The Green Bay Packers used four total touchdowns from MVP front runner Aaron Rodgers to beat the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday. The win clinched the NFC North title and allowed Matt LaFleur’s team to jump the New Orleans Saints for the top spot in the NFC.
Here are all my notes and observations from rewatching the 31-24 win on Monday:
– Kenny Clark’s early dominance set the tone for the run defense. He made two impressive stops on the first drive. Lions running backs rushed for only 34 yards on 13 carries in this game.
– The Lions’ plan early on was relatively straight-forward: attack the middle of the field and find ways to isolate matchups on Kevin King in the passing game. It was a smart and effective strategy.
– The coverage on Davante Adams’ opening touchdown was actually quite good. It didn’t matter because of the throw and the connection between the quarterback and receiver. There’s just no defending that play. Perfect timing, perfect placement, perfect run after the catch.
– Matthew Stafford missed a big play to Marvin Jones with King in coverage on the first play of the second drive, and he knew it.
– Tavon Austin got involved on the second drive, doing a lot of Tyler Ervin-like things. He caught two passes for eight yards but showed some explosiveness. His speed will be an asset in the Ervin role.
– The touchdown from Aaron Rodgers to Marquez Valdes-Scantling was an impressive play and an important moment for a young receiver. The catch was terrific. He caught it with his hands away from his body in heavy traffic, absorbing contact but still finishing the play in the end zone. Also, Valdes-Scantling had the timing and body control to make it work on the back-shoulder play. He understood the coverage and situation, turned his head to the quarterback, and twisted to make the catch. It’s a tough play overall. Well done by MVS.
– Dean Lowry is really starting to come on. On back-to-back plays, he had a run stop and a quarterback sack. On the sack, he beat the right guard with a quick move and closed the space on Stafford.
– A play later, Rashan Gary beat a planned double team for a third-down sack. He worked through the chip, looped around the right tackle and tracked Stafford down in the pocket.
– David Bakhtiari got caught jumping the snap count. He does it every week but this officiating crew called it. Like a pass-rusher, he can time his movement with the snap count. The Packers just snapped it a little late.
– JK Scott’s first punt hit at the 1-yard line and wasn’t directed toward the sideline, creating an easy touchback and negating a chance to pin the Lions deep.
– Kevin King HAS to stop trying to tackle by just throwing his shoulder into ball-carries. Not only does he have chronically injured shoulders, but it’s just a terrible way to tackle. He missed two tackles on one drive doing this exact tackle “attempt.”
– The Lions really found ways to catch the Packers napping on screens in the first half.
– Za’Darius Smith drew a pair of holding penalties in the red zone, including one that negated a Chase Daniel touchdown scramble.
– Christian Kirksey in coverage is an adventure. He had inside leverage on Danny Amendola and still lost the rep when Amendola beat him inside. Then he whiffed on the tackle. He’s still a physical player in the run game but his athleticism is almost gone. Later in the game, he fell down chasing D’Andre Swift to the sideline and was flagged for holding while trailing the intended receiver.
– Chandon Sullivan had a rough first half covering from the slot. He gave up two first-down catches and was penalized for holding.
– Credit Mike Pettine for getting aggressive late in the half, sending Darnell Savage on a well-designed blitz to end the scoring threat. Savage timed the blitz well. It likely prevented three points.
– The Lions did a nice job taking away some of the Packers’ go-to crosser routes against man coverage, often using a designated player in the middle of the field to help prevent easy stuff off of the various mesh route concepts in Matt LaFleur’s offense. When it worked, Rodgers had to wait for the receiver to clear the middle of the field, and he often had enough protection to do it.
– One of the biggest plays of the game was Valdes-Scantling drawing a holding penalty on the first third down of the second half. It was a good call. He got hooked as he was blowing past the cornerback on a go route. Without the hold, he might make the catch and coast into the end zone. The penalty avoided a three-and-out and extended the drive, which eventually ended in a touchdown.
– Rodgers doesn’t need to run as much in this offense, but when he sees man coverage across the board and the rush lanes open up a running opportunity, he can still take advantage. Good wheels for a 37-year-old.
– Adrian Amos had a few crunching tackles playing downhill against passes to the flat.
– Jaire Alexander was a half-step away from a pick-six on the Lions’ first third down of the second half. He still forced the incompletion and punt.
– Appreciation for MVS grows. He is so willing to put in the effort as a blocker. It doesn’t go unnoticed by coaches or teammates.
– The offensive line essentially erased the Lions’ pass-rush. Rodgers was playing from a clean pocket all day.
– The scheme works so well for Robert Tonyan. He just gets open and converts his opportunities consistently. The touchdown was another great example. He got lost in the mix and the linebacker was late picking him up as he got into the route late. The scheme does a great job making many of his responsibilities, whether it’s a run or pass, look the same.
– Lions fans should be furious about the replay on the Marvin Jones catch/no catch. It was close, but it looked like a fantastic play and catch on replay. The Lions eventually scored a touchdown, but the replay decision cost the team about 2:30 of game clock.
– The run game had to grind at times, but the Packers did pick up 10 rushing first downs.
– Davante’s crossover into high step combo on the 29-yarder in the fourth quarter was fun. Classic 17 swagger.
– What a kick by Mason Crosby in that game situation. He hit a screaming line driver that split the uprights. A play later, he saved a touchdown on the kickoff return. It ended up saving four points. Important seven-point swing there.
– The onside kick was something. The Packers were fortunate the ball hit out of bounds short of 10 yards. The Lions were close to getting the football back.
– Tonyan has clinched wins with first-down conversions late in each of the last three games. They love using him on that play-action concept when everyone is expecting run.
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