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Packers preparing for ‘tough’ Saints team, led by pass rush and ball production

Paul Bretl | 12/22/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers will enter Monday night’s matchup with the Saints as the heavy, heavy favorites in this game. Green Bay is favored by 14 points, a hefty and not frequently seen points spread in the NFL.

However, that points spread is the outside perception of how this game should unfold. Inside the building, the Packers are preparing for a Saints team that plays hard for 60 minutes and one that Matt LaFleur believes isn’t all that far off from being a playoff contender.

“The Saints have done an outstanding job,” said LaFleur on Saturday. “Teams are having a hard time moving the ball and having a hard time scoring points. A lot of these guys have been close. They’ve lost four games by three points or less. You’re talking about – that’s a very minimal difference. They could easily be sitting at 9-5 right now. I think our guys realize what type of team is coming in here and what’s at stake. So, I would expect us to play our best ball.”

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The Saints’ defense will enter Sunday’s game, allowing 22.3 points per game this season, which ranks as the 13th-best mark this season. There are two areas in particular where this unit thrives and that’s in getting after the quarterback and forcing interceptions.

Among all defensive ends, Chase Young’s 56 pressures are the ninth-most this season, while Carl Granderson’s 55 are the 11th-most. In the middle of that front is Bryan Bresee’s 30 pressures are the 27th-most out of all interior defenders in 2024. Collectively, New Orleans has generated the 12th-most sacks, and not to be forgotten about either is Cam Jordan, who has played at a high level for a long time.

“All of them,” said offensive line coach Luke Butkus when asked what the challenge is with the Saints’ defensive front. “All eight of them that they play, all eight of them are big, all of them are strong. They have some veteran leadership up there. They’re physical and they play with great effort. I like the guys that are really good that don’t play hard. These guys are really good and they play hard.”

And although the Saints’ defense doesn’t blitz often, when they do, those designed pressures often come on third downs and from disguised looks.

“They’re blitz packages, their third downs, they’ve got multiple different packages they use,” said Adam Stenavich. “They do a good job with Demario Davis, rushing and picking and all that stuff so they’ve done a good job all year just creating pressure on the quarterback, and they’ve done that for years. That’s a problem every time you play the Saints you know what you’re in for, but they do a really good job.”

Pressure, of course, disrupts the timing and rhythm of a play for the offense and can mean less time in coverage for the defensive backs. That speeding up of the process for quarterbacks can impact a passer’s mechanics, leading to inaccurate throws and mistakes.

For much of the season, the Packers’ offensive line has held up well against pressure, ranking eighth in ESPN’s pass-block win rate metric. Then, since the bye week in particular, Jordan Love has done a very good job of managing to avoid negative plays when he is under duress.

“I can’t say enough about Jordan’s ability to avoid the negative play and making those drastic moves in the pocket and getting the ball out for positive plays,” said LaFleur. “I don’t think people understand–I think it’s overlooked. Just the value of what he’s able to do in getting the ball out of his hands and not taking sacks.”

Patrolling the back end of Saints’ defense is Tyrann Mathieu, who has totaled three interceptions this season and a secondary as a whole that has been very good at making plays on the ball this season. The Saints rank fourth in pass deflections this season and are eighth in total interceptions.

“They’ve just been playing tough defense,” added LaFleur. “They’ve always had a pretty formidable front seven, and I would say that still remains true. And then they got guys that can take the ball away in the back, and they really challenge you. I think (Alontae) Taylor’s a really good corner. Obviously, the Honey Badger, he knows how to get the ball away. So they’ve got, they still got great players back there.”

Now, with that said, where New Orleans has been susceptible defensively is in the run game, surrendering 4.7 yards per rush this season. Although Josh Jacobs has already had a heavy workload this season–totaling the third-most carries among running backs–until their playoff position is set in stone, it sounds like it will remain business as usual, and given this matchup, that could mean another Jacobs-centric gameplan for the Packers.

On paper, the Saints are 5-9, made a coaching change earlier in the season, and are dealing with a number of key injuries. But as we all know, the game of football isn’t played on paper. This team will keep their foot on the game for all four quarters–look no further than last week’s performance against Washington.

Trailing 14-0 at halftime, the Saints made a change at quarterback, putting in rookie Spencer Rattler with Derek Carr sidelined. Rattler led an 11-play, 56-yard scoring drive that included a touchdown pass with no time left on the clock. The Saints would go for the win and attempt a two-point conversion that came up just short, and their second-half comeback was halted in what ended up being a 20-19 loss.

“Especially a rookie quarterback,” said LaFleur of Rattler’s performance against Washington. “I think that tells you a lot about the guy. He’s a talented guy. He was highly recruited coming out of high school and has been able to produce at the college level. He’s a natural thrower. I was impressed with him through the draft process last year. He’s got a lot of talent and he’s got some weapons around him.”

For the Packers, they are still chasing that elusive consistency in these final weeks. As good as their performance was against Seattle this past week, which included a very fast start, scoring on their first four possessions, and once again hitting the 30 point mark for the fourth straight game, there was a four possession stretch in the second half that went punt, fumble, punt, turnover on downs, and lasted a total of 15 plays.

It’s those types of stretches that the team has to avoid come January against the NFC’s best. It’s stretches like that one that can send a team home in the playoffs. And this week, against a Saints team that will give you its best shot for an entire game, it’s those types of possessions that can allow New Orleans to hang around.

“This is the National Football League,” LaFleur said. “You’d better get yourself ready to go, otherwise you’re going to get your ass kicked. I don’t care who you’re playing. I’ve got a lot of respect for these guys and if you looked at what they’ve been able to accomplish in a short period of time, I mean, look at the game last week and their ability to come back. I mean, they had a chance to win the game on the last play of the game. So, you just, to me, every week’s the same.”

Who starts at middle linebacker for Packers if Quay Walker is out?

Paul Bretl | 12/21/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Earlier in the week, Matt LaFleur would call Packers’ linebacker “week to week” after he exited the Seattle game with an ankle injury. Through two days of practice, Walker has been a non-participant and was seen in the locker room with a boot on his left foot.

With it trending in the direction that Walker won’t be available on Monday night against New Orleans, the question then becomes, who will start at Mike linebacker for the Packers in his absence?

Perhaps the name on the radar of many right now is Edgerrin Cooper, given his lights-out performance against Seattle. So why not give him a larger role and put that playmaking ability right in the middle of the defense?

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Cooper played just 34 snaps against Seattle, but goodness were they impactful. According to PFF, he recorded three pressures, one sack, made a handful of tackles, and allowed just two receptions on six targets for 13 yards with an interception and a pass breakup. As a result, Cooper was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.

When there is the type of speed an athleticism at the linebacker position that Cooper possesses, there is added flexibility for Jeff Hafley in how he builds out the gameplan and deploys other positions because of the ground he can cover.

However, Cooper is still a rookie navigating the learning curve that comes with making the jump from college to the NFL level. He’s also missed practice time on a few different occasions since training camp due to injuries. That is a lot of valuable snaps missed out on, which in part, is why he’s played just 34 snaps this past Sunday, with Green Bay wanting to continue easing him back in.

Asking Cooper to play the Mike linebacker position right now would be throwing him into a brand new role on the fly, putting a lot on his plate, and potentially limiting his impact.

