Packers Stock Report: Week 14
With a win over the Detroit Lions in week 14, the Green Bay Packers have entered the driver’s seat in the NFC. The New Orleans Saints lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, giving the Packers the inside track for the top seed. Sunday’s win wasn’t pretty, but Green Bay got the job done against Detroit in a stadium that has given them trouble in recent years.
Here is the stock report from their 31-24 win in week 14:
Buy
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The most volatile player on the roster came through with a good performance against the Lions. Valdes-Scantling hauled in six receptions for 86 yards, including a nice back-shoulder catch for a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Despite some costly mistakes in 2020, the Packers' third-year receiver is having his best season to date. He’s taken a step forward this year by showing up in big moments.
Aaron Rodgers
On a day in which Patrick Mahomes threw three interceptions, Rodgers put together an impeccable stat line. Rodgers completed 79 percent of his passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. If he wasn’t before, Rodgers is now the clear favorite for league MVP. He leads all quarterbacks with 39 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Barring any significant setbacks in the final three weeks, Rodgers should have his third NFL MVP trophy.
Darnell Savage
Savage continued his stretch of playmaking with a sack on quarterback Matthew Stafford. Savage has been a magnet to the ball of late, totaling three interceptions, three pass deflections, two quarterback hits, and a sack in the last three games. Green Bay has maximized Savage’s playmaking in recent weeks, getting him into advantageous spots on defense. Savage is at his best when the team caters to his versatility.
Vernon Scott
In 15 snaps, Scott made his impact felt while filling in for an injured Chandon Sullivan. Scott entered the game and made a great play in coverage against tight end TJ Hockenson. Scott met Hockenson at the catch point, and his hit forced an incompletion. Unfortunately, the play was called back because of a holding call against Adrian Amos, but it was still a nice flash from the rookie. Scott finished the game with one tackle, but he could see some more opportunities as the regular season winds down.
Run Defense
The Packers' run defense had one of its best games all year, holding Detroit to just 51 yards on the ground. It was the lowest any team has had against Green Bay, edging out the messily 55 yards they surrendered to the San Francisco 49ers in week nine. The Packers’ run defense appears to be trending in the right direction at the right time and could make this team that much more dangerous come playoff time.
Sell
Christian Kirksey
The Kirksey experiment has mostly been a disaster, and Sunday’s game was another installment to the veteran linebacker’s spiraling saga. He continues to get beat in coverage and nearly allowed a touchdown to running back D’Andre Swift. To prevent a touchdown, Kirksey grabbed onto Swift and drew a holding penalty. Now that Krys Barnes is healthy and rookie Kamal Martin is starting to make strides, Kirksey could see a decrease in his snap count.
Brandon Carwile is a Packers writer who also enjoys watching and breaking down film. Follow him on Twitter @PackerScribe.
Comments (33)
mnbadger
December 16, 2020 at 12:18 pm
Great review, I agree with all, especially MVS and Kirksey, with a nice nod to V Scott in limited action. GPG
splitpea1
December 16, 2020 at 03:05 pm
MVS wasn't just good, he was great. Buy all the receivers and Tonyan (and the schemes to go with them)--they're getting open, making the catches, and in Davante's case, the moves to generate big plays.
Guam
December 16, 2020 at 12:55 pm
I second the opinion of Kirksey. I think he is not with the team next year along with Burks and Summers. Keep the two young guys (Barnes and Martin) and use some of the Packer's extra picks to draft reserves at ILB. Save the salary cap dollars and get better talent.
Stroh
December 16, 2020 at 09:48 pm
Reserve ILB make very good ST players and Burks and Summers are about the best ST players on the roster. Getting rid of them doesn't make the team stronger. More than likely it weakens it!
Guam
December 16, 2020 at 10:31 pm
Given the play of our special teams this year, that is about as backhanded a compliment as I could ever imagine. I will take the risk of getting better players than Burks and Summers.
Lare
December 16, 2020 at 01:01 pm
Kirksey is just a shell of what he was previously. Time to move on.
