Packers Stock Report: Divisional Round

The stock report from the Packers divisional round game against the Rams.

After a win over the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round, the Green Bay Packers are headed to the NFC Championship Game for the second straight year. The Rams entered the game with the number one defense, but the Packers had no issue putting up 32 points and 484 yards of total offense. This Sunday, Green Bay will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in what will be the first conference championship at Lambeau Field since 2008.

Before looking ahead to the matchup with Tampa Bay, here is the Packers’ stock report from their win over Los Angeles:

Buy

Offensive line

Green Bay saw some gutsy performances from multiple guys upfront, including Elgton Jenkins and Lucas Patrick. A lot of people were worried about the impact Aaron Donald would have on this offense. However, the offensive line virtually made Donald and the Rams’ pass rush a non-threat. Aaron Rodgers wasn’t sacked a single time during Saturday’s game, and Green Bay’s line did a tremendous job opening up rushing lanes for the backfield. In total, the Packers had an efficient 188 yards on the ground.

Aaron Jones

Jones ran the ball 14 times for 99 yards, but he refused to go down on first contact for most of the game. His performance was borderline heroic, and he topped it off with a back-breaking 60-yard run to start the second half. Jones has done everything he can to persuade Green Bay to sign him to another contract. He’s been a huge part of the offense for the last two seasons, and it would not be easy to replace his production.

Aaron Rodgers

Put down another masterful performance for the soon to be NFL MVP. Los Angeles had no answer for Rodgers on his way to 296 yards and three total touchdowns. His one-yard scamper in the second was set up by a beautiful pump fake to get Leonard Floyd off his feet. Rodgers then delivered the dagger with a great throw to Allen Lazard for a 58-yard score to go up 14 points with less than seven minutes remaining. Rodgers is on fire right now with no sign of slowing down.

Rashan Gary

The progression of Gary is truly something to behold. He had an outstanding second season in the NFL, and now he’s showing up in the postseason. Gary sacked Jared Goff one time and then helped Kenny Clark on a crucial third-down play to finish with a total of 1.5 sacks for the game. He was also a part of multiple pressures, and therefore consistently affected the Rams’ passing game due to his ability to disrupt Goff in the pocket. 

Sell

AJ Dillon

Dillon had six carries for 27 yards, which isn’t bad, but he almost cost the team a scoring possession with a fumble during the fourth quarter. Dillon appeared to injure his quad on the play, but that was after the defender knocked the ball loose. It was almost a game-changing play that could have altered the outcome of the game.

Hunter Bradley

One bad snap resulted in a botched extra point. Another was way off the intended mark of JK Scott attempting a punt. Bradley shouldn’t be having these issues, especially on his home field. Long snapper might be a position Green Bay needs to look at in the offseason.

 

 

 

Brandon Carwile is a Packers writer who also enjoys watching and breaking down film. Follow him on Twitter @PackerScribe.

4 points
 

Comments (11)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Lphill's picture

January 20, 2021 at 12:27 pm

If I’m not mistaken Hunter Bradley graded out as one of the top long snappers in the league, who can remember his last bad snap ? and Dillion sell ? maybe if he got more carries throughout the season especially on those many failed short yardage attempts he would be more comfortable in his role plus it looked like a bad handoff .

5 points
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Qoojo's picture

January 20, 2021 at 12:35 pm

I give Dillon some leeway due to getting injured on the play too.

6 points
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dobber's picture

January 20, 2021 at 12:40 pm

If you ever watch Dalvin Cook, he seems to limp off the field whenever he fumbles, but miraculously returns for the next possession...hmmm.

4 points
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Coldworld's picture

January 20, 2021 at 01:26 pm

Doesn’t seem applicable here though.

2 points
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dobber's picture

January 20, 2021 at 02:19 pm

Poking at the Vikings is ALWAYS applicable...

7 points
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10ve 💚's picture

January 20, 2021 at 02:17 pm

I agree on both points

1 points
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rlattin's picture

January 20, 2021 at 03:16 pm

you dont have to have a sell just for the sake of it. bradley and dillon made a mistake, but SELL? sheesh.

5 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

January 20, 2021 at 04:53 pm

If he's healthy, I would give Dillon 20 reps on the ground. Put the beat down on Tampa's D. Inside zone and basic I formation has worked on these dudes.

3 points
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splitpea1's picture

January 20, 2021 at 03:18 pm

Time to forget about the Rams--they've been disposed of. I'd add Kenny Clark to the buy list, though.

Let's hope MLF is on the buy list after the Bucs. If the offense has been working on any promising new plays, now is the time to unveil them. A little unpredictability wouldn't hurt, either, as long as we're being smart about it. MLF needs to have an answer for everything in this game; recently there was an article about him maybe not getting the respect he deserves, but if we win here, he definitely gets that respect. Time to finally get over the hump.

We want to see AR on the buy list as well. I think I read he was named MVP, and we'll be needing him to keep his poise and play as such against this very difficult defense.

4 points
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PatrickGB's picture

January 20, 2021 at 04:23 pm

I think that Hunter Brady graded well earlier because he was often downfield quickly during punt coverage. And after the snap he blocks ok. However his snap accuracy has sometimes been off. There is more to being a snapper than just snapping. But yah, inaccurate snaps will cost the team.

2 points
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Leatherhead's picture

January 20, 2021 at 06:56 pm

Buy: This offense. It moves the ball and scores points no matter what. The Aarons , behind excellent blocking, simply shred whoever we play. A double buy on the best Packers Oline unit that I’ve ever seen.

Sell: The narratives that the Packers are soft, that the defense is poor, that Rashan Gary is a bust, and that a good defensive team will beat us down.

5 points
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