Behind the Numbers – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Behind the Numbers: Packers get run over by Eagles

Going behind the numbers of the Packers’ 40-33 loss to the Eagles in Week 12.

The Green Bay Packers came up short once again, this time to the Philadelphia Eagles, as they fell to 4-8 on the season. The offense kept Green Bay in it, but the defense provided little fight against the Eagles’ run game. At this time, the Packers are still mathematically alive in the playoff hunt, but the odds of them making it are small, and there is little hope.

Now with another game in the rearview mirror, as always, it is time to go Behind the Numbers with the stats and figures you need to know from the Packers’ performance.

363

Three hundred and sixty-three rushing yards were allowed by the Green Bay Packers. Despite Philadelphia running the ball nearly 33 times per game this season, it’s as if this Green Bay defense had no idea what to expect. The Eagles didn’t do anything fancy; they just simply overpowered the Packers up front, capitalized on missed tackles, and Jalen Hurts took advantage of poor fundamentals. Joe Barry was reluctant to deviate from lining up in nickel; there were poor run fits along with failed stunts, edges that weren’t set, and, oh, did I mention poor tackling? Green Bay did use Quay Walker as a spy at times, but in not knowing how often that was actually his responsibility, the main takeaway from that is he either wasn’t utilized in that capacity enough or struggled with it because it didn’t stop Hurts. With the season on the line, this is the performance we see from Green Bay’s defense.

20.97

We all know that Christian Watson is fast. But even on his 63-yard catch and run for six, I couldn’t help but be amazed at how with defenders nearby as he caught the ball, he was able to pull away. According to Next Gen Stats, Watson maxed out at 20.97 mph. He is second in the NFL this season in plays from scrimmage, where he hits at least 20 mph. To put it simply, that speed is game-changing and really does affect how defenses have to defend this Packers team. In addition to big play opportunities for himself, he creates for others and can help open up the run game. After dealing with injuries early on, Watson is developing into a playmaker right before our eyes.

16

Matt LaFleur said after the game that the Packers missed 15 tackles. PFF credited Green Bay with 16 missed. Either way, it was a lot, yet at the same time feels like it should be more. Joe Barry certainly deserves blame for the performance of the defense, but when it comes to tackling, he can only do so much–at some point, players have to make plays. This inability to tackle helped the Eagles extend some drives and led to several big plays. The Green Bay linebackers Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, and Krys Barnes had the most missed tackles on the team.

1/7 and 8/15

The Packers were abysmal on third downs on both sides of the ball. Despite the offense putting up 33 points and averaging 7.0 yards per play, their success all came on either first or second down as they converted only one third-down attempt, and it didn’t come until late in the fourth quarter. The defense, meanwhile, actually did a decent job of creating third and long situations, but it didn’t really matter. The Eagles were 8/15 on third downs and 2/3 on fourth downs. When it was all said and done, because Green Bay couldn’t stay on the field on offense or get off defensively, the Eagles ran 80 plays to their 49 and held the ball for 11 more minutes. Honestly, it’s impressive the game was as close as it was.

113

Jordan Love took over when Aaron Rodgers exited with a rib injury, and he looked quite good. We saw a much more confident version of Love, who had no hesitancy as he was letting it rip on each pass attempt. He went through his progressions in the pocket with his footwork working in unison with his eyes while he was also able to extend plays when needed. At this point in the game, the Eagles were playing a bit softer, but Love did what was asked of him and looked more refined in doing so. Overall, he was 6/9 for 113 yards and a touchdown.

26/38

Between 21 rush attempts as a team and 17 total completions in the passing game, Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon were involved on 26 of those touches (20 rushes and six catches). We saw the Packers utilize two back sets more often than they had been, and unlike at the beginning of the season, they were much more effective in doing so. This is a very good Eagles’ defense, but the run game is an area that can be exploited without Jordan Davis in the middle and the linebackers being a weaker point in this defense. Green Bay did that and averaged 5.0 yards per rush. This success on the ground helped open up play-action opportunities and the passing game as a whole. In total, it was an impressive performance by the offense, who, as already mentioned, totaled 33 points and 7.0 yards per play.

Notable Snap Counts

Sammy Watkins (4): With the Packers utilizing a heavy dose of two running back and two tight end sets, there wasn’t a huge need for a fourth receiver. Sammy Watkins finished with only four snaps, and Samori Toure just two. However, when it comes to Watkins, his very limited role is likely here to stay. With Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard as go-to targets, along with Christian Watson’s emergence and the eventual return of Romeo Doubs, there will be little playing time available. Watkins was supposed to provide stability at receiver, but he has struggled to get open and hasn’t been on the same page as Rodgers on several occasions.

Darnell Savage: Savage would leave with a foot injury but prior to that, he was not in the Packers’ starting nickel lineup. Instead, it was Keisean Nixon in the slot with Rudy Ford and Adrian Amos deep. Following the Titans game, Matt LaFleur stressed how there were too many communication errors in the secondary, and oftentimes this season, when those happen, Savage has been close by.

Devonte Wyatt (20): Wyatt played his most snaps in a game this season, recording one pressure and a tackle. With the season over, it’s time to start letting him get more reps and building some momentum towards 2023.

JJ Enagbare (66) and Justin Hollins (21): I’ve talked often about the edge rusher depth being a massive concern for the Packers, but in a game where there were few positives for the defense, it was the edge depth that impressed. JJ Enagbare and Justin Hollins and the first and second most pressures on the team. Hollins also had a nice play against the run.

Josiah Deguara (14): For an offense that has struggled for much of the year, I’ve been surprised at how little Deguara has played. He’s been a reliable blocker and made some plays with the ball in his hands. As the H-back, he brings versatility to the offense and can help LaFleur achieve that “illusion of complexity” he talks about by creating mismatches and opportunities for himself and others with his ability to catch, block, and line up just about anywhere. But, for whatever reason, he continues to see around 14 snaps per game.

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Behind the Numbers: Packers win vs. Cowboys proves to be fool’s gold

Going behind the numbers of the Packers’ 27-17 loss to the Titans on Thursday night.

I was fooled. I thought that the Green Bay Packers might have found their recipe for success against the Dallas Cowboys, but just a few days later, we saw the same inconsistent football team that we’ve been watching for much of the season.

Following another loss, and one that all but ensures Green Bay won’t be going to the playoffs, here are the stats and figures you need to know from their performance.