“The thing you’ve got to be really careful of as a young guy who’s missed a lot of practice is, trying to get him to learn too much because he just hasn’t had the reps at one, let alone two (positions),” said Jeff Hafley on Thursday of Cooper. “Like, he’s played some Sam for us, and now he’s playing a lot of Will, so you’ve got to be really careful overloading him or he won’t be able to go out there.

“It’s not as easy as you think, right? It’s not like, ‘I’m going to go out and play corner, and then I’m going to play nickel.’ There’s more that goes into switching from that position.”

So if it’s not Cooper, that really leaves either Eric Wilson or Isaiah McDuffie to fill that role. Perhaps rather than guessing what the Packers might do on Monday, we can look to what they did in past games this season for the answer.

When Walker exited the Houston game in Week 7 with an injury, it was Wilson who stepped into the Mike role mid-game. The following week against Jacksonville, with Walker still out, it was again Wilson who wore the green dot, and he took some snaps there as well in Week 2 against Indianapolis.

Now in his seventh NFL season, Wilson brings experience to what is a younger Packers’ linebacker room. Oftentimes, with that experience, you’ve seen more; you’ve been in numerous different situations, allowing for a larger workload and a greater understanding of the defensive scheme. But getting to that point on Sundays begins with the work that is put in during the week leading up to the game.

“Eric, he’s just a consistent person,” said Matt LaFleur. “He’s very regimented in terms of his approach. I think that you don’t look like that if you’re not disciplined. He’s just consistent. That’s the best way I can describe him. He just goes out there and executes, and he does it in two phases of the game, he does it on defense and then on teams as well.”

I would also think that part of the equation when making this decision is which player can be on the field for 60-70 plays because your Mike linebacker can’t be coming off in specific situations–he’s the signal caller. Wilson, with his ability in coverage, brings a more well-rounded skill-set compared to McDuffie, who is oftentimes at his best when defending the run.

The responsibilities of the Mike linebacker go well beyond just getting the play-call in for the rest of the defense. This player is essentially the quarterback on the defensive side of the ball, tasked with getting everyone set, making pre-snap adjustments and so much more.

“When you have to tell everybody else what they’re doing and then go out and execute your job, I know that might not seem hard, but that’s not easy,” Hafley said. “Some of our calls can be kind of lengthy. So for him to make a tackle, get up, shake off whatever has happened, gather everybody up, tell everybody the call, hear something else, I might tell him what I think is coming to tell this guy or that guy and then line up and make a close call.

“I mean, there’s a lot that goes into that and I think he’s a veteran guy who brings a calmness and I think he’s had success doing that.”

With Wilson at the Mike, the Packers can–as much as possible in this situation–maintain continuity at the position, keeping Cooper as the Will and McDuffie as the Sam linebackers. And while that continuity element does seem small, whether talking offense or defense, it is very important.

“At that position there’s a lot that goes into it,” Hafley said. “One, he’s got to get the call from me, he’s got to give that to everybody, he’s got to make checks up front, he’s got to make checks behind him, he’s got to calm everything down, he’s got to get certain guys lined up. Eric’s a really smart player.”

Packers vs Saints 2023 matchup showcased potential of Jordan Love and offense that is now being unlocked

Paul Bretl | 12/20/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers have the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot on Monday night with a win over the New Orleans Saints. The last time these two teams met was in Week 3 of the 2023 season, which isn’t all that long ago, but the Packers’ offense then versus now is night and day different–although we caught a glimpse of the potential that was there in that game.

“Just kind of reliving the game, watching it this week, it’s amazing, just especially, obviously, from the offensive standpoint, the product that we put out then, versus to where we are today, I feel like it’s, it’s night and day,” said Matt LaFleur on Thursday.

Green Bay entered that Week 3 matchup at 1-1 on the season, having come off a loss to Atlanta. Through three quarters, the Saints controlled the game, up 17-0 over the Packers. However, once the fourth quarter arrived, Jordan Love would take over.

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Love’s overall efficiency numbers in that fourth quarter aren’t going to leap off the page. He was 22-of-44 passing overall and just 7-for-18 in the fourth quarter. But when a big play was needed, Love and the offense often came through.

On those seven fourth-quarter completions, Love totaled 104 yards with a touchdown pass, along with rushing for 25 yards and another touchdown. There were also two defensive pass interference penalties totaling 67 yards in that quarter that won’t show up on the stat sheet.

“We had a lot of young players, and it’s not just, it’s not just on the quarterback. But he did an unbelievable job, I would say, in the second half of that game, particularly in the fourth quarter of making some big time plays. I mean, you know, on the final drive, obviously that two point play was critical. We’d scored on a fourth and one right before that. So he made a lot of great plays throughout the course of that game.”

The Packers had three fourth quarter possessions in that game and scored on all of them. The first was an Anders Carlson field goal to cut the deficit to 17-3. On the next drive, the Packers went 80 yards in seven plays, taking only 1:29 off the clock and capped off the touchdown drive with Love going off-script on the two-point conversion play to find Samori Toure in the end zone.

Now, trailing 17-11, the Green Bay defense forced another quick punt, giving Love the ball back. The Packers followed that up with another 80 yard touchdown drive that lasted nine plays and took just 2:27. All of sudden, just like that, the Packers had a 18-17 lead with under two minutes remaining.

“Anytime you face some adversity like that and you’re able to overcome it, it just helps you grow,” said Christian Watson of the comeback. “It helps the individuals of this team grow and our team as a whole grow. So it was definitely huge for development as a team.”

Following this win, the Packers found themselves at 2-1 on the season, but that fourth quarter performance, while impressive, was far from the turning point in the season for a young Packers’ offense.

Green Bay would go on to lose four in a row and it wasn’t until the team’s Week 10 matchup in Pittsburgh that Matt LaFleur would start to really feel the tide begin to turn on the offensive side of the ball.

With that said, what that early season matchup with New Orleans did showcase was the resiliency of this Packers team to bounce back and fight to the end, along with the big play potential and ability to put up points quickly. There is also something to be said for being able to come through in those key, must-have-it moments, as Love did on that Sunday.

“That game definitely meant a lot to everybody in the locker room, and I think it just showed our ability to stay together,” said Jordan Love at his locker on Thursday.

“Obviously it was not a great game, not a great starter for us and I think just everybody staying together and nobody flinching being down 17 and to be able to come back and just chip away at that lead and take it one play at a time, I think it helped us going forward and gave everybody that mindset that no matter what the situation is, what the score might be that we can come back from anything, so I think that definitely helped us a lot.”

Fast forward about 15 months, and after a late-season surge in 2023 that got Green Bay to 9-8 and into the playoffs as the NFC’s seventh seed, the Packers are now 10-4 this season and have one of the highest-scoring offenses in football at 27.1 points per game and a unit that, throughout the season, has been one of the best at generating big plays.

As good as the home stretch last season was for Love and the offense, LaFleur believes that right now, Love is playing the best football of his career. Since Week 11, the Packers’ first game out of the bye week, Love is completing 68.7% of his passes, which is the eighth-best mark during that span. He also leads the NFL in yards per pass attempt at 9.9 and has thrown eight touchdowns to just one interception.

