Packers: Top five performers from bye-clinching win vs. Lions

4. Za’Darius Smith

Another week and another disruptive performance from Za’Darius Smith. Smith’s stats from this game aren’t sexy. He only had one tackle and no sacks in the game. Still, Smith was as disruptive as ever.

Smith was able to penetrate the Lions’ line all game long. If not for the Lions’ game plan to get rid of the ball quickly, Smith may have had another stat-filled game. As it was, David Blough made quick decisions and throws to keep Smith from wrecking the game plan completely.

It blows my mind Smith wasn’t voted into the Pro Bowl. Smith has been living in the opposing team’s backfield all season long. He has been just as dominant as any other defensive player this season and deserves some consideration for defensive player of the year. Smith will finish the regular season with 13.5 sacks.

The Packers and Smith can make the Pro Bowl decision moot with an appearance in the Super Bowl. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

The Lions did something other teams may look to do in the future. They took advantage of Smith’s aggressiveness, running the ball into the holes he was coming from. The Lions treated some plays as if they knew Smith was coming for the sack and not playing the run and then ran the ball into holes vacated by Smith’s moves up field. Smith was either well out of his gap or was too far up field to make a good attempt at a tackle.

I feel this should be nothing more than an aberration with Smith looking to take over a game. If not, you can bet the Packers’ next opponent will look to do what the Lions did.