333

It was clear that the Packers’ first priority – and understandably so – was to slow Derrick Henry. And they did that. However, it’s as if there was zero preparation time spent on the Titans’ passing game as a result.

This hasn’t been a very good Tennessee passing attack this season. Their offensive line struggles in pass protection and they have an underwhelming receiving core, although you wouldn’t have known that watching Thursday’s game. Ryan Tannehill would throw for 333 yards with a pair of touchdowns, and one interception, all while completing 22 of his 27 passes at an impressive 12.3 yards per attempt. Rookie Treylon Burks totaled seven receptions for 111 yards.

Green Bay gave Tennessee way too many easy completions on underneath routes, a number of which helped extend drives on third downs, and there were times when Green Bay’s cornerbacks were just beat. On top of that, somehow, 11 weeks into the season, there are still miscommunications and breakdowns in coverage taking place.

As the defensive coordinator, Joe Barry is responsible and should shoulder most of the blame. But with that said, Jerry Gray and the players are responsible for these continued issues as well. When there are simple assignments being blown, those issues transcend what the scheme is.

3.1

On the flip side, Green Bay was able to hold Derrick Henry to only 3.1 yards per carry on 28 attempts. His longest run of the night was also just nine yards. As a team, the Packers did a very good job of tackling Henry and were better at setting the edge. Barry also made some adjustments, which most notably included playing with a heavy defensive front that included six defenders, four of which were interior defensive linemen. We also saw Barry blitzing to muddy up running lanes, along with utilizing Quay Walker at edge rusher.

8/16

Following what was easily Aaron Rodgers’ best performance of the season against Dallas, with the defense finally able to get stops in the fourth quarter, any hopes of a comeback were doomed by some inaccurate passes and a poorly timed sack.

On the Packers’ final four possession, Rodgers was just 8 of 16 for 60 yards, averaging just 3.8 yards per attempt. Of the eight incompletions, two came on third downs, with Allen Lazard and Sammy Watkins running wide-open over the middle of the field.

“I couldn’t tell you or point to one thing,” said Rodgers postgame. “I’m not going to make excuses about my thumb; it’s been the same since New York. I have to go back and look at it. I feel like, fundamentally, I was in a good spot, but I just didn’t have the same type of consistent grip and the ball coming out the same way. I through a lot of wobblers tonight. Just missed a few throws I should have had. Definitely the one to Sammy and the one to Allen for sure.”

Now, is the outcome any different if Rodgers completes those passes – who knows? But a big part of any success that the Packers were going to have this season required a high-level performance from Rodgers, and more often than not, that hasn’t been the case.

2.9

As expected, moving the ball on the ground against this Tennessee defensive front did not come easy for Green Bay. On 18 carries for Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, the two would total only 53 yards, and as a team, the Packers rushed for 2.9.

It was a tough situation for the Packers to be in. The run game has often been the catalyst behind much of the success on offense this season, but against a very good front and a banged-up secondary, leaning on the passing game was a more prominent part of the Packers gameplan. This led to more snaps from shotgun and Green Bay trying to spread out this Tennessee defense. In theory, I can see why they felt the need to do this. But on the flip side, this isn’t their formula for success either. Ultimately, these are the problems that not very good football teams face.

“After last week, we felt good about running the ball on anybody,” said Rodgers after the game. “But they’re averaging like 66 yards per game the last 7 or 8. We knew it was going to be tough; they’re stout in the middle, good linebackers, and knew we’d have to throw it. We had obviously a lot more third and long situations today and just didn’t convert enough of them.”

8

Of the Rodgers’ issues on Thursday, the pass protection wasn’t one of them. Fully healthy for the second straight game, the Packers’ offensive line allowed only eight pressures, according to PFF, against a defensive front that ranked fifth in both pressure rate and sacks this season. Rodgers’ also held the ball for 2.93-seconds on average, his second-highest rate this season.

10 and 2

Arguably, the two best players on the field for the Packers were their rookies, Quay Walker and Christian Watson.

Walker did a little bit of everything for the Packers’ defense, from having perhaps the best game of his young career against the run to limiting pass catchers in coverage. He was also used as a blitzer and lined up on the edge. Overall, Walker led the team in tackles with 10, including no misses; he also led the team in stops with five. Walker would also record one pressure and allow only six yards in coverage.

Watson, meanwhile, continues to be a touchdown magnet. We all know that Watson is an athletic freak, but those abilities were on display on both touchdowns. On the first, Rodgers gave him a jump ball opportunity that he came down with. Then on the second, his speed allowed him to beat zone coverage on a crosser for a wide-open touchdown.

“The answer is yes,” said Rodgers when asked if Watson needs more opportunities. “I think we have to get the ball to our playmakers, and he’s stepped up the last two weeks. That over-the-shoulder catch, I think, opened up a new world of confidence for him.”

8/15

The Packers’ defense just could not find a way to get off the field against Tennessee, who finished the game a combined 8 of 15 on third and fourth downs. On third and short, stopping Henry from gaining a yard or two felt like an impossible task. While on third and longs, as already discussed, the pass defense gave up way too many easy completions.

Behind the Numbers: Packers hit low point following loss to Lions

Going behind the numbers of the Packers’ demoralizing loss to the Lions at Ford Field.

Up against a one-win Detroit Lions team with an abysmal defense, the Green Bay Packers had the opportunity to get back in the win column in an effort to salvage this season. However, what we saw was yet another disappointing performance as the Packers fell to 3-6 and hit rock bottom.

Whether win or lose, we will be going Behind the Numbers with the stats and figures that you need to know about from the Packers’ performance.

9

Before this game took place, I wrote about how it was a prime get-right game for the Packers’ offense, given that this Lions’ defense is the worst in the NFL statistically. I also ended that same article by saying that if the Packers struggle, then there really is no hope for them to turn things around. Unfortunately, the latter took place.

The Lions dared Aaron Rodgers to throw the ball – which tells us a lot about the state of this offense – and did a very good job of bottling up the run game, holding Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon to 59 rushing yards on 20 carries. The passing game was able to find success, totaling nearly 300 yards, but once again, Green Bay failed to find the end zone, in large part because of Rodgers throwing three interceptions. In what has been a mediocre season for Rodgers, this was by far his worst performance.

4

What in the heck were those final four plays by Rodgers? With two timeouts and roughly 50 seconds left, the Packers were just 17 yards away from winning the game. However, Rodgers was playing like they needed 45 yards and were down to 10 seconds. Two passes went flying out of bounds, nowhere near being caught. One was deflected, and on fourth down, the ball landed in some open grass, again, nowhere near being caught.

