Five takeaways from Packers.com
- One big break early got the Packers rolling.
- The offense then became very efficient for the bulk of the game.
- The defense rose up in a huge moment.
- Miami became fully one-dimensional, and the Packers’ linebacker play stood out.
- Coming off two wins in less than a week, the NFC North-leading Lions are up next.
Here’s what others are saying:
Hours after the Green Bay Packers watched the Chicago Bears fail to give them any help when they botched the end of the early Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions, the Packers figured they’d better at least help themselves Thursday at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay handled business against the Miami Dolphins 30-17 in the finale of the three-game Thanksgiving Day slate and remained within shouting distance of the division-leading Lions (11-1). The Packers will still need help to catch Detroit, but they can start the process by winning at Ford Field in next Thursday night’s NFC North showdown. via ESPN
Packers quarterback Jordan Love heated up in the second half of the 2023 season. Now, Love seems to be doing the same in 2024.
Love was extremely steady completing 21-of-28 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Love finished with a 129.2 passer rating, and for the second straight game, didn’t throw an interception.
…“I think he’s playing his best ball right now. I really do,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Love. “I think he’s done a great job of taking what’s there, taking the checkdowns when they’re there, or taking the shots when they’re there. He’s moving around in the pocket really well. I think our O-line is doing a pretty good job, but when it’s not perfect up front, he’s able to buy time or get out of harm’s way and get rid of the football, and that’s critical for us.” via Forbes
Love led the Packers to a Thanksgiving Day triumph in Detroit last year but wasn’t given a turkey leg afterward, as is customary in these televised postgame interviews. His teammates vowed to make sure Love got a turkey leg this time, and he earned it by throwing two touchdown passes to Jayden Reed in a 30-17 win over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night.
…Green Bay is playing three games in a 12-day stretch. The Packers beat the San Francisco 49ers 38-10 on Sunday and will visit the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions next Thursday night.
“I thought we played well for it being a short week,” Packers safety Xavier McKinney said. “I thought we came out there and had the right mindset. And we started fast, and that was the key to today’s win.” via The Associated Press
Defining Play
Christian Watson had two big catches. Late in the first half, with the Packers facing first-and-15 from the Dolphins 41, he fought through pass interference against Cam Smith for a 21-yard catch to the Dolphins’ 20. That set up a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Reed in which Watson had a pancake block to make the score 21-3.
Then, early in the third quarter, he made a tumbling catch 46 yards. Once again, just like he did Chicago, he had the presence of mind to get up in a hurry to tack on yards after the catch. A field goal to end the drive extended the margin to 27-3.
His biggest play, though, came on Green Bay’s second possession. And his name is not mentioned in the play-by-play.
On first down from the 35, Jordan Love fired across the middle to Dontayvion Wicks, who deflected the pass into the air. Starting cornerback Kader Kohou was about to grab the interception when he was clobbered by Watson.
Watson turned an interception into a harmless incompletion – well, not harmless to Kodou, who missed the rest of the game – and the Packers drove downfield for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead. via SI.com
The Green Bay Packers are starting to give off that vibe they had in their stretch run of 2023.
It’s taken awhile for any number of reasons, but coach Matt LaFleur appears to be figuring out who and what works best for his offense, and Jordan Love is taking better care of the ball.
The result has been three straight wins since the Packers’ bye, including Thanksgiving night’s dominating 30-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Lambeau Field. via Green Bay Press Gazette
And, we’ll close with a post-game comment from the head coach, again courtesy of Packers.com:
“I thought that was just a great total team win, handling our business, two games in five days, that feels really good,” LaFleur said. “We’ve got a great challenge in front of us, going to Detroit, premier team in the National Football League, and we’re going to have to play our best to have an opportunity to beat them.”
