SEATTLE - Even when Greg Jennings is having a quiet day, he still manages to make a big play.
Jennings had just two catches for 19 yards through the first 2 1/2 quarters on Sunday, only to bust free for the go-ahead 45-yard touchdown reception that put the Packers on top to stay in their 27-17 victory at Qwest Field.
Long touchdowns are almost becoming commonplace for the third-year receiver. Sunday's big catch was his 19th career TD in the regular season, and his 10th of at least 40 yards in length. In fact, Jennings has a staggering average of 37.3 yards per TD reception for his career.
Jennings has shown a knack not only for coming up big, but for doing so at big times. On Sunday, his 45-yard TD came with the score tied at 10 and roughly six minutes left in the third quarter.
Last season he had critical go-ahead scores of 57 yards vs. San Diego, 82 yards at Denver in overtime, and 60 yards at Kansas City.
The secret to getting open deep when it counts is Jennings' route-running. A smooth and effortless-looking player, Jennings doesn't give away through any false steps or body movements what type of route he's running, making him able to put his extra gear to use when he needs it.
"That's what makes a good route runner, not playing show and tell with them, or when you are you're showing them something you want them to see and hoping they jump on it," Jennings said. "The biggest thing about running routes is you have to be fluid, and I just try to run my routes and make them all look the same."
That's what he did Sunday, beating Seattle's top cornerback, Marcus Trufant, one-on-one down the right sideline. With Jennings and Donald Driver both split wide to the right, Jennings said he took a jab step, or what receivers term a "stick" inside, then got over the top of Trufant and hauled in what he called a "perfect ball" from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
"I knew Greg was one-on-one, and Donald was one-on-one as well," Rodgers said. "Donald was getting held a little bit, so I just tried to get it up quick give Greg a chance and he made a great catch for us."
Jennings nearly had a bigger play the previous possession. With the offense on its own 43, Seattle brought a blitz and left Jennings uncovered on the left side near the middle of the field. Rodgers tried unsuccessfully to get the ball to Ruvell Martin on the right side, and Jennings was jumping up and down waving his arms in vain.
"Nobody covered me, and I was supposed to be the hot read but Aaron decided to look to the right instead of look to the left," Jennings said. "But it wasn't me being frustrated, it was just, 'Oh my goodness ...' That would have been a touchdown.
{sportsad300}"But he gave me a make-up throw, so you've got to love him."
Jennings certainly does love Rodgers' deep throws. He said the on-target toss for the long touchdown was typical work from Rodgers, whose accuracy throwing deep has been fairly consistent, even with an ailing right shoulder.
Jennings finished his day Sunday with five catches for 84 yards, keeping him atop the NFL with 653 receiving yards through six games. With 34 receptions, that's an average of 19.2 yards per catch, also one of the top figures in the league.
"Aaron is one of the best when it comes to putting the ball pinpoint, and he put that ball pinpoint today," Jennings said. "That's exactly where you want it and that's where he put it. When it's in the air you know it's all on you."
