GREEN BAY – Matt LaFleur often repeats the mantra that explosive plays lead to points, and while the Packers would like to capitalize on more scoring opportunities as the 2024 season hits the stretch run, those chances will be there if this offense stays as explosive as it's been.
With an explosive play defined as a run of 12-plus yards or pass of 16-plus, the Packers rank sixth in the league this season with 84 such plays – and four of the five teams with more have played 11 games to Green Bay's 10 so far.
The Packers also are tied for fourth specifically in explosive runs with 34, and two of the three ahead of them have played one extra game.
In short, quarterback Jordan Love & Co. have one of the top two or three most dangerous offenses in the league when it comes to chewing up big chunks of yardage, and it's no accident.
"It's something that we focus on throughout the week," Love said. "That's a key part of kind of our identity on offense, is to go out there and get those explosive plays, whether it's in the run game or pass game. It's just a credit to the playmakers we've got."
Indeed, the Packers share the wealth in the big-play department. Nine different pass catchers have recorded an explosive gain this season, and six different runners have. Plus running back Chris Brooks is just shy of joining both lists, with an 11-yard run and 13-yard reception as his season longs.
The offense showed perhaps its best propensity for big plays this past Sunday in Chicago. The Packers generated nine explosives, and while that number was in line with the team's per-game average, it needed only 42 snaps to get them (not including one kneel-down).
Even more impressive is when the 11 snaps in the red zone are taken away – yardage-wise it's obviously much harder if not impossible to get an explosive close to the goal line, and the Packers got one in the red zone vs. the Bears when Love scrambled for 13 yards – the ratio was eight explosives in just 31 snaps.
That's downright scary for opposing defenses, yet LaFleur believes still more could be out there.
"There's certain things we've got to continue to work on situationally, to give us more opportunities, in particular third down, to generate more explosive plays," he said, referring to the Packers' 36.6% conversion rate, which ranks 22nd in the league.
Still, LaFleur credited the entire unit, particularly the pass protection, for its ability to cash in on the big play when he dials one up.
"We've called a little bit more, I would say, aggressive plays down the field, and it takes the guys up front being able to hold on to do that," he said. "And then I think this year, we've done a good job in the run game, probably generating more explosives with our rushing attack than we have maybe in the past. It's a credit to some of the scheme, and then our guys again, being able to go out there and execute."
The added piece to the explosive equation this past week was running back Josh Jacobs in the passing game, as he turned in receptions of 23 and 21 yards on designed routes out of the backfield that got him into open space.
One good block in the flat was all Jacobs needed on those plays and he was rumbling downfield.
"Anytime we can get the ball in Josh's hands with 5 yards between him and the next defender, good things are going to happen," Love said. "He makes you right when you get him the ball."
LaFleur also gave a nod to his new offensive consultant, former Jets coach and best friend Robert Saleh, who had a hand in the design of receiver Christian Watson's 25-yard catch down the left sideline and into the red zone in the third quarter at Soldier Field.
"He always gives us a nugget," LaFleur said.
That was one of four explosives for Watson in Chicago, as his other three catches gained 17, 48 and 60 yards for a career-high total of 150, which accounts for almost half of Watson's season total of 383 receiving yards in just one game.
If that outing forces future opponents, beginning with the 49ers this week, to focus more on Watson's speed and game-breaking ability, more explosives could open up for others as the games get bigger and bigger down the stretch for the Packers.
"We've got a lot of guys who are really good when they get the ball in their hands, that can make people miss, and they go hunt those big plays," Love said. "It's all about the guys we have in this locker room."
