Packers Vs. Lions - 3 Plays That Make You Go Hmmm
Jersey Al picks out three thought-provoking plays from the Packers' last game.
By JerseyAl
After re-watching the Packers game, here are three plays that made me go hmmm, for various reasons. In general, I either focus on a theme, more nuanced observations, or just things I didn't notice watching live. These can be but are less likely to be "highlight" plays. I present these to you with a short explanation why I picked them and then let you readers discuss the plays.
Note: I was planning to feature the Evan Williams interception to show you how the secondary shifted post-snap, but Dusty Evely did a full examination which we published here on Monday. Definitely check it out if you haven't seen it.
Edgerrin Cooper - As we could have expected, Edgerrin Cooper was all over the field making plays on Sunday. While there were more impactful plays from Cooper, this was one that stood out for me. Jamyr Gibbs is a heckuva running back. He's got moves that can break a lot of ankles and is almost impossible to bring down one-on-one in the open field. Edgerrin Cooper is a linebacker who is so athletic, even Jamyr Gibbs can't escape him. Cooper closes the space between himself and Gibbs without being out of control and is able to grab his legs and bring down Gibbs. Few NFL linebackers could do this.
Lukas Van Ness - As soon as the unfathomable Micah Parsons news broke, my thoughts immediately went to Lukas Van Ness and what this would mean for him. My first thought was that you would see him line up inside in passing situations together with Devante Wyatt while Parsons and Gary man the edges. That's a lot of pass rush firepower. Van Ness's job would be to use his power rush to collapse the pocket and that's exactly what he does here. Van Ness walks the guard right back into Goff and ends up sharing the sack with Rashan Gary.
Situational Awareness - This is a long standing pet peeve of mine - taking poor percentage shots down the field and ending drives when the situation calls for keeping the drive going. Here's the situation: The third quarter is ending and the Packers lead by eleven points. After a fast start in the first half, the offense had been faltering. The previous two possessions to this one were three and outs. This possession started on the 15 yard line and they used eight plays to get to the Detroit 47 yard line, including a lucky break when Branch's pick six got called back for a penalty. It would make a ton of sense (to Coach Al) to keep the drive going, kill more clock and hopefully pad your lead. Throwing a deep ball to a well-covered receiver on third and five would only make sense if you are planning to go for it on fourth down anyway. But that's not what happened. The pass was incomplete and they punted the ball. Note, I'm not saying they should have gone for it on fourth down there, just that it would be a justification for taking a shot on third and five. For my money, you look for short to intermediate routes that would get you a first down and keep the drive going. OK, I hear some of you saying, "If he caught it, you wouldn't be complaining." You're right, I'd be happy with the result, but I'd still think it was the wrong decision.
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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of various hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan living in the land of the Giants (and Jets). Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.
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Comments (45)
Bitternotsour
September 09, 2025 at 02:42 pm
Can't call the game with hindsight. They took a shot. Good. They won with aplomb. Chicago and Minnesota look shit. Good.
jannesbjornson
September 09, 2025 at 02:57 pm
It was a Perfect pass. Reed blew the catch. As Al mentioned, one would expect to go for it on 4th down. Maybe they were not confident running it with guys going in and out of the offensive line, sustaining injuries to Tom and Banks?
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2025 at 04:19 pm
I can't call that a perfect pass, I call that a poor decision. You know what #11 can and can't do, and not only was this a very low probability play it had a high risk of being intercepted, when what we needed was a sure thing to just keep the drive alive. As a strategy, this resurrects the worst of AR 12.
Let's turn the page already ...
Also before seeing the view Al gives us here I wasn't considering this a drop. It was a DROP.
EricTorkelson
September 09, 2025 at 05:16 pm
I'm not seeing a perfect pass rather than a receiver breaking down field immediately recognizing a short throw breaking stride, hand checking the corner and trying to get into position to make the catch... looks like a short throw
joejetson
September 09, 2025 at 08:46 pm
In the first half, Love was converting third downs by completing shorter, higher percentage passes and moving the chains.
Why not stick with that?
CheeseEdWest2
September 09, 2025 at 04:45 pm
You can do things the way you have and have the same issues come up, or you can learn from your mistakes. LF has a chance to do better.
Zapato
September 09, 2025 at 02:48 pm
It looks like Cooper was blocked out of his coverage assignment on Gibbs, but made a heck of a play to tackle him short of the line to gain.
