Green Bay Packers

GRADE
Date	Current	Previous
01/12/12	C-	A-
This is why you play the games. A rested, fully healthy No. 1 seed playing at home as a touchdown favorite against a wildcard road team they’d beaten earlier in the season? Didn't matter. The underdog Giants came into Lambeau Field on Sunday and had their way with the Packers, winning 37-20 by forcing four turnovers and throwing the ball all over Green Bay’s wretched secondary. Season over. -- James Carlton
12/29/11	A-	B+
Aaron who? With MVP frontrunner Aaron Rodgers inactive, backup Matt Flynn came in and passed for more yards and TDs than any Packer QB ever had before. Flynn’s record day, 480 yards and six TDs, powered the Packers offense, which put up 45 points in a win over the Lions despite not having four of its top weapons active. The defense, playing without two Pro Bowlers, allowed 41 points, but also forced four turnovers, including the clinching interception. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent
12/22/11	B+	F
With questions and doubts lingering after their first loss of the season last week, there was a lot to like in Sunday’s 35-21 win over the Bears. Green Bay, now 14-1, was unstoppable on offense and true to form on defense, bending without breaking. QB Aaron Rodgers continued his record-book revisions; the bandaged-up offensive line played outstanding; the defense forced two interceptions; the team committed zero penalties. Now that’s a blueprint for winning. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent
12/15/11	F	A-
Coming into the game the Packers without without five key players, including WR Greg Jennings. During the game they lost starting RT Bryan Bulaga and then his backup Derek Sherrod. But in the previous 19 games, those type of problems did not stop the Packers from winning. What did this time was poor pass protection from that beat up offensive line and a defense that couldn't get the Chiefs offense off the field. -- Bob Gretz, RapidReports Correspondent
12/08/11	A-	B-
The biggest question after the Packers' rout of the Raiders was whether the sterling defensive effort was a sign of improvement or an aberration. The (statistically) second-worst defense in the league was dominant, allowing 355 total yards and forcing five turnovers. The offense was lethal as usual, with the running game making an unexpectedly strong appearance (136 yards). -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent
12/01/11	B-	A
Aaron Rodgers wasn't going to let a little thing like the defense keep the Packers from staying undefeated. Rodgers basically carried an offense that lost its top RB and whose receivers couldn't always catch the ball, as well as a defense that couldn't stop the Giants. Not their best performance but the Packers showed real mettle. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent
11/24/11	A	B
Aaron Rodgers recovered after a rough first quarter, decimating Detroit's injury-depleted secondary in the second half. Outstanding pass protection made Detroit's potent D-line a non-factor. Three INTs ended any hopes of a Lions' comeback. The Packers left no doubt that a gulf in class exists between the reigning Super Bowl champions and the rest of the NFC North. -- John Kreger, RapidReports Correspondent
11/17/11	B	A-
A nonexistent running game, an Aaron Rodgers interception, 36 combined receiving yards for Jermichael Finley, Greg Jennings and James Jones. How did this offense score 35 points against the Buccaneers? We're not quite sure except it definitely involved WR Jordy Nelson (123 yards, two TDs) and DT B.J. Raji. This was the ugliest win for the undefeated Packers. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent
11/10/11	A-	B
Forget nitpicking, it feels like downright nit-harvesting to withhold an 'A+' grade after Monday night's 45-7 home win over the Vikings. The QB was Rodgersian (140.3 passer rating); the offense splashed across five TDs; the defense played incontrovertibly its best game of the season. The only grumbles concern the pedestrian run game, the handful of QB hits and the muffed PR. Again, nits. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent
11/03/11	B	B
Grading this team is like grading a smart kid who doesn't work hard. With such a prolific offense, this team should never have to bite its collective fingernails like it did at San Diego. But, as it has been on many occasions, the defense was pummeled for 460 yards (though it got three turnovers). -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent
10/27/11
10/20/11	B	B-
The Packers' high-octane offense went into overdrive in the second half and turned a 4-point halftime deficit into a 16-point lead by the end of the third quarter. QB Aaron Rodgers picked apart a short-handed Vikings secondary and led the Packers to a 33-27 road win and a spotless 7-0 start to the season. -- Joe Oberle, RapidReports Correspondent
10/13/11	B-	A
Every week, Mike McCarthy reiterates his Packers have much to improve. He's right. The Super Bowl champs are far from playing their best. They didn't score at all in the second half and the running game was punchless. The defense allowed just three points, but it was against the Rams. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent
10/06/11	A	B+
After Atlanta came out and quickly put 14 points on the board without a peep from the Packers, Green Bay proceeded to pick apart the Falcons in every facet of the game. Green Bay's defense shut down Matt Ryan and any rushing attack imaginable. Aaron Rodgers threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. -- Knox Bardeen, RapidReports Correspondent
09/29/11	B+	B+
It's hard to imagine the offense playing better. QB Aaron Rodgers had six TDs (four throwing, two rushing), the WRs shared 408 receiving yards and the Packers rushed for 111 yards. But that defense. They forced four turnovers but gave up 384 total yards to a bad offensive team. Coach Mike McCarthy said afterward there is much to fix. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent
09/22/11	B+	B-
On the road, in the division, against last year's NFC Championship runner-up, the Packers played well. Not their best, as coach Mike McCarthy and QB Aaron Rodgers both emphasized after the 27-17 win at Chicago. The seven penalties were too many. But they ran the ball effectively, Rodgers was Rodgers (though he threw an uncharacteristic interception), and they forced Bears turnovers. We haven't seen 'A'-level football from the defending champs yet. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent
09/15/11	B-	B+
Sure, it's a different Panthers team, but this was still a game pitting last year's best against last year's worst. And it shouldn't have been this close, coming down to the last possession for the second straight week. Turnover differential, the Packers' sacred cow, won the game. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent
09/08/11	B+	-
The defending Super Bowl champs showed why they are such, as QB Aaron Rodgers led the explosive offense to 28 first-half points. But as the defending champs, the Packers also left a bit to be desired defensively, giving up 477 yards to the Saints. If the offense keeps dominating, though, the defense can be 'B' quality all year and the Packers will still win. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent

GPA Key
A = 4.0	A- = 3.7	B+ = 3.3
B = 3.0	B- = 2.7	C+ = 2.3
C = 2.0	C- = 1.7	D+ = 1.3
D = 1.0	D- = 0.7