It looked like a lot of throwing the ball up and hoping something good happens, which brings us to a much larger issue in that the offense seems to be straying further away from some of Matt LaFleur’s core principles. With Rodgers not playing well and receivers who have not been able to win regularly, there were a lot of five-wide sets against Detroit. There is also the constant battle of motion vs. no motion. Playing under center vs. shotgun. Rodgers wants up-tempo, while LaFleur wants to huddle. LaFleur also wants play-action, bunch sets, and a balanced run-pass mix.

LaFleur and Rodgers trying to blend what each of them likes to do is nothing new, but with the team losing, the offense is straying away from what has worked in the past. Ultimately, this offense isn’t going to get fixed until those issues get sorted out.

25

On top of not executing, the Packers also continue to be their own worst enemy. Against the Lions, the Packers were flagged eight times, which brings their total to 25 penalties over the last three games. Green Bay’s 56 penalties on the season are the sixth most in the NFL. The margin of error is so small for this team that trying to overcome this many penalties each week feels like a nearly impossible task at the moment.

15

Credit to the Green Bay defense for their performance. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous about this matchup beforehand. The Lions were averaging over 35 points per game at home and had an effective ground game coupled with a passing game that liked to push the ball downfield – which is a bad combination for this Packers’ defense. However, Green Bay held up well, holding the Lions to just 3.8 yards per rush, while Jared Goff threw for only 137 yards, along with an interception. Overall, the Lions were 6-of13 on third and fourth downs as well.

8

As of now, the Packers hold the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, and they are likely going to be moving up in the coming weeks. Green Bay’s next three games are against Dallas, Tennessee, and Philadelphia, who have a combined five losses. The Packers are staring 3-9 right in the face.

As I wrote recently, some high draft picks will help, but overall, it’s hard to see this team getting back to being a Super Bowl contender without drastic changes to how the offense is being run. There is minimal cap space again for Green Bay, which means outside of their draft picks, this team will look somewhat similar in 2023. The other alternative is Rodgers either retiring or working out a trade, which would likely send Green Bay into a rebuild. An infusion of some young talent would be great, but the issues the Packers have right now go beyond the personnel – there is already a lot of talent on this team; they shouldn’t have three wins.

9

To make matters worse, at one point, there were nine Packers players who left due to an injury. Jon Runyan and Robert Tonyan would both return, as would David Bakhtiari late in the game, but we will see what his status is this week. Aaron Jones has the potential to play against Dallas, while Christian Watson is not in concussion protocol and was held out for precautionary reasons. Romeo Doubs will be out for 4-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain, and Krys Barnes is in concussion protocol. In a huge blow to this team, Rashan Gary suffered a torn ACL, while LaFleur is concerned about Eric Stokes’ status moving forward.

Behind the Numbers: Digging into a fourth straight loss for the Packers

Going behind the numbers of Sunday’s 27-17 loss to the Bills, a fourth straight defeat for the Packers.

The Green Bay Packers dropped their fourth straight game, this time to the Buffalo Bills in a contest that played out pretty much as expected. The Packers’ underperforming defense was outmatched by a superior offense, while offensively, Green Bay again struggled to put points on the board for much of the game.

Now that I’ve had the opportunity to rewatch and reflect on this game, here are the numbers that you need to know about from the Packers’ performance.

30

Featuring Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon should have been a part of the Packers’ game plan for the entire season, but that hasn’t always been the case. Just last week against Washington, Green Bay ran the ball only 12 times. Against the Bills, however, Jones and Dillon had 30 carries for 197 yards, despite trailing for the entire game. Far too often, we’ve seen the Packers abandon the run game and become one-dimensional. This is a Bills defense that primarily rushes just four and plays with light boxes, so moving the ball on the ground was going to be the Packers’ best path to success on offense.

398 to 369

The Packers managed to outgain the Bills 398 yards to 369. They also had more first downs and controlled the time of possession. However, Green Bay still lost by two scores. While I do believe there is a silver lining in seeing Green Bay stick with the run, as that has to be a big part of their offensive identity, they can’t win games solely on the ground–or at least not against really good teams. The passing game, specifically downfield throws, still has to be an element for this offense to lean on.

30-1

Sunday in Buffalo was the first time that the Packers had won the turnover battle all season long. It was also the first time that they lost a game under Matt LaFleur in which they had won the turnover battle. The interceptions by Josh Allen allowed Green Bay to keep the game relatively close, but the lead was never truly in jeopardy. Continuing to win the turnover battle will be important as it will provide a struggling offense with more opportunities to score.

111

The Packers need to be able to push the ball downfield, and each of their three rookie wide receivers can provide that juice. Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Samori Toure combined for 111 receiving yards on Sunday and two touchdowns. But perhaps even more encouraging than the stat line was that Doubs made two contested catches on throws that required some trust from Aaron Rodgers. Meanwhile, Toure made a route adjustment based on how he was being defended, and Rodgers connected with him. It’s a simple concept, but this is also something Rodgers has been longing for from his young receivers this season. All three of those receptions just described are how these rookies are going to continue to build trust with Rodgers. However, to a degree, that trust needs to take a back seat at 3-5, with each of the rookies playing larger roles in the passing game, given their big play abilities.

8

Regardless of whether or not you agree with some of the calls, penalties were a major issue for the Packers again. In total, they were flagged eight times for 58 yards, one week after being called for nine penalties against Washington. It’s not only the penalties that are hurting this team but also when they are occurring. LaFleur said after the game that not only against Buffalo but for the entire season, Green Bay has been flagged at some inopportune times, either killing their own momentum or extending drives for the opponent. The margin for error for this team is too small right now for them to overcome this many penalties.

49

The Packers totaled 20 pressures against Buffalo, an impressive number, one week after recording 29 against Washington. That’s a whopping 49 pressures in the last two weeks; however, they’ve generated just three sacks. If you ask LaFleur, he would rather see consistent pressures over sporadic sacks, but at some point, Green Bay has to be better at converting these opportunities. Against mobile quarterbacks like Taylor Heinicke and Josh Allen, defined rush lanes are important because both had avenues to get away from the pressure, which led to some big plays.

