Packers: Top five performers in Week 1 victory vs. Bears

5. Nick Perry

Despite playing 20 less snaps than Clay Matthews, Nick Perry made his presence known. Perry had five tackles and one huge strip sack.

After it seemed the Packers defense had held the Bears and ended the game, Matthews was called for a roughing the passer penalty giving the Bears new life and another shot.

After three more plays, the Bears were down to their final chance again. As Trubisky rolled out of the pocket, Perry chased him down and stripped the football away. End of game.

Sometimes it’s not how many big plays a player has, but when he has them. And there was no bigger play on defense than Perry’s strip sack to end the game.

Perry is coming off surgery and his snap count was expected to be monitored. He played on only a few plays during the preseason finale and returned to practice the week prior to the game. Perry may not be in game shape just yet, but he made a play when the defense needed it.

Up next is a game with the Minnesota Vikings and an offensive line with questions. Kirk Cousins was harassed all game long by the 49ers. The Packers’ best chance at success against a stacked Vikings team is if Perry and the rest of the defense can look more like the second half team than the first.