4 solo) and the only pass breakup.  Stokes had 5 tackles (4 solo).  

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Whelan punted 3 times for a 47.3-yard gross and net average.  Carlson made both of his field goals, including a 53-yarder.  He missed an extra point after a high snap, though I thought Whelan did a good job getting it down reasonably well.  Green Bay continues to be the most heavily penalized team on special teams.  They have taken a step back.  

RB: 1.0

TE 1.45

WR: 2.53

DL: 2.26 (a little low)

ILB: 1.73

OLB: 1.97

DB: 4.88

Stats courtesy of NFLgsis.

Photo courtesy of Jim Dedmon, USA Today Sports