5

At one point, the Buffalo offense put together five straight scoring drives, which pretty much took away any hope that the Packers had of winning this game. Ultimately, the defense’s inconsistent play this season falls on the play caller and coach, Joe Barry, but the players also have to be performing at a much higher level as well. We saw Eric Stokes get briefly benched at one point, there were 16 missed tackles, which has been a major issue all season, along with poor run fits by the front seven, and Quay Walker got ejected. Stokes, Rasul Douglas, Adrian Amos, Dean Lowry, and De’Vondre Campbell are all players who have seen their play fall off somewhat drastically from a season ago.

85

Stefon Diggs finished the game with six receptions for 108 yards, including 85 yards and a touchdown while matched up with Rasul Douglas. After Jaire Alexander had traveled the previous two weeks with the opponent’s top receiver, that wasn’t the case in Buffalo. On Monday, Matt LaFleur mentioned that the reason behind this was that Green Bay didn’t want to sit in man coverage with the secondary’s backs to Josh Allen, whose mobility can hurt teams. This sounds great, but it’s not as if the Packers stopped Allen from running, who was able to extend a few drives and totaled almost 50 yards on the ground. On top of that, Diggs had a big day as well—so they didn’t end up stopping either player. I do wonder if Walker hadn’t been ejected, if the Packers would have utilized him as a quarterback spy, or if this was going to be the game plan regardless.

2.63

Last week behind a makeshift offensive line, LaFleur very much made sure that group was protected and it limited the offense and playbook. They only ran the ball 12 times, tight ends were asked to chip often, and Rodgers got the ball out at the quickest rate of the season. This week, however, and even without Elgton Jenkins, there was more trust in the big men. Green Bay ran the ball 30 times and averaged 6.7 yards per rush, the offensive line allowed only six pressures, and that was with Rodgers holding the ball for 2.63 seconds—his second longest rate this season. For the offense to improve, the offensive line has to consistently play better, but LaFleur has to provide them the ability to do so as well.

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Behind the Numbers: Packers 2022 season at the tipping point

Behind the numbers of the Packers’ 23-21 loss to the Commanders in Week 7.

It was yet another disappointing performance by the Green Bay Packers that resulted in their third straight loss. At 3-4, the 2022 season is barely hanging on, and feels like it could be on the verge of spiraling out of control.

If you’re up for it, let’s go Behind the Numbers with the stats and figures you need to know from the Packers’ performance against Washington.

0/7

The only time we saw the Green Bay Packers move the chains on either third or fourth down was when Washington committed a penalty. Otherwise, the Packers were a combined 0-for-7 in those situations. A lack of success on early downs put Green Bay behind the sticks against one of the best third-down defenses in the NFL. This inability to pick up a first down led to a massive discrepancy in time of possession and the number of plays ran, with Washington holding the ball for nearly 15 more minutes while running 72 offensive plays compared to the Packers’ 47.

9

Green Bay had been one of the least penalized teams in the NFL prior to Sunday’s contest, but they would end up being flagged nine times for 69 yards against Washington, including one penalty that took a defensive touchdown away. After the game, I said that this offense has to crawl before it can walk, and what I meant by that was it doesn’t much matter what adjustments Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers make; if the Packers can’t do the little things right, it doesn’t matter. Penalties, drops, turnovers, inaccurate passes, wrong routes, and not lining up correctly have all been issues at one point or another this season.

1

The Packers’ makeshift offensive line allowed only pressure against a robust Washington defensive front; however, they were greatly aided by the quick passing game and tight end chips. Rodgers’ average time to throw was just 2.13-seconds, his fastest time since Week 3 of the 2021 season, according to PFF. The play calling very much felt limited as the Packers tried to protect their offensive line.

4

Not terribly worried about the Packers’ offensive line, the Commanders rushed just four players for essentially the entire game. This allowed Washington to drop seven into coverage, which contributed to the Packers’ issues in the passing game. Overall, Rodgers threw for only 194 yards, a figure that is inflated by the last two possessions and averaged only 5.5 yards per pass. Wide receivers not named Allen Lazard combined for five catches, three drops, and 54 yards – 28 of which came on one play to Sammy Watkins.

29

PFF credited the Packers’ pass rush with a whopping 29 pressures on Sunday – a massive amount. However, Green Bay was oftentimes just half a step slow, converting only one of those pressure opportunities into sacks. Taylor Heinicke also deserves a lot of credit for hanging in the pocket, staring this pressure down, and delivering a few key passes.

0

The Green Bay Packers still have not won the turnover battle in a game this season. While De’Vondre Campbell did come away with a pick-six, a few other opportunities were missed, and a scoop and score was called back due to a penalty. Under Matt LaFleur, the Packers are 30-0 when they win the turnover battle, and winning it can also help hide some of the deficiencies on offense. The Packers are currently minus-four in turnover differential this season.

73

Jaire Alexander wanted to be matched up with Terry McLaurin, and that’s what Joe Barry did. Unfortunately, it was McLaurin who got the best of Alexander, totaling 73 yards on five receptions, including a 37-yard touchdown and a third-down catch that basically ended the game. It was a matchup between two premier players at their respective positions, and sometimes, the other really good player wins.

12

Green Bay ran the ball 12 times to Rodgers’ 35 pass attempts. Moving the ball on the ground wasn’t easy by any means behind this offensive line and against that Washington front, as the Packers averaged only 3.2 yards per rush. However, Green Bay has to strike a better balance. This passing game is nowhere near good enough to be relied upon that heavily, especially with how Washington was defending them. By no means is an average of 3.2 yards great, and it’s not going to look pretty, but even at that clip, it can help the offense stay even with the sticks, which hopefully leads to some manageable third downs – although doing that would require consistency. As Rodgers said afterward, the Commanders sat in their Cover-2 shell with seven defenders in coverage for much of the game, some success and also consistency on the ground could have forced Washington to deviate from this plan, potentially opening up the passing game a bit

3

Amari Rodgers put the ball on the ground for the third time this season, and it resulted in the Commanders putting three points on the board. Who knows how this game would play out if Rodgers simply catches that punt, but in a game where the Packers lost by two, that was one of the key moments. Just like a week ago when it felt like Royce Newman’s time as a starter was up, it feels the same way for Rodgers as a punt returner. A few names to watch include Keisean Nixon, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure, and Christian Watson.

6

As Zach Kruse pointed out, if the Packers are going to make the playoffs, they likely have to win a minimum of six games moving forward, which would put them at 9-8. This won’t be easy because of how poorly they are playing, but Green Bay also has to face Buffalo, Dallas, Philadelphia, Tennessee, and Minnesota, among others.

