As expected, special teams won the day for the Green Bay Packers in Sunday’s matchup against the Chicago Bears.
The Packers still have a lot of work to do on some of their biggest season-long issues, including red-zone efficiency, drops, and the linebacker rotation. Still, they did just enough to fend off the floundering Bears.
You’d like a more complete game over a struggling team like Chicago, but every win should be cherished. Among the many things the Packers did well, this game highlighted the value of Christian Watson to this offense and why he needs to be more involved.
The third-year receiver was Green Bay’s best pass-catcher on the field and played his best game of the season. Watson’s speed, size, and ability to dictate the defense are still unrivaled on this team, and Sunday’s victory should be a jumping-off point to keep Watson more involved.
The Packer offense is still the ball of chaos it’s been the past season and a half; anyone can be “the guy” any week. Without a true WR1 — Matt LaFleur’s least-favorite term — the ball goes to whomever the play design calls for and whomever can make the plays that come their way.
While it means there’s always an option and opposing defenses can’t simply try to remove a threat, it also means there isn’t a true rock for Love to build success upon. And Green Bay’s receivers haven’t been as consistently dominant as a group compared to last season.
In Year 2 of the Jordan Love era, drops have plagued the offense, constantly leaving points on the board and contributing to their lack of red-zone success. The Packers have leaned more heavily on the run game. While Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Tucker Kraft have had big individual games, the offense has had few complete games.
While Sunday’s game wasn’t complete, the Packers finally utilized something that had been missing: Watson.
Watson’s physical profile alone makes him dangerous. Someone with his speed and size combination is a threat few defenders can hang with. His presence alone is enough to demand coverage.
In addition to being their most dynamic receiver, he's become their most reliable catching the ball.
— Jersey Al – GBP (@JerseyAlGBP) November 17, 2024
It’s not like he’s just a decoy. Good things happen when Watson gets the ball. He’s a big-play threat and has commanded games where the Packers have made him the featured target.
Watson is an unselfish player willing to do all of the dirty work as a blocker. However, he happily takes targets when they come his way or supports his teammates when the Packers feature them. While Watson doesn’t seem to demand more of a role, the offense is better when LaFleur schemes ways for him to get the ball rather than just block and act as a decoy.
Watson is the fifth-most targeted receiving threat in Green Bay, with 31 targets. He’s ahead of Josh Jacobs‘ 29 and significantly lower than the non-running backs ahead of him.
Despite the lower target share than his peers, Watson has made an impact with those opportunities, and his numbers skyrocketed after a dominant performance against the Bears.
His four-target/150-yard performance against Chicago elevated him to third on the team in receiving yards (383). Watson caught every ball thrown his way and scored three explosive plays: a 25-yard reception to set up Josh Jacobs’ first TD, a 48-yard catch in double coverage, and a 60-yard catch-and-run that set up Green Bay’s game-winning touchdown. His lone “non-explosive” play was a 17-yard grab that converted a third-and-long.
Chicago contested two of those catches, showing growth in that area of Watson’s game. In pivotal moments, he made magic when the Green Bay offense needed it.
Watson’s performance earned Tom Brady‘s LFG Player of the Game Award and a team-high 93 PFF grade.
"He just gave me a chance and that's all I needed." @TomBrady's #LFG Player of the Game for Week 11 is @packers WR @ChristianW2017 👏🏆 pic.twitter.com/40Zp4XQ8Ef
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 17, 2024
Hopefully, Watson won’t return to an afterthought in the passing game following this breakout day. The Packers need that big-play ability, and he was a touchdown monster in his first two seasons when he was healthy. Watson has the lowest drop rate of the team’s wide receivers, and he’s meaningfully improved in coming down with contested catches. Watson is as healthy as he’s been as a pro, and he’s earned a greater focus in the passing game.
Updated drop percentages since the start of the 2023 season.
Chrisitan Watson – 3.7%
Romeo Doubs – 7.3%
Jayden Reed – 8.1%
Dontayvion Wicks – 11.8% pic.twitter.com/zhoLd4urcg— Ross Uglem (@RossUglem) November 18, 2024
I’ve been a Christian Watson truther since Day 1, and it’s clear this offense is at its best when Watson is more involved. He’s had the strongest hands on the team and is capable of feats the rest of the roster can’t match. It was past time for Watson to earn a bigger role, and Sunday’s victory over Chicago shows why that focus should continue.
