AllGreenBayPackers.Com

Packers CB Casey Hayward played his way onto the rising list this week.

Since the Packers handled the Lions on Sunday, they should be able to handle the Bears this week, right?

Think about it. The Lions have:

• A talented but erratic QB
• One dominant receiver
• A tough defensive line
• A cover-2 strategy designed to contain the Packers

Sounds very similar to the Bears. The main difference is the Lions have a better offensive line and the Bears have a better secondary and running back. The Bears are also beat up.

That’s my preliminary analysis, anyway. Very in-depth, right?

We’ll see if my perception changes later in the week, but I don’t see many reasons to pick the Bears, especially when you factor in the hopeful return of Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson and (maybe) Jordy Nelson.

It was good to get the Lions out of the way. They annoy me for multiple reasons.

On to the stock report:

Rising

Casey Hayward
For some reason, Tony Scheffler was giving the Packers some trouble on Sunday. So the Packers called on Hayward and soon Scheffler wasn’t a problem any more. The rookie played all 84 snaps and had another strong game despite dropping another interception late. Now if he could only get home on blitzes like Charles Woodson used to….  Read more... (823 words + 1 image, estimated 3:18 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny

Morgan Burnett accepted an early Christmas present from Christian Ponder with this interception in the end zone. (Photo from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

This week’s Packers Stock Report features something that’s never happened before in stock report history.

I won’t spoil it in the intro. Read the stock report and let me know your thoughts in the comments section.

NOTE: For expanded coverage, listen to the Packers Stock Report Podcast (links below)…

Rising

Mason Crosby
The struggling kicker made some progress in digging himself out of a very deep hole by nailing three out of four field goals, including a 47-yarder in the third quarter and a 31-yarder that gave the Packers a nine-point lead late in the fourth. This is a major step in the right direction for Crosby. Mike McCarthy has made it clear that Crosby is his kicker and it’s good to see signs of progress.

Morgan Burnett
The safeties had a rough time against the Giants and if you just look at tackling against the Vikings, they were bad once again. Burnett had two missed tackles that played a role in Adrian Peterson gaining an extra 122 yards, but I’m still putting Burnett as a riser. Peterson is the best running back of this generation, and I don’t think it’s all that close. Missing tackles on him is frustrating, but it happens. Burnett made up for it by picking off Christian Ponder twice, including an athletic takeaway when guarding Kyle Rudolph that brought back memories of Nick Collins.  Read more... (846 words + 1 image, estimated 3:23 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny

Not even Randall Cobb could rescue the Packers against the Giants.

I’ve been doing the Packers Stock Report weekly for over two years now. Most of you know how it works.

But just in case, it’s important to know this while you’re reading and agreeing/disagreeing with my selections:

I don’t base the rising/falling/steady selections solely on the most recent game. The most recent game receives the most weight, but I typically factor in the last three games, sometimes more.

For example, if Donald Driver would have caught six passes for 100 yards and a touchdown on Sunday (we can dream, right?), I still probably wouldn’t have put him in the rising category. One good game out of 11 does not necessarily mean you’re rising. It means you had one good game.

I’m trying to identify more long-term patterns or trends that might play out over the next couple of weeks. While it seems like the rising category should be empty this week, remember that I’m factoring in more than the debacle against the Giants.

NOTE: For expanded coverage, listen to the Packers Stock Report Podcast (links below)…

Anyway, now that that’s out of the way, let’s move on to this weeks report:

Rising

Dezman Moses
He’s done enough to enter the rising category. By no means have we forgotten about Clay Matthews, but it’s nice to see Moses making a few plays with the opportunities he’s had the last few weeks. I’m looking forward to seeing Moses and Matthews on the field together. Fewer snaps for Walden will probably keep him fresher, too.  Read more... (919 words + 1 image, estimated 3:41 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny

After scoring the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, Cobb is rising again this week.

I didn’t think the Packers were going to pull that one out on Sunday. The offensive line couldn’t do much of anything, Mason Crosby gave away points, and the Lions seemed one play away from delivering the dagger.

