The Marquez Valdes-Scantling experience is one of peaks and valleys, of highs and lows, of big plays and mistakes.
The inconsistent but increasingly important Green Bay Packers receiver peaked again Sunday during a 31-24 win over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
The performance wasn’t uneven. Valdes-Scantling was terrific from start to finish.
After fumbling in overtime in Indianapolis and then two straight games without a catch, Valdes-Scantling came alive in Detroit, catching six passes on six targets for 85 yards and a touchdown for the Packers, who clinched the NFC North with the win over the Lions.
All six of Valdes-Scantling’s catches gained at least 10 yards and either picked up a first down or created a touchdown. He didn’t have any truly explosive plays – his longest gain was 21 yards – but he was as good in the intermediate areas as he’s ever been over the course of an entire game.
Never before in his first 45 NFL games had Valdes-Scantling caught all of his targets when targeted more than three times in a game.
Valdes-Scantling might have created one of the most important plays of the game, too.
With the game tied and the Packers facing a third down on the first possession of the second half, Valdes-Scantling ran past the cornerback and was about to break into the clear behind the defense when he got held, drawing an important penalty that extended the drive. The Packers eventually scored a touchdown, kicking off a three-possession stretch in the third quarter that saw Matt LaFleur’s team take complete control of the contest.
A quick review of Valdes-Scantling’s six catches:
1. Easy catch and run in the flat off the play-action fake. He used his speed to accelerate upfield for 10 yards.
2. His most impressive play. He identified the opportunity for the backshoulder throw based on the leverage of the coverage, got his head around at just the right time and made a terrific contested catch with the defender all over him in the end zone. He had the right timing with Aaron Rodgers, and the finish was excellent. It was an all-hands catch away from body while turning into position.
3. With the cornerback playing a deep bail technique to protect against speed, MVS ran a simple out route at eight yards and made the catch with five yards of cushion. Another easy 11 yards.
4. Another great route, this time from the slot. MVS threatened upfield before turning inside and creating separation from veteran corner Justin Coleman, giving Rodgers an easy throwing window for 14 yards.
5. On his longest play of the game, MVS did a nice job finding the soft spot in the zone, sitting down to create the opportunity and then going to get the ball in the air. Rodgers threw into some traffic on 3rd-and-14 but MVS kept his concentration and made another nice all-hands catch well past the sticks.
6. This is a route MVS needs to master. The corner once again respected his speed, giving plenty of cushion, but MVS slammed on the brakes and was wide open on the hitch route. Once again, there’s a five-yard cushion when he makes the catch. Another relatively simple eight-yard route becomes 15 yards.
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