Green Bay Packers missed passing opportunities defined Week 7 game

A handful of missed passing opportunities defined the Green Bay Packers’ Week 7 performance against the Detroit Lions, including a critical 4th-and-4 failure in the second quarter and an incomplete pass in the final minutes of a 17-17 tie.

Second Quarter Fourth-Down Failure

With 4:20 remaining in the second quarter, the Packers attempted a “Mesh Sit” play from a Quad Bunch Nub formation using 11 personnel. In this specific alignment, wide receiver Matthew Golden was positioned in the backfield while running back Pierre Strong served as the inside man in the bunch. The design intended for the bunch receivers to create a “wall of commotion” to free Golden on a flat route.

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The play used a 4×1 formation with three receivers in a bunch on one side and the tight end in-line on the opposite side. Tucker Kraft and Pierre Strong ran dueling drag routes, while Savion Williams followed a drag before pulling up on a sit route in the center of the field. Christian Watson ran a corner route. Jordan Love aimed to catch the Lions mid-communication by using a quick-snap after walking to the line.

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Quarterback Jordan Love read defender DJ Reed at the snap. While the bunch push initially seemed likely to trap Reed, the defender avoided contact and maintained speed to drive down on Golden, resulting in an incomplete pass.

Love’s primary read was the vertical route by Watson, followed by the mesh point consisting of Kraft, Strong, and Williams, with Golden in the flat as the final option. If Love had waited, he might have found Strong, though Strong was part of the Mesh point read on the play.

Final Offensive Drive

The Packers’ final offensive play of the game occurred with 3:30 remaining in the fourth quarter and the score tied 17-17. Facing a 3rd-and-5, Green Bay again utilized 11 personnel with a bunch to the right. The play featured a shallow crossing concept between Tucker Kraft and Matthew Golden, with Christian Watson running a corner route.

The Lions defended the play with a single-high safety and numerous players near the line. Before the snap, Kraft shifted wide, which left Watson and Golden in a two-man stack just outside the right hash.

During the play, Josh Jacobs motioned out at the snap, but the drive ended with an incomplete pass to Jacobs just before a blocked field goal attempt.

It remains unclear how the Packers will adjust their Mesh variants or personnel alignments in future contests.