Quarterback Jordan Love struggled when his receivers were manned up on Sunday
In their post-game press conferences, both Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Love noted that the Packers were not expecting to face much man coverage in their loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is known for his exotic fronts and blitzes, but zone coverages typically back them.
Unfortunately for Green Bay, the Vikings threw them a change-up. Even worse, it came while receiver Christian Watson (knee) was held out of action with a bruising issue. If you’ll remember, Watson has been one of the Packers’ biggest weapons against man coverage. The best example of this was probably back in 2022 when Watson scored three touchdowns in a win over the Dallas Cowboys, who at the time played a man-heavy defense.
So how bad was it on Sunday? By my count, Love threw 13 passes against man coverages, either cover 0 (straight man), cover 1 (man coverage with a deep safety) and 2 man (man coverage with two deep safeties). Out of those 13 passes, Love completed just five (38 percent) throws for 41 yards (3.1 yards per pass attempt). For perspective, Love was 16 of 20 (80 percent) for 156 yards (7.8 yards per pass attempt) and a touchdown against true zone coverages.
Love made mistakes, like trying to throw a cover 2 hole shot against 2 man, but he wasn’t helped much by his supporting cast, either. Slot receiver Jayden Reed, the Packers’ number one receiver in terms of season-long production, dropped two passes in man coverage versus the Vikings.
On the year, Reed has been relatively erased by man coverages. According to Next Gen Stats, Reed averages 2.7 yards per route run against zone this year. That number drops a full yard, down to 1.7 yards per route ran, when he’s played in man coverage. On the night, Reed finished with four targets for one reception of six yards.
Maybe Watson returns to the lineup this week and the Packers’ man coverage woes vanish as quickly as they appeared. At least on Sunday, though, it was a problem.