The Green Bay Packers have swept the Detroit Lions, and finished the sweep in a nationally televised game in their own building. I’m consuming as much Lions cope as possible (please share when you find
new cope), but it’s also worth looking internally at what the Packers did to earn this Week 13 win. So let’s go position-by-position for Green Bay and break down the team’s snap counts, noting any significant changes from recent weeks.
Quarterbacks
- Jordan Love: 60 snaps
- Malik Willis: 0
He’s him.
Running Backs
- Josh Jacobs: 33
- Chris Brooks: 17 (13 SPT)
- Emanuel Wilson: 11
Chris Brooks has never played this many snaps in a game that Josh Jacobs was available for. Obviously, Jacobs was dealing with his nagging knee/thigh injury from the New York Giants game, but it was clear that the Packers’ plan for Brooks today was to use him more as a blocking back in passing situations. Finally, they got to play against some man coverages, because Detroit actually blitzed Green Bay instead of sitting in two-high shells.
Assume Wilson is still the second primary ball-carrier, at least until MarShawn Lloyd is back, but Brooks will get heavy usage in specific game plans.
Receivers
- Romeo Doubs: 50 (2 SPT)
- Christian Watson: 43
- Dontayvion Wicks: 30
- CB Bo Melton: 11 (9 SPT)
- Malik Heath: 10
- Will Sheppard: 0
With Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden and Savion Williams out, cornerback Bo Melton cracked double-digit snaps for the second time this season. For reference, Melton has a season high of 26 offensive snaps played this year against the Philadelphia Eagles. Prior to this game, Melton’s second-highest rate was three snaps against the Cleveland Browns in Week 3.
Will Sheppard, who returned punts for the Packers this preseason, didn’t play a single snap for Green Bay, offense or special teams, today.
Tight Ends
- Luke Musgrave: 38
- Josh Whyle: 30 (7 SPT)
- John FitzPatrick: 14
Luke Musgrave was arguably the team’s fourth tight end last week, considering that all of offensive lineman Darian Kinnard’s snaps were at the tight end position. Now, he’s jumped back up to be the team’s primary tight end. We’ll see if this sticks or whether this is just something that’s going to be gameplanned each week.
Offensive Linemen
- Rasheed Walker: 60 (5 SPT)
- Aaron Banks: 60 (5 SPT)
- Sean Rhyan: 60 (5 SPT)
- Anthony Belton: 60 (5 SPT)
- Zach Tom: 60 (5 SPT)
- Darian Kinnard: 14 (5 SPT)
- Jordan Morgan: 0 (5 SPT)
- Jacob Monk: 0 (5 SPT)
There was no rotation on the offensive line this week, as Rasheed Walker, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Anthony Belton and Zach Tom (left to right) played all 60 snaps. Darian Kinnard played 14 snaps at tight end while Jordan Morgan only came on the field for field goal protection.
Defensive Ends
- Micah Parsons: 54
- Rashan Gary: 42
- Kingsley Enagbare: 25 (8 SPT)
- Barryn Sorrell: 7 (7 SPT)
- Arron Mosby: 0 (19 SPT)
Micah Parsons played every single snap in the first half on defense and ended up playing 90 percent of the team’s overall snaps on defense today. That’s an absolutely heroic performance on a short week’s rest. He came down with 2.5 sacks on Thanksgiving and is up to six sacks over the last three games.
Defensive Tackles
- Devonte Wyatt: 42 (3 SPT)
- Colby Wooden: 36 (4 SPT)
- Warren Brinson: 31 (6 SPT)
- Nazir Stackhouse: 5 (1 SPT)
Devonte Wyatt was probably lost for the season with a broken ankle. With Wyatt out, the team is going to lean on Karl Brooks, who missed this game with an injury, and rookie Warren Brinson at the under tackle position moving forward. Hopefully, they make the most of their increased snap load.
Linebackers
- Isaiah McDuffie: 60 (6 SPT)
- Edgerrin Cooper: 59 (3 SPT)
- Ty’Ron Hopper: 16 (19 SPT)
- Kristian Welch: 1 (14 SPT)
- Jamon Johnson: 0 (11 SPT)
For one snap, Edgerrin Cooper was injured and off the field. That’s how Kristian Welch got a look as the team’s third linebacker. Outside of that one rep, Isaiah McDuffie and Cooper played the entire game, while Ty’Ron Hopper filled in as the third linebacker. McDuffie was shaky in coverage today, so hopefully Quay Walker returns to the field soon.
Cornerbacks
- Carrington Valentine: 60 (4 SPT)
- Keisean Nixon: 60 (4 SPT)
- Kamal Hadden: 0 (2 SPT)
Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon played every single snap at cornerback today, despite Nixon being listed as questionable to play in this game by the Packers on Wednesday. Green Bay’s really thin at cornerback right now with Nixon banged up, Nate Hobbs out with his knee injury and Bo Melton playing receiver.
Safeties
- Xavier McKinney: 60 (10 SPT)
- Evan Williams: 60 (8 SPT)
- Javon Bullard: 42 (6 SPT)
- Zayne Anderson: 0 (15 SPT)
- Kitan Oladapo: 0 (13 SPT)
- Jaylin Simpson: 0
There’s nothing of note here, other than Evan Williams is back to being a full-time safety for the second week in a row. Javon Bullard is only on the field for slot snaps right now. The Packers played a ton of nickel in this game, about a 70 percent rate. Jaylin Simpson, who was elevated from the practice squad to the gameday roster this week, didn’t get in on defense or on special teams.
