Dak Prescott gives Packers defense credit for disguises to limit CeeDee Lamb
A big question mark for the Green Bay Packers before the Dallas Cowboys game was how the defensive gameplan would be structured trying to limit CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys wide receiver was one of the most prolific playmakers during the regular season, getting 135 receptions for 1,749 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Looking at the stats […]
A big question mark for the Green Bay Packers before the Dallas Cowboys game was how the defensive gameplan would be structured trying to limit CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys wide receiver was one of the most prolific playmakers during the regular season, getting 135 receptions for 1,749 yards, and 12 touchdowns.
Looking at the stats after the game, Lamb had a strong performance, with nine receptions for 110 yards. But he wasn't that impactful when the game was open, getting most of his production when the Packers had already built a large advantage.
That speaks to how well the Packers coaching staff designed the gameplan. With Jaire Alexander handling an ankle injury, he didn't follow Lamb. Carrington Valentine, Keisean Nixon, and linebacker Quay Walker were responsible for the wide receiver in several snaps, and changing the picture right before the snap was a big key for the early success.
"Credit to them for some of the early looks," Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said after the game, "disguising how they were gonna play him (CeeDee Lamb), and then late, after the snap, moving and not giving me the same picture that they were pre-snap as they did post-snap. Credit to them."
One example of that confusion caused by the Packers secondary structure was Prescott's second interception of the day, a pick-six by safety Darnell Savage. Prescott targeted Lamb through the middle, but Savage jumped into the route to pick it off with a free way to the end zone.
"Anything could happen in these games. Those guys are very talented," Savage mentioned after the game. "Anytime you score on defense, it's a tone-setter. Because it doesn't happen often."
Dak Prescott surpassed 400 passing yards and Lamb, 100 receiving yards. But that's much more situational, because the Packers changed the gameplan in the second half to protect the lead.
"Once we got it going, it was too late," Dak added. "It was as usual, CeeDee going and making plays."
Pressure and results
There was extensive talk about the Packers potentially moving on from defensive coordinator Joe Barry — and fairly so — after a series of bad games against the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Carolina Panthers.
But to give credit where credit is due, Green Bay's defense has had a positive sequence of performances. Over the last two weeks of the regular season, the Packers were second in EPA/play and fifth in success rate — it's a small sample size and below average quarterbacks in Jaren Hall/Nick Mullens and Justin Fields. But it's still a progress, confirmed by a strong postseason debut.
It's early to know what Matt LaFleur will do for the future — after all, the defense still allowed 32 points, and next week's game against the San Francisco 49ers is a big challenge. Moreover, Joe Barry's contract expires after the season.
While Packers fans wait to see what the future holds at potential coaching staff changes, the present is a big opportunity for Barry and the position coaches to take the most out of the rest of this season.
One stat shows how crazily successful the Packers have been at AT&T Stadium
Green Bay is undefeated at Jerry’s World
