Christian Watson found the end zone *again* for the Green Bay Packers, pushing his season touchdown total to four already! We’re talking September here, folks, and this guy is on a roll. What’s wild is that this latest score, a beauty that had the Atlanta Falcons scrambling, was set up by a play where Watson himself missed a block. You heard that right. It’s a testament to some clever play design that’s becoming a serious problem for defenses across the league.
The Setup: A Missed Block and a Hard-Fought Yard
Let’s dive into the film, because this ain’t just about the touchdown itself; it’s about the chess match leading up to it. On a 2nd & 1 in the first quarter, Green Bay came out in 11 personnel, lining up with one running back, one tight end, and three wide receivers. They stacked the right side, making Tucker Kraft [85] an in-line blocker and Christian Watson [9] split tight right. What happened next was pure deception: Watson went into a quick motion, dipping under the line to become an “Insert blocker,” positioning himself between the tight end and the right tackle. This move was all about adding another blocker to that side, tricking the defense into thinking run, run, run.
Now, here’s the kicker: Watson actually missed his block in the hole. Yeah, a bit of a trend this year, which is a bummer. But even with that miscue, the play worked its magic. The defender covering that “Insert” spot bit hard, flying downhill right into the backfield. Despite the interior line collapsing, Marshawn Lloyd [32] showed some serious grit, driving forward for the single yard needed to convert the first down. They got what they needed, even with the breakdown. That’s a huge moment, showing the play’s core deception still delivered.
The Payoff: Atlanta Scrambled, Watson Scooped Up Six
Green Bay didn’t hesitate. The very next snap, 1st & goal, they rolled out the exact same personnel grouping and the exact same formation. Formation strength to the right, Watson in that tight split outside. And what did Watson do? You guessed it: he quick-motioned into that Insert blocker role *again*. That’s the beauty of it, right? You make the defense commit, then you hit them where it hurts. The Falcons’ defenders reacted to the run expectation again, stepping to the line. Maybe not as aggressively as the previous play, but it was enough.
As the snap happened, Watson exploded. Instead of blocking, he released vertically through the line, then broke hard to the corner. The defender who’d initially stepped up to play the run suddenly found himself picking up Kraft, who was releasing to the flat. The problem? The boundary defender was *already* on Kraft. Just like that, the Falcons had two guys covering one tight end, leaving Christian Watson all by himself. Watson, smart as heck, didn’t keep running; he slowed down, settling in right behind the flat defenders. Jordan Love, rolling out, had a clear shot, zipping the ball to Watson in the end zone for six points. That’s some serious play-calling right there, and it’s why Watson already has four TDs on the season. Teams better start figuring this out, because this deception isn’t going away.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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