The Green Bay Packers (0-1) play hosts to the New York Jets (1-0) Sunday, as the Packers look to kick off their 58th season at Lambeau Field with their first 2014 victory. However, Rex Ryan and his stingy defense have other plans.
The Jets' defense last week posted an overall grade of +9.9, which was sixth in the league. That being said, they faced an Oakland Raiders offense that fielded a rookie in Derek Carr, who registered the third worst overall mark among QBs last week, with a rating of -4.2. Still, the New York defense is scary and fields a very good front-seven, led by Muhammad Wilkerson.
Wilkerson was the Jet’s top-rated defensive player against the Raiders, posting a grade of +3.9, good for the fifth-best grade out of all 3-4 defensive ends. Considering Wilkerson’s dominance, the Jet’s ability to rush the quarterback (+5.3), and the Packers' Week 1 issues protecting the quarterback, Aaron Rodgers could be in for a long day.
Last year, the Packers were ranked third in pass blocking with a grade of +24.7, however, the first week of the 2014 season saw them struggle in pass blocking with a combined grade of -5.3, fifth-worst in the league. The Packers will also likely be without Bryan Bulaga on Sunday, who tore his MCL in Week 1. His replacement Derek Sherrod graded out as the worst pass-blocking tackle for the opening weekend, posting a grade of -5.2 while giving up a pair of sacks and two more hurries.
Here are three more notable numbers for each side:
New York Jets
Geno Smith – Smith had a quarterback rating of 135.0 when he was under pressure against Oakland and a rating of 152.1 when he was blitzed. Compared to a quarterback rating of 79.2 with no pressure and a rating of 73.8 when he wasn’t blitzed.
Jets RBs – Chris Ivory posted a rushing grade of +1.7, compared to Chris Johnson’s +0.5 and Ivory forced eight missed tackles to Johnson's two.
Antonio Allen – Allen was the Jets' top-ranked cover corner in Week 1, with a grade of +2.4, giving up just 26 yards on four completions (six targets) and defending a pass.
Green Bay Packers
Corey Linsley – The Packers' fifth-round rookie selection is tied for sixth among centers with an overall grade of +2.2., built largely on a +1.6 run blocking day against Seattle.
A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones – The inside linebacker tandem combined for 62 snaps of run defense and just one run stop in Week 1.
Aaron Rodgers – When Rodgers was under pressure against Seattle (eight drop-backs), he recording a PFF rating of -3.3, going 2-of-5 for 18 yards and taking three sacks.
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