🏈Opening Kickoff
Green Bay took care of business against the Giants, earning a 27–20 victory to improve to 6-3-1 and right the ship after a difficult couple of weeks. It wasn't a masterpiece, but sometimes you just need to find a way to win and get back on the right track.
🗞️The Headline Recap
This game started off not looking promising to be the get-right game that the Packers needed. Green Bay's defense, facing a Giants offense missing half its starters, immediately gave up a touchdown on the opening drive after a dominant defensive performance against the Eagles a week prior. Then Jordan Love briefly exited with a left shoulder injury, forcing everyone to hold their breath until he returned. Add in multiple drops, a total that reached TEN for the Packers on offense and defense combined by the end of the game, and it looked like the Packers might sleepwalk into another embarrassing loss.
But when it mattered, Jordan Love showed up. He strung together several clutch throws in the fourth quarter, including a 3rd and 10 prayer off his back foot to Savion Williams and the go-ahead touchdown to Christian Watson with just over four minutes left. It doesn’t show up in the box score, but he was fantastic the entire game. Even after his clutch 4th quarter drive, the win still wouldn’t come easy. The Giants still had a chance to tie or win outright and were driving down the field with ease. But Green Bay's defense, after dropping multiple interceptions all game, finally came through when Evan Williams picked off Jameis Winston in the end zone with under a minute remaining after he had been gift-wrapping interceptions to the defense all day. This was crucial, as a Giants team with nothing to lose likely would've gone for two to win the game, and the Packers would have had almost no chance to respond if they had.
It wasn’t a convincing win, but every win is worth the same.
🤓By The Numbers
The Packers have scored exactly 27 points in 5 of their 6 wins this season. I guess there's a clear magic number in play right now. In case you needed a reminder too, Jordan Love is also 27 years old, the same age as Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers when they won their respective Super Bowls. Definitely not a coincidence.
Jordan Love earned a career-high 93.1 PFF grade against the Giants, landing him the Offensive Player of the Week honors from the site. This elite grade came despite a modest stat line, highlighting that his performance was better than the raw numbers suggest.
Matt LaFleur might not talk to kickers, but I show love to punters. Daniel Whelan is currently the #1 punter in the NFL with an 89.6 PFF grade. Unsung hero in Green Bay.
📈Stock Report 📉
Stock Up
Christian Watson - He's been an immediate spark since his return that the Packers offense desperately needs without Tucker Kraft. His two touchdowns against the Giants, including the game winner, highlighted his best game of the season so far.
Jordan Love - He quietly had an incredible performance against the Giants despite SIX drops from his WRs and taking a hit to his left shoulder in the first half that briefly sent him to the locker room. Love played a great 60 minutes of football and delivered multiple big-time throws when it mattered most. Weird how the national media only wants to give him attention when the Packers lose?
Malik Willis - This guy might be the greatest backup I've ever seen. Just like when the Packers needed him in 2024, he briefly stepped up and led a seamless TD drive that ended with a dime to Christian Watson for 6. Who knows if the Packers win without him stepping in and facilitating the rest of that drive.
Stock Down
Luke Musgrave - I don't like dragging players in this column, but Musgrave has failed to meet the very low expectations set for him in replacing Tucker Kraft. I'm not really sure what the 2023 2nd round pick does well, but it's looking like he's almost officially a bust, as he played fewer snaps (19) than John Fitzpatrick (35) and Josh Whyle (20) against the Giants.
Jordan Morgan - Another really tough game for the Packers' 2024 1st round pick. The Packers really need him to step up right now, and it's just so hard to ignore his inconsistency.
Romeo Doubs - He had multiple bad drops against the Giants on Sunday. I'm still a believer in Doubs and hope he has a future in Green Bay, but he's going to be losing targets to a more reliable Christian Watson for the foreseeable future.
🔥 Quick Hits
Despite a cryptic social media post that sparked optimism among fans, Jayden Reed (collarbone/foot) did not have his 21-day practice window opened on Wednesday and will not play against the Vikings. Coach LaFleur confirmed he is waiting for "medical clearance.”
The knee injury for Josh Jacobs is thankfully not a long term concern, (just a contusion) but he did not practice Wednesday and is unlikely to suit up Sunday. Backup Emanuel Wilson will likely start after an impressive performance vs. the Giants.
This put a smile on my face. Packers TE coach John Dunn said Tucker Kraft is still in constant communication with him about things he’s seeing even after tearing his ACL in Week 9. Said Kraft is never far away from the team and his energy is contagious. (h/t Rob Demovsky)
🏆 The Big Take from Brian
Who exactly are the Green Bay Packers? I don't know. But we're about to find out.
The Packers escaped the Big Apple with a win over the 2-8 Giants, but the fans didn't leave any more convinced this team is legit. I'd say I don't feel worse about the state of the team, but it's hard to feel better after barely grabbing a win over a team that is probably focused on the draft at this point. It's hard to peg the Packers as an elite frontrunner right now, but objectively speaking, they have too much firepower and potential to call them pretenders either.
Entering the home stretch of the season (and Toyotathon), the Packers will end the season with 5 divisional matchups in their final 7 games.
Divisional games, especially in the NFC North, are a different type of football. The historic rivalries just make it mean more to the players, fans and coaches. As a result, the games are oftentimes closer than they should be. And everyone knows that the Packers remain the team with a target on their back in this division. The other teams may have their up and down years, but the Packers set the historical, consistent standard.
For this reason, even if you feel good about the Packers beating the Bears and especially the Vikings, keep in mind that we already know this Packers team is susceptible to losing games that they shouldn't, so this will only be amplified against divisional foes.
But this is all the more reason to be excited about this upcoming stretch, because a win will also be even more impressive.
If the Packers are able to come out of this upcoming 3-game stretch against the Vikings, Bears, and Lions with at least 2 wins, we're all the way back, and you can't change my mind.
👀Looking Ahead
The Packers return to Lambeau on Sunday to play the 4-6 Vikings for the first time this season.
My gut feeling? JJ McCarthy is a bad football player. Not only does he look really bad out there from my view, but it feels like the Vikings have been trying to hide him as much as possible with that "injury." As the Packers defense proved last week though, it doesn't matter how bad an opposing QB is if you don't capitalize on the opportunities they give you. The pass rush also needs to be a lot better than it has been. Regardless, the Packers defense has been the reliable strength of the team all season long, and I expect them to take care of business one way or another.
My focus is on the offense. If the Packers lose this game, I think it will be because of them. The Packers face a weak Vikings run defense but will be without Josh Jacobs and have really struggled with run blocking this year. Neither one of those things is going to change before Sunday. The Vikings passing defense is far better, so I'm expecting Jordan Love, Matt LaFleur, and the Packers wideouts to set the tone and come out swinging in order to take control of this game. If they don't step up, this could easily be another slugfest that we've seen the Packers get themselves into a few too many times this year.
Always an optimist, I think the Packers could win this game handily. It's the start of Toyotathon, after all. For those who don't know, this is for some reason Jordan Love's superpower, as he has thrown 30 TDs and just 4 INTs during the sales event the past two seasons. Holiday sales or not, I've just got faith in the guy and believe he will continue to step up just like he did last week.
👇Final Thoughts
“Everything worthwhile in life is won through surmounting the associated negative experience” - Mark Manson
Till next time,
Packerscoverage
Brian Pedretti