1. Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Stat line: 4 catches, 149 yards, 1 TD
Maybe all the talk of trading for Will Fuller got to him. Maybe he’s finally settling in and focusing. Whatever it is, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is turning it on at the right time.
His first catch was much like most of his others. The Jaguars were in a single-high safety, whose attention turned to Adams as soon as the play started, leaving MVS with one-on-one coverage with Sidney Jones. Jones couldn’t keep up with him and Valdes-Scantling cruised in for the longest play on the Packers season and a 78-yard touchdown.
That type of play is usually followed with a lapse in concentration that usually comes with a drive-ending drop. This time it was not to be. MVS made all his catches, including the kind we are used to seeing him drop.
Running a crossing route on third down late in the third quarter, Rodgers scrambled out to his right and found MVS for a first down, keeping a scoring drive alive.
We have seen many times this season where MVS’ focus slips and he starts running before securing the catch, killing what could have been a promising drive. Not in this game.
Valdes-Scantling has now put together back-to-back strong games and is giving opposing defenses more to think about.
Allen Lazard’s return is right around the corner; that’ll be another weapon for the Packers. If MVS can stay on this path, the Packers offense could become one of, if not the most dangerous in the NFC.