Matt LaFleur’s Offensive Game Plan Was Well Designed and Well Executed
By GilMartin
The Green Bay Packers offense continued to roll up points and yards in their NFC Divisional Playoff win over the Los Angles Rams on Saturday. The Packers offense was facing the NFL’s stingiest scoring defense, but the Packers came in with a well-designed game plan and then did a great job of executing it.
The Rams entered the game with the top passing defense in the league (based on yards allowed per game) and the third best rushing defense. They had an elite defensive lineman in Aaron Donald and an All Pro cornerback in Jalen Ramsey who was going to try to shut down Davante Adams.
When you add the snow flurries and relatively cold temperatures of Green Bay in January, head coach Matt LaFleur had several challenges to overcome to score enough points to win this playoff game.
So, what did LaFleur do? He created a game plan that allowed the offense to keep the ball moving and resulted in nearly 500 yards of offense and 32 points.
The Packers came out of the gate mixing the run and short passes when running LaFleur’s scripted plays. Three of the first four plays were runs with a short pass to Adams mixed in. Both Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon carried the ball in the opening drive. Rodgers’ first three passes were intended for three different receivers with Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown getting targets in addition to Adams. All the passes were short which made it harder for the Rams pass rush to get to Rodgers and forced the Rams defensive backs to expect more passes close to the line of scrimmage.
The opening drive resulted in a field goal after the Packers moved the ball 63 yards on 12 plays and took 6:21 off the clock.
By the end of the game, Adams led the Packers with 10 targets and nine catches but he had only 66 yards. The Packers remained patient and kept Adams involved in the offense and did an excellent job of taking what the defense gave them. These were safe plays that gained six or seven yards consistently and kept the offense moving the ball down the field.
The Packers did a good job of spreading the ball around. Both Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling had eight targets each in the game while tight end Robert Tonyan had four catches on four targets.
Rodgers and LaFleur stayed predominantly with the short passing game but it helped set up a 58-yard bomb to Lazard for the game clinching touchdown. Lazard had another shot at a long pass play on a key third down earlier in the game but he uncharacteristically dropped the football. He got redemption on the touchdown catch.
LaFleur also had a perfect call to scheme Adams open on the Packers first touchdown of the game. It came on a third-and-goal from the Rams one-yard line with the game all even at 3-3. The Packers sent Adams in motion across the line of scrimmage and Ramsey moved across the line of scrimmage while attempting to cover him. The ball was snapped just after Adams cleared the last player on the line of scrimmage and before Ramsey could get close to the receiver. The result was an easy touchdown and Ramsey was visibly frustrated by the play.
The other three passes caught by Adams while Ramsey was covering him were all short and quick plays where Adams could use his skills to disguise his route right off the snap of the ball. There were two slant passes and one quick pass at the line of scrimmage and each picked up between six and eight yards. There was little Ramsey could do about these plays. They simultaneously kept Adams involved in the offense, kept the chains moving and frustrated the Rams All-Pro cornerback.
The Packers also ran the ball effectively and maintained excellent balance throughout the game. In fact, the Packers attempted 36 passes and ran the ball 36 times in this game.
The rushing attack gained 188 yards on 36 carries, a healthy 5.2-yard average per rush and that included three kneel downs by Rodgers to close out the game.
The offense also did a good job of spreading the carries between their top three backs. This kept all three players fresh (until A.J. Dillon left the game with a quad injury). Aaron Jones led the way with 14 carries for 99 yards including a 60-yard dash on the first play of the third quarter that helped set up a one-yard touchdown run by Jones five plays later.
Jamaal Williams carried 12 times for 65 yards and ran with visible determination while Dillon ran six times for 27 yards.
You can’t overlook the strong play of the Packers offensive line in this game either. Rodgers was not sacked at all and the Rams were credited with just one quarterback hit all game and one tackle for loss. Donald did not make a solo tackle and was credited with just one assisted tackle. All three runners also had holes to run through.
The results were outstanding. The Packers scored on each of their first five drives (three touchdowns and two field goals) and gained a total of 484 yards in the game. Green Bay punted only twice all game and went an impressive 8-for-12 on third down conversions against the league’s best defense.
The combination of an intelligent game plan and consistent execution has helped get the Packers to the NFC Championship Game for the second consecutive season. They have a chance to get back to the Super Bowl next Sunday for the first time in a decade.
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Comments (56)
NickPerry
January 17, 2021 at 11:39 am
I mentioned MLF's game plan in "Game Balls Lame Calls" too Gil. It was a great game plan carried out to perfection. The O-Line whipped the asses of all the other Rams D-Linemen who contributed to their #1 ranking. I'd say Donald was at least 75% good to go though I'm only speculating. Hey NO ONE was feeling bad the Packers didn't have DB so TO BAD, no excuses please!
