Studs
Lacy: Not great, but did quite well up until the O-line was decimated and any resemblance of a "hole" disappeared. Losing EDS, then Barclay just killed our run game altogether. Every time Lacy touched the ball, he was running against a wall of unblocked defenders, it seemed. Yet, he still usually got a few yards each touch.
Tolzien: Ok, maybe not exactly "Stud" category, but he deserves some mention for coming in and actually moving the chains all game long. He needs to learn from Rodgers how to avoid taking stupid Favre-like risks, but I think he did quite well and hope that he gets the start next week over Wallace, who simply doesn't get anyone excited. Tolzien put the Packers in position to score a total of 27 points, had Jones and Nelson made those catches and Missing Crosby made both of the misses. 27 points for his first game on short notice = not bad at all and should be enough to win against most teams (assuming the defence is average or better).
Duds
Crosby: Playing with a rookie 3rd string QB, every point is precious. Crosby = BIG DUD for missing two field goals and leaving six points off the board. Idiot. I have grown to HATE how he looks at the field goal posts after a miss with this stupid grin on his face.
J. Jones: Dude, haven't you ever practiced that cool drill that ALL WRs practice since the time they were six years old? Get that second foot down in bounds! Rather than placing his foot as far in-bounds as possible and falling to the turf as a result, he placed his foot where he needed in order to not fall down. Unfortunately, it erased seven points off the board. But, I guess it kept his jersey clean...
Nelson: Ok, not a dud. He had some nice catches. But, as one of our only playmakers left healthy, he needed to make that key 4th down catch in the endzone. It was a difficult catch, no doubt... but, it was very catchable. A big seven points left off the board. That single play could have turned the game around. We needed a playmaker on THIS play. But, we didn't get one.
The entire defensive unit: Gave up huge plays and 27 points in only 15 minutes of game time (not including that last 9 minute+ drive where the Eagles were just trying to kill some time, but kept "falling forward" for 9-15 yard gains). This defense would have given up 50 points had the offense not dominated the time clock throughout the bulk of the game. They, as a unit, were horrible. The last Eagles drive was just horrible. Fact is, I even said to my daughter as the Eagles started this drive with 9+ minutes left. I said, "I bet we don't even get the ball back." I was mostly joking as I was upset that the Nelson-non-catch challenge was upheld. Turns out I was a fricking prophet!
Capers: Yeah, I know... It's the players, not the plays. I agree with this. But, his unit is failing game after game in making the stops when necessary and the buck stops with him, IMO. If I was McCarthy, I would FORCE Capers to be on the sidelines during the game. Just to see if it makes a difference.
Neal: He is just not very good. Doesn't hold the edge. Not a good tackler. He missed an easy tackle that would have given the ball back to the Packers during that last marathon Eagles drive. He wasn't juked by a great move or anything. He just wasn't quick enough to make a play when it was his turn. He's. Just. Not. Very. Good.
B. Jones: I didn't even realize he was playing until he got injured. Again. Low impact player. Hardly even notice when he is in versus when he is injured (which is pretty much every other game).
Perry: Great to have him back, eh? (sarcasm) Did anyone notice that he was back? I didn't. Neither did the Eagles QB.
MD Jennings: Horrible angle on that lame-duck-pass that was caught for an Eagles TD. Even though he was clearly in the best position for receiving that terrible throw, he took the wrong angle and ended up blocking the CB from making a play. As a result, the Eagles player was all alone for a slow-motion grab and roll into the endzone. The Packers looked like a couple of Keystone cops out there.
T Williams and Burnett: Another Keystone cop moment when both went for the easy INT on a "up for grabs" throw, collided and fell to the ground while the Eagles caught the deflection for a TD. Lack of teamwork, communication and (quite frankly) skill was showcased on this single play.
T Williams (again): He was so bad, he deserves a second mention. I wonder-- if someone throws him the ball on the sidelines, will he catch it? When was his last INT? Has it been years? Ok, probably not, but Williams continually does not make the play. Never. In addition to his Keystone cop moment above, he could have stopped the TE on a catch and run well before the 1st down on a key 3rd down play. But, rather than play it safe and protect the first down line, he went aggressive with the tackle and whiffed. I don't think Williams is very game smart. Or, unfortunately, talented enough to overcome his basic lack of playing intelligence.
Overall, bad game. Poor performances against a middle-of-the-group team in our own stadium.
over this loss and the calamity the Packers have faced this season.
Duds: the entire defense
