Green Bay Packer pass catchers dropped an astonishing seven Jordan Love passes Sunday at a windy MetLife stadium versus the New York Giants. Packer defensive backs dropped four Jameis Winston interceptions of their own. However, both groups held onto the ball in the game’s pivotal moments, and the Packers held on for a 27-20 victory.
“I thought there were plenty of opportunities in the game to build a little bit of a lead,” coach Matt LaFleur said via packers.com. “We didn’t make those plays, unfortunately.”
The Packers did make those plays in the game’s final six minutes. On a third-and-10 from midfield trailing 20-19, Love hung in the pocket with ample time provided by his offensive line and running back Chris Brooks. Eventually, Love elected for a one-on-one jump ball to Savion Williams down the left side. The Texas Christian University rookie – who was spotted in a walking boot before the game – corralled the pass for 33 yards on his lone target.
“What a play by Savion Williams,” LaFleur said. “He’s had a little bit of an ankle and he’s been battling through. He’s as tough as they come.”
Two plays later, Love connected to the back shoulder of a leaping and twisting Christian Watson for the go-ahead, 17-yard score. Watson ran a slot fade from the right, and Love placed the ball away from the two defenders covering his target in the end zone. Watson’s remarkable catch atoned for a critical third-down drop on the previous series.
“Both of those touchdown catches were amazing catches by him,” LaFleur said. “You can’t say enough about the guy, the type of teammate he is, how he works on a daily basis. I’ve got a lot of love for Chrisitan Watson.”
Love converted the ensuing two-point try on a dump to Emanuel Wilson for the seven-point lead.
The Green Bay defense still need a stop, and it took the field gassed from a 15-play touchdown drive, and a 16-play drive in its two second-half series. The Giants continued to lean on the ground game – they amassed 142 yards as a team – as they pushed into the red zone. A miscommunication between Winston and his receiver with 41 seconds remaining allowed for Evan Williams to have the ball thrown directly to him, uncontested. Williams secured the ball and the win. New York had one attempt at a Hail Mary which Micah Parsons ruined with a sack fumble.
The victory halted Green Bay’s two-game losing skid as the Packers ready for a run of divisional games. Five of their remaining seven games are against NFC North opponents, including the next three. The Packers are currently third in the division.
“We definitely didn’t make it easy on ourselves, but the bottom line is we overcame a lot of adversity and found a way,” LaFleur said. “We’ll celebrate it tonight and move on to the Vikings tomorrow.”
The Giants, led by interim coach Mike Kafka and Winston in his season debut, took the opening drive 65 yards on nine plays for a touchdown, 7-0. It was the first time this season Green Bay had allowed an opening-drive touchdown.
A Romeo Doubs drop ended Green Bay’s first drive, but the team responded as Watson caught his first touchdown on Green Bay’s second drive. Lucas Havrisik missed the extra point way right thanks in part to the howling winds, 7-6. Havrisik was in for Brandon McManus who reaggravated his quad.
Watson caught the pass from backup quarterback Malik Willis. Eight plays earlier, Love scrambled and lowered his left shoulder on linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles. The Big Blue defender delivered a hard jolt to the quarterback, and knocked Love out for the remainder of the drive. Love described the pain in his non-throwing shoulder as “manageable” after the game.
Willis stepped up and mixed in his running ability to guide the offense for the remaining 40 yards. From the goal line, Willis rolled right and fired a missile to Watson who snagged this pass almost standing still with a defender in his pocket.
“We don’t win that game without Malik,” LaFleur said.
Willis went 2-of-2 on the drive for six yards and the score, and added 16 rushing yards on a zone read keeper. Watson caught four passes for 46 yards and two touchdowns.
The Packers took the lead on their next series, sparked by a 24-yard, extended-play pass from Love to Matthew Golden. Wilson capped the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run straight up the gut, 13-7. Sean Rhyan, Aaron Banks, and Rasheed Walker triple teamed All-Pro tackle Dexter Lawrence on the play, while Jordan Morgan handled his one-on-one block to create a gaping hole.
Wilson played the majority of the game after Josh Jacobs left with a knee injury. Wilson ended with 40 yards on 11 carries and the touchdown.
New York answered with a touchdown the ensuing drive as the teams entered halftime tied at 13 thanks to a Giants’ missed extra point.
The Packers countered New York’s opening half touchdown drive with one of their own. Golden provided another spark when he drew a 35-yard pass interference penalty to put the ball inside the Giant five. Two plays later, Love easily tossed the ball to a wide open Josh Whyle in the flat for the lead. Watson executed the rub route as it was designed on the chalkboard, picking Whyle’s man defender.
The lead was only pushed to six as Havrisik – who entered the game perfect on kicks in his short season – hooked the ball wildly to the left. The winds seemingly impacted both kicking and shotgun snaps for the Packers. Daniel Wheelan caught the errant snap, but placed the ball down with the laces facing the kicker.
The New York offense discovered the same formula as other, lesser talented teams have employed against Green Bay. Balanced, methodical drives that stay ahead of the sticks continued to give the Packers fits in the second half.
The Giants’ first drive went for 56 yards on 16 plays, including two fourth-down conversions. Kafka’s call to go for another one on the Packer 10 backfired when Parsons teamed with Isaiah McDuffie for a sack.
A quick three-and-out – thanks to the Watson drop – sent the tired Green Bay defense back on the field. New York easily went 85 yards in 15 plays using the running and short passing games to take the 20-19 lead.
Love finished 13-of-24 passing for 174 yards and the two touchdowns. Of course, a big bold asterisk will go with those numbers thanks to the drops.
McDuffie led the team with 11 tackles.
Other Notes
Whelan’s last punt – after the Williams interception – had potential to be very costly as he kicked from his own five-yard line. Instead, the Irishman delivered. Facing an all-out rush, he secured the snap and booted the ball over 60 yards in the air. Long Snapper Matt Orzech executed the snap, and then made the tackle downfield.
The Packers went 7-of-11 on third down, despite the drops
Love, Doubs, Zach Tom, and Quay Walker were each in and out of the lineup with injuries throughout the game.