“This is the best ball he’s played,” LaFleur said of Love. “Just when I look at all the little things like I explained the other day, in terms of his ability to manipulate the pocket when he’s under duress, getting the ball to his checkdowns, or whatever it may be, I think he’s playing at a really high level.”

As always, there are numerous factors contributing to that success, which includes improved decision-making from Love, the fact that he’s healthy, along with having Josh Jacobs and a strong run game to lean on. However, as we saw in the offense’s performance against Seattle last Sunday, with four empty possessions in the second half that included a fumble, two punts, and a turnover on downs that in total lasted just 15 plays, this Green Bay offense is still in search of that elusive four quarter performance as well.

With injuries, this hasn’t been the same Saints’ defense in 2024 that ranked 10th in points per game allowed last season. However, this group still has the ability to get after the quarterback, with Chase Young and Carl Granderson each above the 55-pressure mark this season, not to mention that New Orleans ranks tied for eighth in interceptions.

“They’ve just been playing tough defense,” said LaFleur of New Orleans. “They’ve always had a pretty formidable front seven, and I would say that still remains true. And then they got guys that can take the ball away in the back, and they really challenge you. I think (Alontae) Taylor’s a really good corner. Obviously, the Honey Badger, he knows how to get the ball away. So they’ve got, they still got great players back there.”

How will Packers handle Josh Jacobs’ workload in preparation for playoffs?

Paul Bretl | 12/19/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Running back Josh Jacobs has shouldered a heavy workload for the Packers’ offense this season. But now, as the regular season begins to wind down and with the playoffs on the horizon, does Green Bay need to be more mindful of Jacobs’ touches in these remaining weeks?

“I think that’s all the time,” said Matt LaFleur when asked about being aware of Jacobs’ workload. “I think we got to be mindful of his workload 100% and he’s, he does a great job communicating with us in terms of where he’s at, and he’s been pretty healthy. So and certainly the production speaks for itself. I mean, he’s, he’s an animal out there.”

Through now 14 games, Jacobs has carried the ball 265 times this season–the third-highest mark among running backs. If we add in his 31 receptions, Jacobs has touched the ball nearly 300 times this season and has been on the field for 589 snaps.

This heavy involvement in the offense isn’t anything new for Jacobs. During his All-Pro 2022 season was Las Vegas, Jacobs was on the field for over 800 offensive snaps and carried the ball 340 times that year, on his way to rushing for 1,653 yards.

Although the path that Jacobs is currently on with Green Bay may not be uncharted territory, he is on pace for this 2024 season to be the second most carries he’s had over his six year playing career. So with three games to go, how is Jacobs holding up?

“I feel great,” said Jacobs at his locker on Thursday. “I feel great. I don’t have no bruises, no nothing right now. I feel great. Just as long as I feel good, I feel like we can do whatever we can do. If I was battling with something right now, then I would probably say be precautious but I feel great.”

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Jacobs’ certainly has the ability to make defenders miss. He’s going to enter Week 16 with the second-most missed tackles forced among running backs in 2024, according to PFF. But as an often in between the tackle runner, there’s a level of physicality that Jacobs brings as well, and with that can come a lot of hits.

Taking those hits as a running back is just an entry-level requirement that comes with the job description. However, with Jacobs’ running style, he can mitigate the impact of those hits, thus reducing the constant pounding that can come with carrying the ball as often as he has.

“I don’t think defenders really hit me that hard,” added Jacobs. “I kind of pick and choose, too. One thing about playing this long, you kind of know angles and things like that so even if I do get tackled, it’s not like I’m getting smacked on the tackle. I’m falling a certain type of way, I’m taking angles where I might use their force against them and really help myself. So, for me, I’ve been pretty clean, man. I can’t complain.”

The other part of that equation for the Packers’ offense when it comes to being mindful of the wear-and-tear being put on Jacobs are the play-calls and the execution from the offensive line, so he has more running lanes and space to operate within, rather than being hit quickly.

“Very few times do I feel like when we give him the ball, he doesn’t make the first guy miss,” said Matt LaFleur. “And so hopefully we’ll continue to draw up some better things for him, because he’s, he’s handled a lot of tough yards where he’s getting hit in the hole or a yard downfield and still getting positive yardage out of the plays.”

The preparation for Jacobs to make sure that he is physically at his best on Sundays starts the week prior, with his recovery following the previous week’s game, along with what he eats throughout the week and his workout regimen.

Also, an important factor in that equation is the daily communication with the coaching staff, specifically how Jacobs is feeling that day and what his workload in practice is going to look like to ensure he’s being put in the best position to perform on gamedays.

“If I let him, he’d take every rep in practice,” said running backs coach Ben Sirmans. “That’s the type of mindset that he has. But you’ve just got to be smart with him. We do walk-throughs, also, so that’s an opportunity for him to get his reps and go through the sequence of a play.

“It’s more of me making sure that I can maximize him enough during the week to where he’s getting something out of it so that way when Sunday or Monday comes around, he’s at his full energetic level.”

Since the bye week, Jacobs and the run game has often been the catalyst for the Packers’ offense. That ability to produce steadily on the ground keeps the offense ahead of the sticks and out of predictable passing situations. Operating from those short down-and-distance situations then opens up the entire playbook for the offense, and as a result, spreads the defense out.

“It’s been very huge for us,” said Jordan Love about Jacobs and the run game. “I think, we always talk about starting the game off fast, and any time you can just hand the ball to a guy and run the ball down the field, I definitely think it sets kind of the tempo of the game.

“The defense has got to figure out how they’re going to make adjustments. Are they going to try to load the box to stop the run going forward? There’s a lot of things that come out with it. I think it’s also a mentality. It gives everybody from the o-line to the running backs, everybody just confidence when you can come out and start the game just pounding the ball in the run game.”

At 10-4, the Packers are positioned well when it comes to making the playoffs. And with NFC North title just about mathmatically out of reach, they are also pretty locked into being the NFC’s sixth-seed in the playoffs.

However, while all that is true, none of what was just mentioned is set in stone either. Green Bay still hasn’t clinched a playoff spot–although they’ll have the opportunity to do so on Monday against New Orleans–and moving up to the NFC’s fifth-seed is still in play at this point.

So until any or all of that changes and the Packers are locked into a playoff spot, it’s going to be business as usual, with the focus on getting better each day and continuing to win on Sundays–which means, Jacobs, for the time being, is likely going to remain a key part of that equation.

“I worry about trying to be our best in the moment and get better and better and better and, I mean, there’s nothing’s a lock for us,” added LaFleur. “So you’ve got to go and win games. Now, having said that, when we get to that point, if we get to that point, then I think that’s a conversation.”

Jordan Love, Packers’ offense heating up down the stretch once again

Paul Bretl | 12/19/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — After an inconsistent first half of the season, the Packers offense has scored at least 30 points in each of its last four games and the play of Jordan Love out of the bye week has been a big part of that success.

“I think he’s done a great job of being really on the detail of his fundamentals and mechanics, and I think you’re seeing a translation over to game day and I think he’s playing at a really high level right now,” said Matt LaFleur recently.

Since Week 11, the Packers first game out of the bye week, Love is completing 68.7% of his passes, which is the eighth-best mark during that span. He also leads the NFL in yards per pass attempt at 9.9 and has thrown eighth touchdowns to just one interception.

