Green Bay Packers: Week 11 MVP and Other Awards
By Kenny Jilek
The Green Bay Packers took a heartbreaking 34-31 loss to the Colts, but there are still awards to be handed out to some top performers.
Offensive MVP – Davante Adams
Every week, Davante Adams puts together another performance to assert himself as a true top-tier receiver in this league. On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers’ receiver caught seven of the eight passes thrown his way for 106 yards and a touchdown. Allen Lazard came back this week, and he’ll start to play a bigger role as he gets incorporated back into the offense, but Adams has carried this offense in his absence.
Here’s some context for how good Adams has been this season. This game was pretty much another run-of-the-mill week for him. He’s averaging 8.5 receptions per game, so that was slightly off, but he is the only receiver in the league averaging over 100 yards per game at 105.9, almost his exact total on Sunday. Also, his 10th touchdown catch ranks him second in the league, and he’s played in two fewer games than the leader Adam Thielen. Adams is a stud, but you already knew that. This year, he’s making a legitimate case that he’s the best wide receiver in the NFL.
Defensive MVP – Raven Greene
Raven Greene, after a season lost to injury last year, has been a great piece in the middle of this Green Bay Packers’ defense. He’s by no means an All-Pro, but he’s a great stabilizing force and a source of some fire for a team that has really lacked toughness this season. He plays hard every snap, was a bright spot in the tackling department and is always looking to punch the ball out.
That last point came up big for him early on Sunday when he stripped Mo Alie-Cox to get the ball back after the Packers fumbled it away themselves on their first drive. Greene also added eight tackles, seven of them solo, which was second on the team. On a team that had a tough time bringing down anyone, he did a great job of wrapping up, grabbing jersey, and bringing the ball-carrier to the ground without letting them get additional yards.
Mr. Versatility – Elgton Jenkins
Corey Linsley went down with an injury early in the game, and Elgton Jenkins was ready and able to slide into the center spot and do a great job. He’s played almost every spot on the line this season, from guard to center to tackle. Having a guy who’s versatile is nice. Having a stud who is versatile and will be a well-above-average player wherever you put him is extremely valuable. It’s become increasingly clear that they nailed this pick in the second round last season. As much as people will argue, they should’ve taken D.K. Metcalf, Jenkins is just as valuable to this line as another weapon would have been, even if it’s not as flashy.
It should also not be understated the job that Jon Runyan Jr. had done this season when he’s come in on relief duty on short notice. He gave them good snaps in week one, and they’ve asked him to do the same in multiple games this year. Every time he’s answered the call and for a sixth-round pick to have that ability to succeed in tough spots as a rookie is fantastic and should be commended.
Coin Flip Specialist – Tim Boyle
If you want to talk about unsung heroes of this year’s team like Runyan and Jenkins, Tim Boyle has to be right there in the conversation with them. He’s delivered not one, not two, not three, but eight extremely high-quality kneel-downs this season, and it’s time someone showed him some respect.
This week, with the game tied after sixty minutes and the fate in the balance of a small coin, he walked to midfield for the coin toss. Then, in a brilliant stroke of genius, he called tails. TAILS! The guts on this guy are unrivaled. We don’t need to talk about what happened after that.
Celebration of the Week – Green Bay Packers Defense
The Green Bay Packers defense just can’t stop cooking up choreographed dances. This week, someone must have watched the 2003 film, Love Don’t Cost a Thing, starring Nick Cannon. The entire defense did a dance in the end zone inspired by some moves that Cannon used in a scene in that movie.
It was entertaining enough, and having the big celebrations in the end zone is a fun thing, especially when they add more flair to it than just jumping around and flexing. It does make one wonder if they spent all their time on that, however, as they did give up 31 points in regulation. Clearly, I enjoy celebrations and creativity, or I wouldn’t be holding this ridiculous contest every week, but they really need to be able to stop someone consistently before moving onto the celebrating step.
Is that the largest coordinated celebration of all-time 😂 @packers
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 22, 2020
📺 #GBvsIND on FOX pic.twitter.com/fDIrxppvIq
Next. More Snaps for Gary & Less for Preston Smith. dark
Celebration of the Year Leaderboard