Contrast the play back-up Packers RB Chris Brooks made late in the Jacksonville game, with Tyrique Stevenson’s play at the end of the Chicago-Washington game. They’re two huge plays that impacted the outcome. One is full of smarts and poise the other, immature, dumb and unprofessional.

Yes, in a game dominated by elite athletes, intelligence matters.

Taking a smart knee

Brooks heady play to take a knee after gaining a first down, rather than go for his first ever NFL touchdown, was brilliant. By taking the knee he forced Jacksonville to burn its last time-out and allowed Green Bay to win it on the last play with a chip shot field goal.

It was only one example of smart play saving the Packers on Sunday.

Devonte Wyatt’s impressive hip-check of Evan Engram on his way to recovering a game changing fumble was also savvy and sharp. Wyatt literally knocked Engram out of the camera shot while he went to dive on the loose ball. That may have been the biggest play of the game that the Packers quickly turned into 7-points.

Later in the 2nd quarter, Packers tight end Tucker Kraft showed off his smarts. Kraft turned a 30ish yard completion into a 67-yard gain by knowing his leverage, angle and size advantage over Jacksonville safety Andre Cisco to squeeze out an extra 30-yard gain.

Intelligence as a trait

Is this great scouting by GM Brian Gutekunst and his scouting team? Are these players just demonstrating the importance of good coaching? Should the players get the credit for showing poise and smarts? Yes to all. In every game, players and coaches make good and bad decisions. We could surely find dumb plays the Packers made against the Jags on Sunday.

Still, it’s hard to understate the value of big plays made possible by exceptionally smart players doing the right thing in the moment. It’s easy to contrast the Packer plays with the bonehead choice made on the last play by Tyrique Stevenson for Chicago. That contrast is telling and made for a fun Sunday.

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