Green Bay Packers: 3 X-factor players for Week 11 vs. Colts
Green Bay Packers X-factors for their Week 11 matchup against the Colts?
Coming off of a shaky win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10, the Green Bay Packers are looking to keep that in their rearview mirror as they head to Indiana to take on the fearsome Indianapolis Colts, a team currently sitting at 6-3, in Week 11.
The Packers are sitting in a position where a win could push them ahead of the crowd in the NFC as the 7-2 New Orleans Saints are neck and nneck with them, while the 7-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 7-3 Seattle Seahawks are trailing closely behind.
In year-2 under head coach Matt LaFleur’s regime, the Green Bay Packers are buzzing on offense as they’re averaging just over 30 points on offense per game, ranking third in the NFL behind the (8-1) Kansas City Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks.
As good as the Packers’ offense has been this season, the Colts have constructed a hair-raising defense that has allowed the fewest total yards of offense in 2020, as they currently give up just 290.4 yards per game headed into Week 11.
With all of this being said, let’s breakdown who the three X-factors will be in this intriguing matchup for Green Bay in order to push for an 8-2 record on the year.
Green Bay Packers X-factor No. 3: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
When Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been able to catch passes, he’s been an absolute nightmare as a deep threat wideout. Valdes-Scantling has the ability to break free for big-time plays in the air, as he’s currently tied for the league-lead in receptions of 40+ yards (4), shared only by Seahawks wideout D.K. Metcalf.
If it weren’t for some (rough) dropped passes, MVS would have this lead in his back pocket.
In order for the Packers to keep this Colts defense off-balance, Valdes-Scantling needs to be able to show up in those big moments where he can snag a massive 40+ yard gain to force the secondary to play off of the line. If he adds onto his five dropped passes on the year, however, it’s going to be a very long and insufferable day for Green Bay’s air attack, as Indianapolis is going to generate a lot of pressure on quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
We all know what Davantae Adams can bring to the table. Now it’s time for Marquez Valdes-Scantling to show everyone that he can be a legitimate target for Rodgers in the passing game.