Acme Packing Company
The Green Bay Packers ended up losing 22-16 in overtime to the Chicago Bears in week 16, primarily because the offense could not produce a single touchdown inside the red zone. They finished the game 0-for-5 on red zone scoring opportunities as they had to settle for three field goals, two of which came on drives of 14 and 16 plays.
There are a number of reasons why the Packers lost this game, but this was the single biggest factor. And it’s one they’ll have to address in the playoffs. Walking away from a game without a single red zone touchdown is inexcusable from a player and coaching perspective. And there is certainly enough blame to go around for a group that did not do it’s job well.
On the first possession, the Packers offense stalled on 4th and 1 at the Bears 6-yard line when they failed to convert. Everything from the play selection, to the throw, to the receiver route, it all factored in.
This is a play that’s been covered before here at Acme Packing Company by Dusty Evely, and it’s one the Packers have run with regularity in the red zone.
It’s a 3×1 concept designed to attack the end zone sideline from the low red zone with the two inside receivers running to the front pylon and back pylon. The #1 receiver on the outside runs a quick slant underneath with the option to break outside.
As you can see in the route tag above, the receiver should aim the out cut of his stem at the front pylon. Christian Watson is the intended target here. He ends just a yard off of his path and isn’t able to get to the ball. Jordan Love threw it right at the pylon like he’s supposed to. The minute details matter and Watson was slightly out of position.
We can never fully know if that’s how Watson is coached to run the route or not so we can give some benefit of doubt here. And everything is always hindsight after a play doesn’t work. But I do also take issue with head coach Matt LaFleur’s propensity to put his quarterback and offense in shotgun in short yardage situations where very often they’re chucking it downfield only to come up short.
This isn’t a downfield throw, but maybe the play selection wasn’t the best call here as they only needed a yard for a fresh set of downs inside the 5-yard line. Or maybe just kick the field goal. That was arguably one of the biggest missed opportunities in this game on the opening drive.
In their next red zone opportunity, the biggest miss came courtesy of the offensive line. On a screen pass to Josh Jacobs on 1st-and-goal from the 9-yard line, #71, Anthony Belton, should have peeled back to block the Bears #50 Grady Jarrett, who ends up making the play.
On screen passes, the backside guard is responsible to peel back around and check for...
