Green Bay Packers wide star Davante Adams may not have had his best game on Sunday, but the Baltimore Ravens were so focused on containing it that it allowed Marquess Valdes-Scantling to have his best outing of the year.
The Packers took a 31-30 victory on Sunday, thanks in large part to a strong attacking and passing match performance. Aaron Rodgers helped cement his MVP status with another 268 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions on the day.
However, it was a relatively quiet game from Adams. He finished with only six grabs for 44 yards and a touchdown. It was the second-lowest yards this season for Adams, and the only game he had fewer yards was against the Kansas City Chiefs with quarterback Jordan Love playing under position.
Baltimore was intent on slowing Adams’ performance on Sunday, playing double coverage or bracketing Green Bay’s future for the majority of the game. Rodgers stated after the match that the constant double coverage was a definitive sign of the star’s widespread respect, and opened up the rest of the attack.
Even earlier looks showed how focused the Ravens’ defense was on slowing Adams down. You can see just two examples of how Baltimore’s defense responded to Adams in the move below.
With Adams teaming twice and Randall Cobb sidelined with a thigh injury, one of the Packers’ other receivers had to step up. Valdes-Scantling has been calm for most of the season after missing a number of games with a hamstring injury, but Sunday was his first real chance to top the stats list.
The MVS finished the game with five receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. Some of his games were cute before him, others were creative play designs, and one in particular was just an amazing throw from the future Hall of Famer.
MVS’s first reception of the day was a good example of contact play. The 27-year-old receiver battles through the defensive linebacker to gain outside influence, then continues to push forward to open up at the end. The broadcast suggested it might have been a poor throw by Rodgers to leave him short, but the Packers quarterback allowed the MVS to make a catch without the safety of making an over-the-top play.
Good job by MVS fighting through the connection to get upfield.
People saw this as a bad throw for Rodgers, but he had to fall between playmaker CB and safety. pic.twitter.com/jTV3Nc0hKu
– Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) December 21, 2021
Although considered a deep vertical threat, MVS has been able to find other ways to play the plays without trying to fall behind in high school. This quick obstacle versus coverage was a good example of this, as I cleared the line of scrimmage with a quick foot movement before stopping at a dime.
Like easy view and capture of MVS.
Good editing of it versus coverage outside. He appears to be running across the field before cutting off his feet and stopping, then picking up the first point after the hunt. pic.twitter.com/P7DOpw9eRL
– Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) December 21, 2021
The corner player has been playing so far out of coverage and expects Valdes-Scantling to try to go deeper. You can even watch playmaker CB’s back after the hit, just to give the MVS plenty of cushion so he can catch him, then finish the play down first.
Body control became another strength for MVS on the tape. At 6’4 inches and 206 pounds, the beam receiver does a good job of getting himself in a position to catch the ball by shielding the ball from the defender with his whole body. His touchdown came in a nice deflection against a corner player playing the outside lever, cutting inside and then running across the goal line for his third TD of the year.
MVS had a good game on Sunday.
Playing CB with external leverage, MVS makes a nice cut with good body control to position himself for a clean catch.
A great extension to cross the goal line too. pic.twitter.com/K1Ksc9iYwM
– Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) December 21, 2021
We’ve seen some great plays from MVS against the Ravens, but coach Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett also did a great job setting plays to unlock other receivers besides Adams.
The play below was a great design that gave MVS his biggest advantage in the game. The design is perfect against leg coverage. With MVS and Allen Lazard running 10 yards into the roads, trailblazing Josiah Deguara helps get safe out of the throwing window. Lazard Road washes away the other defensive linebacker, leaving the MVS in a one-on-one game.
Nice game design.
Deguara’s late trajectory knocks the DB out of the throw lane, and Lazard gains inner clout to carry his DB.
The MVS Gentle Cut feature gives it plenty of room for third-order conversion. pic.twitter.com/ECB0PwPbSj
– Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) December 21, 2021
With its speed and explosiveness, the MVS is easily able to create a separation at the stump and finish yards after catch for 31-yard gains.
Having the best midfielder in football definitely helped Valdes-Scantling to have a big game as well. Rodgers makes at least one shot each week, and on Sunday that throw happens to be headed toward the 27-year-old.
Nice game design.
Deguara’s late trajectory knocks the DB out of the throw lane, and Lazard gains inner clout to carry his DB.
The MVS Gentle Cut feature gives it plenty of room for third-order conversion. pic.twitter.com/ECB0PwPbSj
– Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) December 21, 2021
This was supposed to be a standout year for the MVS, but a hamstring injury and a lack of training reps with Rodgers made it difficult for the two to hit the same page. Packers fans hope a game like this is just what the two need to start calling frequently on the big plays to help offenders keep placing points.