GREEN BAY – The Packers' offensive line has been its strongest and most consistent unit throughout 2016, and the guys on the edges are certainly getting the job done.
Left tackle David Bakhtiari and right tackle Bryan Bulaga were both solid, as usual, in the 42-24 loss at Washington on Sunday night.
Bakhtiari was playing on a bum knee that forced him out of the previous week's game in the second half, but no one would ever know based on how he played vs. the Redskins. Bulaga is having one of his healthiest, and consequently best, seasons of his career as well.
Below are a number of plays, both run and pass, that highlight the work of the Packers' two veteran tackles.
Play No. 1: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 49, first quarter, 1:09 left
Result: 10-yard completion to WR Ty Montgomery
This is on the Packers' first scoring drive of the game. Bakhtiari (69) doesn't allow Redskins LB Preston Smith (94) to get anywhere close to QB Aaron Rodgers, while Bulaga (75) makes an impressive recovery against LB Ryan Kerrigan (91) to keep him away from the quarterback, and the Packers move the chains.
Play No. 2: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 44, second quarter, 8:59 left
Result: 7-yard run by RB James Starks
Here Bulaga takes a familiar foe, former Detroit DE Ziggy Hood (90) almost completely out of the play, and Starks gets a good block in the hole from FB Aaron Ripkowski (22) on LB Will Compton (51) as well for a solid first-down pickup.
Play No. 3: Third-and-2 from the Green Bay 33, third quarter, :52 left
Result: 29-yard completion to TE Jared Cook
This time it's Bakhtiari on DE/LB Trent Murphy (93) with Bulaga on Kerrigan again, and there's no pressure on either side of Rodgers at all as he calmly lofts a pretty ball to Cook in one-on-one coverage.
Play No. 4: Second-and-10 from the Washington 38, third quarter, :09 left
Result: 7-yard run by Montgomery
A strong run block from Bakhtiari here on Murphy, as he widens a gap for Montgomery, who also gets a productive block from LG Lane Taylor (65) to clear space on the left side.
Play No. 5: First-and-10 from the Washington 37, fourth quarter, 12:51 left
Result: Rodgers scrambles for 9 yards
Another example of Bakhtiari against Smith, and Bulaga against Murphy, not allowing either edge rusher to disrupt Rodgers. The two rushers go so far up the field, and Green Bay's tackles keep them going that way, they take themselves out of the play and Rodgers has plenty of room to scramble.
