Game 1: Lions at Packers - 9/7/25 - 3:25 - CBS

[MVP2110]

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[JCP11]

It felt like Love got a little flustered in the 3rd, and MLF pulled back a bit to calm things down and let Jacobs have a swing. Love looked really good for most of the game, but he still has these stretches where something changes, or something isn't working quite right (often in the 2nd half), and he'll start forcing throws and looking very off rhythm. I thought we generally ran the ball too much last year, but with how the defense was playing, I liked MLF clocking things down a bit yesterday.

I still think there's not enough quick game in this offense and that's on Matt. No WR screens, no bubble screens or no quick hitches yesterday. It seems like this offense is all or nothing, if you can't run the ball this is not sustainable, gotta get some easy YACs.

[MickeyDavis]

From acme packing https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/green-bay-packers-roster/70557/green-bay-packers-week-1-snap-counts-detroit-lions-nfl

Snap Counts

Quarterback

Jordan Love: 47 snaps (100%)
Malik Willis: 0 (0%)

Running Back

Josh Jacobs: 41 (87%), 1 SPT
Chris Brooks: 9 (19%), 16 SPT
Emanuel Wilson: 2 (4%)

Like we saw in the preseason, the Packers were more likely to work in Chris Books than Emanuel Wilson on the offensive side of the ball. Overall, Brooks played 25 snaps to Wilson’s 2. There’s still a real chance that whenever MarShawn Lloyd comes off the injured reserve, Wilson is on the chopping block.

Receiver

Romeo Doubs: 33 (70%), 1 SPT
Matthew Golden: 22 (47%), 2 SPT
Dontayvion Wicks: 21 (45%)
Jayden Reed: 18 (38%), 3 SPT
Malik Heath: 11 (23%), 3 SPT
Savion Williams: 3 (6%), 3 SPT

Most of third-round pick Savon Williams’ snaps came on a gadget run, late in the game on offense or as a returner on special teams. First-round rookie Matthew Golden, though, has already out-snapped Dontayvion Wicks and Jayden Reed. Reed, again, appears to be a three-receiver set slot receiver for the Packers this year.

Tight End

Tucker Kraft: 43 (92%), 6 SPT
Luke Musgrave: 17 (36%), 6 SPT
John FitzPatrick: 15 (32%), 3 SPT

Ben Sims was a healthy scratch in this game. Outside of that, the only thing worth noting here is that Luke Musgrave got on the field nearly as often as John FitzPatrick did. They’re two very different types of tight ends, as Musgrave is a pass-catcher and FitzPatrick is a run-blocker.

Offensive Line

Elgton Jenkins: 47 (100%)
Rasheed Walker: 47 (100%), 5 SPT
Aaron Banks: 42 (89%), 4 SPT
Sean Rhyan: 33 (70%), 5 SPT
Zach Tom: 29 (62%), 3 SPT
Jordan Morgan: 19 (40%), 5 SPT
Darian Kinnard: 15 (32%), 5 SPT
Anthony Belton: 3 (6%), 5 SPT

Donovan Jennings was a healthy scratch in Week 1, leaving the Packers with eight offensive linemen active for this game. The starting lineup was Rasheed Walker, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan and Zach Tom, with Jordan Morgan rotating in with Rhyan at right guard. When Tom and Banks dropped out of action, Darian Kinnard and then Anthony Belton got on the field.

Defensive End

Rashan Gary: 46 (71%)
Lukas Van Ness: 35 (54%), 11 SPT
Micah Parsons: 29 (45%)
Kingsley Enagbare: 20 (31%), 12 SPT
Brenton Cox Jr.: 8 (12%)

Rookie fourth-round pick Barryn Sorrell (knee) was inactive for this game. Whenever he’s active, there’s a good chance that Brenton Cox Jr. ends up being a healthy scratch. Cox only played eight snaps total, between defense and special teams, which was the lowest mark of any defender other than the two reserve cornerbacks.

The big news here, though, is that Lukas Van Ness has made his first start since he was a prep hockey player…just kidding. Micah Parsons is the headerliner. He wasn’t able to hit the 70% of snaps played that Khalil Mack did on eight days’ notice back in 2018, but 45 percent of snaps is nothing to scoff at either, with a quick turnaround for Thursday Night Football coming up.

Defensive Tackle

Devonte Wyatt: 47 (72%)
Colby Wooden: 34 (52%), 3 SPT
Karl Brooks: 33 (51%), 9 SPT
Nazir Stackhouse: 8 (12%), 4 SPT

An interesting decision that the Packers made was holding out Warren Brinson, a rookie draft pick, and playing undrafted rookie Nazir Stackhouse. For the most part, Green Bay used a three-man rotation of Devonte Wyatt, Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks against Detroit, but Stackhouse did come off the bench to play a situational run-stuffer role.

