By the numbers: Packers’ defense in 2015

Posted Feb 13, 2016

Mike Spofford packers.com senior writer @MikeSpofford

GREEN BAY – Having already reviewed the offense in this fashion, here’s the defensive version, from 1 to 10.

All statistics are for the regular season only, unless noted.

1: Interceptions by defensive linemen. Mike Daniels’ INT of Carson Palmer in Arizona in Week 16 was a tremendous play easily forgotten given the game’s outcome. One is also the number of field goals the Packers blocked this season. Datone Jones did it against the Rams.

2: Interceptions returned for touchdowns. Strangely, both were by rookies, Quinten Rollins vs. the Rams and Damarious Randall at Oakland. It’s the first time dating back to 1921 that the Packers had two different rookies or first-year players record INT-TDs in the same season.

3: Sacks by S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, making him only the fourth safety in team history to have that many in one season. LeRoy Butler had at least three sacks in a season three times (1996-98), while Mark Murphy (1985) and Mark Roman (2004) did it once each.

4: 100-yard rushers allowed in 2015. In a season the defense faced Adrian Peterson twice, plus Jamaal Charles and Marshawn Lynch, the only runners to hit the century mark were Chicago’s Matt Forte (141 in Week 1), the Rams’ Todd Gurley (159), Denver’s C.J. Anderson (101) and the Cowboys’ Darren McFadden (111).

5: Times the defense held the opponent scoreless in a goal-to-go situation. Three times the Packers generated turnovers and twice they got a turnover on downs. Combined with forcing five field goals, that’s 10 goal-to-go possessions by the opponent (out of 28) that resulted in three or no points. The defense added another scoreless goal-to-go in the playoffs, when Randall intercepted Palmer in the end zone at Arizona.

6: Fumble recoveries, five on defense, one on special teams. The only player with more than one fumble recovery on the season was DB Micah Hyde.

7: The defense’s season high for sacks in one game, against the Chiefs. The Packers recorded at least six sacks in a game three times, with the others against the 49ers and Vikings (Week 11). A fourth six-sack game came against Washington in the wild-card playoff.

8: Number of times, including both playoff games, the defense started with a three-and-out. More impressively, the defense did not allow a touchdown on the opponent’s opening drive all season, and allowed a field goal only four times in 18 total games.

9: Double-digit sack seasons now in the career of Julius Peppers. With 10 ½ in 2015, Peppers reached double figures for the first time since 2012, and he moved into a tie for ninth place on the NFL’s all-time sack list. His nine double-digit sack seasons is tied for fourth all-time with John Randle, trailing Kevin Greene (10), Reggie White (12) and Bruce Smith (13).

10: Season-high for passes defensed in one game, which was accomplished twice, against the Rams and Raiders. Then the defense recorded 11 passes defensed in the playoff victory at Washington.