GREEN BAY – In holding the Colts to just 10 points Sunday, the Packers' defense surrendered more explosive plays than it would've liked.
By one metric, which defines explosive plays as runs of 12-plus yards and passes of 16-plus, Green Bay gave up eight (five run, three pass).
But the Packers' response to those big plays helped keep points off the board, and integral to that response were two tenets of the defensive philosophy Head Coach Matt LaFleur emphasizes at every turn – play style and takeaways.
By play style, also harped on by new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, LaFleur means everyone hustling to the ball at all times, and the first play of the fourth quarter was exhibit A.
Just a few snaps earlier, the Packers had given up back-to-back gains of 18 and 29 yards to running back Jonathan Taylor, first on a screen, then a run.
Moments later it was third-and-1 from the Green Bay 28-yard line, and the Colts got tricky with an option look. Veteran linebacker Eric Wilson played it expertly, stringing the play out from the QB to the pitch man while the rest of his defensive mates were rallying from all angles to get to the ball.
The effort and hustle were evident, from cornerback Jaire Alexander not allowing the receiver to block him cleanly, to safety Xavier McKinney sprinting from deep to fill a potential running lane, to linebacker Isaiah McDuffie getting up (after getting knocked down) to help finish the play.
The resulting 4-yard loss pushed Indy's field-goal try back to 50 yards, and kicker Matt Gay missed.
"That was a great example of the play style that we need to have, because it's hard to be perfect in this league on defense," LaFleur said Monday. "You're going to give up some plays. That's just the nature of it, and we're going to coach the crap out of it not to give up any yards. But the offense is going to gain some yards. I do think that's why the play style is so important."
Turnovers go a long way, too, as an answer to allowing a big play.
Wilson's fourth-quarter interception, on Indy's next drive following the pivotal third-and-1 stop, came just two snaps after a 30-yard completion down the sideline.
Likewise, McKinney's first-quarter interception came right after a 17-yard run by Taylor and 13-yard completion to receiver Ashton Dulin. The defense may have seemed on its heels, but not getting rattled and keeping eyes on the QB in coverage allowed McKinney to be there when Anthony Richardson sailed his next pass well over his intended receiver's head.
"Our defense is predicated on vision, and when you play with vision, typically you're able to get more interceptions – especially if a guy makes a bad decision or if he airmails a ball," LaFleur said.
Add rookie safety Evan Williams' interception of the Hail Mary on the final play of the game, and the Packers now have five INTs in the first two games of the season after getting just seven in the entire 2023 regular season.
The fifth interception should've been linebacker Quay Walker's, but on the first play of the Colts' last drive, Richardson's pass went right through his hands, deflected off his helmet, and was caught by Pierce for a 15-yard gain. That should've ended the game, and it never should've come down to a Hail Mary.
"Quay's sick about it," LaFleur said. "There's no doubt about it.
"He's got to make that play, and I know he can make it. He's made that play in the past, but he's beating himself up over it."
Regardless, the five interceptions have been turned in by four different players, and the emphasis on play style and takeaways would suggest more will get in on the action.
The Packers are taking advantage of their depth on defense to spread out the workload, which should pay dividends in both the short and long term. In the opener against the Eagles, 15 different defenders played at least one-quarter of the defensive snaps. Against the Colts, it was 17.
"Getting the ball out is so important, running to the football, our ability to play a bunch a different guys up front is really up important," LaFleur said. "We played multiple guys in the secondary and you don't see that that often, so right now it's a luxury to have.
"Hopefully we can continue to stay healthy, but it's a luxury to be able to play that many people because you stay fresh and that's hard on an offense."