Linebacker

Edgerrin Cooper: 65 (100%), 3 SPT
Quay Walker: 65 (100%), 3 SPT
Isaiah McDuffie: 18 (28%), 18 SPT
Ty’Ron Hopper: 1 (2%), 15 SPT
Nick Niemann: 0 (0%), 15 SPT

If you weren’t paying attention closely, you probably missed that Ty’Ron Hopper actually replaced Isaiah McDuffie as the Packers’ third linebacker late in the Lions game. After Hopper’s one snap, though, the Lions mostly played three-receiver sets, which the Packers matched with their nickel defense (with only two linebackers on the field).

Cornerback

Carrington Valentine: 65 (100%), 8 SPT
Keisean Nixon: 65 (100%), 4 SPT
Bo Melton: 0 (0%), 12 SPT
Kamal Hadden: 0 (0%), 2 SPT
Micah Robinson: 0 (0%)

With Nate Hobbs out with a knee injury, it was the Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon show at cornerback, from cover to cover. Kamal Hadden, the team’s fifth cornerback when everyone is healthy, only played two special teams snaps in the game. The only players with fewer snaps played on Sunday were quarterback Malik Willis and fellow cornerback Micah Robinson.

Safety

Xavier McKinney: 65 (100%), 10 SPT
Javon Bullard: 57 (88%), 11 SPT
Evan Williams: 54 (83%), 10 SPT
Kitan Oladapo: 0 (0%), 11 SPT

All four safeties were very active in special teams because ace Zayne Anderson was held out of the game due to a knee injury. Javon Bullard was the starting safety in the game, but Evan Williams displaced him in the second half. Bullard was the team’s starting nickelback throughout the game, which means that both Bullard and Williams were on the field against three-receiver sets.

[Treebeard]

A few un-educated comments on the snap count data:

* Brooks is clearly a better blocker than Wilson, but Wilson is maybe more explosive if he gets outside
* Doubs looked open often. Isn't Reed still working through the foot injury? Should he even be out there?
* I like Musgrave, but I wish he could stay on his feet after a catch. Kraft will run over defenders if needed
* I though Kinnard looked good. Two key blocks that contributed to bigger gains. Pretty good as a pinch hitter for Tom
* Parson's prescence on the field sure seemed to help the others elevate their game
* The DL all played well. I know the LIons are working with new interior OLine guys, but the Packer interior D guys were better.
* Quay was hit and miss - as he often has been. Really good one play and seemingly clueless the next
* Niemann had a real good showing on STs. They need that
* The DBs didn't seem to get tested too often, as the pass rush pushed Goff into shorter passes. IMO

[MickeyDavis]

I think Reed will be dealing with it all season. He either plays through it (or it gets worse and he's shut down) or he has surgery and is down for several weeks.

I loved the Cheetah package with Parsons, Gary and LVN in at the same time. And I loved moving Parsons around. He even lined up at NT one time against a rookie center.

[Matches Malone]

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[nagawicka]

No hold? No hands to the face. How they miss this?

This needs to be plastered on a billboard in Escanaba. Or thereaboots

I'll throw down in cash. They need to know hands to the face shall not stand

[Finn]

No one in Detroit has ever heard of Escanaba, unless I happen to be in town visiting my sister-in-law.

[nagawicka]

No one in Detroit has ever heard of Escanaba, unless I happen to be in town visiting my sister-in-law.

Sure, I'm just reluctant to pay for a billboard in Toledo or anything else in Ohio.

[TroyD92]

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[MickeyDavis]

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[Ayt]

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That was one of the best games of Quay's career I'd say. He looked great.

[Treebeard]

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That was one of the best games of Quay's career I'd say. He looked great.

Quay had several really good plays, but he also had a couple where apparent indecision kinda left him standing in place and out of the play. I think it was on a couple of La Porta's receptions 5-8 yards past the line. On the replays, it looked like Quay wasn't sure if he should crash the line against a run, or drop back to cover the TE.

Cooper's star is on the rise and he will benefit from the attention directed at Parsons, just like the rest of the defenders.

[MickeyDavis]

Yeah Quay still has too many plays where he's indecisive. He stands there not knowing what to do in coverage.

[TroyD92]

You guys are insanely hard on anyone when you have a bias lol.

[raysbookclub]

Cooper's star is on the rise and he will benefit from the attention directed at Parsons, just like the rest of the defenders.

I also wonder if Parsons also elevates the team with his football IQ along with an authority he seems to have been given to speak and lead. Kinda like PJ Tucker for the 2021 Bucks, and how he had permission to be vocal and even challenge Coach Bud. Not that Parsons needs to challenge Hafley, but the vocal leadership and the ability to share his know-how might help Quay and Cooper and the DL and even the backs.

[Ron Swanson]

That might have been the best game Quay has played as a Packer. This ain't the one to nitpick.