The game last night was one of those that just felt momentous. Given the current state of the NFC North, maybe that’s overselling it. But after getting housed by the Saints in Week 1 and having the Lions hang around for a while in Week 2, this really felt like an early litmus test game. A quality opponent, on the West Coast, on a short week. How good were these Packers really?
If they lost last night, it wouldn’t have been the end of the world. If Crosby misses that kick, I’m not suddenly burying the Packers. They showed some really good stuff early and the defense turned in their best game. No, I wouldn’t have buried them with a missed kick. But after that made kick? Well, I couldn’t shut up about the game. I still can’t.
The Packers still have a tough schedule and a long road between now and the end of the season. But after that game? The air smells a little sweeter.
Let’s get to some numbers.
On plays run during the script, the Packers gained 6.2 yards per play
On post-script plays, the Packers gained…6.2 yards per play
A little reminder that, while no one except those on the sideline knows exactly how long the script is used, these are the general script rules I use: first 15 plays, excluding any plays on 3rd down and any plays in the red zone.
The Packers did not attempt a single RB run on 3rd down.
In the 1st half, Aaron Jones had 12 carries for 39 yards (3.3 YPA). In the 2nd half, he had 7 carries for 43 yards (6.1 YPA). The offensive line was doing work, and Jones had some really great runs.
Neither rushing offense really set the world on the fire. For the game, the Packers rushed 25 times for 100 yards (a tidy 4.0 YPA). The 49ers rushed 19 times for 62 yards (3.3 YPA). I understand that the 49ers were down to, like, their 6th string RB, but this is a running game that has given teams fits in the past, including the Packers. The Packers defensive line was much-maligned coming into this game, but they more than held their own.
Rodgers turned in a tremendous game. We know that already. When targeting within 15 yards of the LOS (line of scrimmage), Rogers was 18/20 (90%) for 111 yards (5.6 YPA) and 2 TDs, for a QB Rating of 123.1. When targeting 15+ yards, he was 5/10 (50%) for 150 yards (15 YPA), for a QB Rating of 95.8.
Jimmy Garoppolo? Not so much. When targeting within 15 yards of the LOS, he was 23/35 (65.7%) for 229 yards (6.5 YPA) and 1 TD, for a QB Rating of 93.6. When targeting 15+ yards, he was 1/3 (33%) for 16 yards and 1 INT for a QB Rating of 12.5. That’s right. 12.5.
The finish was amazing, but the 4th quarter was Rodgers’ worst quarter in terms of completion %. He was 3/8 (37.5%), but had 54 yards, 1 TD and the 2 incredible passes to Adams to set up the game-winning FG from Crosby.
Davante Adams was clearly the star, ending up with 132 receiving yards. Marquez Valdes-Scantling was second on the team, with 59 receiving yards. Allen Lazard had 42 and no one else had more than 14 (Aaron Jones).
You want to close it out with some dots? I love dots. We’ve got 4 big plays.
We’ll kick it off with the first big play. The Packers got the ball first and were facing 3rd & 3 from their own 32. Definitely don’t want to go three-and-out on your first drive in hostile territory. In what would become a trend for the game, the Packers went empty backfield and Rodgers got the ball out quickly.
Packers are running mirrored smash-fade. As I’ve mentioned recently, mirrored concepts allow a QB to make a decision before the ball is even snapped. Which side of the field do I like better from a match-up perspective? The single high-safety is shaded over the Adams/Jones combo on the left, so Rodgers knows he has Lazard man-to-man on the fade on the right. He hits his back foot and drops that sucker in the bucket.
Next up is the shot to MVS. The Packers are running a kind of Portland concept, with a dig from one side and a post over the top. It’s a really nice Quarters beater, provided you really sell that dig route and get nice depth on it. Adams is running the dig from the right while MVS is running over the top. Jimmie Ward [1] pulls up on the route from Adams, opening the route over the top. MVS works across the field and maintains a really nice angle on Jaquiski Tartt [3]. Tartt does a nice job closing, but Rodgers puts it on the money.
Next up is the Jaire INT. Just a thing of beauty, man. The Packers are in a Quarters shell, with Alexander as the widest man on the right. Brandon Aiyuk [11] runs a dig, and it’s Alexander’s responsibility to stick with him vertically and pick up the route if it breaks out. With the flat covered by De’Vondre Cambell [59] and no other short-breaking routes to that side, Alexander is free from responsibility as soon as Aiyuk declares inside. Aiyuk breaks on the dig and Alexander makes a beeline as the post-robber.
Tremendous play from Alexander.
Lastly, here’s the touchdown to MVS. Nothing fancy: two in-cutters from the outside and MVS running a corner route from the inside. Same general concept on that side that led to an iconic Super Bowl TD.
MVS has a good angle on the safety for the corner route, but Deommodore Lenoir [38] does a nice job falling off the outside receiver once he declares on the in-cutter. Still, between MVS’ length and a perfect throw from Rodgers, there’s really not much that could’ve been done.
Alright. There are some quick-hitters for you on this Monday morning. I’m still buzzing, man. How can you not be romantic about it?