Revenge of the Packers at Lumen Field
The Green Bay Packers handed the Seattle Seahawks their sixth loss of the season this past Sunday, completing a clean sweep of the NFC West. The victory not only felt sweet but also helped shake off some old demons, with the pass rush coming alive against Seattle's struggling offensive line. The passing game also looked sharp. Plus, it marked the Packers' first win at Lumen Field since 2008, putting to rest some serious ghosts from the past. It was a fun game for anyone in green and gold. Here are three key takeaways from the victory.
Return of the Injured
While a few injuries are still lingering in Green Bay, players are returning to the field and picking up right where they left off. After missing two games due to a concussion, wide receiver Romeo Doubs wasted no time making an impact. Fans have even started calling him "Guardian Cap Romeo Doubs" after his standout performance. Doubs caught three passes for 40 yards and two touchdowns, showing he can make the tough, clutch catches when needed.
On the defensive side, rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper also made his presence felt. Despite missing the previous three games with a hamstring injury, Cooper looked as if he hadn’t missed a step. He finished with seven tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, two passes defended, and a game-sealing interception. Targeted six times in coverage, Cooper allowed just two catches for 13 yards and posted an impressive passer rating of 2.8 against him. His performance earned him the highest grade in the NFL for Week 15 from Pro Football Focus. With his combination of athleticism and instincts, Cooper’s play makes it hard to believe he’s only appeared in 11 NFL games. The sky’s the limit for him, and his performance this week shows he’s more than deserving of every snap.
The Pass Rush Awakens
Green Bay’s pass rush looked unstoppable, bulldozing through the offensive line and wreaking havoc on whoever was under center, whether it was Geno Smith or Sam Howell. According to Matt Schneidman, the Packers recorded seven sacks from six different players and 12 quarterback hits from nine different players. The relentless pressure completely disrupted the opposing offense to the point where the secondary didn’t even need to do much. Now that the pass rush has shown what it’s capable of, it’s crucial to keep this momentum going through the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs. It’s the perfect time for the defense to find its rhythm because regardless of who’s playing quarterback, a strong pass rush will always throw off an offense's timing.
A New Love
Truthfully, Jordan Love has been that guy. While Packers fans never truly questioned his payday like the rest of the league did, there were concerns about his decision-making. However, over the last four games, Love has silenced those doubts. He hasn't thrown an interception in that span and has thrown for 872 yards and seven touchdowns.
What's even more impressive is his ability to perform under pressure. Part of that can be attributed to his good health, especially after the bye week gave him time to rest. Against Seattle’s blitzes, Love completed 80% of his passes for 119 yards and a touchdown and posted a near-perfect 149.6 passer rating. A healthy Jordan Love is everything a team wants from a quarterback and so much more. If there's one quarterback anyone would want under center for a playoff push, it’s a leader and player like Love.
This was a huge win for the Packers as they head into Week 16. The pieces are starting to fall into place, and with players getting healthier, everything seems to be coming together. Now, it’s all about maintaining consistency. Green Bay has a real chance to secure a playoff spot next week, but after that, it’ll be about ensuring their matchup works in their favor. Looking ahead to the nine-loss Saints, this is a game the Packers should be able to win, especially given how they performed in Seattle.
