Green Bay Packers: Week 13 MVP and other Awards

The Green Bay Packers were victorious 30-16 over the Eagles this week, so it’s time to hand out some awards and have some fun.

Offensive MVP – Aaron Jones

It’s been a while since Aaron Jones took home one of my Green Bay Packers awards, but he earned it this week, averaging 8.7 yards per carry. In all, he had 15 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown and also caught all three passes thrown his way for a total of 18 yards. This was Jones’ first game over 100 rushing yards since week two, and he had 90 yards on the ground last week, so he’s getting hot just at the right time, with the playoffs just around the corner.

Jones continues to make his claim that he is a running back worth the large price tag he’ll be looking for this offseason. The trend lately has shown that paying running backs doesn’t usually turn out well in the cases of Le’Veon Bell, Todd Gurley, and David Johnson. Someone will pay Aaron Jones, and the question is whether that money will come from Green Bay.

Defensive MVP – Kingsley Keke

After many weeks of Kingsley Keke being very quiet in the stat sheet, he busted through this week to make some huge plays in the first half. He and Rashan Gary combined for some great pass rushes to get to Carson Wentz, and Keke came out of it with two sacks. Getting pressure up the middle is a tough thing to do, and he made the guy in front of him a human turnstile twice to get through for sacks that looked easy.

Many, including myself, hoped that Keke would make a second-year jump, but he hasn’t put much in the stat book since week three when he had two quarterback hits, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and a batted pass. Despite that lack of statistical production, he’s been a solid player, posting a 74.0 Pro Football Focus grade. That number pointed to a breakout game like this, and hopefully, this gets him more playing time, especially in obvious pass situations. If he can be a solid player next to Kenny Clark on the interior of this line, that is a huge asset for the Green Bay Packers, especially in the playoffs.

Worst Tackler Award – J.K. Scott

One bad tackle attempt against the Jaguars was fine. A punter not being able to tackle isn’t news, but Pat McAfee, noted hard-hitting punter, would probably agree that both of these attempts by Scott were not good “For the Brand”. This week Jalen Reagor made him look about as bad as he did against the Jaguars.

Everyone has always joked about how young Scott looks because of his child-like face and skinny stature, but he really did look like he wasn’t even in the same league as these guys as he tried to tackle them. In two attempts, he’s gotten a total of one hand on the returners. While tackling is not his job, if he did his other job of punting the ball with enough hangtime for his teammates to get down the field, then he wouldn’t have to make these hideous attempts all the time. He’s had ups and downs as any punter will, but as a former fifth-round pick in his third season, he needs to be much more consistent.

Deja Vu Award – Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles had two plays this week that were very reminiscent of past plays in the team’s history. The first was similar to a moment that many Green Bay Packers’ fans will remember with a bad taste in their mouths, that being 4th and 26. That moment was much more impactful because it was in the playoffs, and it led to an Eagles win. Still, the 4th and 18 touchdown from Jalen Hurts to Greg Ward brought up the moment and, to a lesser extent, brought up shades of Brett Favre’s comeback against the Bengals when he came in for Don Majkowski and brought the Packers back from a 20-10 deficit.

The other was the aforementioned Jalen Reagor punt return touchdown. This brought back memories of the Desean Jackson punt return touchdown against the New York Giants. The similarity here is that they both muffed their respective punts before taking them to the house. That one was also more important than this moment, as it propelled the Eagles to win the division, with the 10-6 Giants missing out on the playoffs that year and the Packers grabbing the final Wildcard spot.

Celebration of the Week – Allen Lazard and Davante Adams

With Aaron Rodgers hitting a huge career milestone of 400 passing touchdowns, Davante Adams knew they had to give him the props he deserved. After making a fantastic play, giving Darius Slay a huge stiff arm for the touchdown, Adams humbly presented the ball to Rodgers. Allen Lazard then came in and crowned Rodgers’ head with his hands. What was he crowning him? Greatest Quarterback of All Time? 2020 Most Valuable Player?  Best Teammate Ever? Maybe all of the above.

The crowning of Rodgers also reminded me of a past moment in time with a different MVP. A certain MVP who had his birthday just yesterday, Giannis Antetokounmpo, when he crowned himself against the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, Antetokounmpo and the Bucks didn’t get to the Finals to try and beat the Lakers, but hopefully, Rodgers and the Packers will be able to crown themselves champions when this season comes to an end.

Celebration of the Year Leaderboard

1. Aaron Rodgers – Hingle Mccringleberry
2. Soul Train Line
3. Za’Darius Smith – Rest in Heaven Breonna Taylor
4. Aaron Rodgers – Michael Jordan Shrug
5. Adams and Lazard – Crowning of Rodgers
6. Jamaal Williams – Being a complete goofball
7. Packers Defense – Hitting the Woah
8. Packers Defense – Love Don’t Cost a Thing
9. Chandon Sullivan – Lambeau Leap
10. Ifeadi Odenigbo – Premature Airplane

What did you think of the Green Bay Packers’ win this week? Would you change any rankings on the Celebration of the Year leaderboard? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter @DairylandXpress.