Quick passing game will be key for Packers offense vs. Washington defense
As this Green Bay Packers offense tries to find some sort of consistency, the quick passing game against Washington will be a key element in doing so.
We do not know what the Packers’ offensive line configuration on Sunday will look like, but we do know that this unit is going to be tested once again, going against a Washington defensive front that Matt LaFleur called a “nightmare.”
The Commanders have generated the third-highest pressure rate through six weeks and the sixth-most sacks. Edge rusher Montez Sweat and interior defensive linemen Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen all rank in the top 10 in their respective position groups in total pressures this season.
This is where the Packers leaning on the quick passing game will be helpful. Not only to provide the offensive line with some assistance as they simply won’t have to hold their blocks as long, but also because Aaron Rodgers and this offense have been very effective this season when the ball is out quickly.
“I gotta deal the ball as quickly as I can,” said Rodgers on Wednesday. “I think when we are in our best rhythm is when the ball is coming out of my hand on time. There’s a lot that goes into that. Obviously, we got to protect it for that time; we got to get open on time. There’s a lot of different factors.”
As Rodgers said, it’s not as simple as throwing the ball as quickly as possible. The offensive line still has to provide enough time – and there were some awfully quick pressures against New York – along with the receivers being open and in the right spots at the right times.
However, when those things have aligned, and Rodgers has gotten the ball out in under 2.5-seconds in 2022, he’s completed 77% of his 126 passes at 7.2 yards per attempt with eight touchdowns to one interception.
In fact, one of the Packers’ most efficient and effective stretches on offense this season came against the New York Giants in the first half, where the quick passing game dominated. On average, Rodgers had the ball out of his hands in 2.09-seconds, the quickest rate in a half since 2020, per Next Gen Stats.
On those pass attempts, Rodgers completed 13 of his 16 passes for 64 yards, with the Packers scoring 20 points in those two quarters. His average air yards on those plays was just 4.2, but it gave the Green Bay pass catchers the opportunity to pick up yards after the catch, which they’ve been among the best at in the NFL.
Leaning on the quick passing game doesn’t mean abandoning the deep ball, either. With the Packers’ inability to connect on downfield passes this season, opponents have been shrinking the field by playing closer to the line of scrimmage, which then can make moving the ball on quick – but shorter – passes more challenging.
So this deep passing threat still needs to be a part of the offense in order to keep the defense honest. Also, connecting on a few is a must as well, because trying to routinely string together 12-plus play scoring drives just isn’t a consistent way to put points on the scoreboard.
Although the Washington defensive front is stout, the pass defense has struggled, allowing the most passing touchdowns and the fourth most yards. This is a defense that has also had issues with tackling this season, including missing 15 against the Chicago Bears in Week 6.
As always, there will have to be a number of other elements that come together if the Packers are going to find success on offense, but the quick passing game can be the catalyst while also providing the offensive line with some much-needed assistance.
List
Packers vs. Commanders: 5 things to watch and a prediction for Week 7