Elgin Jenkins will be the BEST O-Lineman in the NFL in 2 years
One thing I wanted to point out was Savage and Amos. The Rams have two very dynamic, one VERY fast TE's who caught 2 passes for 5 yards on 3 targets. The Rams LOVE their TE's so IMO you have to hand it to the Packers Safeties and rest of their secondary.
NO ONE was talking about the Packers defense, especially on the Pre-Game show on the NFL Network and they certainly didn't give the Packers offense much of a chance to roll up 500 yards and score 32 points. Love them "Experts"!
THIS team is dialed in offensively and defensively. They've played their best football the last 3 games since 2014. I can't wait to see what MLF and Hackett have planned for next week!
# 8 Quarters!!
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 12:13 pm
The experts don't always get it right, that's for sure. I love what the offensive line did and how well they've overcome injuries all season and never missed a beat. Jenkins has the potential to be a perennial All Pro for years to come and I have enjoyed watching him develop into a great player. The defense did their job and the safeties, as you mentioned played well especially the last six or seven games plus the playoff contest. Looking forward to next week, too. Thanks for the comment, NickPerry, always good to hear from you.
Stroh
January 17, 2021 at 07:29 pm
No matter how the experts talked about Rams D, nearly every one of them picked the Packers to win. So they actually did get it right . Just sayin..
Condoriano
January 17, 2021 at 04:45 pm
Totaly agree with Jenkins statement. He owned (half injuried) Donald. Best lineman this tear hands down
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 06:57 pm
He's been amazing to watch and his versatility is outstanding. He played tackle, center and guard for the Packers this season. Thanks for the comment, Condoriano.
Condoriano
January 17, 2021 at 04:45 pm
Totaly agree with Jenkins statement. He owned (half injuried) Donald. Best lineman this tear hands down
ShooterMcGee
January 17, 2021 at 11:48 am
While there were so many outstanding efforts on both sides of the ball, 5 game balls should be given to the O-line. Jenkins was man-handling Donald to such an extent that he got a 15yard personal foul. The run game had lots of holes to run through, and when they didn't the rbs bounced off of even the hardest hits. Turner held up at LT and Wagner at RT, and that hold called on Wagner was bogus. Linsley seemed to be 5 yards down field pushing people around, and Patrick was solid. All this against the #1 defense?! Their play forebodes great things to come.
canadapacker
January 17, 2021 at 11:59 am
Just a couple of points - that was not the real Aaron Donald - he was hurt - but that D is tough without him and we still did great things. I was really happy with the Oline . It just would have been nice if Lazard didnt have that drop - it did change the momentum for awhile. I loved the D and the pressure although the Rams are different without Cupp - I just wish we would have tightened the coverage up - when the Rams didnt have Cupp and our Dline getting after Goff so well it is hard to imagine that Woods would have gotten the ball if they did get behind us. I didnt like those 20 yard completions in front of us. But we havent won nothin yet - enjoy this and heal for a couple of days and get ready for Brady or Brees.
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 12:20 pm
No doubt Donald was not 100 percent, but the o-line made him a non-factor and gained nearly 500 yards on the league's best defense. The next game won't be easy but this team is clearly capable of winning it. Thanks for commenting, canadapacker, always good to hear from you.
Stroh
January 17, 2021 at 05:32 pm
They should have made him a non-factor considering his injury. Its had to be incredibly painful for him to breathe heavily. It can't be underestimated how much it limited him. That's not meant to take anything away from the OL, they played an outstanding game no matter.
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 06:59 pm
No doubt the injury was a factor in limiting him and I give him a lot of credit for trying to play in a big game despite it. And yes, as you said, the o-line did an outstanding job. Thanks for the comment, Stroh, always good to hear from you.
barutanseijin
January 17, 2021 at 12:28 pm
Did Donald lose his motivation to play through pain because he was getting beat, a la Cutler in the 2010 NFCCG?
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 12:30 pm
Not sure if we'll ever know. I give him credit for being out there under difficult circumstances and I think he's got to be hurting even more today. Either way, he was not effective and the Packers o-line did a great job of limiting his impact. Thanks for the comment, barutanseijin.
Stroh
January 17, 2021 at 05:35 pm
I seriously doubt that. Breathing heavily is incredibly painful and difficult with that injury. It had nothing to do with motivation.
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 07:00 pm
Agreed. He showed guts just by trying to play.
Stroh
January 17, 2021 at 07:33 pm
He also showed how much he cared by his emotions after the game.
Demon
January 17, 2021 at 04:08 pm
Would it have been better if it was MVS that dropped that pass? Kind of a double standard IMO.
A healthy Donald wouldnt have made much a difference. Surely it wouldnt have changed which team won the game.
The Pack steamrolled a very good D missing the best O lineman in the game.
