Stars, studs and duds from Packers’ 29-22 win over Lions on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving #Thanksgiving
DL Kenny Clark:Â The Lions couldn’t keep him out of the backfield. Clark consistently beat the left and right guard and finished with eight total pressures. He didn’t have a game-changing play but Jared Goff felt his presence all day.
RT Zach Tom: At no point did Aidan Hutchinson take over the game. Why? Mostly due to Tom. He wasn’t healthy in the first meeting and Hutchinson was a game-wrecker. Tom contained him far better this time around. Hutchinson’s most impactful snaps came when he was lined up inside.
WR Malik Heath:Â The undrafted free agent caught four passes (including three contested catches) on just FIVE routes run and was terrific as a blocker. He played only 11 snaps but had an impact on nearly every one. Three of his catches gained 12 or more yards.
DL Karl Brooks:Â The rookie produced five pressures on only 22 pass-rushing snaps, and he created one of the defense’s three takeaways on a strip and recovery of Jared Goff.
S Jonathan Owens:Â He scored a defensive touchdown and created a team-high five stops, including four impressive tackles against the run and a solo tackle of Amon-Ra St. Brown for a loss of two yards. Owens gave up a touchdown pass into his zone coverage, but the veteran was impactful playing in the box against a physical offense.
OLB Preston Smith: He spun away from Penei Sewell to pressure Jared Goff on Brooks’ forced fumble. Later, he beat Sewell again to create a crucial hit on Goff and fourth-down stop. Smith also finished with four solo or assisted stops against the run and five total pressures.
P Daniel Whelan: His net average was only 37.5 yards, but he placed a career-high four punts inside the 20-yard line. Three of his punts were fair caught inside the 20, and a fourth was downed at the 3-yard line. Whelan didn’t allow a single return for the first time all season.
OLB Kingsley Enagbare: He hit Jared Goff three times on 22 pass-rushing snaps, was in on two stops against the run and blew up a screen to Sam LaPorta.