I don't know if the pass to Reed was counted as a drop, but it hit both of his hands. I've seen Reed make tougher catches in the past and feel he had an opportunity to make this catch as well. So, who's to blame?
dobber
September 09, 2025 at 02:57 pm
But he was also being ridden by the DB. I don't think of that as a drop.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2025 at 04:34 pm
Should it have been DPI?
Zapato
September 10, 2025 at 09:42 am
Yeah, I was thinking maybe it was a contested catch situation. Just wasn't sure.
Coldworld
September 09, 2025 at 03:53 pm
Reed has not really mastered the over the shoulder catch, which seldom comes naturally. He makes a hash of a near perfect throw because of that. In reality, that’s not a route I’d have him running and was probably due to lack of healthy alternatives.
I do agree with Al. LaFleur over uses high difficulty/low percentage calls. Particularly without a WR suited to that call, probably better to target the intermediate field.
HawkPacker
September 09, 2025 at 10:18 pm
Yes, I agree. I actually yelled out when he threw the pass as to why throw it 30 yards when you only need 5.
The defense needed rest!
crayzpackfan
September 09, 2025 at 02:49 pm
I was impressed with the whole game. It was fun for my son and I to watch. I'd have to be pretty picky to find a lot wrong here. Other than two back to back potential picks (which is actually pretty ugly), some conservative play calling later in the game especially on 3rd downs and before half on offense and the MLF challenge, I think this game went really well in all 3 phases. I do have some mild worries on the OL with injuries and shuffling players around going forward, but it's game one. I don't know if the Lions have taken a huge step back or we took a huge step forward, but we will all know much more about the league and the Packers by week 4. Until then, I'm gonna just sit back and enjoy how fun this defense is to watch in the meantime. Long season, great start.
dobber
September 09, 2025 at 02:58 pm
Living in a Detroit market and with classrooms full of Detroit Lions fans, I've been chest thumping a little bit...
Starrbrite
September 09, 2025 at 04:32 pm
Excellent!
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2025 at 04:36 pm
A Tarzan yell is appropriate 😎
egbertsouse
September 09, 2025 at 05:25 pm
Now they have to beat Minnesota so some of us can chest thump over here.
joejetson
September 09, 2025 at 08:50 pm
Detroit fans' reaction to this beatdown: "Uh-oh."
HawkPacker
September 09, 2025 at 10:20 pm
What about Lefleur throwing the red flag? It did not matter but it probably will in the future. They need to review how they make the call to throw that flag. Come on Matt.
Bitternotsour
September 09, 2025 at 10:44 pm
you are correct, it did not matter. It still doesn't
Vachio
September 09, 2025 at 02:55 pm
Cooper is a stud and he's going to keep getting better. Super excited about his future.
I'm torn on the 3rd & 5 shot play. I do agree with you in general that they should be looking to move the chains instead of take a big shot down the field in that situation, but...Love had beautiful placement on that pass and Reed should have made that catch. That would have been a demoralizing blow to the Lions.
Gman1976
September 09, 2025 at 04:40 pm
On the 3rd and short replay, the receiver on the left was open for a short gain and a first down. This isn't a big deal in a win, but it has bitten us time and time again. MLF and/or Love need to get out of the rut of throwing bombs on 3rd and short. We saw this when Rodgers was here too.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2025 at 04:41 pm
Absolutely we did. MLF has to improve.
bjkdad44
September 09, 2025 at 07:54 pm
Indeed!!
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2025 at 04:40 pm
The common element between AR12 trying to thread needles from a mile away on third and three and this type of mistake from JL10 who is not as capable in such a situation is MLF. He needs a lexicon entry for "keep the drive alive."
T7Steve
September 09, 2025 at 02:58 pm
The LVN play reminds me why the Packers have a new center this season. Jodan Love had to see that even in his sleep all offseason.
That pass to Reed looked more like a drop when it happened live than it did in this review. It was a good play, but it would be nice to have some short quick possession to Jacobs, Kraft or anyone else in those situations even if it just makes it into a short 4th down. Those might open up some runs later too.
Bitternotsour
September 09, 2025 at 03:22 pm
Jordan Love has ridiculous arm talent
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2025 at 04:42 pm
Even Lisa Simpson knows not to throw a four yard route on third and five.
CheeseEdWest2
September 09, 2025 at 04:48 pm
Use Kraft more. I think he has something in the flavor of Travis Kelcey potential.
LambeauPlain
September 09, 2025 at 03:27 pm
What made LaFleur go Hmmmm was when told Parsons had 30 plays on Sunday after stating he was on the pitch count. He was surprised when told and said "He did? I have to investigate that".
