<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Packers rookie Damarious Randall makes veteran play

          Damarious Randall broke up what would have been the Chargers' game-tying touchdown with 15 seconds remaining in the game. AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps
          • Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff WriterOct 19, 2015, 07:47 PM
            Close
              Rob Demovsky is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Green Bay Packers. He has covered the Packers since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2013. Demovsky is a two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year as selected by the NSSA. You can follow him on Twitter at @RobDemovsky.
            Follow on X

          GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers can’t ignore Philip Rivers’ remarkable 503-yard passing performance against their defense, but his last pass -- the one cornerback Damarious Randall batted away -- also should be examined.

          The Packers rookie first-round pick showed veteran savvy to break up what would have been the Chargers’ game-tying touchdown with 15 seconds remaining in Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field. Rivers tried to throw to running back Danny Woodhead in the right flat, and Randall played it perfectly to preserve the Packers’ 27-20 victory.

          A week after rookie second-round pick Quinten Rollins intercepted two passes against the Rams, it was Randall’s turn to make a game-changing play.

          In zone coverage, Randall said he actually pretended like he didn’t see Woodhead in order to entice Rivers into throwing that way. He figured tight end Antonio Gates was the primary read and Woodhead was the secondary option.

          “Honestly, I was just trying to bait him a little bit,” Randall said. “And, he actually threw a better ball than what I thought he could, and I just knocked it down, and I just made a play, and we’re 6-0.”

          Aaron Rodgers said if he were in Rivers’ position, he likely would’ve gone after Randall, too.

          “If I was out there against a rookie, you’re going after him,” Rodgers said. “Both our [rookies], Q and Damarious, have been doing a good job of making plays, they have good ball skills. The game on the line, he knocked it down, and he made some good plays on the ball down the field.

          “He’s got a lot of confidence, he knows the ball is going to come his way. Really proud of him, it’s a big confidence booster for him. Not that he needs a whole lot of confidence boost because it’s already pretty high for him. That’s what you need when you play corner. He’s a confident guy and know when the ball’s coming your play, you’ll make plays on the ball.”

          Here’s the full breakdown of the Packers’ defense from Sunday’s game (the offensive breakdown can be found here):

          Total defensive plays: 92

          Defensive line

          Notes: Without B.J. Raji (groin), defensive coordinator Dom Capers rarely used his base 3-4. Daniels had a half-sack and a pair of QB hits. He already has three sacks in six games. Jones recorded his first sack since he shared a sack in Week 16 of last year. His last full sack came in Week 4 of 2014.

          Linebackers

          Notes: Capers moved Matthews back to outside linebacker in his sub packages in the second half and although it didn’t result in any sacks, Matthews had three QB hits. Peppers regained the team sack lead (with 5.5) over Matthews (4.5) with one sack. Palmer recorded a team-high 11 tackles.

          Defensive backs

          Notes: After two strong games, Shields allowed nine catches for 117 yards -- most of it against Keenan Allen (14 catches for 157 yards). Shields and Randall each had a pair of pass breakups. Hyde started at safety for the fifth time in six games in place of Morgan Burnett (calf).