Leading Receivers: Packers vs. NFL Playoff Teams

Here's a look at the leading receivers for the Green Bay Packers and their playoff peers entering Sunday's playoff game at CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Of the 14 playoff teams, only the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens did not have a player who ranked in the top 16 in receptions or receiving yards.

Of note, nine playoff teams have a player who finished in the top 10 in receiving yards. Of the 28 players who had 1,000 receiving yards, 15 are on playoff teams.

Sunday’s wild-card opponent, the Dallas Cowboys, features CeeDee Lamb, who was first in the NFL in receptions (135) and targets (181), second in yards (1,749) and third in touchdowns (12). He scored at least one touchdown in eight of the final nine games.

Lamb had seven games of 10-plus catches, eight games of more than 115 yards and 10 games of double-digits targets – including each of the last six games. The Packers have no games of 10-plus catches, zero games of 115-plus yards and three games of double-digits targets.

Lamb had more yards in his five biggest games than the Packers’ season leader, record-setting rookie Jayden Reed, had for the full season.

No No. 1 receiver? No problem for Jordan Love, who was No. 1 in the NFL in passing yards over the final eight games.

“I think it gives you the opportunity to spread the ball around, put different guys in different situations and keep the defense on their toes on exactly who they want to try to focus on,” Love said. “So, I definitely think it is [an advantage].”

From a defensive perspective, which is harder to beat? An offense with a marquee receiver such as Lamb or a team with a bunch of quality receivers?

“I don’t know exactly how I would feel with that,” Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry said. “Would you go against an offense that has an elite, elite No. 1 or just a group of four or five really solid guys. I think you can make an argument either way. Dallas, they have some elite targets out there, there’s no doubt about it.”

Here are the receiving leaders for the 14 playoff teams, which are listed by receiving yards:

Miami: Tyreek Hill – 119 receptions, 1,799 yards; Jaylen Waddle – 72 receptions, 1,250 yards.

Dallas: CeeDee Lamb – 135 receptions, 1,749 yards.

Detroit: Amon-Ra St. Brown – 119 receptions, 1,515 yards; Sam LaPorta – 86 receptions, 889 yards.

L.A. Rams: Puka Nakua – 105 receptions, 1,486 yards.

Philadelphia: A.J. Brown – 106 receptions, 1,456 yards; DeVonta Smith – 81 receptions, 1,066 yards.

San Francisco: Brandon Aiyuk, 75 receptions, 1,342 yards; George Kittle – 65 receptions, 1,020 yards.

Houston: Nico Collins – 80 receptions, 1,297 yards.

Tampa Bay: Chris Godwin – 83 receptions, 1,024 yards; Mike Evans – 79 receptions, 1,255 yards.

Cleveland: David Njoku – 81 receptions, 822 yards; Amari Cooper – 72 receptions, 1,250 yards.

Buffalo: Stefon Diggs – 107 receptions, 1,183 yards.

Pittsburgh: George Pickens – 63 receptions, 1,140 yards.

Kansas City: Travis Kelce – 93 receptions, 984 yards; Rashee Rice – 79 receptions, 938 yards.

Baltimore: Zay Flowers – 77 receptions, 858 yards.

Green Bay: Jayden Reed – 64 receptions, 793 yards.

No Stars (Yet) But Packers Shine Without No. 1 Receiver