It. Is. Time.
Christian Watson is trending in the right direction to play in Week 16, but he's below 100 percent. Romeo Doubs' production has declined. Dontayvion Wicks is battling through injury.
Matthew Golden, finally healthy after dealing with shoulder and wrist injuries, provided another glimpse into his star potential throughout last week's loss to the Denver Broncos. It's now over to Matt LaFleur to fully embrace Golden's inevitable breakout.
Matt LaFleur needs to finally unleash Matthew Golden in huge showdown versus Bears
If Watson plays, he'll get his opportunities. And rightfully so. The passing game should run through Watson, but he can only do so much, especially in a game six days after he had to go to the hospital due to chest and shoulder injuries.
Golden stepped up last week, as he has done whenever called upon this season. The rookie hauled in three catches on four targets for 55 yards.
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He showed off his separation ability. And his hands. And how he can stretch defenses with explosive plays. Jordan Love found Golden on catches of 27 and 18 yards, one a contested grab, the other where he was wide open. The rookie also drew a crucial pass-interference penalty on a third down.
It's clear Love trusts Golden in big moments. He has all season. Rewind to Week 4 in the wild overtime tie with the Dallas Cowboys. Facing a 4th-and-6 with the game on the line, Love hit Golden for 14 yards. This season, 15 of his 27 receptions (55.6 percent) have gone for first downs.
Doubs had been Love's go-to target early in the season, but he has made just eight catches over the past four games. He failed to make a catch on two targets in the Week 14 win over the Bears.
A trio of Watson, Golden, and Jayden Reed is the Packers' future. It should also become their present.
According to Pro Football Focus, neither Watson nor Golden has dropped a pass this season. Reed has one. Wicks and Doubs have three each.
Golden caught everything in college, and again in the Packers' offseason program and then training camp. So, too, in the regular season. We've seen his ability to separate downfield and generate explosive plays. We've seen he can win contested catches.
Finally fully healthy, it's time for LaFleur to feature Golden in a pivotal matchup against a Bears defense that just loves to give up explosive plays. According to Sharp Football Analysis, Chicago allows an explosive-play rate of 7.4 percent, the second-highest in the NFL.
Watson and Golden on the field together? Good luck. LaFleur can no longer ignore his first-round pick.