The Green Bay Packers returned to Lambeau Field looking to cement their position at the top of the NFC North. To extend their five-game winning streak, the Green and Gold would have to dispatch the Washington Football Team and their defensive line capable of single-handedly wrecking an offensive gameplan.
The Packers started the afternoon with a methodical 75-yard touchdown drive that took almost eight minutes and was capped off with a 17-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams. After Washington scored on their first drive, the two teams traded punts and blocked field goals until the Green and Gold pulled ahead with a two-minute drive that put them up seven at the half.
The Packers were able to pull away in the second half, highlighted by the defense stepping up and recording a massive stop at the goal line.
Here are five numbers that tell the story of Green Bay’s win over Washington.
152
Rodgers looked to push the ball downfield on nearly every play and was successful on passes over 10 yards, completing nine of 11 of them for 152 yards. Over his last six games, Rodgers is showing that the Week 1 performance against the New Orleans Saints was a fluke and that he can still be the player he was last season.
He also was highly accurate, finishing with an 84.4 adjusted completion percentage. While he was very successful throwing the ball, we need to talk more about how he escaped pressure and slid outside the pocket to make plays. We saw, time and time again, that when the pocket collapsed he could escape the pressure and extend the play.
2
Rodgers might have had a good day, but A.J. Dillon struggled. He fumbled twice, once on a reception and the other time on a fourth-quarter run. Though he only lost one of them, it is concerning to see this given who the Packers thought they were getting in the second round of last year’s draft. Dillon is a powerful runner and can fight after contact to get yards. But he needs to hold onto the ball to maximize this strength.
With Dillon still adjusting to the NFL, it becomes more apparent why the Packers were willing to keep Aaron Jones around. He provides an option in both the receiving game and as a ball carrier who has a different style to Dillon with better ball security.
60
Allen Lazard also had an impressive game, racking up 60 yards and a score. While Lazard might not have the most eye-popping stat line, I think this is precisely what the offense needs from him and all the other pass-catching options not named Davante Adams. With Adams being the threat that we all know he is, the other receivers have to find a way to capitalize on the extra attention defenses give Adams and haul in the passes thrown their way.
Robert Tonyan also had a great day. He made sure to celebrate National Tight Ends Day, recording four grabs for 63 yards and a score. If both Tonyan and Lazard can keep this form up consistently, the Packers’ offense can be in good shape and potentially draw less attention to Adams.
10
Rashan Gary was an absolute nightmare for the Washington offense this game, racking up 10 pressures. Gary was a force to be reckoned with, and he made one of the biggest plays of the game, recording a sack for a fumble at the start of the second half. This turnover put the Packers at the Washington 27 and allowed them to double their lead.
While there was some discourse earlier in the year about Gary being a bust, I believe that he silenced all of these critics with his performances while filling in for Za’Darius Smith. Gary has recorded 17 pressures in the last two weeks alone.
This season he has ranked fifth in total pressures (35), second in QB hits (9), and third in win percentage (24.3). While the Packers taking the long-term development route with Gary might have been initially frustrating, it looks like they got it on the money. Gary is emerging as one of the top young pass rushers.
4
De’Vondre Campbell has continued his reign as PFF’s highest-graded linebacker this season, racking up four defensive stops. Campbell has been a revolutionary player for this defense, providing Green Bay with an inside linebacker who is always at the center of almost every play.
Campbell has filled one of the most vital needs on defense while being on an affordable one-year deal. He also recorded a critical forced fumble at the goal line that took all of the momentum out of the Washington offense.
With Campbell set to be a free agent this offseason and teams taking note of his performances thus far, it will be fascinating to see just what the Packers decide to do with him moving forward.
