Aaron Rodgers. Davante Adams. Aaron Jones. Za’Darius Smith.
These are the playmakers, the stars that the Green Bay Packers expect to shine during Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against Tampa Bay.
Inevitably, though, there are a handful of unheralded players that always have huge games and help decide the outcome.
Here are three unsung Packers that could play huge roles Sunday.
1. Allen Lazard, WR
Carlton Davis, Tampa Bay’s top corner, did remarkable work on Green Bay’s No. 1 wide receiver Davante Adams back in Week 6. On 10 targets that day, Adams had just six catches for 61 yards and no touchdowns.
Adams figures to be better this time around, but Davis has the size (6-1, 206), physicality and smarts to limit Green Bay’s top option. That could mean a lot of work for Lazard.
In Green Bay’s 32-18 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional playoffs last week, Lazard went off with four catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. His 58-yard score in the fourth quarter iced the win.
If Davis keeps Adams in check, Lazard could once again be the Packers’ top option in the passing game.
“I’ve told him many times he’s one of my favorite teammates that I’ve had since I’ve been here and that says a lot because there’s been a lot of great players and great men that I’ve been around since I’ve been here,” Adams said of Lazard. “So, my hat’s off to Allen for being able to embrace his role, fight through adversity the way he has.
“Everything about him since he’s been here has been positive and it’s been great for us as a team. So yeah, I often remind him to remain who you are and keep doing the little things you do to help this football team win and we’re going to end up where we want to be.”
2. Kenny Clark, NT
Clark has had a relatively quiet year, due in part to a groin injury and a heavy dose of double teams. Clark has gotten healthier as the year’s gone on, though, and had 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hits in Green Bay’s divisional playoff win over the Rams.
Exactly 10 years ago, Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji made one of the biggest plays in team history in the NFC Championship Game. Raji intercepted a pass from Bears backup quarterback Caleb Haine and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown — which helped Green Bay post a 21-14 win.
Could Clark have a similar impact Sunday?
“It felt good to have a game like that,” Clark said after his big day against the Rams. “I feel like it was long overdue that I have a game like that. Honestly this season for me, I really just had to just tune everything out and just focus on myself and focus on what’s going on around me, just play my game really, just play my game and live with whatever happens.
“I had a lot of goals that I had planned, I didn’t reach that many of those goals but playing in the Super Bowl and being in the NFC championship, that was the No. 1 goal that I wrote, so it is what it is. I’m doing everything I can to make it to the Super Bowl and win it.”
3. Billy Turner, LT
In Week 6 against Tampa Bay, Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari went down with a chest injury and Rick Wagner stepped in. It didn't go well.
Bakhtiari was lost to a season-ending ACL injury before Week 17. Turner stepped in this time and Green Bay’s offense hasn't missed a beat.
Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Todd Bowles blitzes as much as anyone in the game, so Turner will have to excel if Green Bay’s offense hopes to shine.
So far, that hasn’t been a problem.
“I’ve always felt Billy’s best position was tackle, in general,” Packers offensive line coach Adam Stenavich said. “So, when we could move him out there I felt better having him out there. But yeah, him going to left tackle, he’s played a lot of different positions over his career, and so a guy like that, he’s a pretty reliable guy in general and with him, if he can get his mind right that week for whatever position he’s going to play, I feel really good about him out there doing his thing and being productive.”
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January 23, 2021 at 09:11PM
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