Green Bay Packers: 5 Early signs they’re Super Bowl contenders
By Joe Kipp
2. Matt LaFleur is an astute play-caller
The Packers offense has been on fire through two weeks, thanks in large part to excellent game planning, play calling, and in-game adjustments from Matt LaFleur. Now in his second year as Green Bay’s head coach, LaFleur’s offensive tendencies are far more apparent (which is a good thing).
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers appears to have a better command of the offense, while the ancillary pieces have provided the necessary contributions to make everything else run smoothly. Running back Aaron Jones, who leads the NFL in rushing yards (234), has been a focal point. As LaFleur has stated several times, his offensive philosophy relies on the running game to set up the passing game. Additionally, we’ve seen much more pre-snap motion this season.
Overall, Green Bay ranks first in the NFL in yards per game (505), points per game (42.5), yards per play (7.1) and average time of possession (38:01). All four are key statistics when judging the productivity of an NFL offense. The Packers are the cream of the crop, albeit in a limited sample size, but nothing seems to be slowing them down.
It’s unrealistic to expect the Packers to put up 40 points every week, but if LaFleur can continue to attack defenses by running the ball, controlling the clock, and letting Aaron Rodgers do the rest, Green Bay will be in every game this season.