Playing at home is a big deal for Packers’ offensive stars

The Packers’ three offensive stars all played considerably better at home this season.

Playing at the friendly confines of Lambeau Field figures to be a big deal for three of the most important players on the Green Bay Packers offense.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, running back Aaron Jones and receiver Davante Adams all performed considerably better at home than on the road during the 2019 season. Not surprisingly, the Packers averaged 25.6 points per game at home and 21.4 on the road.

Matt LaFleur’s team finished 7-1 at home this season. They will host the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field on Sunday in the NFC Divisional Round.

If Rodgers, Jones and Adams perform up to their standards at home this season, the Packers should have a good chance to advance.

The home-road splits for the Packers’ Big 3 help tell the story:

Rodgers

Home Away
Completion % 62.7 61.4
Yards per attempt 8.0 6.1
TD-INT 14-2 12-2
Passer rating 101.6 89.6
Sacked 12 24
Adjusted yards/attempt 8.7 6.6
Completions 20+ 33 19
Rushing yards 107 76
Passer ratings below 90.0 2 5

Notes: Rodgers’ passer rating was a full 12 points higher at home, despite similar touchdown and interception numbers. He completed a higher percentage of passes, averaged more yards per attempt, created more big plays and took far fewer sacks. He even ran for more yards and had a much higher rushing average. And don’t discount the competition: The Packers played five teams ranked in the top 16 in pass defense DVOA at home.

Jones 

Home Away
Yards/Att 4.8 4.4
Rushing TD 10 6
Total TD 11 8
First downs 28 27
Catches 25 24
Catch % 78.1 66.7
Games with TD 7 3

Notes: Jones was still effective away from Green Bay, but he was consistently great at home. He averaged more yards per carry and scored in all but one game at Lambeau Field (vs. Lions). The Seahawks will arrive at Lambeau Field ranked 26th in run defense DVOA.

Adams

Home Away
Catches 39 44
Rec yards 604 393
Yards/catch 15.5 8.9
TD 1 4
Catch % 68.4 62.9
Yards/target 10.6 5.6
1st down % 71.8 59.1
20-yard catches 9 3
40-yard catches 2 0
Fumbles 0 2

Note: Adams was vastly different at home vs. away. He might’ve caught more touchdowns on the road, but he was drastically better and more efficient in every other major category. The yards per target difference is especially revealing. Adams was a first-down and big-play machine at Lambeau Field.

Another player who could benefit? Second-year receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Four of his five catches over 40 yards this season came at home.

Also, running back Jamaal Williams averaged a full yard per carry more at home (4.7) than on the road (3.7), while tight end Jimmy Graham averaged 13.9 yards per catch at home and only 9.8 on the road.

One potential problem: The Seahawks were stingy playing on the road this season. They won eight of nine road games (including the postseason) and allowed just 19.8 points per game away from Seattle.

Still, the setting should still be an important advantage for the Packers. They know the surface and should be well-adapted to operating in the cold, and crowd noise and atmosphere won’t be an issue when the Packers have the football.

Figuring out the offense on the road is a battle for another day. On Sunday, the three stars of the Packers offense will play in their optimal environment.