Therefore art thou: Romeo Doubs sparks Packers in return

Romeo Doubs wished he’d handled last week differently prior to a one-game team suspension. But in Sunday’s 34-13 win over Arizona, Doubs looked like the same Packers playmaker Jordan Love was used to seeing. Doubs caught three passes for 49 yards and matched his career high with two touchdowns, helping Green Bay jump out to a 24-0 lead.

“Yeah, it’s huge,” said Love, who threw for 258 yards, including four touchdowns with one interception. “Just having Rome’ back out there on the field was awesome, huge. He went out there and made some big-time plays, with the two touchdown catches and some more plays before that. It’s awesome having Rome’ back out there.”

One of those big-time plays was the first snap of the second quarter, a nifty 10-yard touchdown reception. Doubs also caught a 20-yard touchdown to give Green Bay a 31-13 third-quarter advantage. Love also welcomed back wide receiver Christian Watson, who missed last week with an ankle injury, with a 44-yard touchdown pass to blow the game wide open before halftime.

Head coach Matt LaFleur explained after the game that the touchdown to Watson was the result of reviewing still pictures on the sideline, learning from an earlier pass to tight end Tucker Kraft.

“We tried to hit Tucker on what we call a sail route earlier, and just noticed how the backside safety was playing it,” said LaFleur, whose team is 4-2 in the NFC North, the league’s best division so far. “It was just one of those sideline adjustments. We had that play up a couple weeks ago, not the formation or anything like that. These guys have banked reps on these things. As a coach, you have confidence that they can go out there and execute it. It was a pretty cool adjustment and those guys made the play come to life.”

Green Bay’s defense also came to life against the Cardinals (2-4), who beat San Francisco on the road last week. The Packers pitched a shutout until the final two minutes of the first half and then ended each of Arizona’s final three drives with fumble recoveries.

The Cardinals lost rookie receiver Marvin Harrison to a concussion early in the game.

Green Bay stays home for a Week 7 showdown with Houston (5-1) next Sunday at Lambeau Field.