Green Bay Packers: Stock up, stock down entering Week 16

The resilient Packers braved the bitter cold and overcame their defensive shortcomings to fend off a valiant Bears team that was hell-bent on foiling their division rival’s playoff hopes in a tension-filled 30-27 road victory.

The game came down to Aaron Rodgers pulling yet another rabbit out of his hat by magically completing a perfectly-placed 60-yard bomb into the hands of a streaking Jordy Nelson that set up a 32-yard game-winning Mason Crosby field goal with three seconds remaining.

This game featured an explosive running game led by Ty Montgomery, who churned out 162 yards and two touchdowns along with an efficient passing attack that saw the sporadically productive Jared Cook reemerge with six receptions in the first half.

The Packers, in fact, took control of the game in the third quarter and looked to have their eighth win all wrapped up with a 27-10 lead.

However, missed opportunities highlighted by two touchdown drops by Davante Adams and an ineffective bend-but-don’t break defense came back to haunt the visitors from Titletown USA.

The Bears crawled their way back into the contest behind a determined Matt Barkley, who made several well-timed downfield throws, and the hard-running of Jordan Howard, who made opposing defenders often hold on for their lives whenever the 230-pound back came barreling through.

But just when it seemed that an overtaxed Packers’ defense had nothing left to give, Dom Capers’ unit summoned up their collective energies to keep Chicago out of the end zone on consecutive throws from the Green Bay 4-yard line forcing instead a field goal that knotted things up at 27.

What makes this triumph so sweet is that it moves the Packers one game closer to the division-leading Lions that couldn’t negotiate a win against a surging New York Giants squad that has its own designs on conquering a division title of their own in the NFC East.

What once seemed like an improbable and far-fetched rally cry to win out the remaining schedule on the part of Rodgers and company is beginning to look—and feel—like a mission that’s destined to be completed with a hard-earned trip into the playoffs.

With two games remaining for the Packers to fulfill a clean sweep of their final six opponents, it’s time to survey the roster and gauge the latest performances of our helmeted combatants wearing the green and gold.

Kick off your shoes and grab your favorite beverage—here is this week’s Stock-Up, Stock-Down Report.

Dec 18, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) runs the ball against the Chicago Bears during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Up

Aaron Rodgers: A physically-limited Rodgers didn’t have the burst to use his legs as much as he wanted to, but he was able to dance in the pocket and buy time on many of his pass attempts.

His final stat line (19/31, 252, 0/0) could have been appreciably better had he not had catchable balls (two of which would have resulted in touchdowns) dropped by both Nelson and Adams.

No. 12 wasn’t perfect either, as a couple of his deliveries sailed over the heads of their intended targets. But his passes had zip and, outside of one forced throw in the end zone that could have been picked off by Deon Bush late in the second quarter, Rodgers was his usual calm, cool and collected self in avoiding low-percentage passes that could have gone the other way.

But beneath his composed on-field countenance lies the heart of champion that willed himself to scramble out of the pocket in the latter stages of the game despite his lower-body injuries that were telling him not to.

His 11-yard scamper during a third-quarter 7-play, 58-yard scoring drive that was called back due to an illegal-use-of-hands penalty was one instance where the franchise leader sucked it up and risked further injury for the good of the team.

And if you don’t think his teammates feed off his determination and drive, then you just aren’t paying attention.

Rodgers saved his best for last by uncorking a pin-point perfect deep ball to Nelson on a post route that put the Packers in position to get the win with the previously-referenced 34-yard field goal.

The grizzled veteran didn’t get carried away by the excitement of completing the clutch 60-yard play, as he diligently gathered his teammates, lined them up and spiked the ball with three seconds on the clock.

From start to finish, what we saw in the Bears’ game was simply classic Rodgers.

Ty Montgomery: Of course, No. 12 had some help from a converted wide receiver that got the party started with a 4-yard touchdown run on the game’s first drive where he went left to right and outran Tracy Porter to the edge.

Montgomery was even better during the second series in which he used his patience to follow his blocks inside and then accelerate to the perimeter on a 13-yard gain that he finished off with a stiff arm into the chest of Cra’Von LeBlanc.

On the next snap, Montgomery masterfully found an open lane in tight quarters and surged forward for 9 yards with his sudden burst.

The hybrid weapon picked up right where he left off in the second quarter on a 61-yard run that saw him run past his first tackler, proceed to spin away from linebacker John Timu and rumble all the way into Bears territory down to the 29 yard line.

That play was the longest run by a Green Bay Packer since Week 6 of the 2015 season.

The 216-pound multi-purpose weapon ran with patience, power and vision in accumulating a career-high 162 rushing yards.

