QUARTERBACK
-Jameis Winston: 19/29 – 201 yards / 0 TD – 1 INT / 71.2 RAT
Winston added 3 carries for 10 yards including a one-yard QB sneak touchdown. Before I get into breaking down Winston’s first start with NYG, just know the wind was a significant factor. I’m not sure if that was picked up on via the broadcast but watching some of the throws (and kicks) from both sides, there were gusts that absolutely altered the trajectory of the ball. So grading him on a curve due to the weather, Winston still finished poorly. If there were no curve? It may have been the worst or second worst game we have seen at the position this year. Winston had four interceptions dropped by Green Bay defenders (one was off a Wan’Dale Robinson drop though). He misfired on multiple short, simple throws where he put so much juice on it that the receiver had no shot at framing the ball with their hands. He completed just 8-of-14 passes (57%) on passes between 0-9 yards and the 1st-and-10 deep ball to Jalin Hyatt who was double covered (one of the INT drops) was tough to watch. Then again, that is what Winston is. Aggressive and able to make high-level throws, but it seems like it is a “shut the eyes and go for it” mentality. That works if you hit all the singles but if you are missing the simple ones and take unnecessary risks on the hard ones, more often than not it hurts the potential of the offense.
RUNNING BACK
-Tyrone Tracy: 19 att – 88 yards / 4 rec – 51 yards
The interesting part about Tracy’s game is the fact he got hot late in the game. He ran the ball 5 times for 37 yards and caught 2 passes for 27 yards in the fourth quarter alone. It was an efficient game where he created on his own a few times with his straight-line burst and aggression. Tracy still leaves some yards on the field when running inside but this is a guy who can be excellent as a rotational back, and if need be, he can shoulder 20+ touches in a game and rise to the occasion late. His pass protection was rock solid as well.
-Devin Singeltary was the other part of the very-solid 1-2 punch with 44 yards on 16 carries and a catch for 3 yards. He was the one who scored and he did it twice on short-yardage runs. Singletary is not a pile-pusher, but he excels at making guys miss or at least avoiding the meat of a tackle attempt. He found a few cutback creases that show how much real vision and proper footwork can help a back who does not have the best physical tools.
WIDE RECEIVER
-Darius Slayton was out again with a hamstring injury and Isaiah Hodgins was brought back via the Pittsburgh practice squad. Sign me up for this being a long term move. He then proceeded to lead the team with 5 catches and 57 yards on just 6 targets. Earth shattering? No. Explosive? No. But a cheap, economic player with more reliability than an overpaid player like Slayton? Yes every day and twice on Sunday. Hodgins shows nuances to getting open and a level of aggressive pass catching and ability after the catch this offense has been starving for. It is crazy how a guy who has been an afterthought nearly his entire 6-year career fits in like a glove here and looks like a credible quality starter. This receiver room is something I will touch on in the coming months, but here is a preview: I want Hodgins here in 2026 over Slayton and/or Wan’Dale Robinson.
-Speaking of Robinson, he finished with 4 catches and 36 yards on a team-high 9 targets. He had 3 drops, one could be argued against because it was technically a misfire by Winston. I grade drops pretty tough however, I’ll admit that. No matter what, Robinson has been the top receiver on the team this season, as NYG coaches will tell you, which is a dumb statement considering what NYG trots out at receiver week to week. I was the best right-handed pitcher in third grade on a team with all lefties and I don’t go around bragging about it. Robinson was the victim of a couple poor throws, but the lack of options and variety he provides is the nail in the coffin for a small guy with inconsistent hands.
-Jalin Hyatt caught 2 passes for 14 yards. He was wrongfully targeted on a deep ball that was nearly intercepted, and then again on the final NYG offensive play of the game where he looked to run a lazy, poor route. The more I see him play, the more I see why they have not played him. There is a lot of poor footwork and inability to create separation. When looking at receivers in scouting, you have to really break down their weight distribution and ability to sharply cut and change direction. Hyatt, a good straight line athlete, looks inept in that area. Zero development whatsoever.
TIGHT END
-Theo Johnson has been a streaky player early in his career, as I’ve been noting. He deserves the credit when it’s due and right now he is on a hot streak. The 3 catches for 36 yards aren’t going to put him in Canton, but for the second straight week he didn’t let one hit the ground he got his hands on and got the offense two first downs. More importantly, Johnson put a few Green Bay Packer defenders on their backs. Linebacker Isaiah McDuffie may be seeing #84 in nightmares. While he did lose laterally because of the lack of adjustment quickness I’ve talked about, he is turning into a real weapon there.