Compared to the first nine games of the season leading up to the bye week, Love was completing only 62.5% of his attempts at a modest 7.7 yards per attempt with 17 touchdowns to 10 interceptions–the second-most in football at that time.

“I just think Jordan, the more he plays, the better he gets,” LaFleur said. “And I think his mechanics have improved. I think he’s really focused on that over the last few weeks, and I think he’s playing better. It’s funny how that works. So he’s doing a great job of moving in the pocket when things are there. It’s, I mean, it’s almost been automatic for him.

“So we need that to continue for us to get to where we want to go. And, but I am happy with how he’s playing. I think he’s playing decisive, doing a good job, for the most part, getting the ball out of his hands. And, like I said, we need him to continue to do that.”

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So what has led to this stark turnaround for Love and therefore the rest of the Packers’ offense?

As always, there are numerous factors in play, but a big one is that Love is healthy. In Week 1 against Philadelphia, Love suffered a knee injury that still continued to linger on and off the practice field even after he had returned. Then in the Packers’ win over Jacksonville, Love would exit that game with a groin injury.

The impact of playing through injuries has multiple effects. For one, as we’ve heard quarterbacks coach Tom Clements reference previously, successfully playing the quarterback position often starts with the player’s base–their feet and legs. That’s where both the ability to drive the ball and a quarterback’s mechanics begins, and in theory, with Love’s lower-half not at 100 percent, that could have contributed to some of the uncharacteristic throws we had seen from him early in the year.

“I think anytime you’re dealing with anything, especially seeing the things that he’s done in the past, he definitely needs your legs to do those things,” said Christian Watson of Love. “I’ve definitely seen him feeling a lot more like himself for a few weeks now. But it’s definitely big. Honestly, I’m just going to keep on running my route until I hear a whistle or I see the ball thrown somewhere else, because I know that he’s going to try to make a play regardless.”

Those injuries also restricted Love’s mobility as well. And while, no, we didn’t see Love getting outside of the pocket and picking up 10-yard runs all that often prior to the bye, although certainly valuable, that element isn’t what I’m referring to when it comes to his improved play over the last month-plus.

While navigating those injuries, the gameplan was altered. We saw fewer snaps under center and less play-action from the Packers’ offense–two core elements of the Matt LaFleur offense. Love’s ability to navigate the pocket to avoid pressure, buy time, and open up throwing lanes was hampered as well. The result of this can be more pressures, or sacks, that put the offense behind the sticks and, overall, less time because once the pressure hits, the ball has to come out.

That incredible play against Detroit where Love avoided the free rusher and then stepped up into the pocket to find Christian Watson on a crossing route probably isn’t happening back in October.

And even for a player of Love’s caliber, time on the practice field still matters. There were a lot of practices through the first half of the season where he was either sidelined or limited in what he could do because of injuries.

“I think a lot of it is just going back to practice,” LaFleur said. “I think it’s hard to be your best when you’re in-and-out of practice or you’re not feeling your best. Obviously he was limited by lower-body injuries and you’re talking about a thrower, and I don’t care what sport you’re playing, anybody who uses their legs to generate power, and you have an injury in that area, they’re going to be affected by it.”

Along with Love’s health improving, so has his decision-making. As Love began to heat up during the stretch last season, Clements would note that the real turning point for him in the 2023 season came when he was consistently deciphering when to take the available checkdown and when to push the ball downfield for the big play.

Obviously, it’s not the throws themselves on checkdowns that showcase growth, but it’s the process of getting to that decision, from understanding the situation at hand, reading the defense correctly, going through your progressions, and knowing where the outlet option is if things break down or aren’t open.

However, just because there may be more of a willingness to take what’s available doesn’t mean that Love isn’t going for the big play either. That’s a big part of who he is as a quarterback–he trusts his arm, and he trusts his receivers to make the play. Over this same five-game span, Love ranks eighth in passing yards on throws of 20-plus yards and is ninth in attempt percentage per dropback.

“It just comes down to understanding what the defense is trying to do,” said Love about his decision-making. “Seeing the coverage and obviously post snap recognizing if they’re bluffing or doing any disguise. After that, it just turns into finding completions. Obviously we want to push the ball downfield and exploit whatever coverage they might be in, but if we don’t have a great play, just understanding where I need to go and finding those checkdowns for sure.”

In what is the ultimate team game, the play around Love has been more consistent as well. Fewer pre-snap penalties have helped keep the offense out of those dreaded long down-and-distance situations, while a heavy-dose of Josh Jacobs and the run game has often kept the offense ahead of the sticks, not to mention that a strong run game can do wonders when it comes to opening up opportunities for the passing game.

With all that said, as good as Love and the offense has looked over the last month, there is still room for growth and the most recent game against Seattle is a prime example of that. Although the offense got off to a fast start and again hit the 30-point mark, there was a four-possession lull in the second half that included two punts, a fumble, and a turnover on downs, all of which occurred in only 15 total plays.

The ultimate goal right now is to be peaking at the right time, which is when the playoffs arrive. I don’t think anyone would say that the Packers’ offense has reached that point yet, as evidenced above. This is a group that is still chasing that elusive consistency and full four-quarter performance. However, with Love operating at a high level, they are on the right track and trending in the right direction.

“I feel really good,” said Love after the Seattle game about where the offense is at. “I think we’re in a really good spot. I think we got to do the same thing we’ve talked about all season, just take it one game at a time and finish this season off. And you know, be where we want to be for playoffs.

“But I like where we’re at, and we’ve just got to keep figuring out ways to get better, to keep, keep pushing each other and find ways to get these wins to end the season off. But I like where we’re at.”

Packers attention not on playoff-clinching scenario vs Saints but on finding consistency

Paul Bretl | 12/18/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — This week against the New Orleans Saints on Monday night football, the Packers have the opportunity to clinch a playoff berth, however, that specifically isn’t what Matt LaFleur is focused on at this time.

“I’m not even worried about playoffs,” said LaFleur on Tuesday. “Not worried about it. I’m worried about us continuing to get better, staying in the moment, focusing on what’s right in front of us, and it’s by attacking our practices the right way and just building our habits. It’s all about how we improve throughout this process, and whatever happens, happens.”

Instead of intently focusing on the playoff picture, the Packers are chasing consistency, something that has often eluded them this season when it comes to putting together a complete 60-minute performance. If the Packers can master the mundane day-to-day details from the meeting rooms to the practice field and the overall weekly preparation and then carry that onto the field on Sundays, the playoff component will take care of itself.

“To me it’s about staying true to your process and trying to get better each and every day and making sure you’re on your details because I do think the details separate good from great and capitalizing on opportunities,” LaFleur said.

“We’ve got that mentality that you’re trying to win every game and you can only do it one game at a time so just focusing on that process and trying to do the best you can each and every day on the practice field, in the meeting rooms. I think that gives you a chance to go out there and play your best ball on Sundays.”

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After a fast start this past Sunday against Seattle, the Packers’ offense hit a lull in the second half. Following a field goal on their second possessions, the Green Bay offense would go punt, fumble, punt, and turnover on downs. It goes without saying, but not every drive is going to result in points, but what particularly stung about those empty possessions was how short they were.

