Week 17 vs. Detroit Game Release.indd - NFL.com

LIONS AT PACKERS - WEEK 17
KEEPING THE CHAINS MOVING
Green Bay’s offense utilized a strong finish in 2010 to finish in the top 10
in the league on third down for the fourth straight season, and they have
continued that efficiency again this season.
Through Week 16, the Packers are converting at a 48.0-percent clip on
third down:
Team
Third-Down Conversion Rate
1. New Orleans 56.3 (112-199)
2. Green Bay 48.0 (85-177)
3. San Diego 47.8 (96-201)
4. New England 45.6 (83-182)
5. Pittsburgh 45.6 (82-180)
In the 42-34 season-opening win over the Saints, the Packers converted
8-of-12 (66.7 percent) third-down opportunities.
In Week 4, the Packers bested that effort by converting 9-of-13 thirddown
chances vs. Denver. The 69.2 conversion rate was the best singlegame
performance in the regular season since the Packers were successful
on 71.4 percent of their opportunities (10-of-14) vs. Cleveland
on Sept. 18, 2005.
On third-and-medium (4-6 yards), the Packers check in at No. 6 in the
league at 55.9 percent (19-of-34).
Green Bay ranks No. 2 in the NFL on third-and-long (more than 6
yards) at 40.0 percent (34-of-85).
In the second half of the 2010 season, the Packers converted at a
46.8-percent clip (52-of-111) on third down, helping them finish No. 8
in the NFL at 41.5 percent after converting at a 35.1-percent rate in the
first half of the season.
2010 was the fourth straight season that the Packers finished in the top
10 in the category, one of only four teams in the league to do so over
that span (New Orleans, New England, Indianapolis).
Over the past 22 regular-season games, the Packers have converted at
a 50-percent-or-better clip on third down in 12 of those contests (11-1
in those games).
OB Aaron Rodgers ranks No. 2 in the NFL with a 113.3 passer
rating this season on third down (see page 10 for more).
A look at where Green Bay’s offense ranks in the NFL on third down
since 2009:
Team
Third-Down Conversion Rate
1. New Orleans 49.9 (306-613)
2. New England 45.8 (268-585)
3. San Diego 45.7 (271-593)
4. Green Bay 45.4 (273-601)
5. Atlanta 44.2 (296-669)
This week, the Packers will face a Detroit team that ranks No. 3 in the
league in third-down defense at 31.6 percent (61-of-193).
Green Bay has converted 51.8 percent (43-of-83) of its third-down
opportunities at Lambeau Field this season.
BIG-PLAY WAYS
In his fourth NFL season, WR Jordy Nelson has posted career bests in
every statistical category. Nelson leads the team and ranks No. 11 in the
NFL with a career-high 1,101 receiving yards. He is No. 2 on the squad with
a career-best 59 catches.
Nelson paces the team with 12 TD grabs, which doubles his combined
six TD catches in his first three seasons in the league. He ranks No. 3 in
the league in TD receptions.
Player
Receiving TDs
1t. Rob Gronkowski, NE 15
1t. Calvin Johnson, DET 15
3. Jordy Nelson, GB 12
Nelson is just the eighth player in franchise history to post 12-plus TD
catches in a season.
In Week 6 vs. St. Louis, Nelson moved into a tie for the No. 2 spot
in team history for the most 80-yard TD catches with the third of his
career. WR Greg Jennings holds the career franchise mark with four.
All three of those touchdown catches came over an eight-game span
in the regular season (Week 16, 2010-Week 6, 2011). According to the
Elias Sports Bureau, Nelson is the only NFL player since the 1970
AFL-NFL merger to have three 80-yard TD catches over an eightgame
span in the regular season.
Nelson’s career-long 93-yard TD catch in Week 6 vs. St. Louis was the
fourth-longest catch in franchise history.
With two TD grabs of 80-plus yards this season, Nelson has tied the
single-season franchise record held by Billy Howton (1952), Antonio
Freeman (1998), Donald Driver (2002) and Jennings (2007).
Nelson’s 18.7-yard receiving average ranks No. 1 in the NFL among
players with 40-plus receptions.
Player
Receiving Avg.
1. Jordy Nelson, GB 18.7
2. Vincent Jackson, SD 18.6
3. Torrey Smith, BAL 18.0
Nelson is on pace to finish in the top five in franchise history for receiving
average among Packers with 50-plus receptions:
Player
Receiving Avg.
1. Billy Howton, 1952 23.2
2. James Lofton, 1983 22.4
3. James Lofton, 1984 22.0
4. Billy Howton, 1956 21.6
5. Jordy Nelson, 2011 18.7
Over the past 18 games (including playoffs), Nelson has caught 80
passes for 1,387 yards (17.3 avg.) and 12 TDs.
Nelson is averaging 33.8 yards per TD catch this year, which ranks No. 4
in the league among players with at least seven TD receptions.
Player
Receiving Avg./TD
1. Victor Cruz, NYG 49.3
2. Mike Wallace, PIT 37.8
3. Torrey Smith, BAL 34.4
4. Jordy Nelson, GB 33.8
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