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 07:01 pm
A healthy Donald may have changed a few plays and the momentum, but no, I don't think the Rams would have won the game. Thanks for the comment, Demon.
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 12:16 pm
Well said, ShooterMcGee. I did mention the offensive line and they did a great job throughout the game and the season. They have overcome injuries throughout the season and are the top o-line in the league. Wagner and Turner are unsung heroes for this team this season. Thanks for the comment.
Rick1
January 17, 2021 at 11:51 am
The offenses game plan was a balanced attack. The offensive line was up to the challenge. They had a couple of drops and a fumble but never wavered. The Rams number 1 defense found out that this team has a ton of options. The team is confident and locked into the title run. Championship teams have a look and all players have that swagger. This is a championship team period.
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 12:17 pm
They certainly have the potential to be a championship team. They have two more games to win and they won't be easy, but wow this game was a great performance by the offense and defense. It was great to see what this offense did to the number one defense in the league. Thanks for the comment, Rick1.
PeteK
January 17, 2021 at 12:11 pm
The ability to spread the ball around and run the ball well , makes this offense unstoppable. Add a defense that goes after the QB( perhaps the strength of this D) in crunch time and we have a champion. We will see an abundance of no huddle next week , but we have a week to prepare.
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 12:18 pm
We'll have a week to prepare and I think they'll be ready. The coaching staff has really done a good job of preparing solid game plans. Thanks as always for commenting, PeteK.
Alberta_Packer
January 17, 2021 at 12:34 pm
The offense is elite - while the defense may be just OK. In total, it may be sufficient to win the next 2 championship games. Will there be a complementary piece - "Mike Pettine's Defensive Game Plan Was Well Designed and Well Executed?"
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 12:34 pm
I think the defense did well enough. They didn't force any turnovers, but they did put pressure on Goff and prevented splash plays. There were lulls, but the overall defensive game plan worked in part because of the offense was putting up points. I think Pettine's game plan was solid. I'd love to be able to write an article like that in the next two weeks. Thanks for the comment, Alberta_Packer, always good to hear from you.
Alberta_Packer
January 17, 2021 at 12:55 pm
While I was being somewhat facetious about the complementary piece - I think that your point that "the defense did well enough" is the report card for the D (for the year). Truly, the offense playing keep-away has been the Ds greatest ally. Still of concern was the Ds inability to handle an up tempo offense and Pettine's insistence on playing with a 3 man front and soft zone. Outstanding individual performances (Clark and Gary) saved the day for the D and made Pettine's game plan look better than what it was. So I look forward to your next article.
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 07:02 pm
Thanks, Alberta_Packer. The up-tempo and soft zone are concerns. We often take an early lead, play soft zone and watch the lead dwindle, then come up with a big play and end up winning the game. It is playing with fire.
Stroh
January 17, 2021 at 07:38 pm
Have to say the D is more than just OK. The last 6 games particularly, they have been very good. 17 or so puts per game! Can't ask for better in today's NFL.
splitpea1
January 17, 2021 at 02:23 pm
The motion really worked for us a couple of times. On the TD, Ramsey was delayed in traffic, and that extra second was enough to get Adams open.
Even though Rodgers got rid of the ball relatively quickly most of the game, the offensive line gave him plenty of time even when he didn't. No sacks allowed, and that's pretty impressive against that defense.
The one minor concern about our defense was the Barnes hand injury and club he was using; it looks like it hindered him making a tackle at the goal line and later (not) coming up with an interception. At least he was able to play following the injury, which is good because we're going to need him.
Crankbait
January 17, 2021 at 05:28 pm
The club is a liability. Teams will exploit that.
Lphill
January 17, 2021 at 02:15 pm
Thank you Gil always an excellent analysis, my only gripe is although limited , special teams was awful, 2 bad punts, poor kickoff coverage , botched extra point if this was a close game it could have cost us a victory .
Lphill
January 17, 2021 at 02:18 pm
And the limited use of Snacks Harrison when the Rams were averaging 5 yards a carry .
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 07:04 pm
Thanks for the kind words, Lphill. Yeah, special teams has been a problem all season. I'd like them to just be OK and not hurt the team. They don't need to be spectacular, just do no harm. Thanks for the comment.
Stroh
January 17, 2021 at 07:45 pm
They may have averaged 5 ypc, but the Rams running game wasn't a factor in the game whatsoever, except for one drive at end of half, when the Packers were in nickel defense. So there was no need to play Snacks. At this point he's someone You play him when you need him and he wasn't needed.
HighPlainsDrifter
January 18, 2021 at 02:32 am
2 bad punts?? JK's second punt was perfectly placed right around the 10 yard line.
HighPlainsDrifter
January 18, 2021 at 02:42 am
The defense holds the Rams to 18 points, gets 4 sacks, yet you want your shiny new toy to play more?! Sure, if Snacks had been in every play he would have single-handedly stopped Akers for no gain every run. Tell us this, genius: Who would you have taken out of the game for Harrison?
