<
>

James Starks up, Eddie Lacy down in Packers' win

play
Rivers, Starks earn game balls (0:52)

Chargers reporter Eric Williams gives the game ball to QB Philip Rivers, who set franchise marks with career high completions and attempts, while Packers reporter Rob Demovsky gives his to RB James Starks, who had two touchdowns in the first quarter. (0:52)

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A look at Green Bay Packers players who were “up” and those who were “down” in the team's 27-20 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday at Lambeau Field:

UP

James Starks: The Packers coaches had a hunch that their No. 2 running back might be in for a big day, which must have been why he started the game over Eddie Lacy. Starks delivered from the get-go, with a 25-yard gain on the first play. He had his first career two-touchdown game -- one rushing (a 65-yarder) and one receiving (a 5-yarder) -- and finished with 112 yards on 10 carries.

Damarious Randall: A week after fellow rookie cornerback Quinten Rollins intercepted a pair of passes against the Rams, the first-round pick saved the game with his breakup of a Philip Rivers pass on fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line with 20 seconds left. Randall reached in front of Danny Woodhead to knock the ball away.

Datone Jones: It's been quite a week for the reserve defensive end. He made two big plays against the Rams -- a hit that forced an interception and a blocked field goal -- then became a father for the first time Thursday, when his daughter was born. On Sunday, he had a pass breakup on third down in the first quarter that held the Chargers to a field goal and came up with a sack to force a punt in the fourth quarter. The former first-round pick is starting to make plays consistently.

DOWN

Eddie Lacy: The Packers’ top running back touched the ball only six times. He had four carries for 3 yards and two catches for 17 yards. He said his sprained ankle is fine, and coach Mike McCarthy didn’t offer an explanation for why Lacy got so little work.

Sam Shields: The veteran cornerback dropped a pair of potential interceptions and was a big part of the coverage plan that allowed Chargers receiver Keenan Allen to catch 14 passes for 157 yards before he left with a hip injury late in the game.

The secondary: Not only did the Packers struggle in coverage against Allen, but just about everyone Rivers threw to was productive. Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd each had 95 yards receiving as part of Rivers’ 503-yard performance.