Before that first punt, the Packers run just three plays. The fumble occurred on the second play and was followed by a three-and-out, and then the turnover on downs was a seven-play drive that included one first down. In the blink of an eye, the Packers went from moving the ball up-and-down the field with ease to not being able to do so at all, with the run game getting bottled up and just an overall lack of execution.

“We’ve got to execute better,” said LaFleur of the offense’s second half performance. “Certainly there’s times where we as coaches have to put our guys in better position, but yeah, that’s why both teams get paid because they’re going to make adjustments and we’ve just got to make sure we stay a step ahead of them.

“I do think there were some times where we were running the ball pretty effectively in the second half. It just was too inconsistent, and we knew it at halftime that they were probably going to start amping up their level of pressure and we saw some more Cover zero in the second half and we didn’t necessarily make them pay when we did see those situations.”

This is only a game sample size described above, but that contest in Seattle was also a bit of a microcosm of what we’ve seen from the Packers’ offense since the bye week.

Seemingly each week, and at times, at different moments within each game, we see different units of phases of the game for the Packers pick up the slack as other elements may be sputtering. In Chicago, it was the special teams unit that saved the day. Against San Francisco and Miami, it was Josh Jacobs and the run game that the Packers leaned on.

A week later versus Detroit, with the defense struggling to get stops, the Green Bay passing game in the second half shouldered the workload, and in this most recent game, after a fast start by the offense, it was the pass rush and defense that kept the Seahawks at bay in the second half.

This ability to win in a variety of ways could prove to be quite valuable come the playoffs. Against the NFL’s top teams, those opponents are going to do everything they can to take away what Green Bay does well and will throw new looks at them. You’re going to get punched in the mouth come the postseason and adversity is going to hit. The successful teams in January are often the ones that can make adjustments and overcome all of that the quickest.

Four straight empty possessions, like we saw in Seattle, that include a turnover and 15 total plays against teams such as Detroit or Philadelphia could turn a close game into a multi-score deficit or erase a lead that had been established. It’s stretches such as that one that will send a team home in the playoffs.

“It’s something that we’re gonna have to clean up just having that consistency through four quarters and being able to put together a four quarter battle,” Jordan Love said following the win in Seattle. “But we always talk about, you know, these games somehow it always comes down to the last couple minutes. Teams find a way to put up points and do different things.

“So you know, you’ve got to be able to keep that foot on the gas and keep making those big time plays that we were making the first half. But we definitely got to do better of just playing a complete four quarter game.”

As LaFleur said coming out of the Detroit game, oftentimes, those close matchups are decided by just a few plays. However, you never know when those pivotal plays are going to emerge during the course of a game. While the Lions won on a last-second field goal two weeks ago, earlier in the game, they converted two fourth-downs into touchdowns, and the Green Bay offense found itself in an early 10-0 hole, sparked by offensive line struggles and a fumble.

Those are just a few examples of plays throughout the game that ended up carrying quite a bit of weight in determining the outcome. Ultimately, it’s consistency, down in and down out and from series to series, that will help tilt those pivotal moments in the Packers’ favor.

“I think the details what separates a lot of these games, especially late in the season,” LaFleur said. “When you’re playing good football teams are separated by a couple of plays, and you never know when those plays are going to show up. So you better make sure that you maximize those opportunities. You’re on all your little details in order for you to be on top when that clock hits zero.”

Now, having said all of that, there’s a lot of good from this Packers’ team as well. While the offense was plagued by self-inflicted mistakes throughout the first half of the season, which only exacerbated the inconsistencies of that unit, those errors have been significantly reduced over the last month-plus. That, coupled with a healthy Jordan Love, has been the catalyst behind an offense that has eclipsed the 30-point mark in four straight games.

On the defensive side of the ball, the pass rush is picking up steam after a lackluster start to the season, and the defensive front as a whole is playing some of its best football. We’re also continuing to see the emergence of Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper at linebacker, while the cornerback position–with help–has navigated not having Jaire Alexander on the field.

“We’ve, we’ve found a way to win a lot of games,” said LaFleur after the Detroit game. “So I don’t want to discredit that, but I think when you’re playing against one of the premier teams in the league, you better be your best. So we just got to be better in those situations.”

During his bye week press conference, GM Brian Gutekunst discussed the importance of peaking at the right time, which is when the playoffs arrive. We saw the value of that just a season ago, where on paper, the Packers were 9-8 and the NFC’s seventh seed, but on the field, they were operating as one of the better teams in football.

I don’t think anyone would say that this Packers team is peaking right now. As discussed, there are still things that have to get cleaned up. Yet even with that being the case, the offense is still averaging 32.3 points per game over the last month, illustrating the potential that is out there for this team. But unlocking it and reaching their ceiling is going to take more consistency, and for that to happen on Sundays, it starts with executing the day-to-day details at a high level.

“We’ll see,” said LaFleur after the Seattle game when asked how close this team was to reaching its potential. “We’re going to take it one game at a time. That’s just the mindset that we’ve always had here. I still think there’s a lot to improve upon – myself included.”

Beyond the stat sheet, Romeo Doubs’ production for Packers often comes at crucial moments of games

Paul Bretl | 12/17/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — After missing two games with a concussion, Romeo Doubs picked up where he left off in his return against Seattle, which is coming through for this Packers’ offense in critical moments throughout the game.

“Huge,” said Christian Watson of Doubs’ return. “He’s a big playmaker for us consistently making plays for us. Definitely huge to get him back. Just another weapon in the arsenal.”

Doubs would go on to catch 3-of-5 targets in Sunday night’s win, totaling 40 yards with two touchdowns. However, going beyond the stat sheet, when and where that production happened only added to Doubs’ impact in this game.

The Green Bay offense would finish the game only 2-for-4 in the red zone, but Doubs’ first reception came on the Packers second possession and in that part of the field. With the Packers facing a 2nd-and-8 from the Seattle 13 yard line, on an over the middle pass into a tight window, Jordan Love connected with Doubs, who then uncharacteristically ran through defenders and muscled his way into the end zone.

“That was awesome,” said Jordan Love of the touchdown. “That was something that I really haven’t seen out of Rome, just running guys over and carrying them, putting the team on his back. But I think it just shows how much he loves it and is willing to fight for those extra yards and just fight to get that touchdown. So that was a great play by him.”

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Doubs’ final reception then came late in the fourth quarter. With 4:59 left in the game and the Seahawks hanging around and trailing by 10 points, Love again found Doubs, this time on a deep post resulting in a spectacular catch–which Doubs’ strong hands on display–as he hauled in the 22-yard touchdown, effectively putting the game away.

“How about that catch? That second touchdown catch that was a big time play,” said Matt LaFleur after the game. “I love how Rome works and he’s been pretty consistent for us when given opportunities and he comes through. So it was cool to have him back out there.”

These two plays are only two examples of what has become many over the last few seasons of Doubs coming through at critical moments in the game, whether that be in the red zone, on third downs, or in end of game situations.

On the season, Doubs has played a key role in helping the Packers offense stay on the field by moving the chains. Of his 37 total receptions, 27 have gone for a first down, according to PFF. Despite missing the last 2.5 games with a concussion, he still leads the team in first down receptions.

On third downs specifically, Doubs has caught 11-of-16 passes (68.8%), with 10 of those catches picking up a first down, and he is averaging a hefty 18.3 yards per reception.