Behind the Numbers: Packers fail to bounce back in a big way vs. Jets

Digging into the most important numbers behind the Packers’ 27-10 loss to the Jets in Week 6.

In need of a bounce-back performance, the Green Bay Packers played another four quarters of uninspiring football. Now at 3-3 and with three straight road games upcoming, this 2022 season really feels like it is at a crossroads as Green Bay embarks on what could be a season-defining stretch.

As always, to help unpack what took place on the football field, we are going Behind the Numbers with the stats and figures you need to know from the Packers’ performance.

5

It was another week where Royce Newman led the Packers offensive linemen in pressures allowed, this time with five, which puts him at 17 on the season, the fourth-most among all guards per PFF. I’m not sure how Yosh Nijman would hold up at right tackle, given he has no in-game experience there in the NFL and, from the sounds of it, not much practice time either, but something has to change. As they did a season ago, Green Bay can use tight-end chips to help Nijman, and hopefully, moving Elgton Jenkins back to guard would provide some assistance as well.

110

Perhaps lost in the overall poor performance was the play of the secondary and the changes that Joe Barry made. We saw a more aggressive group, who provided the receivers with less cushion. Jaire Alexander lined up in the slot and would follow Garrett Mitchell at times. We also saw more dime personnel in obvious passing situations, with Adrian Amos lined up in the box for Quay Walker and Rudy Ford deep with Darnell Savage. Outside of a 41-yard completion on Eric Stokes, the Jets really struggled to move the ball through the air, totaling only 110 passing yards at 5.0 yards per attempt.

10

This game would have been closer had it not been for a pair of special teams blunders that made the Packers’ most consistent unit in 2022 look like the 2021 version. A blocked field goal took three points off the board, and a blocked punt by the Jets resulted in a touchdown. Does the game end differently if these two plays don’t occur?

12

Here we are, once again, wondering why Aaron Jones played such a small role in the Packers’ offense. Green Bay’s offense finished with 13 possessions, and Jones had just 12 touches, including only four at halftime. Running the ball didn’t come easy, so I’m not saying that running Jones up the middle constantly would have been a good solution. But in an offense that is lacking playmaking, Jones is thier playmaker. Regardless of the opponent or how the defense is lining up against Green Bay, Jones needs to be a focal point in the offense. Find ways to get him the ball in space.

63%

When Robert Tonyan was fully healthy for the 2020 season, he was on the field for over 60% of the Packers’ offensive snaps. This season, as he works his way back from injury, he has regularly been in the 45% range until this past Sunday. Tonyan played 63% of the snaps on offense and totaled 10 receptions on 12 targets for 90 yards. Tonyan is still reliable as ever as a pass catcher; the next step is seeing that playmaking ability reemerge.

69

David Bakhtiari played 69 of the Packers’ 73 offensive snaps, with the final possession of the game being the only time he missed. He was also the lone bright spot on the offensive line, allowing just one pressure and recording the second-highest run-blocking grade among tackles. Given that the Packers should be entertaining the idea of moving Nijman to right tackle, Bakhtiari being able to essentially play an entire game is a key component.

9

Missed tackles were again an issue for the Packers’ defense. They missed nine on Sunday, which is the fourth time this season they have missed at least seven in a game, including two times where they missed at least 10. De’Vondre Campbell taking a few steps back this season, along with Quay Walker going through some growing pains, have been big contributors to the Packers’ issues against the run.

5-of-6

In five of the six games this season, the Packers have lost a fumble. They are also yet to win the turnover battle and sit at minus-four in turnover differential, which ranks 27th. This past week, Aaron Rodgers mentioned that oftentimes takeaways can help mask any deficiencies on offense by providing that unit with more opportunities and, oftentimes, shorter fields. While the Packers’ offense has its inconsistencies, they unfortunately, haven’t been able to benefit from a ton of turnovers, and they aren’t doing the defense any favors with how often they are giving the ball away.

3.0 and 4.4

The Packers’ offense could barely move the ball on Sunday, averaging just 3.0 yards per carry and 4.4 yards per pass attempt. For some context, Arizona entered Week 6 ranked last with 5.7 yards per pass attempt this season. After the game, Rodgers mentioned simplifying things, which is a bit vague, but he did also add that when the offense found a little bit of success, there wasn’t any motion–a staple of the LaFleur system. Regardless of how LaFleur and Rodgers go about addressing this, it doesn’t much matter if the offensive line is going to continue playing as poorly as they did. Oftentimes with just a four-man rush and some stunts, the Jets defensive front bullied the Packers’ offensive line. The rest of the offense never stood a chance.

116

Last week, Matt LaFleur called Jets running back Breece Hall a “monster” and a “problem,” and the Packers’ defense found out why in the second half. After containing him in the first half, Hall finished with 116 yards at 5.8 yards per carry. His 3.85 yards after contact were the fifth most in Week 6, his five tackles forced were tied for the most, and his four carries of 10-plus yards also tied for first. The defense’s inability to stop Hall late in the game allowed the Jets to comfortably put this game away.

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Behind the Numbers: Packers crumble in second half vs. Giants

Going behind the numbers of the Packers’ disappointing loss to the Giants in London.

Matt LaFleur said it best following the Green Bay Packers Week 5 loss to the New York Giants – that’s as disappointing as it gets.

The Packers held a two-score lead for much of the first half, but that quickly disappeared as the defense couldn’t get a stop, and the offense all of a sudden struggled to move the football.

As always, let’s go Behind the Numbers, taking a closer look at the stats and figures you need to know from Sunday’s game.

2.09

In the first half, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ offense leaned heavily on the quick passing game. Of Rodgers’ 20 pass attempts, 16 came in under 2.5-seconds. He would complete 13 of them for 64 yards with two touchdowns. According to NextGen Stats, Rodgers’ average time to throw of 2.09 seconds was the lowest by a quarterback in a half since 2020.

18.7

Of course, we all really wish that Keisean Nixon could have jumped on that fumble – who knows how the game ends if he does – but overall, this was a solid performance by the Packers’ special teams unit. The field goal and extra point unit looks extremely clean, while Jason Pinnock of the Giants didn’t have any punt return opportunities, and Gary Brightwell averaged just 18.7 yards per return on kicks. Pat O’Donnell also had another punt pinned inside the 20-yard line.

