As expected after a two-touchdown win over a talented division rival, the list of “studs” coming out of the Green Bay Packers‘ Week 1 win is a long one while the list of “duds” is a short read. Matt LaFleur’s team was dominant in many areas on Sunday, and a fast start combined with a disruptive performance defensively was more than enough to cruise past the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.
Here are the studs and duds from the Packers’ Week 1 win:
Studs
LB Edgerrin Cooper: You could say No. 56 was the best player on the field Sunday and not get an argument here. Cooper was everywhere. He led the team with 12 tackles, and while tackles can be a hollow start, he consistently made impactful stops. On five different plays, Cooper made a tackle on play gaining two yards or fewer. Twice, he made stops well short of the sticks on third down. On one play in the red zone, Cooper burst into the backfield, blew up the run and caused a 6-yard loss. With elite closing speed, Cooper was a big reason why Jahmyr Gibbs caught 10 passes but gained only 31 receiving yards. The only blemish on Cooper’s report card was a few missed tackles, but he plays the game so fast and with such playmaking instincts that you can excuse a physical mistake or two from a guy going 100 miles per hour.
DE Micah Parsons: The Packers made him a situational pass-rusher early on, and he ended up playing only 30 total snaps, but making three impact plays — including two game-altering plays — rightfully earned Parsons a “stud” badge for Week 1. Parsons beat Penei Sewell twice, one creating a third down stop, another helping force a red-zone takeaway, and his sack of Jared Goff was legendary stuff. He beat the left guard on a stunt, accelerated at something close to the speed of light and hunted down the Lions quarterback in a terrifying fashion befitting of a, well, lion.
S Evan Williams: The second-year defensive back made a game-changing play, allowed next to nothing in coverage and tackled consistently. What more could anyone ask for in a safety? His diving interception in the red zone on a buzz coverage was one of the biggest moments of the game. The Lions were 13 plays into a long drive and could have tightened the score to 17-10 with a touchdown. Instead, Williams ensured the Lions left with nothing, and the Packers took a 17-3 lead into the half. The only catch he “allowed” was a 5-yard nothing play to Jahmyr Gibbs.
DL Devonte Wyatt: The 2022 first-round pick played a career-high 49 snaps and looked impressive both as a pass-rusher and run defender. With Kenny Clark no longer around, the Packers need Wyatt to be a two-dimensional player who can play 60-70 percent of snaps every week. Mission accompished in Week 1. Wyatt had four pressures, including a game-sealing fourth down sack of Jared Goff.
QB Jordan Love: You can nitpick the second half, when the Packers leaned on the run and Love did little with his passing opportunities, but LaFleur’s team had a decisive advantage from the jump because the quarterback played so well early on. Given clean pockets, Love attacked down the field, created explosive plays and kept the chains moving. After three drives, he was 10 of 14 passing for 158 yards and two scores, and the Packers led 17-3. Love was a killer from clean pockets, and he looked comfortable hanging in the pocket and waiting for downfield routes to develop. He did have two egregious plays in the third quarter that should have resulted in turnovers, but one pick was dropped and another — which could have been a game-changing pick-six — was negated by penalty. Love still lands in “studs” this week for playing so incredibly well early.
LB Nick Niemann: An impressive Packers debut for the special teamer. Niemann produced four total tackles (one solo, three assisted) covering punts and kickoffs. His relentless mentality chasing the ball is clear as day on tape. On Daniel Whelan’s 65-yard punt, Niemann was a good 40 yards away from the ball when the returner caught the punt, but he stuck with it and made a sure tackle after a short return.
RB Chris Brooks: His highlight play on offense was an incredible pass protection rep in which he handled a stunt perfectly, allowing Jordan Love to have a clean pocket and deliver a strike on third down. But the backup running back showed real special teams value, too. On one kickoff return in the second half, Brooks ran past the block attempt and lassoed down the returner in the open field. On two different kickoffs, Brooks combined with Nick Niemann to make the stop.
DE Lukas Van Ness: A terrific start to Year 3 for Van Ness, who produced four pressures, two run stops and a few useful coverage snaps as a dropper. He is a terrific edge setter who can stack and shed a tight end with ease. And he used his power and explosiveness to overwhelm the pocket in a few true passing situations. On his sack in the third quarter, Van Ness went right through the left guard and put down Goff to end the drive.
DL Colby Wooden: Concerns over the Packers interior defensive line were legitimate after losing Kenny Clark and TJ Slaton, but Wooden helped calm fears immediately in Week 1. His three run stops tied with Edgerrin Cooper for the team lead, and he even delivered a quarterback pressure. Wooden stopped David Montgomery for 1-yard loss in the second quarter and then stopped Montgomery again for a 1-yard loss to stop a fourth quarter drive.
DE Rashan Gary: He led the Packers with five total pressures, including a big first-down sack in the fourth quarter with the Lions backed up. Veteran left tackle Taylor Decker couldn’t handle his power rush and allowed the sack. Gary also delivered a run stop and an assisted run stop. All five of Gary’s pressures came in true pass sets, and he was one of three Packers rushers to have a win rate of at least 20 percent against the traditional dropback passing game.
P Daniel Whelan: Can’t forget about the punter. Whelan boomed three punts, including a field-flipping 65-yarder, and his net average of 48.3 yards ranks among the best in the NFL for Week 1. Twice, Whelan pinned the Lions inside the 20, including once inside the 10 that nearly led to a Rashan Gary sack-safety.
OL Sean Rhyan: He started at right guard but rotated with Jordan Morgan until injuries hit. Over 33 snaps, Rhyan moved people in the run game and kept a clean sack in pass protection. This was a strong start to a contract year for Rhyan. He could be a full-time player at right guard if Aaron Banks or Zach Tom can’t play Thursday night.
CB Carrington Valentine: He played every snap, and he didn’t allow a completion into his coverage until the miraculous touchdown catch by Isaac TeSlaa deep into garbage time. Across 43 coverage snaps, Valentine was targeted only twice. He played sticky coverage, especially down the field, and Jared Goff often went for other more appealing matchups underneath. There were no egregious issues with run defending or tackling, either. Nate Hobbs is likely return soon, but Valentine will make it difficult for the Packers to take him off the field.
WR Dontayvion Wicks: He beat physical man coverage for a 16-yard catch on third down, made a tough contested catch on a low throw for another first down, and expertly set the coverage interference on Jayden Reed’s touchdown catch. That’s a lot of impact for a receiver who was on the field for only 11 passing plays.
Duds
DB Javon Bullard: This is a tough one, because Bullard did some nice things while playing slot corner and split safety. He made third down stops of Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta and was consistently flying to the football. But he also committed two penalties, one in coverage and another on special teams, and the Lions found most of their impactful completions with No. 20 in coverage. Bullard allowed 10 total catches and five passing first downs, including two against Amon-Ra St. Brown. That’s a tough matchup for anyone in the slot.
CB Bo Melton: He played 12 special teams snaps before departing with a shoulder injury. Melton was flagged for holding on the opening kickoff, negating a nice return from Savion Williams, and he missed a tackle covering a punt return.