Not too acidic, not too alkaline, a pH level of seven represents the perfect balance in order to achieve equilibrium.
In Week 7, the Green Bay Packers played balanced, complementary football en route to a 42-24 palindromic victory over the Oakland Raiders.
Led by an MVP-effort from Aaron Rodgers, the Packers found ways to produce offense despite missing Davante Adams, the team’s top receiving target, for the third week in a row.
On top of Adam’s absence, the Packers limped into Sunday, quite literally. Marquez Valdes-Scantling was upgraded from doubtful to questionable Saturday with an ankle sprain. Geronimo Allison cleared concussion protocol and fought through a chest injury.
In the end, it didn’t matter: Rodgers was electric behind a well-designed, well-executed Matt LaFleur game plan.
And that’s where the story is, really. Each and every week, the Packers’ offense has found ways to get it done despite the unique challenges each opponent presents. Weak Philadelphia secondary? Air it out. Dallas’ weak interior front? Switch to the inside zone. Detroit’s mush rush with strong coverage over the top? Produce on the ground to utilize passing concepts designed to disrupt the pursuit of coverage defenders.
The constant behind it all is, of course, Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers is “no longer elite,” so say the analytics. Stats can show us a lot of things, but they also don’t have eyeballs. Rodgers’ capacity to protect the ball, throw his receivers open (like the touchdown pass to Aaron Jones today in which Jones had to adjust into the coverage void), and manage the game provide the Packers – when paired with a bend-but-don’t-break defense – with the elite-level quarterbacking necessary to win games.
This week meant playing a good amount of 21 personnel but flexing fullback Danny Vitale into more of a “move” tight end role. Vitale possesses a lot of pass-catching savvy enabling the team to create mismatches against a defense lacking in quality linebacking depth.
Through seven weeks, LaFleur has deliberately integrated his running backs into the passing game. The results speak for themselves: this team is producing offense without one of its best players, and they keep getting better in diverse ways.
All of which isn’t to suggest the Packers can assume this level of production each week without Adams. Execution and quality of opponent matters.
Nonetheless, the Packers are 6-1, they keep improving, and, up against a Patrick Mahomes-less Chiefs teams next week, there’s a real possibility the Packers approach the trade deadline with a 7-1 record.
