SI’s Look at Vikings Shuffled OL Concludes Things…

Krammer pointed out that Chicago pressured Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers on Sunday, but the Packers then “pivoted to a quicker passing game” en route to a 45-30 win.

Rodgers was hit three times (two sacks) in the first quarter, shortly before Green Bay fell into a 10-0 hole with a patchwork offensive line.

Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson was also a reason why. He’s playing well in his second NFL season and helped keep an early lid on Packers receiver Davante Adams. Then Green Bay set Adams loose on the rest of the Bears secondary.

Adams’ 38-yard touchdown in the second quarter came from the slot and against Bears nickel defender Xavier Crawford, who exited after halftime to injury. Adams outran his replacement, defensive back DeAndre Houston-Carson, on [a] 12-yard catch and run in the third quarter.

With Johnson playing some man-to-man coverage on Adams, which he may against Justin Jefferson on Monday night, the Packers leverage the attention into room to run. Green Bay does this with a concept [Vikings Offensive Coordinator] Klint Kubiak has on his play sheet, because the Vikings ran this to Jefferson for 15 yards in San Francisco — a week after the Packers ran it on them at U.S. Bank Stadium.

It’s called a leak or hide route, often dangerous with a fast receiver like Adams or Jefferson who can outrun defensive fronts laterally and gain the edge. After two successful runs for 16 yards, Rodgers fakes a handoff to A.J. Dillon; the Bears defense lurches toward the run off left tackle. Adams goes against the grain, sneaking behind the line toward the right side and into the open field.