Back in the 2023 NFL season, the Green Bay Packers blitzed 29.3 percent of the time on quarterback dropbacks. In Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season against the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil, the Packers tried to be extra aggressive in trying to contain Jalen Hurts, who didn’t seem to be troubled much by that particular Green Bay defensive tactic.
Via RobDemovsky of ESPN:
Eye-popping advanced stat: New Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has preached an aggressive style, but at times it backfired. He blitzed Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts nine times, according to ESPN Stats & Information, and on those plays, Hurts completed 75% percent of his passes for 91 yards and a touchdown and scrambled for 8 yards and a first down. Last season, Hurts threw eight interceptions against the blitz.
Overall, Hurts went 20/34 for 278 passing yards and two touchdowns while also rushing 13 times for 33 yards on the ground.
That is not to say that the Packers did not have success against Hurts, as they picked the Eagles signal-caller twice and forced him to commit a pair of fumbles (1 lost), but at the end of the day, Philadelphia still came up with 34 points and 410 total yards – unacceptable numbers for Green Bay’s defense that surrendered just 20.6 points and 335.1 total yards per game in the 2023 campaign.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Green Bay Packers to face another dual-threat QB in Week 2
The Packers have some adjustments to make defensively heading into Week 2, where they will be taking on another team that’s led by a quarterback with serious wheels. The Indianapolis Colts are rolling to town this coming weekend, and they will be parading the uber-athletic Anthony Richardson under center a week after they got 56 rushing yards and a touchdown from the former Florida Gators star.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