If Rodgers is the team MVP during this exhilarating playoff run, one can easily make the case for Montgomery being a close second…along with Nelson, of course.

Christine Michael: The former Seattle Seahawk made the most of his four touches by gaining a first down on 2nd and 1 behind a Lane Taylor block in the first quarter. He later exploded up the middle following another Taylor block (more on him later) for a 42-yard touchdown in which Michael casually discarded an oncoming LeBlanc.

There’s no doubt that the 26-year-old has all the physical attributes of a lead running back, but his vision and instincts aren’t always up to par.

On a first-quarter play on 1st and 10, Michael was seen bouncing off one tackle, but then proceeded to stop his feet, which gave Nick Kwiatkoski enough time to catch and drop him for a 2-yard loss.

Jordy Nelson: The 31-year-old wideout put forth another workmanlike effort in leading the offense with 7 receptions for 124 yards mostly by continually moving in all directions to give his quarterback open passing lanes to throw to.

Nelson gave LeBlanc fits with his subtle fakes and sudden breaks, but the veteran receiver uncharacteristically couldn’t reel in a catchable downfield delivery on 2nd and 10 in the first quarter.

Otherwise, Nelson was once again Rodgers’ go-to man by making sliding catches over the middle and constantly getting open in tight coverage along the sidelines.

On his 60-yard grab, Nelson established great position on LeBlanc with a well-executed post route.

On the season, the 9th-year pro has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth time in his career.

Jared Cook: He’ll never be known for his consistency, but No. 89 was very effective in moving the chains against both Adrian Amos and Demontre Hurst.

Cook was especially impressive on a 16-yard hook-up in the second quarter where the 254-pound tight end skillfully broke off his route and created separation from Hurst.

Could Cook be taking looks away from slot man Randall Cobb over the middle? Perhaps, but we’ll need to see if the former South Carolina Gamecock can build off this strong showing in which he caught 6 of 8 targets for 85 yards.

David Bakhtiari: Rookie sensation Leonard Floyd was held to zero pressures on 31 pass-rushing snaps and a big reason for that was the impeccable pass protection offered by Bakhtiari, who locked up Floyd and others that couldn’t manage to get outside the left tackle.

After an off-game against the Houston Texans, Bakh has combined back-to-back dominant performances that serve as a reminder of the fact that he is one of the very best at what he does.

His strong grip and ability to get low in his posture make it nearly impossible for his adversaries to get the edge on him.

Lane Taylor: The first-year starter didn’t disappoint with his predecessor, Josh Sitton, looking on from the Bears’ side of the field, as he utterly pulverized opponents in the ground game.

Taylor made his mark on Montgomery’s first touchdown by holding up his man and allowing the running back to cross the line of scrimmage from left to right on his way to pay dirt.

The left guard,in fact, served as the lead blocker on a number of running plays, including Montgomery’s 9-yard burst on 2nd and 1 in the first quarter. Taylor’s dirty work inside gave the ball carrier just enough time to identify his hole and accelerate downhill.

No. 65 reemerged in the third quarter by turning around Chicago lineman Mitch Unrein on the Stanford product’s second touchdown from 3 yards out.

At this stage, the physical Taylor is much better at moving forward as a run blocker than he is at dropping back in pass protection, but overall he is starting to look better every week.

Julius Peppers: Green Bay’s version of Obi Wan Kenobi has seen a reduced role for much of the season. But more is being asked of the 15th-year veteran, who was on the field for 52 snaps against his old team, in light of multiple injuries at outside linebacker.

Peppers made one of the biggest plays of the game right out of the gates in the third quarter by zooming around left tackle Charles Leno and dropping the quarterback for a sack-fumble that he himself recovered.

The turnover set up the offense at the Bears 17 yard line and put Crosby in position to kick an 18-yard field goal that put the Packers up 13-10.

One can make an argument that Green Bay doesn’t win the game without the Peppers takeaway.

The 2002 second-overall draft pick has quietly produced 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and three passes defensed this season…and if that weren’t enough he still does a tremendous job setting the edge versus the run as well.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: The rangy free safety made his presence felt with 2 interceptions and 2 passes defensed that helped keep a plucky Chicago passing attack at bay…temporarily.

On the first pick, HCD made a superb adjustment to the ball by stepping into the spot where tight end Daniel Brown should have been, but couldn’t get to thanks to the efforts of another Packers’ defensive back we’ll heap some praise on next.

On the second takeaway, Dix established great positioning again by perfectly tracking Barkley’s downfield throw intended for rookie Daniel Braverman, who never turned his head around for the ball headed his way.

