Patrick Surtain II, stingy Broncos pass defense present perfect playoff tensile test for Packers egalitarian passing game

Don't ask Matt LaFleur about a WR1 unless you want to see him wretch. But the Denver Broncos may be the perfect test case for why LaFleur is right about not wanting a fulcrum in the passing game.

Bo Melton’s touchdown against the Chicago Bears wasn’t supposed to happen, but that’s exactly the point. Matt LaFleur, who threatens to vomit at the thought of questions about his “WR1,” called a staple play late in the first half. Rookie Matthew Golden ran the dig route on “Dagger,” a money play for the Packers, and most teams in the NFL.

And Golden is running the toney route on the play. The post route from Melton, is designed to draw coverage deep, opening up space for the dig in behind, but the hook defender for the Bears takes away Golden.

Chicago played a version of inverted Cover-2, a twist on Tampa-2 that has beguiled quarterbacks around the league this season. It also happens to be something Jeff Hafley calls regularly. Love noticed Jaylon Johnson, the cornerback to the field, who was supposed to be covering the deep half, never got depth.

Even so, most quarterbacks couldn’t throw it 55+ yards in the air to a spot the way Love can. He did, touchdown.

That’s the beauty of the Packers offense, and it has been going back to Aaron Rodgers. There’s the top option in the concept, but because Green Bay has had special throwers, any part of the play could be open, and receivers have to be ready.

On the touchdown, Melton is the clearout player. It’s not his job to get the ball. But this offense plays like the Golden State Warriors play basketball: the ball finds energy.

“(Love) is doing a really good job of getting the ball to the open guy. It’s not one guy he’s forcing the ball to, so it’s tough to see who you can take away or who you can roll coverage to,” explained Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.