The offensive line play (run blocking and pass protection), the running game, the quarterback play, and the production of Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb have been great this season.

However, if this Packers offense is going to take the next step in the playoffs, there needs to be a consistent, third receiving option. If Davante Adams can’t step up and become a reliable target, perhaps Richard Rodgers can.

Obviously, offensive gameplans can change according to the opponent, but Richard Rodgers’ involvement and production versus the Lions in Week 17 was perfect. There is no reason why Mike McCarthy and Tom Clements can’t get him involved in a similar way in the playoffs. Let’s take a look at the tape of all five of Richard Rodgers’ receptions against the Lions in Week 17.

On his first reception, Richard was able to work his way down the seam and make a nice grab in a pretty tight window. It’s difficult to be absolutely sure what coverage the Lions were playing since the Packers went up-tempo, but if Rodgers can make those kinds of plays up the seam, it adds another dimension to this passing game:

Rodgers has shown in the past that he can be a presence down the seam. In the game at Chicago this season, he had a 43-yard reception out of a two tight end set versus Cover 3. He has the ability to exploit defenses in this manner, but McCarthy needs to make it a point to try it.

His second reception came on third-and-1. He was lined up at the No. 3 receiver position (counting from the outside-in) in a 3x1 (trips) formation. This was a “packaged play,” which means that Aaron Rodgers had a couple of options. He faked the inside zone run to Lacy, which forced the Lions’ linebackers to step up, and quickly threw the seam route to the tight end before the safety rotated down. Usually, single-high coverages are best against packaged plays like this, but Aaron’s quick release and Richard’s awareness were too good:

Richard’s third catch came on a simple concept, but it’s yet another way to get him more involved. The Lions were running a single-high coverage, but before one of the safeties rotated down, Aaron connected with Richard on a “Stick” route (“Y Stick”), which is a classic West Coast offense route. This doesn’t look fancy, but it gained six yards. Any successful target to a third option like Richard alleviates pressure on Nelson and Cobb:

Rodgers’ fourth reception was a thing of beauty, and it occurred on a big third-and-4 early in the fourth quarter. The Lions were playing “Cover 2 Man” (man underneath with two safeties back covering the deep halves of the field) out of their nickel defense. So, as a result, the Lions had a linebacker matched up with Richard.

This is a matchup that Rodgers needed to win, and he did. At the snap, the linebacker performed an outstanding jam on the tight end, but at the top of the route, he used his hands and was physical enough to cross the linebacker’s face to the inside. In Cover 2 Man, that linebacker knew that he couldn’t allow Rodgers to get inside, and he made a great effort to prevent that from happening, but Rodgers still fought through the jam and made a nice catch. When you take everything into account on this play, this was probably Richard’s best play of the season:

Rodgers' fifth and final catch of this game came on a route concept that Mike McCarthy loves to run, the “Slant-Flat” concept. The Packers love to run this concept out of “11 personnel” (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR), and Rodgers was the tight end on this play running the “Flat” route. Again, this is a simple route, but it helps move the chains:

This article featured all five of Richard Rodgers’ catches for a reason. All five were perfect in terms of getting him involved in the passing game. His involvement down the seam, on “Stick” routes, versus linebackers, and on the “Slant-Flat” concept was good to see. If McCarthy and Clements can use him like this in the playoffs, you will see a better passing attack.

Thanks for reading, Packers fans. Follow me on Twitter at @RobertOlson92 for daily analysis on the Packers.