Down in the red zone, Doubs is an efficient target as well, catching 7-of-10 passes, with three touchdowns, and five first downs.

“The dude is dog, man,” said Josh Jacobs after Sunday’s win. “His hands, the way he goes about it. It’s just crazy. That’s the only thing I can say. I called him spiderman earlier in the week because I feel like when the ball is anywhere in his vicinity he’s snagging it, catching it. That play at the end, I wasn’t surprised that he made it.”

Then there are those crucial late-game situations where Doubs has oftentimes come through. In addition to the touchdown against Seattle, he had two receptions on the Packers’ final drive against Houston that picked up first downs and eventually led to the game-winning field goal by Brandon McManus.

In Week 2 against the Colts, with Malik Willis at quarterback and Green Bay hardly throwing the football, Doubs had a 39 yard reception in the fourth quarter that led to a field goal and another fourth quarter catch of 15 yards that put the Packers in field goal range.

In the second halves of games this season, Doubs has caught 15-of-25 passes at 13.4 yards per catch, has picked up 10 first downs, and has two scores.

“I think Rome, it all starts with the work he puts in,” said Matt LaFleur on Tuesday. “That catch he made on fourth down, outstanding. I think I told the team – it’s not a secret why this happens. The guy spends more time on the JUGs machine than anybody I’ve ever been around. He’s got unbelievable hands. I think he’s done a great job with his releases, knowing what to do, playing decisively. He’s playing really good football right now.”

One of the most difficult aspects for opposing defenses when it comes to defending this Packers offense is the number of options that they have in the passing game and that in just about any situation, the ball could go to any player in any part of the field.

However, as the numbers above and our eyes show, oftentimes in those must-have-it moments, Love is looking for Doubs. That starts with his ability as a route runner and to not only win his one-on-one matchups but to do so quickly and then to be a reliable target, hauling those passes in.

“It’s his work ethic,” said Love about Doubs. “I mean the guy’s in there catching off the JUGS all day long. He works on his hands. It’s something that doesn’t just happen by accident. He’s out there making all these crazy catches and making it look easy. It’s the work he puts in throughout the week and in the offseason and then it shows on the field.

“He definitely has a very good set of hands and like you said makes some of the hard catches look relatively easy. I think it’s just his work ethic.”

Up against an aggressive, man coverage and blitz-heavy defense a week ago in Detroit, Doubs’ presence and ability to win at all levels of the field was missed. But in this most recent game against Seattle, who features another aggressive, press-man-centric secondary, Doubs’ return played a vital role in the Packers being able to come away with that win.

“Rome, he’s such a problem if you get him one-on-one with DBs,” said Adam Stenavich. “He’s an excellent route runner. He can win in the quick game. He can win over the middle. He can win on the long ball. So, he’s a really versatile wide receiver.

“He’s becoming a total wideout for us and doing a good job.”

On paper, Doubs’ overall production isn’t going to leap off the page. He’s caught 37 passes this season, he has 523 receiving yards at 14.1 yards per catch, with four touchdowns. But when many of those receptions occur illustrates his true impact on this offense, as we saw in Seattle.

Carrington Valentine comes up with crucial interception as Packers’ CBs hold their own vs Seattle’s WRs

Paul Bretl | 12/16/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Up against a Seattle passing game that features two of the most productive wide receivers in football, the Packers’ shorthanded cornerback position helped take away big plays and kept points off the board, which included an interception from Carrington Valentine at a pivotal moment.

“That was huge because they were driving the field,” Kenny Clark said of Valentine’s interception. “They were trying to get momentum back and we were up. I think once CV got that pick, that kind of took it out of them a little bit.”

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With Jaire Alexander and Javon Bullard sidelined for this game due to injuries, Keisean Nixon would move to the slot, while Eric Stokes and Valentine started on the boundary.

One of the plays of the game would come from Carrington Valentine, who came away with a red zone interception. With 3:11 left in the second quarter and the Packers up 17-3, the Seahawks were at the Green Bay 12 yard line with an opportunity to cut the deficit to just one score and then begin with the ball at the start of the third quarter.

On 2nd-and-9 from the aforementioned 12 yard line, Geno Smith looked for Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the left sideline but Valentine was in position to break the pass up and it looked like he even had a chance at an interception.

But on the next play, Valentine would capitalize when the ball came his way again. With pressure up the middle from Karl Brooks and Eric Wilson, Smith had to get rid of the ball quickly and floated it to the back left corner of the end zone. Valentine, who was covering the underneath route, recognized where the ball was going, rerouted himself towards the back pylon, and made the play on the football.

This interception by Valentine was one of many plays dialed up by Jeff Hafley in this game that came with late rotations in the secondary to help disguise what the coverage was, causing some confusion for the quarterback. Oftentimes, where the defensive backs were located when the quarterback took the snap versus when he hit the top of his drop were quite different. At the NFL level, all it takes is a split-second of indecisiveness for a pass play to be ineffective.

“It was super big,” said McKinney of the interception. “I think we needed it. I think that was another one of those things where the disguise game played a big role into that. He thought we were in one high and we weren’t. He really threw right into – the first one that he dropped, that’s the one where he didn’t think we were in a two-high defense. He thought we were in one high and threw it. But I think it helped us a lot, the momentum obviously shifted when we got that. It was a big play for us.”

Obviously, given where Seattle was on the field, this was as well-time of an interception as a player can have, but the pick also provided the Packers’ cornerback room with some on-ball production–an area this group has struggled in this season. Entering Sunday night’s game, of the 12 interceptions by the defense, seven belong to Xavier McKinney. Green Bay also ranked 30th in pass deflections.

Overall, Valentine was targeted four times in this game, allowing three completions but for only 32 yards or 10.7 yards per catch with a forced incompletion.

“It means a lot,” said Valentine of the interception. “A testimony to a lot of hard work that I’ve put in, the guys put in. It’s not just about me. That play doesn’t happen without a lot of things that come with it.”

Along with Valentine, Stokes and Nixon played crucial roles in limiting the dynamic duo that is Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf. According to PFF’s metrics, Stokes allowed two receptions on five targets for only 10 yards, while Nixon held pass-catchers to just 6.5 yards per completion.

Smith-Njigba, who is nearing the 1,000-yard mark this season, and Metcalf, one of the best downfield targets in football, were both efficient against the Green Bay defense, catching 13 of their 15 total targets. However, they were also limited, averaging under 8.5 yards per catch.

“He played a hell of a game,” said McKinney of Valentine. “We got some special guys on this defense from top to bottom. I’m never surprised when our guys go out there and play like how he did today. He prepares the right way. He’s focused. He’s locked in. He’s got a really good skill set. I thought he played a good game today.”

Providing the Packers’ cornerbacks with help was the Green Bay pass rush, specifically the defensive front’s ability to generate consistent pressure.

Smith was under pressure on 39.1% of his dropbacks in this game. Sam Howell, once he took over, was under duress on 53.3% of his dropbacks as well. Combined, the two quarterbacks were pressured on 17 of their 38 total dropbacks. For some context, that total pressure rate of 44.7% would be the second-highest mark for any one quarterback over the course of the 2024 NFL season.

