Packers: Stock up, stock down following win vs. Bears

Whose stock is rising, falling following the Green Bay Packers’ victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 1?

The Green Bay Packers had an electrifying victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football.

Each week, we will put out a stock up, stock down article to discuss the current feeling toward key Packers players.

Whose stock is rising?

Stock up

Aaron Rodgers: It’s hard for Rodgers to improve his stock much at this point, but he somehow managed to with another incredibly inspiring performance. It’s insane that he managed to come back from a 20-point deficit on one leg against a top Bears defense.

Rodgers will face a tough test against Minnesota this week, but at this point you really can’t count him out against any defense.

Randall Cobb: Cobb silenced all of the doubters in this game with another clutch, game-winning touchdown against the Bears. It was absurd to say that Cobb should be cut in the first place, now no one can.

Geronimo Allison: Geronimo looks like a real receiving threat in this offense, and he has the potential to be a James Jones type player for years to come. Allison likely gave the Packers more confidence in their decision to release Jordy Nelson, and he’s certainly yet to disappoint so far this season.

Kenny Clark: Clark is a tremendous threat in the trenches for any opposing offense, and this game was another example of this. The Packers did a solid job limiting the dynamic Bears backfield up the middle, and Clark is a huge reason for this. He’s going to have a huge pay day in a year or two if he keeps this up.

Nick Perry: Perry didn’t have a huge game, but he saved Clay Matthews‘ butt and made a huge game-winning play when he sacked Mitch Trubisky late in the fourth quarter. Perry will be a dynamic pass rusher for the Packers this season if he can stay healthy.

The young secondary:

Jaire Alexander, Josh Jackson, Kentrell Brice and Kevin King all had good games in Week 1. The Packers’ secondary was without Josh Jones, and as a result we unfortunately didn’t get a full preview of this group.

Still, this secondary could be dominant as it gains experience. This is one of the most inexperienced secondaries in football, yet it still was able to dominate for a huge portion of the game.

Joe Philbin and Mike Pettine:

This game gave reasons to be optimistic about both of the Packers’ new coordinators. Joe Philbin and the Packers offense was successful in the second half, despite Aaron Rodgers’ injury. Mike Pettine and the defense managed to ensure Aaron Rodgers’ comeback attempt was a possibility in the second half. These are two great hirings.

Stock down

Jamaal Williams: Williams had an opportunity to solidify himself as the Packers’ starting running back in this game, and now it feels certain that Aaron Jones will take over as the workhorse back in Week 3.

Justin McCray: McCray improved in the second half, but he struggled early on. He had a holding penalty early in the game that cost the Packers a huge gain through the air. There are still reasons to be optimistic about McCray, he won’t be the first person to struggle against this Bears’ defensive line.

Bryan Bulaga: Bulaga was manhandled by Khalil Mack in Week 1. Bulaga is still a top right tackle, but he is beginning to show signs of regression. Things won’t be much easier for Bulaga this week when he faces off against the Minnesota defensive line.

Clay Matthews: Matthews had little positive impact in this game and he nearly blew the entire game for the Packers when he had that atrocious roughing the passer penalty against Trubisky on fourth down late in the game. This was not a good game for Matthews and he will need to improve if he wants a big deal this offseason.

Packers’ linebacker depth: Blake Martinez was dominant, but the rest of this Packers’ linebacking corps struggled. Antonio Morrison struggled, but he probably needs to get more acclimated with the playbook. The Packers need Oren Burks to get healthy fast with Dalvin Cook coming to town.