GREEN BAY – All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari played for the first time in over a calendar year on Sunday in Detroit, and rookie center Josh Myers was back in action for the first time since mid-October.
So what better way to wrap up the regular season of WYMM than to take a closer look at their successful outings through the first half, focusing first on Bakhtiari and then moving on to Myers.
Play No. 1: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 26, first quarter, 14:56 left
Result: 28-yard completion to WR Allen Lazard
Right off the bat on his very first snap, Bakhtiari is asked to block LB Charles Harris (53) for a few extra beats as QB Aaron Rodgers buys some extra time to find Lazard open downfield. A challenging debut snap handled with aplomb.
Play No. 2: Second-and-7 from the Detroit 43, first quarter, 13:36 left
Result: 3-yard run by RB AJ Dillon
Two snaps later, Bakhtiari chalks up a pancake block on a running play, taking down DE Michael Brockers (91), a nice highlight even if the run doesn't gain much.
Play No. 3: First-and-goal from the Detroit 9, first quarter, 8:30 left
Result: 8-yard run by Dillon
This is a more successful run that helps the Packers close out their opening drive with a touchdown. In the tighter quarters near the goal line, Bakhtiari stands up LB Derrick Barnes (55) to help create a nice seam for Dillon to nearly score.
Play No. 4: Third-and-4 from the Detroit 43, second quarter, 12:56 left
Result: Incomplete pass
Now more than 20 snaps in, Bakhtiari shows no signs of wearing down by taking on a pretty fierce bull rush from Harris and keeping him at bay. Even though the pass for WR Davante Adams falls incomplete, it's textbook blindside protection. Also on this play, Myers (more on him later) swiftly takes care of the A-gap blitz by LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (44).
Play No. 5: Second-and-2 from the Green Bay 33, second quarter, 6:14 left
Result: 5-yard run by Dillon
One more in the run game from Bakhtiari, and this comes on his second-to-last snap before calling it a day. He locks out Harris, practically with one arm, providing a lane for Dillon to make a cut and pick up the first down.
Play No. 6: First-and-10 from the Detroit 24, first quarter, 10:44 left
Result: 7-yard scramble by Rodgers
Back to the opening drive to focus more on Myers, the rookie center does a good job here sticking with Brockers on what becomes an extended play, and then ultimately dumping him to allow Rodgers to escape for a positive gain.
Play No. 7: First-and-10 from the Detroit 49, second quarter, 14:25 left
Result: 6-yard run by RB Patrick Taylor
Good work here by Myers in the run game, with a small assist at the snap from LG Jon Runyan (76), as he rides DE Levi Onwuzurike (75) out of the play, helping to provide a cutback lane for Taylor.
Bonus play: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 38, fourth quarter, 5:01 left
Result: 62-yard TD reception by Josiah Deguara
Bakhtiari and Myers are long gone from the game at this point, but this play has to be shown because C Lucas Patrick (62) throws what might be the block of the year. Just as Deguara catches the screen pass, Patrick takes out both Barnes and CB AJ Parker (41) in one fell swoop, and Deguara slips one tackle before he's off to the races.
