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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Zach Kruse

Packers PFF grades: Best, worst players from season-opening loss to Vikings

The Green Bay Packers started another season with a whimper, losing 23-7 to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Based on grades from Pro Football Focus, here are the best and worst performers from the Packers’ season-opening loss to the Vikings:

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Top 5 offense

1. TE Josiah Deguara: 79.9
2. RB A.J. Dillon: 76.7
3. LT Yosh Nijman: 71.0
4. RB Aaron Jones: 68.5
5. WR Romeo Doubs: 68.2

Deguara caught two passes for 28 yards on 11 routes run and got solid marks as a blocker. Dillon was the team’s highest-graded player as a receiver and pass-blocker. He forced two missed tackles. Nijman gave up one pressure but earned an elite pass-blocking grade. Jones forced three missed tackles and was the team’s highest-graded runner. Doubs caught four of five targets and made a contested catch.

Top 5 defense

1. OLB Kingsley Enagbare: 71.7
2. LB De’Vondre Campbell: 71.2
3. DL Kenny Clark: 70.1
4. OLB Rashan Gary: 69.9
5. CB Rasul Douglas: 69.7

Enagbare and Gary were the team’s two highest-graded run defenders, and Gary totaled five pressures. Campbell missed two tackles but got strong marks in coverage. Clark led the team with six total pressures. Douglas tackled well and was charged with giving up just 11 yards on three catches in coverage.

Bottom 5 offense

1. OL Zach Tom: 43.2
2. RG Jake Hanson: 44.4
3. WR Christian Watson: 45.1
4. LG Jon Runyan Jr: 47.6
5. C Josh Myers: 55.7

Tom, who played 30 snaps in place of Runyan at left guard, gave up a pressure and received poor run-blocking grades. Hanson gave up a team-high four pressures, including a sack. Watson had the big drop and managed just two catches despite running 29 routes. Runyan received the team’s lowest run-blocking grade. Myers gave up a pressure and wasn’t good in the run game. The offensive line struggled overall.

Bottom 5 defense

1. S Adrian Amos: 28.3
2. S Darnell Savage: 29.7
3. OLB Jonathan Garvin: 43.4
4. DL Dean Lowry: 45.9
5. DL TJ Slaton: 52.4

Amos and Savage were charged with giving up five catches for 132 yards in coverage, including four for 126 yards to Justin Jefferson, and both safeties missed a tackle. Garvin didn’t have a pressure or tackle over 12 snaps. Lowry was the team’s lowest-graded run defender. Slaton missed two tackles over just 18 snaps. Overall, the Packers missed 10 total tackles on defense.

Quarterback

Aaron Rodgers: 60.1
Jordan Love: 55.5

Rodgers had one big-time throw (to Watson on the first play) and two turnover-worthy plays (both ended up being turnovers). He struggled throwing down the field and under pressure. His 11 dropbacks under pressure resulted in just 15 passing yards. The Packers dropped two of his passes, and he threw three passes away. Love completed 4-of-5 passes in garbage time to end the fourth quarter.

Special teams

The Packers missed three tackles on special reams (Keisean Nixon, Tipa Galeai, Rudy Ford)

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