Five reasons why the Green Bay Packers are still contenders
5. The defense is actually good
Don’t let anybody tell you this Packers defense isn’t good. That’s simply not true. The unit currently ranks fourth in defensive yards given up, second in passing yards given up and 15th in rushing yards given up.
The unit is also 14th in points given up, which might be a slight disappointment considering those other rankings, but what can you expect from those guys when a phantom call grants the Lions the ball at the 1-yard line?
#Packers Tramon Williams: #Lions punt ruled touched Kevin King (really hit Lions C. Washington) "I'll just tell u this. The ref told us the ball hit Detroit first. But they still gave it to Detroit. It is what it is. Maybe why we got off to a bad start but have to play thru it."
— Mike Clemens (@MikeClemensNFL) October 8, 2018
The Packers offense also gifted the ball to the Lions in Green Bay territory twice after the aforementioned fumbles by Aaron Rodgers. After those three turnovers, the Packers defense gave up a grand total of 31 yards that resulted in 17 points only because of short fields.
The defense can only do so much with what kind of position the offense puts it in. The defensive yardage stat is promising, but it, unfortunately, doesn’t tell the whole story.
The points against stat may not tell the whole story either.
The Packers have played five games this year. In the second half of those five games, the defense has given up six points (Chicago), 22 (Minnesota, though they only gave up seven in the first half), three (Washington), zero (Bills), and seven (Lions).
With the exception of one game against Minnesota in which the defense performed admirably in the first half, the defense has been lights out in the second half this year.
The defense is good, and it will only get better.