4.8 and 5.7

The Giants entered Sunday’s game allowing 5.1 yards per carry, and were also without run-stuffer Leonard Williams in the middle of their defense. Utilizing the wide zone running scheme, which ran the Packers’ backs away from Dexter Lawrence and towards the boundary where New York has had issues defending the run, Aaron Jones averaged 4.8 yards per carry and AJ Dillon 5.7.

4

TJ Slaton may have had his best game as a professional on Sunday. Against the typical run-heavy Giants, Slaton saw his snap count go up, playing 41% of the Packers’ defensive snaps. He was generating consistent push into the backfield, eating up space, and taking on double teams in the middle, which helped bottle things up in the run game. He finished with 4 tackles.

99

After Aaron Rodgers said that Randall Cobb needed more opportunities last week, he got those chances in the first half. Cobb had eight targets in the first half and 13 altogether. He finished with seven receptions for 99 yards, including a long of 35, and he once again came up big on third down.

30

Saquon Barkley did manage a 40-yard run sparked by some missed tackles, but overall, the Packers’ defense did a good job of making sure that he didn’t dominate and control this game. For starters, he only had 13 total carries, and on the other 12, he totaled just 30 yards after fewer than three yards per rush. To assist the defensive front, we saw Joe Barry utilizing heavier boxes.

8.0

The Packers secondary was picked apart by Daniel Jones and a bunch of crossing routes. Eric Stokes had a rough performance, and Darnell Savage missed some key tackles. Rasul Douglas was also penalized three times, and miscommunication once again appeared to be an issue. New York did a good job of moving the pocket and using bootlegs to get Jones on the move, along with utilizing play-action. He finished the game 21/27 for 217 yards at an impressive 8.0 yards per attempt.

0

As I wrote following the game, the Packers put up 20 points in the first half behind their run game and the quick passing game. However, with the Giants playing more Cover-1 and with more defenders in the box, they were daring the Packers to pass, and Green Bay did just that. Rodgers, who hasn’t been that effective on the deep ball this season, started taking shots and didn’t complete any of his six downfield attempts. Jones and Dillon finished with just 19 total carries to Rodgers’ 39 pass attempts despite averaging 5.1 yards per rush. Green Bay’s offense scored zero second half points.

6-10

The Green Bay Packers defense entered Sunday’s game as the best in the NFL on third downs. However, you wouldn’t have known that by watching their performance against the Giants. New York was 6-10 on third down attempts that didn’t include them taking a knee, and several conversions came on third and long situations.

7

As I briefly mentioned, penalties were an issue for the Packers. Two defensive holding penalties wiped out sacks by the defensive front and Rasul Douglas’ unsportsmanlike conduct penalty took the Giants from third and goal from the four, to first and goal from the two. Overall, the Packers were penalized seven times.

0

The good news is the Packers didn’t give the ball away this week, after already turning the ball over seven times through the first four games. However, they didn’t force a turnover either. Through five games this season, the Packers are yet to win the turnover battle.

0-6

Rodgers entered Sunday’s game ranked 19th in downfield completion percentage and 17th in downfield passing yards per PFF. Whether it be accuracy issues, not being on the same page with the receiver, or likely both, the Packers’ downfield passing attack hasn’t been much of a threat this season. They rank so well in big passing plays in large part because of their YAC ability. Against the Giants, Rodgers was 0-6 on passes of 20-plus yards, the most such passing attempts he’s had in a game without a completion since 2015. Unlike in years past, these shot plays just seem forced.

4

Aided by the quick passing game, especially early on, the Packers offensive line allowed just one sack and four total pressures on 41 drop backs per PFF’s game recap. They handled the blitz-heavy Giants defense well, and as already discussed, Jones and Dillon each found success on the ground.

25

The Packers continued with their rotation at left tackle, with David Bakhtiari and Yosh Nijman swapping series. Bakhtiari ended up with just 25 snaps compared to the 70 he played last week. Nijman had 13 more snaps than Bakhtiari but that is in part due to Bakhtiari being on the field for a three-and-out in the second half. At least on the surface, there doesn’t seem to be anything unusual behind this snap count figure, other than that’s just how things played out.

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Behind the Numbers: Packers escape Week 4 with a win

Going behind the numbers of the Packers’ 27-24 win over the Patriots with contributor @Paul_Bretl.

The Green Bay Packers managed to escape Week 4 with a win over New England to improve to 3-1 on the season. Although it wasn’t pretty, as Matt LaFleur has said, you’ll never catch Green Bay apologizing for winning.

With the game now behind us, it’s now time to revisit the Packers’ performance through the stats and figures that helped define what we saw.

116

Is it possible to have a quiet 116 receiving yards? If so, Allen Lazard may have done it. While the passing game sputtered for much of the first half, Lazard’s presence was a constant. In addition to the 116 yards, a few of those receptions helped move the sticks on third down and set up scoring opportunities for others. He, as always, was crucial as a run-blocker as well.

3-11

The defense took some lumps, especially against the run, but they got the big stops when needed and were once again very effective on third downs. Green Bay entered Sunday’s game with the best third-down defense in the NFL. That success, often a product of their play on early downs, which puts the opponent in third and long situations, continued against New England, who was only 3-11 on third downs.

3 and 10.0

As far as pass protection goes, Elgton Jenkins once again led the Packers’ offensive line in pressures allowed with three. Is it because of rust as he returns from injury? Or is the transition to the right side of the offensive line more challenging than we expected? Either way, while I don’t expect an immediate change, the Packers may look into moving Yosh Nijman and Jon Runyan to the right side with Jenkins sliding back to left tackle. However, we then run into the question, how will those two fare on the right side?

While Jenkins took some lumps in pass protection, he was very good as a run blocker. According to PFF, Aaron Jones ran his direction four times and totaled 40 yards on those carries.

5

Rashan Gary was a game-changer for this Packers’ defense, even dealing with tight end chips. He finished the game with five pressures, two sacks, five tackles, including a loss, and a forced fumble, along with a fumble recovery. Gary also forced a pressure in overtime to keep New England out of field goal range. He is now tied for seventh among all edge rushers in pressures, and he’s tied for first in sacks.

4

The Packers offense has now lost a fumble in all four games this season. Aaron Rodgers has also thrown three interceptions, including that pick-six, after throwing only four all of last season. Overall, the Packers have seven giveaways this season, which is tied for the sixth-most in the NFL. Fortunately, this hasn’t cost them much in the win-loss column, but in part, that’s due to the level of competition they’ve faced. Against good teams, these turnovers will result in losses.

