Green Bay Packers Mid-Season Awards and Review
Sep 14, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers outside linebacker
Julius Peppers(56) breaks up a pass intended for New York Jets running back
Chris Johnson(21) during the second half of a game at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive MVP – Julius Peppers
25 tackles – 4.0 sacks – 1 INT – 1 forced fumble – 1 TD
Julius Peppers joined the Green Bay Packers as a high priced free agent with a certain level of risk attached to him, something that GM Ted Thompson rarely touches. Granted, Peppers has disappeared for stretches this season, but his impact plays and ability to change the momentum of games is just what the Packers need down the stretch.
Peppers was brought in primarily to disrupt the passing game, and the results have been encouraging in that department. Green Bay has held opposing passers to the 9th-fewest yards per game at 226, and the 7th-lowest QB Rating at 82.1.
He will need to be a contributing factor in the resurrection of the run defense by doing a better job of keeping rushers from turning the edge and hitting the second level of defenders. In doing this, more opportunities will be created for he and Clay Matthews to rush the passer. The duo is much too skilled to have a combined 6.5 sacks through eight weeks.
In Peppers, the Packers have a weapon much like they did in Charles Woodson: a pure playmaker. With a struggling defense, there always exists the possibility that Julius Peppers can single-handedly blow up a drive, or create a turnover that changes the outcome of a game. Green Bay may need to steal a win down the stretch, and Peppers could be the man who does it.