Green Bay Packers: Week 7 Best Celebration, MVP, and other awards

The Green Bay Packers’ offense rolled on Sunday to the tune of 42 points, and the defense did enough to get the win. So who went above and beyond to earn awards this week?

Offensive MVP – Aaron Rodgers

For the second week in a row, Aaron Rodgers takes home the offensive MVP award. Last week, it was less about stats and more about what he did as a field general and a leader, spreading the ball around to targets that didn’t do him a lot of favors.

This week, he had some help from some great plays by his receivers and showed the league what this Green Bay Packers’ offense can really do. His 429 yards on 25/31 passing and five touchdowns, all to different receivers, netted him his first perfect passer rating of his career at 158.3. He also ran for a touchdown, totaling six on the day, and his quarterback rating was a near-perfect 97.2.

Rodgers has shown in the past few weeks that he isn’t even close to done yet and there is no decline in his game. He’s still leading his team to wins. He’s still making mediocre receivers look great, and he’s still making crazy throws like this.

Special Teams MVP – Trevor Davis

Trevor Davis made a big impact in this week’s Packer game, returning two punts for a total of 47 yards and a long of 32. He also returned two kicks for 49 yards. His efforts in special teams changed field position and did a lot to control the game.

What’s that? He doesn’t play for us anymore? Oh. Well, in that case, I guess Mason Crosby made all six of his extra points. Yeah, Mason Crosby: Special Teams Player of the Week. Six absolutely HUGE extra points that completely turned the tide of the game for the Green Bay Packers. Good for him.

Secure Protection Award – Offensive Line

The Green Bay Packers’ offensive line has been very good at keeping Aaron Rodgers upright this season. He has only been sacked 12 times this season. Through seven games in both 2017 and 2018, he had been sacked 22 times. They have managed to almost cut sacks in half this year and give Rodgers time to work his magic, navigating the pocket and finding an open receiver.

On Sunday, they only allowed him to be sacked once and gave him ample time to analyze the Raiders’ defense and pick them apart all day. Rodgers deserves immense credit for what he did yesterday, but his offensive line deserves some too. He may be throwing to second-rate receivers, but his line has been top-notch.

Deep Threat Award – Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Marquez Valdes-Scantling makes a big play every single week. It’s time that we start to give him some respect as a proven game-breaker. This season, he is averaging a ridiculous 19.8 yards per reception. Every time he touches the ball it’s a big play.

Against the Raiders he had two huge plays, his only two catches of the day. The first was a classic deep bomb, making the defenders think that he was going outside, before hitting a deep post route.

This is the deep threat ability that we have seen time and again in his young career. The second touchdown was more technical, a simple out route to beat man coverage and using his speed to outrun his defender with no safety help over the top. Big props to Aaron Jones on a fantastic effort block to get Valdes-Scantling down the sideline and in the end zone.

Hopefully, we continue to see a lot more of both of these types of big plays from Valdes Scantling.

Celebration of the Week – Aaron Rodgers

It’s time again for the best part of weekly awards: the celebration of the week. For the second time in three weeks, this one comes with some context. Similar to Za’Darius Smith’s Ray Lewis impression, Rodgers pulled out the belt for the first time in a while.

Early in the game, Rodgers was sacked by Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Crosby then proceeded to mock the Rodgers belt celebration. Let this be a lesson to every young player in the league. Do not anger the best. Rodgers went on to have a career day and Maxx Crosby did not have another tackle for the rest of the game. So in the third quarter when Rodgers rushed for a touchdown from three yards out, he decided to flash the belt for a little extra revenge.

Finally, starting this week, I’ll be ranking the top celebrations from the previous weeks and at the end of the season, we will crown a Celebration of the Year champion. As of right now, this is how my rankings stand:

1. Aaron Jones wave goodbye

2. Aaron Rodgers Belt

3. Za’Darius Smith Ray Lewis impression

4. Mason Crosby Lambeau Leap

5. Lazard flag point