Packers 2019 awards: Best player, best performance and more
Biggest Disappointment
Jimmy Graham
Jimmy Graham was a disappointment last season, but I looked past it. I assumed he didn’t really produce because Mike McCarthy’s offense wasn’t tight end-friendly, or at least that’s what some former players have said.
Turns out, he’s just not that good. He’s a shell of what he used to be. Aaron Rodgers has targeted him a lot this season, the only problem is when Graham struggles to catch the ball. His drop against Detroit in Week 17 was a big drop at the start of the game. Also, when he catches the ball, he can’t break a tackle, which is somewhat concerning for a 6-foot-7, 265-pound football player.
He was also brought in to be a red-zone target. He has just three touchdown catches this year. Is that worth the $12 million dollar cap hit? Not even close.
Others: Marquez-Valdes Scantling, Rashan Gary, Geronimo Allison
Best Game
Green Bay at Minnesota – Week 16
This is easily the best game of the 2019 season and it isn’t even close. The Packers had to travel to U.S. Bank Stadium, a house of horrors for the Packers since it opened in 2016. Since it has opened, the Packers were 0-3 and it is where a promising 2017 season essentially ended when Rodgers was injured by Anthony Barr, something the Vikings view as a top moment for Minnesota sports this decade.
The Vikings are a good football team that was just a game behind the Packers in the NFC North standings. With a win, Green Bay could win the division for the first time since 2016 and lock in a top-three seed in the playoffs.
The Packers came out a little flat, but in the second half, they dominated the Vikings, throttling their offense and allowing just seven Minnesota first downs. Their dynamic duo at receiver managed a combined three catches for 57 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. Za’Darius Smith was a one-man wrecking crew. He totaled seven tackles, 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for a loss, shutting down the Minnesota run game.
On offense, Aaron Jones ran for 154 and two touchdowns while Adams added on 116 yards on 13 catches. The Packers looked very impressive, imposing their will on the Vikings in the second half and clinching the division title.
Others: win at Dallas, win at Chicago