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Brett Hundley had a full week to prepare for the first start of his NFL career. Despite the extra preparation, he still looked every bit the overwhelmed backup he was in a Week 6 loss to the Vikings.
Hundley showed off an eye for big plays, but his inability to complete passes downfield casts a pall over the Packers’ 2017 season. The third-year passer’s first full game as a pro ended with just 87 passing yards on 25 attempts. Whatever benefit he added on the ground was quickly erased by inaccurate throws and an inability to find open receivers.
The most jarring difference between Hundley and Aaron Rodgers came with 4:25 left in the game. Green Bay needed some magic to unravel a 26-17 deficit. Facing third-and-long, Hundley uncorked a deep pass to Martellus Bennett ... and overthrew him by five yards for a Kenny Vaccaro interception.
What did Brett Hundley do right?
Hundley showcased solid pocket awareness, adding a scrambling threat on par or better than the dynamic running Rodgers brought to the Green Bay pocket. The young passer used his legs to avoid pressure in the pocket (zero sacks in the first half) and extend plays. His third-down touchdown scramble in the second quarter showcased his vision and toughness while giving the Pack a 14-7 lead.
He finished the game with three carries for 44 yards and a touchdown.
He checked through his targets with some efficiency, finding his third and fourth options for short passes throughout the day. He also kept an eye on mismatches, targeting Martellus Bennett against smaller defensive backs and Randall Cobb against linebackers to varying results.
What did Hundley do wrong?
Aaron Jones softened up the Saints defense with a great game on the ground, but the young passer struggled to identify his open receivers or hit them in the numbers once he found them. Like in Week 6, Hundley struggled to find his sweet spot, alternating between underthrows and overthrows as his receivers tried to adjust to their new passer.
Jones’ success should have opened up a play-action chunk of the playbook, but the Packers remained relatively conservative. Green Bay’s longest completion of the afternoon was just 14 yards. Hundley rarely looked deep, which makes sense given his lack of accuracy in the mid-range game. When he did, he chucked the ball to places where his own receivers couldn’t make a play.
It’s also clear he doesn’t have Rodgers’ command of the playbook or ability to clear up confusion and direct plays at the line of scrimmage.
At one point, with the clock running out on the second quarter, Hundley moved the ball into Saints territory and called what appeared to be a wide receiver screen to an in-motion Randall Cobb. The key phrase here is “appeared to be,” since the play failed to develop any semblance of execution. Cobb and Jones collided in the backfield, a discombobulated offensive line fell apart, and Hundley was forced to throw the ball away from deep in the pocket.
A flag came down, but instead of intentional grounding, referees penalized Richard Rodgers for offensive pass interference — the tight end had bolted upfield and began blocking in preparation for the screen pass that was supposed to develop behind him. The play was so confusing, not even the officials could decide exactly which part of it was illegal.
The 10 yard penalty turned Mason Crosby’s 49-yard field goal attempt into a 59-yarder. He missed badly.
So what did Sunday tell us about Brett Hundley?
Hundley’s hype exceeded his production at UCLA. Three seasons of strong preseason showcases threaten to have a similar effect on his professional career. His performance against the Saints failed to show off the kind of ceiling that would make him a steady starting option in the NFL.
He’ll get better with more experience, but the accuracy issues that seemed like first-game jitters were still apparent when Hundley returned home for his second meaningful appearance for the Packers. Green Bay’s offensive identity hinged on Rodgers’ ability to make one-of-a-kind plays that devastated defenses with little or no forewarning. Hundley, on the other hand, just went a full game without completing a pass of more than 14 yards.
The Packers are built to support the kind of quarterback who can escape pressure and make time-bending, laser throws downfield. Hundley is only one of those. That doesn’t mean Green Bay can’t win with him as its starter -- just that the Pack will have to make some changes to help him grow into his new role with the team.