GREEN BAY – Packers right tackle Zach Tom sitting just barely in the top 10 in Pro Bowl voting at his position doesn't do justice to the way the third-year pro is playing.
His game film from the victory in Seattle looks like a clinic on how to play right tackle, as a number of different defenders tried their hand against Tom and got nothing done. His work is as steady as it gets to anchor down that edge in Green Bay's offense.
That's not to take away from a lot of other standout blocking up front against the Seahawks – which will be pointed out at different junctures in the following clips – but here's a closer look at Tom's stellar performance.
Play No. 1: First-and-10 from the Seattle 19, first quarter, 12:01 left
Result: 8-yard run by RB Josh Jacobs
Not every block is the prettiest, and sometimes how a blocker recovers from less-than-perfect execution can make or break a play. Here on the game's opening drive, Tom initially gets turned by DE Leonard Williams (99) and might even trip slightly over the foot of TE Ben Sims (89) to his right. But Tom's recovery and balance are outstanding, as he seals off Williams, Sims kicks out LB Boye Mafe (53), and TE Tucker Kraft (85) runs LB Ernest Jones IV (13) right out of the play. Jacobs hits a dynamite hole to get the Packers deep into the red zone.
Play No. 2: Third-and-goal from the Seattle 1, first quarter, 9:23 left
Result: 1-yard TD run by Jacobs
Four snaps later, the Packers are knocking on the door, and Tom delivers the key block to get Jacobs into the end zone. Tom gets great leverage on LB Derick Hall (58), locking him up under his pads to stand him up. As RG Sean Rhyan (75) moves DT Jarran Reed (90) to the left, Jacobs takes a jab step to his right to bait Jones IV into going to the outside gap off Tom's right hip. Jacobs cuts back inside off Tom's left hip and scores.
Play No. 3: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 20, first quarter, 6:43 left
Result: 21-yard reception by Jacobs
First play of Green Bay's next drive, and it's straight one-on-one pass pro, as Tom handles LB Uchenna Nwosu (10) with relative ease while at the same time providing a clear throwing lane for QB Jordan Love to get the checkdown throw out to Jacobs quickly. Jacobs does most of the rest, with a hat tip to Kraft for smartly backing off LB Tyrice Knight (48) in the open field and not blocking him in the back. TE John FitzPatrick (86) also gets into the blocking act downfield on CB Riq Woolen (27), it turns into an explosive gain, and the Packers are on the move again.
Play No. 4: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 41, first quarter, 5:59 left
Result: 9-yard completion to WR Jayden Reed
Very next play, initially this doesn't look like it'll end well. But again, watch Tom's recovery against the surge from LB Dre'Mont Jones (55). He steadies his feet and body position, so much so that Love even has time to hitch on his first throw before hitting Reed underneath for a productive gain.
Play No. 5: First-and-10 from the Seattle 30, first quarter, 3:58 left
Result: 9-yard run by Reed
Three snaps later, it's an end-around with Reed, and Tom just takes care of business against Jones, so well in fact that Kraft provides a little bump help but Tom doesn't really need it, so Kraft goes and finds Jones IV. Also worth watching here is RB Chris Brooks (30) kicking out CB Devon Witherspoon (21), and especially WR Dontayvion Wicks (13), as he puts on the skids just in time to make sure SS Rayshawn Jenkins (2) doesn't get a free run at Reed in the backfield. Wicks gets just enough of Jenkins so Reed can get outside, and the other blocks set up a nice running lane.
Play No. 6: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 40, second quarter, 11:04 left
Result: 36-yard completion to WR Christian Watson
Third drive for the Packers, and Seattle's best pass rusher, Williams, is back on Tom's side. Tom's on an island, with the rest of the line using four to block three rushers. No problem, though, as Jacobs doesn't even bother to help, and Williams doesn't come close to affecting Love, who has a clean pocket to make a whale of a throw to the boundary for Watson's crazy good tip-toe catch.
Play No. 7: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 30, third quarter, 6:20 left
Result: 39-yard DPI penalty on CB Josh Jobe
This play is actually Green Bay's longest of the night, albeit via penalty. But that doesn't diminish what Tom did to help make it happen. Jones decides to make an inside charge, but Tom completely stymies him, and Jones winds up so far inside that Love has an easy escape route to fire on the run downfield to Watson, who draws the DPI.