But then Sam Shields’ head collided with Jacksonville running back T.J. Yeldon early in the second quarter and everything changed.
The defense was able to hold its own for awhile. The pass rush finished tied for sixth in the NFL in sacks. The Packers were eighth in the NFL in rushing yards allowed.
Things were surprisingly looking OK, even though it appeared that Shields would never put a Packers uniform on again.
But like an injured person, the defense started to lean more on other parts of its anatomy. Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins battled through a flurry of injuries and LaDarius Gunter unfairly became the goat.