-Daniel Bellinger played about half the snaps with very little impact. He was one of two lead blockers on the second Singletary touchdown run. I thought he should have been targeted more in the passing game considering going deep was not really an option in that weather. He and Chris Manhertz were solid at the point-of-attack on the move but, similar to what I will say about the offensive line next, they don’t create positive outcomes. They struggle to really move guys and displace them.
OFFENSIVE LINE
-Against a very solid Green Bay pass rush that rarely blitzes, the NYG offensive line held up well. I can’t stress enough how improved this group overall has been, but they still have a little ways to go. They have gotten past the stage of being a significant liability, but they are not yet at the level to be considered a significant asset.
-A good example of that are the two free agent signings from the 2024 offseason, Jon Runyan and Jermaine Eluemunor. We have seen some very poor players at right tackle and left guard in recent years, to be blunt. These two are on a different level than some of the trash NYG has trotted out there. With that said, I thought they did not make enough of a positive impact. Eluemunor made more notable mistakes (3 pressures, a half-sack, and false start) and was getting beat as a run blocker when he had to maintain anything laterally. When you really zero in on him, he looks overly-stiff and heavy-footed, but he does know how to win the leverage and hand battles. He also stays on his feet and rarely abandons technique, but he is simply limited. Runyan has a few losses on tape every week where he struggles in space. He trips over his own feet and defenders get off his latch fairly easily. And he, more than anyone, never moves guys off the ball in the run game. He also got flagged for a holding penalty. I think overall he has been a disappointment considering the contract he was given and it goes to show what happens when you don’t draft well. I’ll yell from the mountain tops every year how important it is to find starting offensive linemen in rounds 2-3-4 in the draft. If not, you overpay for mediocrity.
-Andrew Thomas was not his normal dominant-self, but he still graded out positively. He allowed just one pressure and he was flagged for a holding penalty on a successful third-down conversion which, at the time, was a significant blow. They went from first down to 3rd-and-13 in the fourth quarter of a game they were trying to mount a comeback. Thomas did save himself with quality run blocking and he is the guy who does create good movement consistently. His power is underrated.
-Center John Michael Schmitz returned and allowed a half-sack, but other than that was near flawless as a pass blocker. He also had a key block on a Singletary touchdown and was solid in the run game. Greg Van Roten also added a key block on the first touchdown and allowed two pressures. Considering what he normally is on a week-to-week basis, it was an average game for him. But NYG has him pulling across the line or to the outside so often and he simply is not that kind of athlete. He gets exposed when he needs to move fast, but as a power, gritty kind of guy he gets the job done in a blue-collar kind of way.
EDGE
-Adbul Carter was the story of the day. Not because of a first multi-sack game or a horrific performance. Carter was benched for the first two series because he fell asleep at the facility and missed a walk-through. I will touch on that below. As for the game, Carter finished with 2 pressures (one QB hit) and a tackle at the line of scrimmage. When Carter wins, it looks scary-good. But the main problem with his game is the ability to adjust when initially beaten. Like a home-run hitter, he has a lot of all-or-nothing to his game that is all about his Plan A. Comparing him to Parsons, that and hand-strength are the notable differences. Carter also gets fooled by misdirection easily. He got sucked in by a Jordan Love RPO which resulted in a 16-yard gain. And for the record, a Brian Burns sack could have easily been given to Carter as they touched Love on the ground within a split second of each other, but that is just semantics.
-Burns once again played the best game on the defense. He had 5 tackles, 2 sacks, and a pass break up. One of the sacks was a “cheap one” a la the Michael Strahan/Brett Favre Week 17 of the 2001 season sack. Ironically the same two teams were involved. Love was simply running the clock out and Burns got the touch-sack. Even with that in mind, Burns was active against the run and pass and is still clicking at a high level.
-Tomon Fox got the start for Carter, but mainly played on special teams where he made a tackle and missed one. Victor Dimukeje played a couple snaps as well, but nothing really to report on either.
DEFENSIVE LINE
-Dexter Lawrence had one of his more disruptive games of the season. He had a few pass rush snaps that looked like the Lawrence of old. He still has it, now it is a question of repeatability and taking over late in games. He had just one tackle, but pressured Jordan Love 4 times with 2 hits. He got flagged for an offsides early in the game but that was about it for negative plays.