Thegravedigger
December 16, 2020 at 01:50 pm
In the lions game alone, id sell on kevin king. He got beat alot. With raven greene out, the middle of the d is a weakness. Savage and amos can help cover up the poor ilb play but that means that king will have to hold his own out there on the island. Kirksey and barnes will need help. This defense cant afford to help king all the time as well. Maybe scott and redmond can play deep in the dime situations with amos at lb. The fans got what they thought they wanted this week. We stopped the run. If kk could hold his own, and the safetys help the ilbs, we will contain the pass as well. With a lil help from clark and the smiths/gary.
Stroh
December 16, 2020 at 09:52 pm
The middle of the D was a major weakness when Greene was playing. It might get better now that he's out and guys like Barnes, Scott and Martin are on the field more often.
Thegravedigger
December 18, 2020 at 08:52 pm
Sure. In the run. But we still gave up a lot to hockensen and not to mention like 7 screen passes in a row. That first drive there was a fake bubble screen that barnes bit on and ut turned into a 20 yard gain. Greene wouldn't have bit so hard. If we stuff the run great. But if the other team is converting 3rd and 9s on screens it doesnt matter. Greene being out is a huge loss unless scott or martin surprises us.
10ve 💚
December 16, 2020 at 02:32 pm
... and the guy Kirksey replaced... that guy is making waves with the Giants. Blake Martinez even got a nod from Kyle Brandt for the most unstoppable non-QB player in the NFL.
I understand the economics of why Blake went, but it still stings.
Stroh
December 16, 2020 at 09:55 pm
Were you paying attention when Martinez was on the team? He was a big liability in a couple ways. Maybe he's in a scheme that limits his deficiencies. Certainly not worth 10 M per to the Packers.
Thegravedigger
December 18, 2020 at 08:54 pm
He has dexter lawrence dalvin tomlinson and leonard Williams in front of him. Those guys all destroy single blocks on run plays. They eat up 5 offensive linemen and blake uses his instincts to clean up behind them.
stockholder
December 16, 2020 at 03:02 pm
See- MVS was not a sell last week. Buy Tonyan. Sell- The injury to Kirksey did more then we thought. Guy is wearing cement Boots. Sell - Sullivan, and Redmond too..
Thegravedigger
December 18, 2020 at 09:02 pm
Sullivan is up n down. Redmond is what he is. An ex corner trying to play safety but lacks the physicality. He brings effort. He actually played better at slot corner when sullivan went down than sullivan himself was. But as much as i want redmond to succeed and would love him to have his jarrett bush moment in the super bowl this year, i wanna see what scott can do. Ive seen enough redmond. Especially at dime lb.
Thegravedigger
December 18, 2020 at 09:02 pm
Sullivan is up n down. Redmond is what he is. An ex corner trying to play safety but lacks the physicality. He brings effort. He actually played better at slot corner when sullivan went down than sullivan himself was. But as much as i want redmond to succeed and would love him to have his jarrett bush moment in the super bowl this year, i wanna see what scott can do. Ive seen enough redmond. Especially at dime lb.
Thegravedigger
December 18, 2020 at 09:02 pm
Sullivan is up n down. Redmond is what he is. An ex corner trying to play safety but lacks the physicality. He brings effort. He actually played better at slot corner when sullivan went down than sullivan himself was. But as much as i want redmond to succeed and would love him to have his jarrett bush moment in the super bowl this year, i wanna see what scott can do. Ive seen enough redmond. Especially at dime lb.
TarynsEyes
December 16, 2020 at 05:15 pm
Kirksey was a lateral move 'at best' and has since been proven to be an 'at worst'.
Thegravedigger
December 16, 2020 at 05:54 pm
Pettine actually played barnes at kirkseysposition a bit for the first time since kirksey returned. It might be time to play martin a bit more. At least he makes a play here and there. Kirksey is noticably the worst guy on the field.
wildbill
December 16, 2020 at 07:11 pm
As I see it the Packers have to pick the “assignment sure but struggles to make a play” vet or the young ILB who may make assignment errors but plays faster and is ascending. I know coaches like the “ assignment sure” guys but it may pay off for us to give the two younger guys some increased snaps as I feel that will help them on their reads/ assignments. Unless Kirksey is playing with an injury we don’t know about, I feel he is a cap casualty after the year is over.