Roadrunner23
January 17, 2021 at 03:37 pm
Nice Gil
Once again the student schools his teacher
MLF is the GOAT (or will be) ;)
Demon
January 17, 2021 at 04:18 pm
MLF is the GOAT? Please explain! I am thrilled at the job MLF is doing. He is doing everything that McPadlevel didnt, but saying he is the GOAT this early, settle down son.
Roadrunner23
January 17, 2021 at 05:12 pm
Ok I am a bit excited haha :)
Stroh
January 17, 2021 at 09:20 pm
How many HC have ever gone 13-3 and to the NFCCG in each of his 1st 2 NFL seasons? Not saying he's the goat yet by any means but he's been a terrific HC thus far and Murphy and to a lesser extent Gutey deserve a ton of credit for hiring him!
Demon
January 17, 2021 at 08:57 pm
George seifert I think Belichek may be in the discussion for GOAT.
Stroh
January 17, 2021 at 09:24 pm
Belchertown is the GOAT, as much as it pains me to say it.
So in other words, Lafleur is in a group of 2? Yeah, I'd call it pretty stellar. Seifert had the same advantage as Lafleur by having a HOF QB. So they stand together by themselves!
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 07:05 pm
The student did teach his former teacher a lesson. Was great to see. Matt LaFleur is off to one heck of a start as a head coach. Thanks for the comment, nostradanus, always good to hear from you.
[email protected]
January 17, 2021 at 04:28 pm
I agree the game plan & execution was brilliant. My only concern is on the D side. Can that soft shell defense stop a good offense?
We will find out soon enough. Here's hoping so. Go Pack Go!
Crankbait
January 17, 2021 at 05:30 pm
Breeze and Brady would eat the Packers defense up alive if we played that same three-man rush against them.
Stroh
January 17, 2021 at 07:52 pm
What game were you watching? I can't remember a single play with a 3 man rush. Don't be an azzhat.
Crankbait
January 17, 2021 at 09:10 pm
In the second half.
Didn't realize that your opinions are gospel here?
Stroh
January 17, 2021 at 09:26 pm
They aren't gospel cuz I ain't God. But they're almost always right!
Jaylee
January 17, 2021 at 10:08 pm
Well you're not this time. There were a number of 3 man rushes.
That said, we even got pressures with a couple of our 3 man rushes, which is why Pettine went back to it couple of times.
Guam
January 18, 2021 at 05:36 pm
Did you actually watch the game? In this thread you have claimed there were no three man rushes and the Rams rushing attack was ineffective. There were a number of three man rushes in the second half. And Cam Akers rushed for 90 yards and averaged 5 yards per carry which is a good day for any NFL running back. I wouldn't be calling others an azzhat.
flackcatcher
January 18, 2021 at 12:03 pm
The Packers rushed to contain first, not to go after the QB. There was at least 3- 4 and sometimes 5 on pass downs. But remember, this defense first priority was to shut down the Akers and Rams run game.
GilMartin
January 17, 2021 at 07:07 pm
It is a concern, no doubt. The defense always does just enough to hold teams to a field goal or get a big play when they need it most. But even when they get the job done, they often make me nervous. Thanks for commenting, [email protected].
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porupack
January 18, 2021 at 06:10 am
MLF outcoached McVay. He took McVay’s script for defense, and rather than try to pick apart Rams secondary, went bold and went right after the strength of Rams defense. Wow. MLF. Lot more can be said about his game plan.
Coaching is also just getting guys ready to play and balling out. I thought the receivers had that extra determination and MVS fighting for that 1st Q first down....just started to have an effect on teamates.
Coaches/Rodgers going aggressive. That last drive in first half just demoralized the Rams. That is hitting the throttle when sensing the Rams were reeling. Good thing the Rams had a half time, to muster up some courage. Otherwise, GB could have had them waving the white towel.
Getting multiple receivers involved early with short passes. Very patient. Getting balls early to MVS, St Brown, Adams, Tonyan. Sweet. Quick releases. MVS extra effort at beginning of 4th quarter was huge to convert the 3rd down and change momentum on the scoring drive.
You can see the effect of the deep threat on Rams secondary, and allowing GB to get those short passes early on. Goff just didn't have that deep threat. Even though Rodgers missed on a deep MVS route, it had a chilling effect on Rams secondary. It is good coaching/game planning, even if it is maddening at times that Rodgers goes for a deep ball on 3rd down. It is necessary gamble.
jlc1
January 18, 2021 at 08:41 am
The Donald was injured story doesn't work. He played and they got something from him if only the Pack double teaming him thus creating opportunities for others. The Pack played without the best tackle in football the whole game. So net advantage, on paper, to LA on injuries and they got thoroughly stomped.
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