Matt's comment made me go Hmmmm.
splitpea1
September 09, 2025 at 03:30 pm
Always nice to see LVN's talent coming into fruition in the sack department, but I was even more impressed by the third-down tackle he made on Gibbs in the first quarter--he just hauled him down by the shoulders and politely escorted him out of bounds before he could stretch for the sticks. Great play!
Play #3: Yes, maintaining possession should have been the priority. Nice time to look for multiple tight ends or a short pass to a RB to keep the drive going.
Packers0808
September 09, 2025 at 03:42 pm
First thing I said why the fu..... hero ball again. Move the chains and get first down!
Savage57
September 10, 2025 at 04:14 am
It was a contested catch with tight coverage away from being a play we'd be saying, "Did you see that!"
I'm not gonna jump your ass about your comment, bit it kind of reminds me of Holmgren saying, "No, no, no,...YES!" when Favre would stick one of his rocket balls into a seam without any daylight.
Risk and reward will always be inextricably linked.
PeteK
September 09, 2025 at 04:07 pm
That 3rd play is hard to debate either way because all receivers were covered well and Love had pressure.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2025 at 04:44 pm
Look again. He had options. It was a bad decision. Fortunately it didn't really cost us.
Packer_Fan
September 09, 2025 at 05:45 pm
The situational awareness play is one of my bugaboos. Last year the offense stalled too many times in second half and I attribute it to play selection. Those first few series are important and the plays should be selected to keep the chains moving. I call it grinding out a score. And you do that by dinking and dunking down the field to get a score with high percentage plays. Best example when Brady took what the Atlanta defense gave him and won the Super Bowl. I don't know if Lafleur or Love have the humility to do this
stockholder
September 09, 2025 at 06:01 pm
3rd and 5 shot.
I agree with with you Al. Also.
We don't have Devante Adams Left hand.
EricTorkelson
September 09, 2025 at 06:11 pm
Edgerrin Cooper is something special, not only with his athletic ability but also his recognition of developing plays.
LVN bull rush is very impressive just using his arm strength the guard who he was sliding backwards was no small boy, LVN was also moving P Sewell backwards a couple times but not quite to same effect as the video.
The deep throw was a bad decision by Love It looked like he had a receiver doing a crosser but really didn't have much time considering Jenkins whiffed in the middle on his block.
My take and this has happened before is that Lafleur gets ultraconservative when he gets the lead and many times it puts Love in third and long situations. The Lions were teeing off and pressuring Love and this is were he is at his worst. Should have been two picks one of them a game changer by the Lions. When there's a pick and the offense has to tackle and the defense looks to block there's usually chaos encompassed by cheap shots and injuries...
Thegreatreynoldo
September 10, 2025 at 02:45 am
I agree that LaFleur gets too conservative. 6 passes in the second half is not enough. Agree on LVN. Love does have lapses in judgment.
I don't think Wicks was open on the crosser. I do think the checkdown to the left flat was a better bet than the deep fade to Reed because the checkdown, though reasonably well covered, was Kraft, who is hard to bring down and is good at YAC and breaking tackles. Reed is not good at contested catches, which is why they don't throw 50/50 balls to him.
I think Jenkins whiffed. I do think that both Jordan Morgan and Kinnard were also beaten badly on the right side of the line. Jenkins lost the fastest, though.
Snap the ball
September 09, 2025 at 07:17 pm
on that one was a 50 50 ball to Reed
Need to throw to the outside
If he wanted to throw to Kraft his body needed to be ready for a catch on the outside away from the linebacker vs looking insude.
13titles
September 09, 2025 at 07:24 pm
A pet peeve of mine is calling a run out of the shotgun on third and short. Has this EVER gotten a first down?
jannesbjornson
September 10, 2025 at 09:55 am
It works in college, or High School ball...
Cheddarhed
September 09, 2025 at 10:07 pm
I agree enough of with the hero ball. Take what the defense gives you and move the sticks. That pass as tough as it was looked catchable IMO.
Packerpasty
September 10, 2025 at 10:31 am
use your TE's more in short yardage..they are capable...
PhantomII
September 10, 2025 at 05:40 am
Thanks,AL
Brady won A LOT of Championships by merely...... ALWAYS..... just move the CHAINS mentality with a quick sure handed slot guy.....Looks like Golden is the only one that fits this scenario....HMMM....Fix that ML/Love.