Those pressures turned into seven sacks by six different Packers’ defenders, along with 12 quarterback hits by nine different defenders. The trickle-down effect of that pressure, particularly when it’s frequently coming from the four-man rush, is it takes some of the burden off of the secondary, disrupting the timing and rhythm of the play, potentially leading to mistakes and less time in coverage for the defensive backs.

“Obviously we’re always trying to get pressure on the quarterback, that’s the No. 1 way to disrupt anything on offense,” said Matt LaFleur after the game. “But our D-line came to play and they did a hell of a job and just got constant pressure.”

The Packers’ defense also benefitted greatly from having Edgerrin Cooper back at linebacker and patrolling the middle of the field. His speed and athleticism allows him to close passing windows quickly and assist on tackles to limit yards after the catch opportunities.

“It meant a lot to have him back,” said McKinney of Cooper. “It adds to a lot to our team, it adds a lot to our defense and it adds a lot to the linebackers room in general. I think the linebackers room, we got a pretty good room and guys who can do a lot of things in coverage and the rush game. It helps us be able to open our playbook up a little bit and do some things schematically that can frustrate the offense.”

As is going to be the case when down two starters at the cornerback position, it’s going to take a group effort to limit the opposing offense.

Not surprisingly, this has been a very different cornerback unit when Alexander is available versus when he’s not. However, since before the draft, Brian Gutekunst, Matt LaFleur, and the coaching staff have continued to express their confidence in the depth of the cornerback group, even while question marks–at least from the outside perspective–remain.

But on Sunday night in Seattle, the trio of Valentine, Stokes, and Nixon rewarded that confidence by showcasing why the organization has continued to be bullish about this position group.

“It means a lot,” McKinney said of the win. “We just played a good opponent on the road in a hard atmosphere to play inside. We came out here and we looked pretty damn good. I think we’re still growing. We played a good game but I think we could still play a lot better. As we keep going on and keep building with each other, building that connection within each other, it’s gonna keep growing and we’re gonna keep getting better.”

Packers pass rush and return of LB Edgerrin Cooper pick up offense, keep Seahawks at bay

Paul Bretl | 12/15/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — With the Packers’ offense sputtering for much of the second half, the pass rush, along with the return of Edgerrin Cooper at linebacker, helped keep the Seattle offense at bay, allowing Green Bay to eventually put this game away.

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It was a red-hot start for the Packers’ offense, who led by Josh Jacobs and the run game, scored a touchdown on their first two possessions of the game and did so with relative ease. In fact, they would end up scoring on all four of their first-half possessions and on five of their first six possessions of the game–three of which were field goals.

However, while early on the Packers’ offense was very much in control and the game maintained that feeling for much of the contest, the Packers struggles in the red zone, where they converted just 2-of-4 visits into touchdowns, and a largely quiet third and fourth quarter, kept the game within reach for Seattle.

While the running lanes for Jacobs were massive in the first half, they were non-existent in quarters three and four. This then put the Packers in more frequent long down-and-distance situations against what has been an aggressive, press-man-heavy secondary that has been one of the more stingy pass defenses this season.

“I don’t think they did anything crazy or anything that we might have not been expecting,” said Jordan Love of the Seattle defense. “I think we came out and just weren’t making the same plays that we were making in the first half. That was probably the most disappointing part of the game for us, is just the second half. We didn’t feel like we got back in that rhythm and that groove and were able to continue to just move the ball. I think more than anything we were just hurting ourselves in some of those situations.”

But the Green Bay defense didn’t allow Seattle to cut the lead to fewer than 10 points with the pass rush and Cooper being the catalyst behind that performance.

The Packers’ four-man front has struggled to get home consistently this season. They entered Week 15 ranked 26th in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate metric and were 21st in pressure rate. Oftentimes, the pressure that the Packers did create were drummed up by Jeff Hafley.

That wasn’t the case against Seattle, however, where Green Bay did take advantage of a below-average offensive line unit. According to Pro Football Focus, Geno Smith was under pressure on 39.1% of his dropbacks in this game. Sam Howell, once he took over, was under duress on 53.3% of his dropbacks as well. Combined, the two quarterbacks were pressured on 17 of their 38 total dropbacks. For some context, that total pressure rate of 44.7% would be the second-highest mark for any one quarterback over the course of the 2024 NFL season.

Those pressures turned into seven sacks by six different Packers’ defenders, along with 12 quarterback hits by nine different defenders.

“Just winning our one-on-ones, got them in passing situations,” Kenny Clark said. “Stopped the run for the most part. They had probably one big run. We get them in drop back situations, we’re able to pin our ears back and rush.”

The trickle-down effect of that pressure, particularly when it’s frequently coming from the four-man rush, is it takes some of the burden off of the secondary–something that was very much needed for Green Bay, who was without Jaire Alexander and Javon Bullard and having to match up with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf.

While Smith-Njigba and Metcalf were efficient, catching 13 of their 15 total targets, they averaged under 8.5 yards per catch. The ability to generate pressure limits an offense’s ability to run longer developing routes, and it disrupts the timing and rhythm of the play, forcing the quarterback to get rid of the ball more quickly. All of which means less time in coverage for the defensive backs.

“I was telling them, he ain’t getting rid of the ball because they already getting back there so quick,” said Xavier McKinney of the defensive front. “It’s always good to see them collect those sacks and create that pressure on the quarterback.”

Helping the Packers’ pass rush out was the offense, giving the defense a quick multi-score lead to play with. This then limited Seattle’s ability to lean on the run game, with their backs carrying the ball a combined 14 times, thus putting the offense in more predictable and obvious passing situations, where the front could pin its ears back.

“We was just able to pretty much pin our ears back all day and offense pretty much did a good job putting them boys behind,” added Enagbare. “We got a couple three and outs early, so the offense was pretty much able to score early a lot, too, so kinda put em in a pass-first situation. So we just knew pretty much stop the run on first and second down, we already know what time it is third down.”

On those plays where the pass rush didn’t get home, Cooper–who did contribute to some of the pressures–was patrolling the middle of the field and was seemingly everywhere, providing the Packers with an added dynamic presence over the middle of the field, an area they’ve struggled to defend in recent games while Cooper was sidelined.

Cooper finished the game with two pressures as a blitzer, including a sack. He was credited with three stops, making plays in the run game near the line of scrimmage, and he surrendered only one catch on five targets in the passing game, along with an interception.

“He’s special, man,” said JJ Enagbare. “Definitely I feel like he’s a future Hall of Famer. From the stat line, you can see he can do everything, make tackles, make interceptions, get the sacks. There’s literally nothing he’s physically not able to do. The sky’s the limit for him. He’s gonna be a hell of a player one day — or continue to be a hell of a player.”

With 4.51-second speed, he brings added coverage ability to the linebacker position with all of the ground he can cover. With that speed comes versatility and that provides Hafley quite a bit of flexibility when it comes to the game-plan he puts together and what he asks of Cooper, whether that be sending him as a blitzer or how he’s utilized in coverage.

With that skill set, there is also a positive trickle-down effect that it creates within the defense, with Cooper’s speed and ability to operate in space then impacting what is asked of other position groups, specifically the defensive backs, as Xavier McKinney highlighted after the Jacksonville game, because he can cover a lot of ground.