27.8

As I wrote prior to this game, the Packers’ special teams unit, which has fared well, was going to face its toughest test of the season against New England. Patriots return man Marcus Jones averaged 27.8 yards per kick return and 24.5 yards on two punt returns. It’s also noteworthy that with Adrian Amos sidelined, Rudy Ford played just nine special teams snaps (or 28%). This will be worth watching if Amos is going to miss time, as Ford has made a big impact as a gunner.

167

Regardless of whether it was Brian Hoyer or Bailey Zappe under center, we all knew that the Patriots were going to lean very heavily on the run game. However, the Packers still struggled to slow Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris down.

As a team, the Patriots rushed for 167 yards at 5.1 yards per carry. The Packers did play less nickel to get their bigger bodies on the field, but over 50% of their defensive snaps still came from that formation, which resulted in some chunk runs from New England. We also saw the Patriots frequently use a sixth offensive lineman. But credit where it’s due, this run defense came up big in overtime with the Patriots flirting with field goal range.

110

The passing game was wildly inconsistent, but you could count on Aaron Jones to create explosive plays. The offensive line did a very good job of creating running lanes, which Jones took advantage of, rushing for 110 yards, including a whopping five runs of 10-plus yards.

3

Randall Cobb was targeted eight times against New England with five receptions and three targets that moved the chains. One third down target came on an eventual touchdown drive. Another drew pass interference that extended the drive. And the last came on the Packers field goal drive in overtime. Cobb has been targeted five times on third downs this season, catching all five and converting the first down each time as well.

70

As we saw, the Packers are going to experience growing pains with Romeo Doubs, but as Aaron Rodgers told reporters following the game, the trust is still very much there. Doubs played 70 of the Packers’ 73 offensive snaps, and while he had the fumble and dropped pass, he also caught five passes for 47 yards and a touchdown on a fantastic back-shoulder grab. The flashes of a big-time receiver are absolutely there.

11.2

That was a rough first half for Aaron Rodgers, to say the least, as he completed 4-11 passes for 44 yards with an interception and a passer rating of 11.2. However, Rodgers settled in, and the Packers began moving the ball. Green Bay strung together three straight scoring drives in the second half, and Rodgers finished the game with 251 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and 7.1 yards per attempt. Rodgers again got the ball out quickly when kept clean and was effective when blitzed and off play-action.

443 and 271

As the game unfolded, it wasn’t a very encouraging performance from either side of the ball. Of course, there are areas to improve upon, but at the end of the day, the offense put up 443 total yards, and the defense held New England to only 271. Take away the pick-six, and if Doubs hauls in that touchdown grab, this game looks quite different.

Behind the Numbers: Diving into the Packers road win over the Bucs

Diving into the numbers behind the Packers’ Week 3 win over the Buccaneers.

After a big road win in Tampa Bay by the Green Bay Packers, it is time to go Behind the Numbers with the stats and figures that you need to know about from Sunday’s game.

24

Running the ball certainly didn’t come easy for the Green Bay Packers, who averaged just 2.7 yards per rush against a very good Bucs front-seven. However, Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers stuck with it for the most part.

In the past – and most recently, during Week 1 of this season – we’ve seen the Packers abandon the run game quickly when they either fall behind or aren’t picking up consistent yardage. This leads to a pass-heavy offense as well as a unit that really struggles to move the ball. In many of the Packers’ losses during the LaFleur era, this has been a big part of the equation.

In order for the defense to respect the run game, it doesn’t necessarily require averaging 6.0 yards per carry, but rather the defense has to believe that the offense is willing to run the ball in a given situation. This can, in turn, open up the passing game, as well as the playbook, and slow the pass rush just a bit.

5

During the Packers’ long stretch of not being able to convert third downs in the second half, we saw a lot of punter Pat O’Donnell. But despite being on the field often, and at times not in the best situations, O’Donnell and the coverage unit didn’t let the field position battle flip.

Of O’Donnell’s seven punts, five of them were inside the Tampa Bay 15-yard line. Gunners Rudy Ford and Keisean Nixon did excellent jobs of consistently beating the jammers downfield, which resulted in several fair catches, with the Bucs only returning three punts, and Nixon downing the ball inside the two-yard line.

Given how close this game was, it only would have taken one miscue from the punt unit to put Tampa in scoring position, which could have decided the outcome. I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that in a similar game with last year’s special teams unit, the Packers don’t win.

1

David Bakhtiari made his return, alternating series with Yosh Nijman, and totaling 35 snaps. Against a Bucs’ defense that was among the best in pressures generated and sacks, Bakhtiari held up very well in pass protection, allowing only one pressure, according to PFF.

Nijman was credited with giving up only one pressure as well, and overall, I was really impressed with the play of the offensive line unit. Following the game, Aaron Rodgers called their performance “great,” and for a Bucs team that loves to blitz, the Packers offensive line handled those situations very well.

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14/17

Speaking of blitzing, Rodgers was really good on Sunday when the Bucs sent pressure. Rodgers was blitzed by Tampa Bay 17 times, per PFF, and completed 14 of those passes for 160 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. One reason why the offense may have struggled moving the ball in the second half was that Tampa stopped blitzing as often, which left an extra defender in coverage to take away those quick passing options.

2.9

The Buccaneers haven’t had a super-efficient rushing offense this season, but it’s been a big part of their game, with Fournette averaging 4.3 yards per carry prior to Sunday’s game while having the fifth-most rushing yards. The Packers, on the flip side, have struggled to stop the run, but the front seven did an excellent job on Sunday, holding Fournette to just 2.9 yards per rush.

This forced Brady, who was without his top three wide receivers, to pass the ball 42 times, and put the Bucs in several second and third, and long situations, which allowed the pass rush to force some pressure. While the Packers were able to remain somewhat balanced on offense, the Buccaneers had just 13 rushing attempts the entire game.

2.17

Brady entered Sunday’s game with an average time to throw of 2.26-seconds, the second-fastest rate in the NFL. Then against Green Bay, he got the ball out in an average time of 2.17-seconds – which was the fastest rate in Week 3.

Getting the ball out that quickly makes getting home for the pass rushers a nearly impossible task. This is why the Packers don’t have gaudy pressure numbers, just 10, according to PFF, but it also makes the three that Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark each recorded all the more impressive. The best way to beat Brady is with pressure up the middle, which is why after not blitzing once during the first two games, we saw Joe Barry blitz 18 times on Sunday, per PFF, in an effort to disrupt the quick passing game.

