GREEN BAY – When an offense runs the ball 38 times for 179 yards, and its quarterback throws 32 passes without being sacked, it's a day the offensive line shined.
That was certainly the case for the Packers against the Cardinals. With the rotation at right guard and brief injury to center Josh Myers, the Packers used six offensive linemen throughout the game, so this film review will feature one standout play from each of those six linemen.
Play No. 1: First-and-10 from the Arizona 44, first quarter, 11:26 left
Result: 14-yard run by RB Josh Jacobs
On the first play of Green Bay's second possession, the blocking is outstanding across the board. But this will be the play specifically to highlight rookie first-round pick RG Jordan Morgan (77). It starts with Morgan and RT Zach Tom (50) double-teaming DL Naquan Jones (96), but as LB Mack Wilson Sr. (2) looks to fill the gap, watch Morgan's left arm very closely. Very quickly, he pulls it off Jones to get a piece of Wilson, showing a fair amount of strength to impact both defenders. The contact with Wilson proves to be just enough for Jacobs to burst through the hole and then get some yards after contact at the end as well.
Play No. 2: First-and-5 from the Arizona 25, first quarter, 10:30 left
Result: 16-yard run by WR Bo Melton
On the next snap (after an offside penalty on the Cardinals), it's Myers showing his athleticism in space. First, the inside run fake helps open this up, as WR Christian Watson (9) and FB Andrew Beck (47) sell the fake so well that LB Dennis Gardeck (45) gets drawn in off the edge. Then watch the big 310-pound center get out in front and throw a punch into the shoulder of LB Kyzir White (7) to prevent him from getting close to the ball, followed by a backside shield of Gardeck as Melton makes it first-and-goal.
Play No. 3: Third-and-goal from the Arizona 5, first quarter, 9:00 left
Result: 5-yard TD pass to WR Jayden Reed
Pass protection as a whole doesn't get any better than this. But here the spotlight is on LG Elgton Jenkins (74), who is manned up against DL L.J. Collier (91). No chip, no help, and Jenkins completely stones him, giving no ground, allowing plenty of time for Reed to come all the way across the field and beat former Packers LB Krys Barnes (51) for the score. QB Jordan Love has a perfectly clean pocket from which to deliver, and Jenkins is one of the first few guys who comes over to celebrate with Reed.
Play No. 4: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 20, first quarter, 6:37 left
Result: 19-yard completion to WR Romeo Doubs
On the first play of the Packers' next drive, the pass protection once again stands out as textbook. This time, the guy one-on-one with no chip or help – except for one quick swipe from Jenkins – is LT Rasheed Walker (63), who's dealing with DL Bilal Nichols (92). This play lasts a full five seconds from snap to throw, and Love's blind side is never in danger. Once again, the full pocket is as good as it gets for a QB.
Play No. 5: Second-and-10 from the Green Bay 39, first quarter, 5:15 left
Result: 19-yard completion to RB Emanuel Wilson
Two snaps later, the Packers have the perfect call against a Cardinals blitz – screen pass. Reed motions out of the backfield before getting a great block on the outside, and this sets up so nicely that neither Myers nor Jenkins even blocks anybody downfield. The lineman to watch here is RG Sean Rhyan (75), who locks up with Nichols and stays with him all the way to the end of the play, as Nichols never gets within striking distance of Wilson to try to slow him down.
Play No. 6: Fourth-and-1 from the Arizona 36, second quarter, 8:44 left
Result: 14-yard completion to Watson
Sometimes offensive line play is all about doing whatever you can, legally. That's what Tom does here on fourth down, as he starts by helping Morgan against Collier, turns to see that TE Tucker Kraft (85) is having zero trouble with Wilson on the edge, but then senses that Collier is starting to slip through. So what does he do? Throws his backside into him to give Love just enough time to layer an incredible throw between three Arizona defenders for the first down.
Play No. 7: Second-and-7 from the Green Bay 24, fourth quarter, 4:49 left
Result: 11-yard run by Melton
On a day the offensive line played so well, the tight ends shouldn't be ignored. So this will finish with a play that highlights both Kraft and TE Ben Sims (89) as the Packers closed out the victory. On another end around to Melton, Sims seals off Wilson on the edge with basically one arm, while Kraft provides an effective chip/thump on Collier before immediately proceeding to lock up Barnes on the second level. As he's known to do, Kraft finishes the play with authority, and is pretty fired up about it.