Anticipation and ball skills are the name of the game for this third-year safety, who leads the Packers in interceptions with 5 on the season.

Micah Hyde: Those who read my weekly stock report should be well aware of the fact that there is no player I’ve been more critical of over the past four months than Hyde, who has offered some downright embarrassing performances in trying to cover wide receivers and tight ends alike.

But in all fairness, the much-maligned safety/cornerback saved the game with the Bears driving inside the Packers 4 yard line with a little over a minute left in the game by diving in front of Alshon Jeffery in the end zone and thus deflecting a pass that was on its way into the receiver’s hands for a touchdown that would have given the home team the lead.

If the Packers somehow make it to the Super Bowl, this will be a moment that will be talked and written about.

Hyde also gets kudos for a Hail-Mary interception at the end of the first half, 3 pass deflections and a subtle arm hold on (Daniel) Brown, which slowed down the tight end and prevented him from running to his spot on Dix’s first interception.

It could have gone down as a penalty, but because it wasn’t caught in real time, we can classify it as a heads-up move by a cagey veteran.

Stock Down

Davante Adams: Just when we thought we were passed Adams letting easy balls slip through his fingers, he proved that he’s still prone to those types of misplays by dropping not one, but two sure touchdowns.

The initial drop came late in the second quarter on a pass where the 24-year-old playmaker clearly ran past Porter in the end zone, but couldn’t seal the deal on the egregious error that prevented his team from taking the lead, as both sides went into halftime tied at 10.

Lightning struck twice for Adams when Rodgers put the ball in his bread basket on a 1st-and-goal toss from the 12 that No. 17 couldn’t secure after beating LeBlanc on a fade route in the end zone.

This is all very strange for a player who is capable of coming down with some incredibly acrobatic grabs that rank pretty high on the difficulty meter.

Randall Cobb: I recall seeing Cobb wave his hand to Rodgers in the end zone at one point in the contest, but outside of that one instance, my memories of the slot receiver even playing in this game are foggy and vague at best.

On the day, the 26-year-old had one target thrown in his direction and zero receptions.

You would have to believe that his ankle that made him questionable prior to the contest was limiting him more than many of us imagined.

Letroy Guion: The Florida-born run plugger did little to nothing to keep the Bears’ running attack under wraps with (Jordan) Howard tearing up Green Bay with 90 yards on only 17 carries, including a 9-yard touchdown.

There were no stops made behind the line of scrimmage for Guion, who continues to struggle with his technique.

Part of the problem is that he was probably on the field for too many plays (45) for a man his size.

Kenny Clark: The young defender hit the proverbial rookie wall a while ago and can’t seem to get off his blocks.

On the one play where Clark was able to get into the pocket, he wasn’t quick enough to get his hands on Howard, who narrowed the Packers’ lead to 3 late in the fourth quarter with his previously-referenced score.

The lack of depth upfront is forcing Green Bay to excessively lean on the one-time UCLA Bruin.

Clay Matthews: This is getting repetitive, but here it goes. Matthews was on the field for 29 defensive snaps and was invisible in every one of them. He finished with zero tackles, zero sacks, zero pressures…zeroes all around.

It’s as if the Packers are playing with 10 men on the field when he’s out there.

Damarious Randall: The 5-foot-11 cornerback was such a horror show that all his errors and misplays merit their own separate article.

Throughout the game, Randall was seen giving up tons of cushion to Deonte Thompson, Josh Bellamy, Cameron Meredith and Jeffery as well.

When the starting defensive back came up to make a tackle, as he did on separate completions to Bellamy in the second quarter and Meredith in the third quarter, he came up empty on both occasions on plays that resulted in a touchdown and a first down respectively.

His attempts to defend Jeffery were comical with the 6-foot-3 long-stridder forcing Randall to hold him in one instance in the fourth quarter and later getting inside him on a 23-yard dig route two plays later.

Alshon finished that drive by getting the best of the inept coverman by scoring on an 8-yard slant pattern.

Ted Thompson, how does it feel to watch a prized first-round pick give up 10-yard cushions to former undrafted free-agent wideouts?

Quentin Rollins: The one-time basketball player was almost as bad as Randall and played a major role in making Barkley look like the second coming of Joe Montana.

Rollins was no match for the laterally elusive Meredith on an 11-yard completion on a first-quarter drive that earned the Bears its first field goal of the afternoon.

The second-year pro was toasted again on a 27-yard catch by Jeffery on a fourth-quarter post pattern that the young corner was late to react to.

Rollins couldn’t tackle and he couldn’t cover. Other than that, he was just fine.