GREEN BAY – The Packers won a chilly Thanksgiving night home game against the Dolphins, 30-17, for their third straight win.
Here are five takeaways from the triumph:
- One big break early got the Packers rolling.
The offense didn't start the way it wanted to, failing to take advantage of Keisean Nixon's 46-yard return of the opening kickoff and going three-and-out.
But the special teams made another big play right away, as Daniel Whelan's high punt into the cold wind was muffed by returner Malik Washington and recovered by Green Bay's Robert Rochell at the Miami 9-yard line.
Three plays later, the Packers were in the end zone on the first of Jayden Reed's two TD catches, and Green Bay was in early command.
"It's one of those sudden-change situations that you've just got to be ready for, and obviously getting the ball in prime field position right there," quarterback Jordan Love said. "I think everybody had that mindset like we're going to put this one in and make up for not being able to score on the first drive."
- The offense then became very efficient for the bulk of the game.
The first TD began a stretch of five scores (three TDs, two field goals) in a span of six possessions as the Packers built a 27-3 lead through 2½ quarters. Then a late field goal re-established a three-score lead to put the game away.
Love posted a 129.2 passer rating, his best of the season, going 21-of-28 for 274 yards with the two TDs to Reed. Four ball carriers rushed for at least 20 yards and three pass catchers posted at least 65 receiving yards, with running back Josh Jacobs doing both and finishing with 117 total yards.
The offense also didn't turn the ball over for the second straight game and went 3-of-5 in the red zone.
"It starts there, you know, not putting our defense in bad positions and making it easy on the other team," Love said of protecting the football. "Areas we've needed to focus on, red zone, we've been doing a lot better … just trying to stay on the field, keep those drives going, keep the defense off the field. We're getting in a really good groove.
"I think the offense is playing at high level right now."
Head Coach Matt LaFleur also credited the offense's physicality, with the receivers throwing key blocks, tight end Tucker Kraft running people over, and Jacobs being difficult to tackle, especially in the cold.
"We're being physical in every phase of football," LaFleur said. "When you get it from the skill positions, it changes the complexion of your team."
- The defense rose up in a huge moment.
Miami was trying to put together a comeback, pulling within 27-11 and then driving for another potential score early in the fourth quarter. But on second-and-goal from the 1-yard line – where a touchdown and two-point conversion would've made it a one-possession game – the defense stood tall.
The Packers got a run stop from Rashan Gary, a pass deflection from Nixon and a fourth-down sack from Quay Walker, set up by T.J. Slaton's strong push up the middle, for the turnover on downs that kept the Dolphins from seriously threatening.
"I was really proud of our defense," LaFleur said. "To be able to hold them out of the end zone there, that was a critical moment in the game.
"We got good penetration on that fourth-down play and go the sack. Our guys, they did their job."
- Miami became fully one-dimensional, and the Packers' linebacker play stood out.
In serious catch-up mode most of the night, Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa threw 46 times, completing 37 for 365 yards and two TDs (114.2 rating). But a lot of it didn't mean much, and Miami's inability to run the ball early played into how the game unfolded.
The Dolphins finished with just 39 rushing yards as the Packers' run defense followed up a strong outing against San Francisco and Christian McCaffrey four days ago with more solid work.
"We're getting a lot of hats to the football, and that's what I see," LaFleur said of the run defense. "I see a physical brand of football where guys are running to the ball and we're not missing a ton of tackles."
Linebackers Walker and Isaiah McDuffie tied for the team lead with 10 tackles each. McDuffie had a tackle for loss, pass defensed and forced fumble (that went out of bounds), while Walker had two TFLs to go with the key fourth-down sack.
"Quay's been playing his best ball. I don't think anybody would dispute that," LaFleur said. "He's got a better feel for what we're asking him to do. Really happy with where he's at."
- Coming off two wins in less than a week, the NFC North-leading Lions are up next.
At 9-3, the Packers still trail the 11-1 Lions by two games in the division, and the rematch from earlier this month (a 24-14 Detroit victory) is next Thursday night.
"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."
