GREEN BAY – There was never any doubt in Darnell Savage's mind he had caught his first NFL interception with a little less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter of the Packers' 27-16 win over Denver on Sunday.
While it took a challenge from Head Coach Matt LaFleur to overturn the call on the field, the rookie safety was eventually credited with picking off Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco on a play in which the 22-year-old rookie got his hands underneath an incomplete pass that was about to hit the ground.
To this point, Savage has showcased the speed, football IQ and playmaking ability the Packers felt he possessed when they made him the 21st overall pick in last April's NFL Draft.
The interception Sunday, one of three takeaways the Packers' defense generated, checked another box for Savage, who transitioned seamlessly into defensive coordinator Mike Pettine's scheme through the first three games.
"We have a lot of playmakers on our defense, and we just all pride ourselves on being around the ball," Savage said. "When you're around the ball, good things happen. So we're just playing hard, just playing as fast as we can, and we're going to see what happens."
Fittingly, on the same afternoon Savage got his first NFL interception, fellow first-round pick Rashan Gary notched his first NFL sack, as well, with 3 minutes, 4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Gary also received his most extensive playing time to date rushing from Green Bay's dime package. Along with his sack of Flacco, the rookie linebacker also recovered a fumble following Preston Smith's strip-sack in the second quarter.
"I feel as a defense we have the good swagger about ourselves," said Gary, who finished with four tackles. "We trust one another that when we look to the left and the right of us that everybody's going to do what they need to do to come out with the win. That's the type of mindset the defense has got. You know how we rock – 'D-train.'"
Going deep: Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been around long enough to know where he should be headed if he notices a defender jump offside – the end zone.
That's why the Packers' second-year receiver broke off his route and used his 4.37-second 40 time to outsprint Kareem Jackson after seeing Von Miller come across the line of scrimmage on second-and-6 during the Packers' first offensive possession.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers used the free play to hit Valdes-Scantling for a 40-yard touchdown to put Green Bay on the board with 12 minutes, 22 seconds left in the first quarter.
"It wasn't the play call but we were going on two and that's our rule – if we get a guy to jump offsides, everybody go deep and find a spot," said Valdes-Scantling, who finished with a team-high six catches for 99 yards. "We know we have a free play, so we can go up and try to make any type of catch."
So close to paydirt: Fourth-year fullback Danny Vitale came within inches of scoring his first NFL touchdown Sunday, only to be called down short of the end zone on a 27-yard catch during Green Bay's first offensive possession of the second half.
Instead, Vitale cleared the way for running back Aaron Jones' 1-yard touchdown run two plays later. Jones told Vitale afterward he plans to give him that football as a thank you.
"It was awesome," Vitale said. "I already told the guys from 'Pardon My Take' I didn't want the touchdown, I just wanted the fullback assist after that."
Lambeau Field hosted a Week 3 matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos.
Second-half surge: While Jones had the second two-touchdown game of his young career, Jamaal Williams helped spark the offense with nine touches for 63 yards in the second half.
Perhaps his biggest play was a 10-yard catch on third-and-5 early in the fourth quarter to extend an eventual 11-play, 51-yard scoring drive that drained 7:41 off the play clock prior to Mason Crosby's 41-yard field goal.
The rainy, wet conditions catered to Williams' power running style, with the third-year running back finishing with 12 carries for 59 yards and another 27 yards off a pair of catches.
"I love it – I love it all," Williams said. "I think the rain slows everybody else down, so I feel like a mermaid and everybody else is dog-swimming. I just feel like I'm flowing out there. It's the rain. I feel like Spongebob."
New addition: Davante Adams was back on the field Sunday after he and his wife, Devanne, welcomed the birth of their first daughter, Deija Leigh Adams, on Friday.
"It's been a lot just this past month, especially not really knowing when," said Adams, who caught four passes for 56 yards. "Because they kind of come when they're off-schedule, so it's been on-call pretty much. It's been a lot, but now I'm playing for a stronger purpose than I was before. So it's a great feeling."
Keeping the QB clean: The Packers' offensive line tackled another stiff test Sunday, effectively containing Denver edge rushers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb.
Not only did Green Bay extend the Broncos' three-game skid without a sack, but Rodgers also was only hit on one of his 29 dropbacks.
"Obviously, it's a huge deal when you have two edge rushers like they do," Vitale said. "They haven't had any (sacks) the rest of this year so far, so we took a lot of good things from other teams that have played them already. I think Coach did a phenomenal job game-planning and we kind of stuck to that."
