Packers: Top five performers vs. Raiders in dominant Week 7 win
By Jesse Fry
4. Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Marquez Valdes-Scantling only caught two passes in the game, but he made them count. The first was a 59-yard bomb on the first drive of the second half that set up an Aaron Rodgers touchdown run. This play was reminiscent of the plays Rodgers used to run with great success with Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings before him. A play-action fake, roll right, wind up and launch it deep.
The second was a 74-yard catch-and-run that closed the scoring for the Packers. MVS caught a nicely run out route for what would have been a first down, but he then outran the tackle of his defender, then everyone else.
Both plays showed in different ways just how valuable Valdes-Scantling’s speed can be. On the 59-yard play-action pass, MVS ran a good route and then gained separation for the big gain.
On the second, he caught what should have been a first down but not much more. But he was a full yard or two away from his defender, turned the corner, got a good block from Aaron Jones then outran everyone else on the field.
These catches were also a good sign for how bad his ankle and knee injuries might be. He was able to run without losing any speed.