On Sunday night in Seattle, it was the defense who took control of the game, specifically the pass rush, which at times has underwhelmed this season, and a rookie linebacker in his first game back from injury. This ability to win games in different ways, which we’ve seen often from the Packers this season, could prove quite valuable come the playoffs–when one phase or unit is limited, another area of this team is there to do the heavy lifting.

But before we get to that point, with three games left in the regular season, the Packers will continue to chase consistency–an element that has eluded them this season–so the performances that we saw from Cooper and the pass rush become closer to the norm for the defense and those lulls on offense don’t last quite as long.

“We’ll see,” said LaFleur when asked how close this team was to reaching its potential. “We’re going to take it one game at a time. That’s just the mindset that we’ve always had here. I still think there’s a lot to improve upon – myself included.”

Packers’ offensive line in need of bounce back in difficult road environment

Paul Bretl | 12/14/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — In a loud road environment against the Lions, it took the Packers’ offensive line time to settle in. Now awaiting them is another road game in Seattle, a stadium known for being one of the loudest venues in the NFL.

For much of the season, the Packers’ offensive line unit has performed quite well. The Green Bay run game will enter Week 15 averaging 4.8 yards per attempt, which is the seventh-best mark this season, while also ranking eighth in quarterback pressure rate.

A key factor in that overall success has been the continuity up front–an important element to successful offensive line play, where the sum of the parts are greater than any one individual performance.

“In the run game,” said Adam Stenavich when asked where that continuity shows up. “Things like that where guys can just play next to each other, it’s one thing when you’re just doing combination blocks and things like that when you’ve got a consistent person next to you making those calls, blocking those people.

“And in pass pro, we’re doing an excellent job in pass pro as well, for the most part. So I think just having those guys get reps next to each other, the communication, just all being on the same page, is something that people take for granted for sure.”

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However, particularly early on against Detroit, the offensive line was being pushed around by a Lions’ defensive front that was short-handed due to injuries. Josh Jacobs would average only 3.7 yards per carry, although in part, that was a product of the Lions’ loading up the box to stop him, while Jordan Love was under pressure at the 10th highest rate in Week 14.

Struggles in the run game put an offense behind the sticks and in disadvantageous long down-and-distance situations where the defense has the upper hand. Pressure, meanwhile, disrupts the timing and rhythm of the play and can lead to mistakes. But not coincidentally, as the offensive line play improved as the game went on, so did Green Bay’s performance on offense.

“I thought we started slow, especially in the pass game,” Stenavich said on Thursday. “There were a few instances where we leaky in our protections, they got to the quarterback a few times early.

“But I did think as the game went on we settled in and rallied and did a better job. But yeah, we definitely needed to start faster to just be more productive at the beginning of the game, which hurt us in the long run.”

In addition to the innate challenge that comes for an offensive line with facing a Lions’ defense that is one of the stingiest in football or a Seattle defensive front that features Leonard Williams and has been one of the best at pressuring the quarterback this season is the noise that’s part of the equation as well.

“We’re just gonna have to be very deliberate in our communication,” said Sean Rhyan on dealing with the noise. “Making sure that everyone knows what the call is, the adjustment is. We just gotta be very deliberate on communicating, especially on combos.”

Dubbing their fans the “12th man,” Seattle’s Century Link Field is arguably the loudest in football, which at one time included breaking a Guinness World Record for the loudest sports stadium back in 2013, during a Monday Night football game with New Orleans where the noise from the home crowd reached 137.6 decibels.

For the road team, this can make hearing the play call difficult in the huddle, and for the offensive line specifically, it hampers their ability to communicate protections pre-snap and can even make hearing the quarterback’s cadence difficult.

Struggles in this area could lead to pressures once the ball is snapped or pre-snap penalties, which the offensive line had issues with through the first half of the season, putting the offense behind the sticks and making them one-dimensional, and plays into the hands of the Seattle defense.

“It can be difficult,” said Rhyan about hearing Love in loud environments, “but the thing is being with Jordan as long as you catch something when the cadence starts, you have a pretty good idea of when we’re going to go. So as long we just catch one part, we’re going to be okay, but if we can’t catch any of it, then we’re going to have to be reactionary.”

Lining up across from the Packers’ offensive linemen will be the aforementioned Williams. On the season, Williams has recorded 40 pressures, seven sacks, and a pick-six against the New York Jets. Those 40 pressures rank 11th among all defensive tackles, with Williams also having the ninth-best run-blocking grade from PFF.

Seattle will move Williams up and down the defensive front and he’s a player that the Packers have to know where he’s always located. As a unit, the Seahawks have generated the 11th-highest pressure rate this season.

“He’s having a monster year,” said Matt LaFleur of Williams. “I mean, shoot, the Jets game, he overtook that game and he’s got that capability, so he’s a guy that you better understand who you’re going against and what he’s capable of doing and we’re gonna have to do a great job of playing with great fundamentals, pad level and making sure we have a plan for him on every play.”

However, if there is an area where the Seattle defense has been susceptible, it’s in the run game, surrendering 4.7 yards per carry this season–the eighth-highest mark in football. Couple that with this being a defense that’s good at getting after the quarterback and features an aggressive secondary that’s been among the best in yards per pass attempt allowed and in ball production, and that’s a recipe for a more Josh Jacobs-centric game–at least to start.

As Tucker Kraft has described before, when the Packers are able to lean on Jacobs and the run game, as they did against San Francisco and Miami, it opens up the entire playbook for the offense.

When an offense is operating from short down-and-distances, really any play can be called in those situations and the defense has to be prepared for that, which can spread them out and it takes away some of the bit from a potent pass rush or a press-heavy secondary, thus leading to opportunities in the passing game.

We saw this effect on display against Miami, who is another defense that has done well to prevent explosive passing plays this season. Through the first half, we saw Green Bay lean on the run game and those short to intermediate throws. Then as the Miami defense started to creep up to better defend those plays, Love connected with Christian Watson down the right sideline for an explosive play.

“They rely a lot on their guys that they have up front,” said Jacobs of the Seattle defense. “You know, their DBs are not really afraid to hit, come up and hit. So, I think that’s a testament to how they’re coached and how they’re being trained over there.

“They’re very ball aware that I’ve noticed just on film. So, for me, just trying to run with the same determination that I’ve been running with. Try to come out there and just put my stamp on the game.”

Depending on how the NFC West shakes out, along with the rest of the playoff seeding in the NFC, this might not be the only time that Green Bay travels to Seattle this season. The Seahawks are trying to fend off the Rams for the division title, so this will be another playoff-like atmosphere for the Packers to compete in.

Behind any success or failure in football, there are numerous factors that determine the outcome of a game or even a single play. But how the Packers’ offensive line handles the noise in Seattle and Leonard Williams will play an important role in determining what kind of success the offense as a whole has on Sunday night.

“The mindset is this is a playoff game,” said Xavier McKinney. “It’s like any other mindset, any other game, we’ve got to go in focused and ready to play. Obviously the atmosphere they provide is pretty crazy. I played there once before, I know how loud it can get and I know their fans are crazy, crazy loud in that way.

“They’ve got a really good team, so it’s going to be a challenge for us going in there for a road game, tough team, playoff opponent team, so that’s the mindset that we’re carrying into it.”