Bo Melton wasn’t supposed to score on that play - and that’s exactly what makes the Packers’ offense so dangerous right now.
Late in the first half against the Bears, head coach Matt LaFleur dialed up a classic: the “Dagger” concept. It’s a staple not just in Green Bay’s playbook, but across the NFL - a tried-and-true call designed to open up the middle of the field.
Rookie wideout Matthew Golden ran the dig route, the primary read on the play. Meanwhile, Melton took off on the post, a route that’s typically just there to clear out space.
But what happened next was a perfect storm of defensive confusion, quarterback vision, and a throw that only a handful of guys in the league can make.
The Bears came out in an inverted Cover-2 look - a variation of the traditional Tampa-2 that’s been giving quarterbacks headaches all season. It’s a scheme Jeff Hafley loves to call, and for good reason: it disguises responsibilities and forces QBs to hesitate. But Jordan Love didn’t blink.
He spotted cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who was supposed to be patrolling the deep half of the field, failing to get the necessary depth. That’s all Love needed to see.
He uncorked a throw more than 55 yards through the air, dropping it into a window that barely existed. Melton, running full speed, hauled it in for a touchdown.
Here’s the thing: Melton wasn’t even supposed to be the target. He was the clear-out guy - the player whose job is to pull coverage away so someone else can get open underneath.
But in this offense, everyone has to be ready. Because when you have a quarterback like Love, every route is live.
This is the evolution of the Packers' passing game. It’s not just about executing the play as drawn - it’s about trusting your quarterback to find the right read, even if it’s the third or fourth option. That’s something Aaron Rodgers did for years in Green Bay, and now Love is showing signs of that same improvisational brilliance.
And it’s not just about arm strength, though Love has plenty of that. It’s about processing.
Seeing the coverage shift. Noticing when a defender fails to carry his responsibility.
Making a split-second decision and putting the ball exactly where it needs to be.
Defensive coordinators are starting to take notice. “He’s doing a really good job of getting the ball to the open guy,” said Broncos DC Vance Joseph. “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.”
That’s the kind of balance that keeps defenses guessing. The Packers don’t have a traditional WR1 - and LaFleur would probably rather not hear that term at all.
But what they do have is a system where any receiver can be the guy on any play. It’s like watching the Golden State Warriors in their prime: the ball moves, the energy flows, and eventually someone gets an open look.
Bo Melton was just supposed to run his route and clear out space. Instead, he found the end zone.
That’s not a broken play. That’s the Packers playing their brand of football - fast, smart, and opportunistic.
And with Jordan Love pulling the trigger, this offense is starting to look like it can hit from anywhere on the field.