-Roy Robertson-Harris had 2 pressures and 2 tackles along with a missed tackle early on. He and Darius Alexander, who had 1 pressure and 1 tackle, were not getting off blocks in the run game. Their upward burst can be factors, but they are a little stiff and the lack of control can be a liability at times. DJ Davidson was a non factor on 19 snaps. He was playing high and did not play well with his hands.
-Elijah Chatman got the call up and played his first regular season action of 2025. He played 26 snaps and ended up with one pressure. Overall, I thought he played with excellent get off and quality sturdiness. He is never going to be a big, long guy, but he can play strong. Add in the ability to get under guys with speed and he can create a niche for himself. He also added two snaps at fullback, one of which ended in a touchdown on a play he threw a key block. I like guys who can wear a lot of hats like this and the dude plays hard, fast, and physically on all three phases.
LINEBACKER
-Linebackers Bobby Okereke and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles were solid in their respective roles. When it comes to run fits and assignment-based football, they did their job. They did not go after Okereke in coverage at all, which is a surprise. The loss of tight end Tucker Kraft hurt that passing game a lot. Flannigan-Fowles is the typical try-hard who can be out-schemed and out-leveraged. But his speed is a difference-maker, especially in a defense that has lacked real juice at this spot for a long time. He forced a fumble and recovered it, but it was called an incomplete pass. I still do not agree with the call. But anyway his play style can lead to big plays. NYG needs a real force at linebacker and I know they’re hard to find, but watching his speed has only strengthened the notion.
CORNERBACK
-It was an eventful day for the group. Paulson Adebo was questionable all week, but in pregame warm ups he felt pain in his knee which kept him out. Andru Phillips started and played the first half, but then was benched in the second half. The up-and-down nature to his play is frustrating to watch. I’m not sure what exactly gave him the boot, but he was beat in coverage and lost leverage on one. He tripped over his own feet. Nic Jones stepped in and did a solid job in coverage. He was targeted just once and it fell incomplete.
-Cor’Dale Flott, the team’s best corner this season, had an up-and-down game. He forced a fumble that did not result in a turnover and was excellent in coverage for most of the game. He is so fluid and easy-moving. He gave up a big play (33 yards – longest of the game) on a long, broken play where he struggled to locate the ball downfield. The lack of size does show up from time to time.
-Deonte Banks continues to play a lot and he continues to disappoint. While he was not targeted much, he failed to make anything positive happen on tape. He allowed a short touchdown on a play where he, to nobody’s surprise, failed to locate the ball. He also proved how soft he still is, failing to even make a decision to fill a running lane with even half of an effort. He got spun around on plays that he ended up having nothing to do with, but it just goes to show how inept and useless he is on a defense. He may have a future as a kick returner but his softness will likely limit the upside there as well.
-Korie Black saw some action and allowed a deep touchdown pass to Christian Watson. His coverage on the play was actually very solid, but it was a perfect throw and an even better catch by a big target who excels in contested situations, notably downfield.
SAFETY
-Speaking of soft, I was disappointed in Jevon Holland’s play. He seemed less than willing to attack runners and blockers alike. He got knocked to the ground a few times and even though he had 5 tackles without any misses, I thought his play overall lacked urgency and any sense of physical play. That is a non-starter for me at safety unless you are a demon in coverage.
-Dane Belton got the start for the injured Tyler Nubin. He had 5 tackles with one miss, but the major gaffe was a 35-yard pass interference that got GB inside the 5-yard line. They scored a touchdown two plays later.
SPECIAL TEAMS
-K Younghoe Koo: 0/0 (2/3 XP) – terribly windy day – media did not do a good job conveying that
-P Jamie Gillan: 2 punts / 45.0 avg – 45.0 net – really tough day to punt
3 STUDS
-RB Tyrone Tracy, RB Devin Singletary, ED Brian Burns
3 DUDS
-S Jevon Holland, OT Jermaine Eluemunor, CB Deonte Banks
3 THOUGHTS ON GB
(1) Green Bay is one of the most baffling teams in football, maybe THE most baffling. They have one of the brightest offensive coaches in football who has a 73-36-1 record since being hired as a 40-year old in 2019. Now, they’ve gone backwards since Aaron Rodgers left town, but they’re still 9 games over .500 since. The defense has a lot of star power on all three levels and they’re top-ten for the third year in a row on that side of the ball. There are always multiple answers to this, but I think it is all about Jordan Love. He is one of the most volatile quarterbacks in the league not just on a week-to-week basis, but drive-to-drive. They have been held to under 14 points three times this season. In every other game, they have 27+ points. He is an inconsistent decision-maker and the ball placement can be erratic. But then he comes out after a poor stretch and puts absolute dimes on tape. I think Green Bay is the kind of team that can get hot and make a run in January, but I’m not sure they can string together 3-4 really good games in a row because of him.
