GREEN BAY – In the win over the Dolphins on Thanksgiving night, there was no bigger defensive sequence than the Packers holding Miami out of the end zone early in the fourth quarter.

On offense, Green Bay put on another display of fakes and motions getting defenders to hesitate just enough for simple plays to work exceedingly well.

First, the goal-line stand.

Play No. 1: Second-and-goal from the Green Bay 1, fourth quarter, 10:23 left

Result: No gain for RB De'Von Achane

After Achane has just run on first-and-goal from the 9-yard line to the 1, the Packers' defense stiffens. It starts with a great one-on-one win by DL Rashan Gary (52), who sheds the block of RT Kendall Lamm (70) to bring down Achane in his tracks. Give a little credit also to LB Isaiah McDuffie (58), who sets a hard edge against the lead block of FB Alec Ingold (30), so Achane has no opportunity to bounce outside and avoid Gary.

Play No. 2: Third-and-goal from the Green Bay 1, fourth quarter, 9:43 left

Result: Incomplete pass

Huge props here to CB Keisean Nixon (25), who has TE Jonnu Smith (9) man-to-man. Nixon gets a good jump following Smith across the formation as he's looking to leak out the back side for the pass, but Nixon also deftly avoids any contact with teammates as he navigates the traffic in the end zone. LB Eric Wilson (45) is coming unblocked to get some pressure in the QB's face, but one false step or bump for Nixon and this is a relatively easy pitch and catch for the touchdown. Expertly played, score denied.

Play No. 3: Fourth-and-goal from the Green Bay 1, fourth quarter, 9:39 left

Result: 6-yard sack by LB Quay Walker

Now for where the rubber meets the road, fourth-and-goal. There's a lot to watch here, so one thing at a time. First, it appears QB Tua Tagovailoa's first option is Ingold slipping into the flat, but he trips over Lamm's right foot and goes down. McDuffie and McKinney look like they'd be all over Ingold anyway, so Tua has to pivot. Next, the interior push by DL T.J. Slaton (93) against RG Liam Eichenberg (74) is outstanding, and Slaton even draws a holding call here, so any successful play would've been wiped out. Then, as Tua looks for other options, CB Carrington Valentine (24) has TE Durham Smythe (81) well covered in the end zone, and Nixon is right on WR Jaylen Waddle (17), leaving the QB in trouble. Last but certainly not least, Walker comes on a delayed blitz around Slaton, and Achane gives a very half-hearted attempt to stop his charge. That won't go over well in film review. Tua goes down and the goal-line stand is complete.

Shifting gears to the offense, the Packers' motions and play fakes were noticeably effective against the Dolphins. On several, all it took was getting one defender to hesitate for just a moment, and the play was set up to succeed, with additional execution. Here's a sampling.

Play No. 4: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 30, second quarter, 8:38 left

Result: 23-yard run by WR Jayden Reed

On this end-around to Reed, the threat of RB Josh Jacobs (8) getting the ball and the play fake carried out to him sucks LB Emmanuel Ogbah (91) in enough that he's got no chance to have an impact or re-route Reed around the edge. From there, the downfield blocking by WR Dontayvion Wicks (13) and TE Tucker Kraft (85) is as good as it gets.

Play No. 5: Second-and-2 from the Green Bay 46, second quarter, 2:25 left

Result: 18-yard run by RB Chris Brooks

Here, the motion/deception is again with Jacobs, but with a screen pass look rather than a run. Once again, it's Ogbah who hesitates based on QB Jordan Love's ball handling and fake, preventing Ogbah from closing off the backside gap Brooks blasts through for another explosive run.

Play No. 6: Second-and-7 from the Miami 17, second quarter, 1:48 left

Result: 5-yard reception by Brooks

A few plays later, it's Brooks on the pass with Jacobs on the run fake, and the defender who hesitates ever so slightly is LB Tyrel Dodson (11). As Brooks goes in motion out of the backfield, Dodson wants to follow him, but has to hold back just in case Jacobs gets the ball, and Dodson even takes a half-step toward a potential inside run before going into chase mode. Without that hesitation, he might be able to get a hit on Brooks around the 15-yard line, setting up a very different third-down situation. Instead, thanks to another strong perimeter block from Wicks, the hit doesn't come until around the 12.

Play No. 7: Third-and-2 from the Miami 12, second quarter, 1:42 left

Result: 12-yard TD reception by Reed

Next snap, after a poor spot appears to cost Brooks a yard or so, the play fake to Jacobs sets up the screen to Reed, and the hesitating defender is LB Jordyn Brooks (20). He's a step slow after honoring the Jacobs run threat, and with the outside blocks from Watson and Wicks clearing Reed's path, Brooks is the only guy who can stop him from scoring. But he doesn't get to Reed until about the 2-yard line. Too late.