Sunday’s game between the Packers and Vikings didn’t go as planned, with Green Bay falling short despite a late-game rally. As always, it’s time to dissect the Packers’ passing game and identify what went wrong.
Breaking Down the Passing Chart
The Packers’ passing chart against the Vikings showed a solid mix of intermediate throws and a few deep attempts, which aligned with expectations. However, there were missed opportunities for more deep shots, as quarterback Jordan Love typically opts for these when pressured.
Love’s performance against the blitz stood out. His average depth of target (ADOT) when blitzed was 9.0 yards, slightly below his season average of 9.5 yards. He also showed a controlled approach, taking an average of 2.8 seconds to throw when blitzed, compared to 2.48 seconds when not blitzed.
The Vikings brought relentless pressure, blitzing Love on 74.3% of his dropbacks (26 times). Love completed 13 of 21 passes (61.9%) for 114 yards and one touchdown under this pressure, with an adjusted completion percentage of 68.4% (or 72.2% if a difficult drop by Romeo Doubs is included).
When the Vikings didn’t blitz (on just nine dropbacks), Love was 6 of 9 (66.7%) for 71 yards, with an ADOT of 11.3. His adjusted completion percentage in these situations rose to 77.8%, factoring in a dropped pass by Jayden Reed on fourth down.
Packers Receivers Struggle with Spacing
The Packers’ receivers faced a significant challenge against the Vikings’ defense, which played extremely physical at the line and downfield. This disrupted route timing and spacing, often leading to muddled reads for Love.
One critical example occurred on a 3rd-and-5 play late in the second quarter. The Packers ran a concept called “High Cross,” with Bo Melton on a wheel route and Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs running crossing patterns. The design relies on precise spacing to create openings, but both Reed and Doubs took overly inside releases, ending up just a few yards apart at the break point.
This poor spacing prevented the routes from influencing the deep safety, leaving Love with no clear options. With pressure closing in, Love attempted a deep pass to Melton, but the throw missed its mark.
Had the spacing been cleaner, the deep safety could have been drawn to Doubs’ route, potentially opening up a one-on-one opportunity for Melton. Instead, the crowded alignment disrupted the entire play.
Looking Ahead
While this play highlighted some of the Packers’ struggles, there were also positives to take from the game. Love showed poise against the blitz, and the team demonstrated flashes of potential. In the coming days, we’ll dive into some of the more successful elements of their performance. For now, this example serves as a reminder of the importance of precision and spacing in the passing game.
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