The last time you saw the Green Bay Packers, they were melting down in their biggest game of the year.
Aaron Rodgers was dreadful, the defense folded and Detroit defeated the Packers, 20-16, with a playoff berth on the line in the 2022 season finale.
After an eventful seven months, the Packers were back at it and put together an impressive performance in a 36-19 win over Cincinnati Friday in the preseason opener for both teams.
Here’s the good, bad and ugly from Green Bay’s win:
THE GOOD
AARON WHO?: All eyes were on Jordan Love, and rightfully so.
Aaron Rodgers is now running around the Big Apple. This is Love’s team.
And after a shaky start, Love shined.
Love started just 2-of-5 and Green Bay’s opening drive died when he missed a wide open Luke Musgrave on a crossing route. Love connected on his next five throws, though, including a gorgeous 9-yard touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs to give the Packers an early 7-0 lead.
Love finished 7-of-10 for 46 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and a 112.9 passer rating.
“I thought he looked poised,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Love. “It looked like he was in total command. Obviously on that first series he’d love to have the throw back to Musgrave. But all in all, I thought it was a very productive day for him.”
VALENTINES DAY: Rookie seventh round cornerback Carrington Valentine attended nearby Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati.
Valentine had a happy homecoming with a second quarter interception. Cincinnati quarterback Jake Browing threw high for wideout Shedrick Jackson, and when the ball bounced off Jackson’s hands, Valentine showed quick reflexes and picked off Browning.
Valentine finished with three passes defensed, four tackles and a tackle for loss.
“He’s a talented young player, but he’s got to keep going,” LaFleur said of Valentine. “It’s one half of football, but really impressed by what we saw early on.”
SEAN CLIFFORD: Green Bay’s rookie quarterback, taken in the fifth round, did more good than bad during a roller coaster night.
Clifford completed 20-of-26 passes including a 47-yarder to rookie Dontayvion Wicks and a 28-yarder to Samori Toure. Clifford also threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Davis, ran for 27 yards on two carries and had a passer rating of 80.3.
Clifford had a pair of costly interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. But he guided the Packers to 23 points on nine possessions and led Green Bay on a touchdown drive immediately after his pick-six.
“I’ll tell you what, that’s impressive. Not many people can recover from that,” LaFleur said. “You throw back to back picks. Obviously the pick six really hurt us, but I love seeing guys bounce back from tough situations and he responded well.”
KEISEAN NIXON: Green Bay’s standout return man is currently the frontrunner to win the slot cornerback job. And Nixon might have locked that position up with a terrific performance in a short time Friday.
On the Bengals’ first snap, Nixon chased quarterback Jake Browning out of the pocket and dumped him for an 8-yard sack. Then on third-and-15, Nixon had terrific coverage on Stanley Morgan and broke up a pass intended for the Bengals’ veteran.
“I understand what I’m doing,” Nixon said. “I got a feel for the guys. I feel comfortable because I understand what the defense is. I understand my job.”
MAKING HIS MARK: Few Packer fans knew who running back Emanuel Wilson was before Friday. Wilson had a huge night, though, with six carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns and suddenly is a candidate for the No. 3 running back job.
Wilson, an undrafted free agent out of Division 2 Fort Valley State, began the night deep down the depth chart. But he showed tremendous vision and speed on an 80-yard, fourth quarter touchdown run and also had an 11-yard TD late in the third quarter.
THIS AND THAT: Green Bay outgained Cincinnati, 270-136, in the first half and had 15 first downs vs. just five for the Bengals. The Packers finished with a 437-282 edge in total yards. … Brenton Cox had a tipped pass that led to a Dallin Leavitt interception in the third quarter. … Colby Wooden did a terrific job reading a screen pass and dropped into coverage. Jake Browning’s pass hit Wooden in the hands, but the rookie defensive end dropped it. … Samori Toure had a 44-yard kickoff return in the third quarter.
THE BAD
ANDERS CARLSON: Green Bay’s rookie kicker was off to a good start, making his first three extra points and a 45-yard field goal. That was quickly forgotten, though, when Carlson missed his final two extra points.
Free agent Mason Crosby — Green Bay’s all-time leading scorer — has made 332 of 348 extra points (95.4%) since 2015 when extra points were moved from 20 yards to 33 yards. On Friday, Carlson made just 3-of-5 extra points (60.0%).
Crosby, who kicked in Green Bay from 2007-2022, remains a free agent. And each time Carlson struggles, Packer Nation will clamor for their previous kicker.
NICKS AND BRUISES: The Packers took some lumps in the injury department.
Tackle Luke Tenuta (ankle), tight end Tyler Davis (knee), cornerback Corey Ballentine (stinger), tackle Caleb Jones (ankle) and running back Tyler Goodson (shoulder) all left the game and didn’t return.
Green Bay also held out cornerbacks Eric Stokes and Jaire Alexander, defensive tackle Kenny Clark, linebacker Rashan Gary, left tackle David Bakhtiari, tight end/fullback Josiah Deguara, wideout Grant Dubose, running back Lew Nichols, safety Innis Gaines, and center/guard Jake Hanson.
THIS AND THAT: Samori Toure dropped a kickoff late in the second quarter and should have stayed in the endzone. Instead, Toure opted to come out and was dumped at the 9-yard line. … Offensive guard Royce Newman, in a fight to make the team, was called for two holding penalties. … Second year inside linebacker Tariq Carpenter was hit with a roughing the passer penalty in the third quarter that helped lead to a Bengals field goal. … Quarterback Alex McGough, fighting for a job, lost a fumble in the fourth quarter.
THE UGLY
PICK SIX: Cincinnati’s only touchdown of the night came midway through the second quarter when Tycen Anderson intercepted Sean Clifford and returned the pick 43 yards for a touchdown.
Clifford stared down Dontayvion Wicks on a crossing route, Anderson jumped the pass and was off to the races.