From the viewpoint of the Green Bay Packers, here are five aspects to observe in Sunday’s NFC and AFC Championship Games.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The NFL will host its conference championship matches on Sunday, with the Green Bay Packers excluded from the event.
Here are five aspects to observe from a Packers viewpoint as the Philadelphia Eagles welcome the Washington Commanders and the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Buffalo Bills for a chance at the Super Bowl.
Quarterback Motion
Indeed, knee and groin injuries clearly restricted Jordan Love’s mobility this season. He rushed the ball on 25 occasions for 83 yards and obtained nine first downs. However, his legs didn’t play a significant role last year, as he rushed 50 times for 247 yards and achieved 16 first downs.
Love doesn’t have to perform like Jalen Hurts or Jayden Daniels, yet his above-average athleticism ought to be a valuable advantage. In fact, Aaron Rodgers achieved eight seasons with over 20 rushing first downs.
Among Sunday’s quarterbacks, Washington’s Daniels was second with 891 rushing yards, Philadelphia’s Hurts came in third with 632 yards, and Buffalo’s Josh Allen placed fifth with 531 yards.
It’s more than just the yards. It’s the capability to advance the ball. Hurts (62), Daniels (55), and Allen (52) ranked one-two-three in rushing first downs among quarterbacks. Among all players on third down, Hurts (29) recorded the highest number of rushing first downs, while Daniels and Allen (21) were tied for second place. Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City (12) surpassed Josh Jacobs (11).
Mahomes rushed for 307 yards and ranked 14th with 22 first downs, yet he’s among the greatest playoff scramblers ever because he does what it takes to secure a victory. In the previous year’s Super Bowl versus San Francisco, he carried the ball nine times for 66 yards. One year prior in the Super Bowl versus Philadelphia, he carried the ball six times for 44 yards. During the 2021 playoff victory over Buffalo, he was the top rusher for the Chiefs with 69 yards.
Love has demonstrated his abilities. NFL regulations have significantly reduced the dangers. Regardless of whether it’s planned runs, bootlegs, or scrambles, Love must be set free.
To Blitz or Not to Blitz
If there were a single “correct” method to play defense, every team would adopt that approach.
Was Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley occasionally too cautious? Perhaps. However, being aggressive doesn’t necessarily lead to winning football.
Steve Spagnuolo of Kansas City is regarded as one of the legendary figures among defensive coordinators. As reported by SportRadar, the Chiefs recorded the fourth-highest blitz rate at 31.6 percent. Under the guidance of coach Dan Quinn, the Washington Commanders recorded the fifth-highest blitz rate at 31.5 percent.
On the opposite side are their adversaries. The Eagles, guided by coordinator legend Vic Fangio, recorded the fifth-lowest blitz rate at 19.1 percent. He bombarded Love just a single time during the wild-card match. The Bills, under their defense-focused coach Sean McDermott, recorded a blitz rate of 19.1 percent.
Hafley’s Packers ranked second-lowest at 17.3 percent.
“For me, it’s all about the points,” Hafley stated prior to the playoff game. “Therefore, if you need to focus on one aspect, it’s points scored.” I truly think we’ve limited the points to provide ourselves an opportunity to win matches because, in the end, it’s all about winning. Therefore, if you informed me that we would win and have a shot at the playoffs, I would feel quite pleased, and if we contributed to that success and assisted our team in achieving it, then that’s our responsibility.
Incidentally, 17 players recorded over 10 sacks this season. Only one will play on the field this Sunday, Dante Fowler from the Commanders, who achieved 10.5.
Number One Receiver
With Green Bay’s group of young receivers not stepping up this season, should the Packers consider drafting or acquiring a receiver this offseason to fill the No. 1 receiver role?
The Eagles possess a top receiver in A.J. Brown. He has ranked in the top eight for receiving yards per game over the past three seasons. Conversely, in two playoff matches this season, he has recorded three catches for 24 yards.
The Commanders boast a top receiver in Terry McLaurin, who just completed his fifth straight season with over 1,000 receiving yards. He achieved a career-best 13 receiving touchdowns and recorded playoff games of 89 yards with one touchdown and 87 yards with one touchdown.
The Bills sent their top receiver, Stefon Diggs, to the Houston Texans in a trade. Khalil Shakir, a former fifth-round selection, stands out as the sole player on the team with over 45 receptions and 560 yards, totaling 76 catches for 821 yards.
The top receiver for the Chiefs isn’t a wideout; it’s veteran tight end Travis Kelce, who topped the charts with 97 catches for 823 yards. Their top receiver, Xavier Worthy, made 59 receptions for 638 yards and six touchdowns.
Returning to the initial inquiry, do the Packers require a top receiver? The response, according to the teams from Sunday, is a definite no.
“I understand the phrase No. 1 receiver is often used, and I believe its definition varies for each person,” general manager Brian Gutekunst stated. “However, I want our football team to reach a stage where we can excel in situational football more than we currently do.” I believe that for us to accomplish that, that group needs to take certain actions, and I think they will. “They’re headed in the right direction.”
Running Backs Are More Than Just Runners
We touched on this earlier this week, but observe how the quarterbacks advance the chains.
On the third attempt:
The Bills, who placed second in points scored, achieved nine first downs through passes to their running backs.
The Commanders, who ranked fifth in scoring, achieved six first downs through passes to running backs.
The Eagles, who ranked seventh in scoring, secured nine first downs through passes to their running backs.
The Chiefs, ending up in 15th place for scoring, achieved 13 first downs through passes to their running backs.
The Green Bay Packers? They possessed nothing.
This refers back to Gutekunst’s statement from earlier. The Packers aren’t required to have a top receiver. They merely need to improve in situational football. Delivering the ball to a running back in open space, instead of compelling it to a receiver, can often be the superior choice.
Third and Fourth Downs
The third down is the most crucial down. It’s common knowledge.
The Chiefs ranked second in the NFL for third down efficiency (48.5 percent), while the Commanders were sixth (45.6 percent), the Bills seventh (44.1 percent), and the Eagles 10th (41.7 percent).
The NFL today has evolved into primarily a four-down game, and the championship teams on Sunday excel the most in fourth-down situations. The Commanders topped the list on fourth down conversions (87.0 percent), with the Bills next (72.7 percent), followed by the Chiefs (70.6 percent) and Eagles (70.4 percent).
Having quarterbacks who can create opportunities is beneficial. Having coaches who aren’t hesitant to take risks is also beneficial. Just three teams attempted it less often than the Packers (16).
The Commanders attempted it nine times in just their first two playoff matches.
“I believe that’s our identity for the entire season,” Quinn stated prior to last week’s playoff victory in Detroit. “However, when you are halted early, you simply must remain steadfast, reminding yourself, ‘Keep your chin in and keep fighting,’ aware that this is a game that will last until the very end.”