(2) There is a lot of chatter about Packers Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley being on a short list of potential Head Coach candidates for NYG. He is a local Northern New Jersey kid growing up going to Giants Stadium and he was a college Head Coach (Boston College). He worked under Robert Saleh in San Francisco for two seasons (one season without Saleh there) and brought them from a bottom tier defense to a top-five unit in a hurry. He has been interviewed for head coaching positions and the way he speaks certainly sounds like he can be one. Several people in the league think he is a “no-doubter” eventually. He has done nice work in Green Bay and if NYG brass wanted to lean defense (which I would understand), there is a good shot he is the guy. He checks a lot of boxes.
(3) There are a lot of potential 2026 free agents on this GB roster. The top one is probably linebacker Quay Walker, who is just 25-years old. The ascent of second-year linebacker Edgerrin Cooper will likely push him out and if the team wants to get big, fast, and physical, he would be the prototype for the defense. Adding him and cutting Okereke loose makes it a little more affordable, too. Wide Receiver Romeo Doubs I want nothing to do with because of his drop issues dating back to college. The last name I would be interested in is tackle Rasheed Walker, who is also 25-years old. He was a 2022 seventh rounder who I loved. I put a fourth round grade on him and that was even with a knee issue that scared some off. I wrote in an email to my boss at Ourlads that “this kid can be a starting left tackle” and in my scouting preview I said he can play with the best tackles in the class (not saying much, Evan Neal) and he has been a starter for the Packers since 2023. If NYG wanted to spend to get younger at right tackle, he is on a short list. That said, there is a good shot he gets big money in this offensive line-starved league.
3 CLOSING THOUGHTS
(1) Abdul Carter has been a talking point for a few weeks now. Some are not pleased with the lack of sacks, which I get. But trust me he has been the most disruptive rookie pass rusher and it isn’t close. He has hit a snag and I do think he can do a better job at a few skill-based components of the position. But any sort of panic or distaste for his overall performance is not only premature, but factually inaccurate. The rumors of being late to meetings and punishment for missing a walk-through however? Major no-no unless you actually start playing like the guy whose #56 number you asked to wear. Young players make mistakes and who knows if this is partially a result of Daboll’s relaxed homeboy-style. The issue would be if he is a repeat offender or starts going diva-mode. Worth watching, but I would not call it a concern yet.
(2) Big, fast, physical. If you remember last year I wrote and shared a piece about NYG lacking identity. Whoever takes over can make it what they want and hopefully they stick to it. But I truly think going after objectively big, fast, and physical players is the way to do it. Watching games as the weather starts to worsen and it is clear this NYG roster is too soft. They are not winning the physicality battle at all. They don’t control the point-of-attack. They aren’t stocked with hard-hitting defenders. Bill Parcells used to say the quickest way to improve a team is pursuing better special teams personnel and overall play. But in the same sentence, I would add getting players on this team that beat other people up. Watch the Denver defense. Watch San Francisco (even without their two best players). Watch Los Angeles (Rams). Watch Baltimore as they continue to win. Watch Indianapolis. That brand of football can be such a difference-maker if built correctly.
(3) My main takeaway from Mike Kafka and his debut as the Interim Head Coach is not anything of substance. While I do think he is in the running to be Head Coach in 2026, it is a steep uphill battle because of how badly everyone wants a full-blown regime change. With that said, we would be discussing him as an option if he was still working with Andy Reid in Kansas City. I am a believer in coaching trees (to an extent) and I do prefer NYG goes with an offensive-minded coach (although I would not call it a rule). Kafka suspended Carter for a couple series. Would Daboll have done that? Was Daboll part of the reason Carter got too relaxed with standards? Would Daboll have benched Andru Phillips? These are things we will find out more about in the coming weeks via the leaky ship we call the NYG organization, but also if other moves take place. I can think of a couple other potential benchings and I wonder if Kafka follows suit. We will also look for some trends in game management, clock management, and play-calling, such as the heavy use of the running game and split attack. They play in a dome this upcoming week which will help the offense not deal with any potential weather issues. Hopefully Dart is back because that is what I will look for the most in regard to his coaching personality. And lastly, I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but I highly doubt Kafka has a say in Shane Bowen’s job as the Defensive Coordinator and it could be as simple as they do not have someone else to call plays. He is a dead man walking and the balance of this season is more about the players and Kafka than Bowen or the scheme.