Qoojo
December 16, 2020 at 07:51 pm
You can probably stop putting Rodgers in the Buy section, and put him in the hold section. If a person hasn't bought Rodgers stock yet, I am not sure what will change their mind.
HankScorpio
December 16, 2020 at 08:07 pm
I can't think of a performance out of MVS that I've enjoyed more. There were no eye-popping deep balls. But there were several important catches and no mistakes. The TD catch was a wow moment.
Bure9620
December 16, 2020 at 08:14 pm
He was solid. Still think we need another WR?
jannesbjornson
December 16, 2020 at 09:30 pm
At least by the two pick. I would tend to focus on CB or ILB with the first pick.
splitpea1
December 16, 2020 at 10:04 pm
DL?
Stroh
December 16, 2020 at 10:12 pm
That's where I'm focusing on at the top of the draft. If not DL possibly OT and then CB. They always focus on the premium positions in Rd 1. Maybe WR or ILB in Rd 2.
Coldworld
December 17, 2020 at 12:10 am
We need one but 2 may exceed the priority. I think it’s a defense led draft. DL, ILB/Hybrid, CB if King Ieaves all seem more pressing for high picks than WR. One could argue that a RB will be up there as well.
Any WR outside of a ridiculous trade up is likely number 4 next season at best. We also have Funchess next year as it stands. I can see him fitting this scheme well. EQ is the wild card. An he emerge too?
HankScorpio
December 16, 2020 at 09:59 pm
Yes. Even if MVS played like that every week, I'd still say they need more. Maybe I was spoiled re-watching the Jennings, Driver, Jones, Nelson, Cobb & Finley era. Or maybe it is just concern about preparing for life without Adams, who is due a new contract soon.
Bure9620
December 17, 2020 at 04:16 am
It's a narrative which will never die. Even if they win the SB. The Packers are the highest scoring team in the NFL and the national media thinks their front office doesn't understand what they have at WR. It's hilarious, I love it. The only rookie WR really doing squat is Jefferson. I liked Ayuik and he has made some plays. Neither were available to the Packers either. I also liked Claypool whom has some nice games and showed potential but also inconsistency and drops. In other words, he looks like a rookie. None of the WRs available would have put the Packers over the hump this year. In fact Funchess would have been in line contribute more than the rookies had this been a normal season. I wouldn't mind them taking a WR this year, but an interior 3 Tech is of much bigger need
flackcatcher
December 17, 2020 at 02:25 am
Furness? opted out this season. With the growth of the WR room, I wonder if he will be back at all.
wildbill
December 17, 2020 at 02:45 am
Good point. I think I read that his one year contract just rolls over to next year so not sure how that’s gonna play out
Stroh
December 16, 2020 at 10:05 pm
MVS actually made the plays that all other NFL WR make routinely. The contested catch for a TD was far and away the best catch of his career. If he starts making that catch regularly he will actually become a functional WR worthy of a starting job. Lets see if he builds on it or if it was an anomaly.
fortworthclearinternet
December 16, 2020 at 11:43 pm
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MemphoMike
December 17, 2020 at 01:59 pm
Great article! It's time for Barnes and Martin to handle the majority of snaps. Kirksey has shown us enough to resign him to #3 ILB. Our future is with these two rookies, let's get them more playing time and prepare them for the playoff run.
BUY- Vernon Scott, this rookie has got to get more PT as well. Explosive, aggressive playmaker that deserves more snaps. I'd like to see more, if he plays like he did last Sunday.....Gute may have found a real gem in the late rounds.....
HOLD- Darnell Savage. He is the MVS of our D. Brilliant at times, then he looks hesitant and completely lost other times. He has got to become a more confident and consistent player for the backside D. He has all the ability in the world to be a Pro Bowl caliber player but he's gotta start stacking success for longer spans than two weeks in a row.