Stat Pack: Drubbing in the desert
Pro Football Focus uses a complex system to analyze every NFL player involved in every snap in every game and assigns a grade based on how he performed on that play, with each position having its own set of grading guidelines. Plus/minus scores are given in 0.5 increments and a small normalization factor is applied to make 0.0 the average grade for a game or season. To learn more, visit
Three statistical takeaways from the Packers’ 38-8 loss Sunday at Arizona, with an assist from PFF's Rick Drummond:
1. Despite how poorly the Packers’ offensive line fared as a whole, three starters earned positive grades, primarily for their run-blocking: left guard Josh Sitton (+3.0), right guard T.J. Lang (+2.8) and right tackle Bryan Bulaga (+2.8). But mayhem ensued as the result of backups forced into duty at tackle. Don Barclay (-3.9), filling in for injured left tackle David Bakhtiari, allowed four sacks and four quarterback hurries and committed three penalties. Josh Walker (-4.2), who came in after Bulaga exited with an ankle injury, yielded a sack and four hurries on just 16 pass-blocking snaps before being replaced by reserve center JC Tretter (+0.2).
Cobb: Packers' focus is the Vikings
2. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers received his lowest grade (-4.4) since 2008, primarily for fumbling three times (losing two that resulted in Arizona touchdowns). Rodgers was mercilessly harassed by Cardinals pass rushers, facing pressure on 18 of his 38 dropbacks. On those 18 plays, he was 3-for-8 for 42 yards, one touchdown and one interception (passer rating of 55.2) while scrambling twice and being sacked eight times. Rodgers also received credit for some accurate throws that were dropped by his receivers.
3. It was a long afternoon for rookie inside linebacker Jake Ryan (-4.3) who had only two solo tackles and couldn’t keep up when isolated in pass coverage against Cardinals phenom running back David Johnson. Ryan had three missed tackles, two of which came on swing passes to Johnson that went for 44 yards and 29 yards. Letroy Guion (+2.4) and Mike Pennel (+1.4) were the only Packers defensive players with overall grades better than +1.0. Each had three defensive stops and Pennel chalked up a sack, a quarterback hit and a hurry on only 10 pass-rush plays.