Then all of the sudden, the offensive line came together, Aaron Rodgers connected with Randall Cobb on a crazy play, and the Packers had a division win on the road in November despite a ton of injuries and being way off their A-game.

Crosby even made a kick and Jermichael Finley came up with a few big plays.

Weird game, that football.

New Feature: A few of the writers here on AllGreenBayPackers.com have put together a podcast based on Adam’s Stock Report. Want more discussion and other writer’s views on who’s rising and who’s falling? You got it! You can download the podcast from itunes or use the player below. Give a listen:

Onto the stock report:

Rising

Randall Cobb
Cobb is like the wide receiver version of a stud running back. You keep feeding the ball to your stud running back even if he’s been contained because you never know when he might break a big run. With Cobb, you keep throwing it to him (and sometimes handing it to him) even if he’s been bottled up most of the game because there’s always a chance for the big play. That big play came late in the fourth quarter on Sunday and brought the Packers a division win.  Read more... (785 words + 1 image, estimated 3:08 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny

Packers TE Tom Crabtree hauls in a 72-yard touchdown against the Cardinals

The NFL season never unfolds how we think it will. The same can be said about the Packers 2012 season.Who could have predicted the following?

• Tom Crabtree having more long touchdown catches than any wide receiver.
• 10 starters missing time with injuries.
• Special teams being a bright spot despite Mason Crosby going into a funk.
• James Jones being the team’s best wide receiver.
• Erik Walden having a solid season (Jersey Al actually nailed this one).

Rising

James Jones
Is James Jones the runner-up for Packers first-half MVP (behind Aaron Rodgers)? I’d probably put him behind Clay Matthews, but a case could be made that Jones has been the second most valuable player through nine games. Jones has not only made the routine catches, he’s now developed a knack for catching spectacular touchdowns like his grab before halftime on Sunday.  Read more... (809 words + 1 image, estimated 3:14 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny

Packers LB Brad Jones was sharp against the Jaguars.

As I’m writing this week’s Packers stock report, I’m watching the Cardinals play the 49ers on Monday Night Football. The Cardinals look horrendous. Absolutely atrocious. They can’t do anything right.

Does this mean anything for Sunday’s Packers vs. Cardinals matchup? Who knows.

So far this season the Packers have been good and bad, lucky and unlucky, hot and cold, hurt and healthy, explosive and stagnant, emotional and dead, and everything in-between.

The same can be said about the Cardinals and just about every other team in the NFL.

There’s no use projecting what might happen week-to-week, so I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the games the rest of the way.

Rising

James Jones
When the Packers offense needed a lift in the second half on Sunday, James Jones came to life. He caught a 11-yard pass and drew a roughing penalty. He also caught a 31-yard pass that set up Donald Driver’s touchdown. No. 89 was feisty in the second half. Perhaps that aggression led to the Jacksonville defender getting a little annoyed and throwing him down on the roughing call. Too bad some of that aggression didn’t wear off on the rest of the offense.  Read more... (844 words + 1 image, estimated 3:23 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny

Packers WR Randall Cobb is rising in this week’s stock report.

Ever try watching the Packers while a birthday party is going on for a 5 year old?

I’m not sure what’s worse: All the kids running around and distracting you from the game. Or all the adults that don’t pay attention to what’s going on and constantly ask you what just happened.

If I’m not at Lambeau Field, I like to watch the game on my own couch with my wife. We can devote all of our attention to the game and get mad/sad/happy without having to deal with screaming children or chatty adults.

But I persevered on Sunday. I sucked it up and I watched the game with little rugrats screaming and crawling around everywhere while adults talked about everything besides the Packers.

The Packers persevered too. They’re missing several key players, but managed to win their second straight and climb above .500 for the first time this season.

When it comes to mental toughness, both the Packers and myself are rising.

On to the stock report:

Rising

Aaron Rodgers
It doesn’t matter how many injuries the Packers have to deal with as long as Rodgers plays like this. He’s back in MVP form.

Randall Cobb
Talk about efficiency. Cobb was targeted eight times and caught all eight passes (against six different defenders). Cobb also reeled off a big run and continues to get open after Rodgers escapes the pocket.  Read more... (741 words + 1 image, estimated 2:58 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny