What Packers fans should be thankful for on Thanksgiving 2020
Fans of the Green Bay Packers have a lot to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day in 2020.
For starters, the Packers are 7-3, in first place in the NFC North and right in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the conference. And Sunday night’s visit from the rival Chicago Bears provides an opportunity for the Packers to put the division in a stranglehold as the calendar approaches December.
Here’s everything to be thankful for as a Packers fan in 2020:
– Coach Matt LaFleur: The second-year head coach is 20-6 (76.9 win percentage) in his first two seasons leading the Packers, and he has this year’s team on track to win a second consecutive NFC North title. His innovative and modern scheme has helped revive the Packers’ two-time MVP quarterback.
– QB Aaron Rodgers: He has 29 touchdown passes in 10 games, putting him on pace for 46, and he leads the NFL in passer rating (115.8). Nine times in 10 tries, he’s thrown multiple touchdown passes and finished with a passer rating over 100.0. The Packers have scored 30 or more points seven times (tied for first in NFL) and rank third overall in scoring.
– RBs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams: The complementary duo has 1,343 total yards and 10 total touchdowns in 2020. Jones can slash and dash; Williams can do everything.
– WR Davante Adams: He leads the NFL in receiving yards per game (105.9), and he’s one of only three players with 10 or more receiving touchdowns in 2020. No receiver has a higher grade at Pro Football Focus through 11 weeks.
– WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling: The team’s top deep threat leads the NFL in yards per catch (20.7) and catches over 40 yards (five).
– WR Allen Lazard: The do-it-all receiver is back from a core injury and ready to resume his role as a clutch receiver and dominant run blocker.
– TE Robert Tonyan: He’s tied for third among tight ends with six touchdown catches in 2020, and he leads all tight ends in catch percentage (86.5).
– TE Marcedes Lewis: Big Dog has a pair of touchdown catches, providing living proof that Aaron Rodgers can throw touchdown passes to first-round picks.
– OT David Bakhtiari: The highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history will be in Green Bay for the next four seasons. He’s leading fan voting among NFC offensive tackles.
– OL Elgton Jenkins: He can play every position along the offensive line. No, seriously. He’s played both tackle spots, center and guard this season.
– C Corey Linsley: The veteran center is the highest-rated player at his position this season.
– OL Billy Turner: He started 16 games at right guard last season but has been effective at both left and right tackle in 2020.
– Offensive coordinator Nathanial Hackett: Yeet. I love gold. The gold zone.
– OLB Za’Darius Smith: Over his first 26 games with the Packers, he has 21.5 sacks, 54 quarterback hits and 27 tackles for losses. He’s one of only two players (T.J. Watt) with at least 20 sacks, 50 quarterback hits and 25 tackles for losses since the start of 2019.
– DL Kenny Clark: The 2019 Pro Bowler signed a big deal to stay in Green Bay, and he delivered his first sack of 2020 last week. He’s one of the NFL’s best young interior disruptors.
– CB Jaire Alexander: The NFL’s highest-graded cornerback so far in 2020. He’s been a true shutdown cornerback during his third season.
– OLB Rashan Gary: The second-year edge rusher is starting to come on in a big way. He has a team-high 11 pressures the last two weeks.
– S Adrian Amos: Quietly, he’s been a top-15 safety in football this season, at least by PFF grades.
– K Mason Crosby: The reliable veteran kicker hasn’t missed a field goal in 13 tries this season.
– QB Tim Boyle: The Human Victory Cigar has kneeled down successfully in five different wins this season.
– Situational offense: The Packers rank fourth in the NFL on third down and the red zone.
– Passing game: No team has a higher-graded passing game in 2020 than the Packers. Guess how teams win the Super Bowl these days? With elite passing games. The Packers have one.
– Not allowing the big play: The Packers have only allowed 33 plays of 20 or more yards in 2020, which ranks fourth in the NFL.
– Going for 100: The Packers can win their 100th game all-time against the Bears on Sunday.
– Four of last six at home: The Packers are 10-2 at home since the start of the 2019 season. They have the best home win percentage over the last two seasons, and they’ll play four of their last six games at Lambeau Field.
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