Green Bay Packers Critical Pass To Jayden Reed Vs. Jaguars Was Not In The Game Plan

The Packers’ Jayden Reed makes a first-down catch in front of the Jaguars’ Darnell Savage during the second half Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla.

Football coaches and players at all levels and skills are creatures of habit. Routines are vastly important to the success of the team; preaching perfect practice habits and repetition of plays to be run on game day have been a part of football coaching since the advent of the game.

In other words, football gurus rehearse each week’s game plan, and they even script their first plays as if they were reciting lines in a theatrical play. Nothing is seldom left to chance.

However, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur ad-libbed the most important play of week 8’s game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, a back-breaking, 51-yard pass from Malik Willis to Jayden Reed. It was as if he and the Packers were playing backyard football, and the crucial decision that decided winning or losing was drawn in the dirt.

Matt LaFleur Learned From an Earlier Play

The genesis of Jayden Reed’s big reception came about with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter, and the Packers were trailing 17-13.

On first and 10 from the Green Bay 42, Willis faked a left zone read run play to Josh Jacobs and bootlegged toward the right side of the formation. Reed, who was in a wing position on the right side, feigned a block and settled in the middle of the Jaguars defense. Tight end Tucker Kraft peeled from the left wing across the formation and was looking for a reception in the right flat. Romeo Doubs streaked down the right side of the field, hoping to entice as many Jaguars defenders to follow as he could. Christian Watson dragged from his left across the field into Willis’ vision.

Oct 27, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) slides for a first down against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the third quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

In other words, Willis had three choices at three levels in their “flood” route–Craft short, Watson medium, Doubs long; Reed was simply a check-down option. Willis chose instead to scramble, and it turned out to be a great decision. He rambled for 20 yards to the Jaguars 38. On the next play, Josh Jacobs bulled his way for a go-ahead touchdown, making the score 24-20 with 21 seconds left in the third stanza.

THAT was the play put into the game plan and practiced all week. However, Matt LaFleur made up an impromptu play based on this one, and he made Jayden Reed and Malik Willis heroes.

Jayden Reed Ran an Unpracticed Route to Perfection

What struck Matt LaFleur and the rest of the offensive coaching staff on Willis’ 20-yard scamper was how little attention the Jaguars paid to Reed. Also, the entire left side of Jacksonville’s defensive field was vacant.

This is when LaFleur morphed into a riverboat gambler and trusted his guys, and his reasoning was simple. “Do I have to channel my best Herm Edwards? You play to win the game,” LaFleur said.

After Jacobs ran for four yards to the Green Bay 34, LaFleur found the time to put his trust in his players. Just as with the same formation and same boot action as his previous scramble, Willis rolled to his right after a fake to Jacobs. This time, however, Reed faked a block on a linebacker, and instead of finding a soft spot in the Jaguar middle, he bolted for the left sideline–it was again vacant–and caught a beautiful Willis pass in stride for a 51-yard dagger to the Jacksonville 15.

The initial run on first down was all part of the ruse. “I’m sure they were thinking like, ‘What the heck are these guys doing? They’re going to play for overtime,’” LaFleur said. “I was just hoping that there was going to be strong rotation and had a pretty good idea, with the amount of single safety they were playing throughout the course of the game, that there was a chance we could get it and we got it.”

The adjustment came at the suggestion of passing-game coordinator Jason Vrable.

Oct 6, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur on the sidelines during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

“He’s like, ‘Hey, it looks like the play is there,’” LaFleur continued. “And so we put it in on the sideline. So, no reps in practice. I think that’s a big-time credit to our guys to be able to go out there and execute it. Jayden Reed, Tucker (Kraft), the O-line, the backs, everybody’s selling it. And then, ultimately, Malik making the throw.”

The Packers milked all but two seconds off the clock, and Brandon McManus calmly drilled the game-winning, 24-yard field goal to walk off the Jaguars.

A Win is a Win, Even if it Comes in a Most Unusual Fashion

At 6-2, the Green Bay Packers are set to take on the division-leading Detroit Lions on Sunday. If the Packers can grab a victory, they will claim sole possession of the top spot in the NFC North.

But, if Matt LaFleur, Jayden Reed, and Malik Willis did not improvise on a particular immense play, the stage on Sunday would be set far differently.

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