Probably an unpopular opinion, I, a lowly Green Bay Packers fan, lowkey miss the sixteen-game season. The title of this very article is a reason for why I miss the sixteen-game season. It isn’t easily divisible now. Before the seventeen-game, one could accurately say the first quarter of the season after four games. Now, I just feel like I’m kinda lying.
To be more accurate, the first quarter of the NFL season will be over with after the first quarter of week five. You see what I mean!? This ain’t cool. And it doesn’t get any better if it gets moved to an eighteen game slate.
But I digress.
I’m hear to talk to you about my first quarter Packers awards! So, let’s get started!
Packers Best Offensive Player
Normally, this would be a quarterback award but with Jordan Love missing half of the first quarter of the season and Malik Willis, although great, having only played two games that had said a lot more about Coach Matt LaFleur than Willis, this award will not being going to a quarterback!
Nope! Not a quarterback. Actually, I’m gonna cheat here to and say it’s actually a tie between two players. So, those two players are…
Jayden Reed
Jayden Reed has been an absolute workhorse through the first four games of the season. Explosive has been his middle name. With twenty-two targets and seventeen receptions to his name, efficiency has been a major part of his game.
On those receptions, he has gained 336 yards through the air and earned ten first downs and two touchdowns! And, even though he is a wide receiver by position, he has a running back’s instincts. He has six carries averaging 15.2 yards per carry. That’s a total of 91 yards on the ground! Additionally, he has earned another touchdown on the ground!
So, according to ESPN, he is projected, at this rate, to end the season with 72 receptions on 94 targets for 1,428 receiving yards, nine receiving touchdowns, 43 first downs, 26 carries for 387 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Reed has been absolutely dynamic, but this next player has been playing at an all-pro level!
Zach Tom
After saying all of those glowing-great things about Jayden Reed, Zach Tom probably has been even better! According to PFF, Zach Tom in week four against the Vikings was their highest grade offensive linemen. He scored an 89.0 overall on their scale.
Tom has allowed zero sacks so far on the season and has only received two penalties. He has been absolutely lock down on the right side of the Packers offensive line. The Green Bay Packers better be preparing themselves to pay him because he is about to earn a massive pay day in the near future!
Packers Best Defensive Player
Can it be anyone else? The Packers defensive player of the first quarter of the season has to be Xavier McKinney. Money well spent, Gute. In four games played, McKinney has an interception in each of them. This gives McKinney a league-leading four interceptions.
Much like Zach Tom on the offensive side of the ball, McKinney has been playing at an all-pro level and honestly is looking quite reminiscent of Charles Woodson DPOY season in 2009. From free safety to even on the defensive line, X has been playing all over the field. He has four passes defenses, 17 total tackles, and even has a tackle for a loss.
I think its fun to look at ESPN’s stats projections as the year progresses. Obviously the projections aren’t going to be accurate in the end, but it is quite humorous to see McKinney’s projected final stat line on interceptions.
Packers Best Special Teams Player
Well, this can really only be one person. The Packers don’t have their long term kicker on the roster currently and other teams refuse to kick Keisean Nixon the ball on kickoffs. However, even if those things weren’t true, this player has absolutely been dynamic. This position has been a long time problem for Green Bay, but no longer!
The Packers finally have themselves a punter!
Daniel Whelan has had thirteen punts on the season. He has averaged 49 yards per punt with a long of 74 yards. Six of his punts have landed inside of the opponent’s twenty yard line which is just under 50%. Those are elite punting numbers!
Daniel Whelan is the Packers special teams player of the first quarter of the season.
Finally!
I can’t finish this article without mentioning one last person. I know this isn’t really in the nature of this article title but Matt LaFleur has to be at least in the conversation for coach of the year. The two games that Jordan Love missed were wins because of the coaching job of Matt LaFleur.
However, he is still doesn’t have the odds in his favor as he is +2500 to win it according to the average of multiple sportsbooks.
Either way, I doubt this changes much after the first quarter of the Rams game later today so these are my early season, first quarter of the season award winners!
Thanks for reading!
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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