The Green Bay Packers won their 11th game of the 2020 season, using a hot start and a few big pieces late to get rid of a return offer from the Carolina Panthers on Saturday at Lambeau Field.
The Packers led 21-3 in the second quarter, but eventually held on for a 24-16 victory.
Here are three things to love about the Packers victory:
Run the game
Green Bay Packers Aaron Jones, 33, rushed 47 yards in the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, December 19, 2020, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
The Packers ran 195 yards, including 169 on 22 designed routes and 145 on 20 Aaron Jones transports. Of the 22 races designed, 13 won at least five meters, including six of eight meters or more from Jones and an 18-meter course by rookie AJ Dillon. Coach Matt LaFleur admitted he should have run more with the ball, especially in the second half when the Packers became far too dependent on the RPO and short-range game, which were largely unproductive. Jones broke a 46-yard run, setting up a touchdown, and Dillon’s run helped create another scoring unit. With the passing game, the Packers needed parts on the field, and Jones and the offensive line were delivered. Teams simply don’t lose often when they rush almost 200 meters. The 195 rushing yards is the second-largest game in a Packers game since hiring LaFleur.
Domination of the red zone
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Excursions in the red zone are opportunities to score seven points. The teams watch how often they record touchdowns when they enter the 20-yard line, because setting goals on the field or turning the ball is essentially sacrificing points. The Packers were perfect in the red zone against the Panthers, scoring three touchdowns in three trips. The offense has now scored touchdowns on 40 of 51 trips to the red zone this season, the best percentage (78.4) in the NFL by a significant margin. Meanwhile, the Panthers fought inside the red zone on Saturday night, scoring just one touchdown in five trips. Carolina was satisfied with three field goals and had a turnover that changed the game on the goal line. If five trips to the red zone provided an opportunity for 35 points, the Panthers ended up sacrificing 19 points. The packers did not sacrifice any. Matt LaFleur’s ability to be so good in situational football wins games, even when the packages are not at the best overall level.
Safe game
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The Packers looked like they would have one of the best safety duos in the NFL coming into 2020. Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage needed some time, but the potential is realized all along. Amos was fantastic against the Panthers, breaking three passes and delivering a sack, while Savage continued to look like a difference factor, especially when he played near the scrimmage line. Together, the Packers’ safety broke four passes and had two loss approaches and four more approaches 1-3 meters from the scrimmage line. Improving the defense can be closely watched along the Amos and Savage exit. They both play at a high level as the playoffs approach.