The Green Bay Packers showed up in all three phases during Sunday’s 27-13 win over the Detroit Lions to open the 2025 season. Quarterback Jordan Love shredded the Lions from clean pockets, the Packers defense made big plays at all three levels and the special teams played a mostly clean game as Matt LaFleur’s team scored a convincing and comfortable win over a division rival.
Sunday’s win will likely be one of the best of the season, and the Packers weren’t even operating at full capacity yet.
Based on grades from Pro Football Focus, here are the best and worst players from the Packers’ season opening win over the Lions:
Top 5 offense
Love was elite from clean pockets, completing 14 of 17 passes for 170 yards and two scores, and he finished with four big-time throws. Wicks caught both of his targets for 30 yards, including one contested catch, and he averaged 3.33 yards per route run. Doubs went 1-for-2 on contested catches and had a 48-yard catch and also a 20-yarder. Morgan allowed one hurry and was solid as both a run blocker and pass protector while playing 15 snaps at right guard and five at left guard. Rhyan didn’t allow a pressure over 14 pass-blocking snaps, earning a team-best 84.2 pass-blocking grade.
Top 5 defense
Williams earned the team’s first “elite” grade of the season after intercepting a pass in the red zone and giving up just one catch for five yards on three targets into his coverage. Wyatt had four pressures, including a sack and a QB hit, and he earned the team’s top run defense grade. Cooper missed three tackles but still delivered a team-high eight stops, or a tackle creating an offensive failure, and he also had a pressure. Valentine played every snap and gave up just one catch for 13 yards. Van Ness had four pressures, including a sack, and he produced three stops against the run in a disruptive all-around performance.
Bottom 5 offense
Banks earned the lowest run-blocking grade among the offensive linemen, and he gave up one pressure. Musgrave struggled in the run game and caught only one pass for four yards while running just four routes. Heath was average as a run blocker and didn’t have a target on four routes run. Kinnard didn’t give up a pressure but was given poor pass-blocking grades over four snaps in pass pro and 15 snaps overall at right tackle. Jacobs gained 55 yards after first contact, but he averaged only 3.5 yards per attempt and wasn’t a factor as a receiver.
Bottom 5 defense
Bullard allowed 10 catches on 11 targets into his coverage and had a penalty, but he also had three stops and gave up just 7.2 yards per catch. Stackhouse played eight snaps but wasn’t impactful against the run. Enagbare’s 21 snaps resulted in zero pressures, two tackles and zero stops. Brooks produced only two hurries on 25 pass-rushins snaps. McKinney had five tackles without a miss, but he was credited with allowing Sam LaPorta’s 32-yard catch, and he had a 15-yard penalty.
Special teams
Running back Chris Brooks earned an “elite” special teams grade at 90.0 after delivering three total tackles (one solo, two assisted) covering kicks and punts. Nick Niemann had three tackles and one assist on special teams. The Packers committed two penalties and missed five tackles but earned a solid 76.0 special teams grade overall. Brandon McManus didn’t have a miss and Daniel Whelen boomed three punts. Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden combined to return three punts for 32 yards.
Quarterback play
Jordan Love: 76.3
Love was a killer from clean pockets but did struggle when under pressure. First, the good. Love completed 14 of 17 passes for 170 yards, two scores and three-big time throws from clean pockets (17 of 23 dropbacks). But on his six pressured dropbacks, Love completed 2 of 5 passes for 18 yards and had two turnover-worthy plays. Off play-action, Love completed 6 of 7 passes for 87 yards. He was also 2-for-4 throwing over 20 yard downfield, with two near misses. Love was especially good attacking the middle of the field, completing eight passes for 124 yards and a touchdown between the numbers.
Micah Parsons: 66.0
Parsons played 30 snaps and earned a 66.0 overall grade. He produced two pressures, including a sack, and his 73.9 pass-rushing grade led the defense. PFF didn’t grade Parsons high as a run defender, but the Packers allowed -2 yards on seven rushing attempts with Parsons on the field Sunday. Of Parsons’ 30 snaps, 28 came as a traditional defensive end. Twice he lined up inside.
Rookie spotlight
First-round pick Matthew Golden caught two passes for 16 yards, including an 11-yarder that converted a third down. He played 23 snaps and ran 18 routes, mostly from the perimeter. His blocking in the run game was subpar.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers PFF grades: Best, worst players from Week 1 win over Lions
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