8

Romeo Doubs had a major opportunity in front of him and he took full advantage, catching all eight of his targets for 73 yards and a touchdown.

The same versatility and skill-set that we saw from Doubs while at Nevada was on display in Tampa Bay. The Packers lined him up both in the slot and out wide. He made a catch over the middle in traffic, and we saw his YAC ability as well. Doubs was also impactful in all three levels of the field, even if he wasn’t thrown the ball. As the Packers’ deep threat on Sunday, he helped create space and opportunities underneath for others.

But perhaps most importantly, is that there were several plays designed specifically for him, and when his number was called, he was in the right place at the right time and made the catch – and we all know how important that is to Aaron Rodgers.

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2

Through two games, the Packers had PFF’s second-worst tackling grade, and they were on pace for nearly 70 more missed tackles in 2022 compared to 2021. But this week, they were responsible for only two missed tackles. Earlier in the week, LaFleur emphasized the importance of getting all 11 hats to the ball, and this sound tackling played a big role in limiting the Tampa run game.

3

Something to watch moving forward is that the Packers have three lost fumbles this season – one each week so far. Rodgers also has a pair of interceptions, and the Packers’ five giveaways are tied for the ninth-most this season, while they are negative in the turnover differential. In terms of protecting the football, it has been an uncharacteristically sloppy start to the season for the Packers.

45

It’s not always pretty, but the Packers’ defense is keeping opponents out of the end zone, allowing just 45 total points through three games. Their 15.0 points per game allowed average is the sixth best in football – although it’s important to note that 17 of those 45 points have been scored on the opponent’s opening possession. This is something that will have to improve becasue this isn’t a Packers’ offense that is as well equipped this season to be playing from behind.

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Behind the Numbers: A closer look at the Packers Week 2 win over Chicago

Contributor @Paul_Bretl goes behind the important numbers of the Packers’ 27-10 win over the Bears in Week 2.

The Green Bay Packers bounced back on Sunday night, coming away with a 27-10 victory over the Chicago Bears.

As always, it’s time to go Behind the Numbers with the stats and figures you need to know from Green Bay’s performance.

13

Last season, Aaron Jones was among the best running backs in picking up yards after contact, and we saw that on full display against the Bears. According to PFF, Jones forced 13 total missed tackles and averaged 5.67 yards after contact. For some context, the league high in this category in 2021 was 4.52 yards.

Jones is a hard runner, but he also has excellent vision as well as balance, and a quick burst. All of which makes him difficult to bring down.

37

One week after Jones and AJ Dillon had just 23 total touches, including only eight for Jones, the Packer running backs were the focal point of the offense. Combined, Jones and Dillon touched the ball 37 times, with Jones totaling 132 rushing yards.

All week, both Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur made it clear that these two needed to be more involved, which led to a much more balanced attack, with Rodgers passing the ball 25 times compared to 33 rush attempts for Jones and Dillon. The running and passing games were able to play off of each other well, with the Bears spending a lot of time in cover-2 to prevent any big passing plays, which then opened things up in the run game. Rodgers was also very efficient off play-action, and he was able to lean on the run game while, admittedly, struggling as a passer. This level of balance also opens up the playbook for LaFleur.

9

No longer will we see the days of one player having 15-plus targets. Instead, it’s going to take a group effort in the passing game. Against the Bears, nine different players had at least one target, and no player had more than four. Spreading the ball around in this capacity, coupled with leaning on Jones and Dillon, along with a balanced attack, is the identity that I’m guessing many of us expected the Packers to have this season.

6.7

The Packers’ defense was able to bottle up the Bears’ offense for much of the night, but the run defense would really struggle, with Chicago averaging a whopping 6.7 yards per carry. The Green Bay defenders struggled to get off of blocks and missed 10 tackles of their own. Through two games, the Packers have PFF’s second-worst tackling grade.

As a defensive coordinator, Joe Barry’s M.O. is to take away the passing game first, which means playing with light boxes quite often. So even with their personnel, this may never be a dominant run-stopping team, but with that said, the Packers’ tackling ability has to improve, and hopefully, it will as the season progresses.

47.5%

Justin Fields only had 19 dropbacks, but he was under pressure nearly half the time at 47.5%. This is a Chicago offensive line that is very inexperienced and a matchup that the Packers should have dominated. Both Preston Smith and Rashan Gary did a very good job of setting a strong edge, which helped keep Fields in the pocket so that the interior rush could get to him. That also kept Fields from being able to extend plays, which is where he found some success in Week 1. Overall, Fields was 7 for 11 as a passer, totaling 70 yards and an interception.

14

Two opening possessions for the opponent have resulted in two very easy touchdowns. Both Minnesota and Chicago marched down the field on their first drive to put up seven points with little resistance. However, following that possession, and despite taking some lumps, the Packers have done well at keeping the Vikings and Bears out of the end zone following that opening drive. As Zach Kruse pointed out, Green Bay has allowed only 19 points on their other 17 possessions, with only one other touchdown. The Bears, at one point, had four consecutive punts, and overall, were 1/8 on third and fourth downs. So far, this Packers defense has been the definition of bend but don’t break.

The concern about allowing those opening scores is that it puts the Packers’ offense behind early. For a unit still trying to find its way, overcoming an early deficit may be more of a challenge than what it was in past seasons, while falling behind could result in Rodgers and LaFleur getting a little pass-happy and away from that balanced attack described above.

3

Early on, it was clear that Elgton Jenkins had some rust to shake off – and understandably so. As a team, the Packers only allowed six pressures, but Jenkins had three of them. However, despite this not being his best performance from a film or statistical perspective, both LaFleur and Rodgers had high praise for Jenkins following the game, with LaFleur saying that they don’t win that game without him.

From a pure confidence standpoint, you could see how having Jenkins on the field affected the Packers. Rodgers was much more confident maneuvering around the pocket, while Jones and Dillon were both aggressive in hitting their running lanes, fully expecting there to be an opening.

10

Jones and Dillon were on the field together for 10 snaps against Chicago. The previous week, they had seven snaps, which, combined, is already more than what they totaled a season ago. Earlier in the week, LaFleur said that they had to be “mindful” of how often they utilized Jones and Dillon together, but when they do, it not only gives them more opportunities but it helps open up the passing game for Rodgers and the other Green Bay pass-catchers. Following the game, Rodgers said that “there’s a lot left in the bag,” referencing the play packages they can run with Jones and Dillon.