Green Bay Packers: 11 Quick Observations from Win over Lions

After rewatching the Green Bay Packers’ win over Detroit, here are 11 quick observations from their performance.

As has been the case in recent years, especially on the road at Ford Field, it was another hard-fought matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. The two teams went into the half tied, but a third-quarter where Green Bay completely controlled the clock gave them a lead that they held on to for the rest of the game.

With this win, the Packers clinch the NFC North for the second season in a row and become the NFC’s No. 1 seed with New Orleans’ loss to Philadelphia.

I’ve now had the opportunity to go back and rewatch the television copy of this game. As always, I’ve come away with my key observations after having the chance to watch this game for a second time. Let’s dive in.

3rd down offense was very good again

Entering Sunday’s game, the Green Bay Packers were one of the most efficient teams in the NFL on third downs this season, converting 47.9 percent of their attempts, which was good for fourth-best in the league. This has been a significant improvement from 2019, where they converted only 37.6 percent of their third-down attempts and ranked 19th.

In this game against Detroit, we saw this efficiency on full display once again. Green Bay would convert an impressive 8 out of their 11 third-down attempts, which certainly played a huge factor in what ended up being just a one-score game. Detroit also found some success, converting 50 percent of their attempts, but it wasn’t at the level that Green Bay was at.

Let’s not take Mason Crosby for granted

You don’t really have to take a hard look around the NFL to see teams struggling to find reliable kickers. I mean, just ask our friend over in Minnesota where Dan Bailey just went 0/3 on field goal attempts and 0/1 on his lone extra-point attempt against Tampa Bay. Not to mention that Chicago has had troubles of their own recently.

Yet in Green Bay, for over a decade, Mason Crosby has provided the Packers with remarkable stability. Now sure, there have been some rough stretches, but to some degree, that’s the nature of the position. However, Crosby has bounced back every time, and in Detroit, where not too long ago he had a meltdown of his own, he buried a 57-yarder to give Green Bay a 10 point lead in the fourth quarter.

It can be easy to forget about the kicker position until they screw up, but let’s not take Crosby’s reliability for granted.

Speaking of special teams and Mason Crosby…

What is going on with this unit? Last week I highlighted all the major errors that have taken place since the Houston game, and again on Sunday, we saw another huge blunder. Right after that Crosby field goal, the kick return unit gave up a 71-yard return, and if it wasn’t for Crosby, it would have been a touchdown instead of what ended up being a field goal for Detroit.

I, like I’m sure everyone else, is at a loss for words at this point. This unit doesn’t have to be great by any means, but they have to stop giving up these big, momentum-shifting plays. And oh yeah, that onside kick wasn’t very good either.

Way too many penalties

Overall the Green Bay Packers have been a disciplined team this season. The only real-time we’ve seen penalties be an issue is in their losses. But that’s oftentimes the case for most teams who find themselves on the losing end. However, on Sunday, they were penalized 12 (!) times for 68 yards with several penalties coming on a Lions’ scoring drive that the Packer defense helped extend.

We don’t typically see this from Green Bay, especially in their winning performances, but it was certainly noteworthy in this game, and hopefully, just a blip on the radar.

Davante Adams

I’m not really sure what else there is left to say. He’s putting together a remarkable season.

The middle of the defense

The middle of the defense has been torched this season, and it continued on Sunday. As of now, I don’t have the exact figures, but Matthew Stafford found a lot of success in that part of the field. This, in part, happens because of Mike Pettine’s soft zone coverage along with some sub-par linebacker play that leaves huge openings for receivers and tight ends to work with. At this point, I’m not expecting it to get much better moving forward. This is just who they are.

Run defense performed quite well

The run defense has caught their fair share of flack this season, but the defensive front did a fine job against Detroit. On 13 carries by the Lion running backs, they were held to just 34 total yards or 2.6 yards per carry.

Now, I will point out that this isn’t a Lions team that normally racks up a ton of yards on the ground, but in part, that is due to a lack of opportunities. D’Andre Swift entered Sunday’s matchup averaging 4.7 yards per carry, which was tied for the 16th most among all running backs this season. But against Green Bay, he was held to just 3.4 yards per carry.

This is why Mike Smith preaches pressures over sacks

If you’ve listened to any interview with OLB Coach Mike Smith, you’ve likely heard him discuss the importance of consistent pressure. And this game was a prime example of why. Green Bay would sack Stafford four times, all of which came in the first half, but for most of the game, he had plenty of time in the pocket to do as he pleased.

Sacks are great, but as Smith points out, consistent pressure will disrupt the entire game (via Packers Wire):

"“I care about pressure, affecting the quarterback, that’s the No. 1 thing. I’ll take a guy that does his job play after play after play after play, being consistent and have zero sacks, but does his job and affects the quarterback,” Smith said. “If you got a room that believes the only way to get a pressure is to get a sack, you’re going to have a very disappointing room in the NFL. These (blockers) are good. I could care less about the sack stuff.”"

What a game for MVS

Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s first catch in this game was his first reception since his fumble in overtime against Indianapolis. And after that catch, he went on to have a very nice game. When it was all said and done, he hauled in six passes on six targets for 85 yards and this beauty of a touchdown:

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1338243238369636362

Valdes-Scantling really did a nice job on those intermediate routes, something that he can hopefully continue taking advantage of moving forward.

Where was Aaron Jones in the first half?

One part of this game that had me incredibly confused was the usage of Aaron Jones–especially in the first half. At half time, Jones had four carries, that’s right, only FOUR carries and no receptions on just one target. Get this man the ball.

A dominant 3rd quarter

Entering the third quarter, the game was tied, and the Green Bay Packers’ offense was starting with the ball. They proceeded to put together a 14 play, 8 minute and 49-second scoring drive to take a seven-point lead. The Packer defense then forces a three and out. Green Bay gets the ball back with just under five minutes left and puts together a 12 play touchdown drive that lasts into the fourth quarter.

It wasn’t a thrilling third quarter by any means, but the Packer offense held the ball for 13 minutes and 39 seconds of it, while the Lion offense was on the field for only three plays. Just like that, we were in the final quarter, and Green Bay was up two scores.

Green Bay Packers control their own fate

With a Packer win and a Minnesota Vikings’ loss in Tampa Bay, Green Bay clinched the NFC North on Sunday. But they received some other help as well, this time from Philadelphia, who beat New Orleans. Now, both the Packers and Saints sit at 10-3 on the season, but Green Bay holds the head-to-head tie-breaker and is now the No. 1 seed, controlling their own destiny.

Aaron Rodgers has played in four NFC Championship games but never has played in one at Lambeau Field. I think it’s about time that he gets that opportunity. If Green Bay wins out, the one seed is theirs.