Jordan Love (Photo: Getty)
By Mark Eckel
An optimistic will look at the Green Bay Packers 27-20 win over the New York Giants and say a win is a win and the Packers are still in the NFC playoff mix and in the mix for the NFC North title.
A pessimist will say the Packers were on their hands and knees to beat a 2-win Giants team playing with a back-up quarterback, an interim head coach, and their best running back and two best wide receivers in street clothes.
A realist will look at all of the above and think while this won't rank among Packers win with the Ice Bowl, or any of their four Super Bowls, it beat the alternative which would have been a loss to the 2-win Giants.
Jordan Love's second touchdown pass of the game and Christian Watson's second touchdown catch of the game — his first came from Malik Willis — gave the Packers the lead with 4:02 to play.
The defense, which allowed the undermanned Giants offense to gain 336 yards and pick up 22 first downs, finally got a key stop when safety Evan Williams intercepted Jameis Winston in the end zone with 21 seconds to play.
The win, ugly or not, snapped a two-game losing streak and moved the Packers to 6-3-1 on the season. Depending on the outcome of Sunday's night's Eagles/Lions game, the Packers would be either the sixth, or seventh seed in the NFC. If the Eagles win, or tie, the Packers would be sixth. If the Lions win they will remain seventh.
Love, who suffered a left shoulder injury in the first half, survived seven dropped passes and the loss of running back Josh Jacobs to a knee injury, to lead the team to a come-from behind win with a QB rating of 105.2. That was Love's sixth 100-plus rating of the season. The team is 5-0-1 in those six games.
Here are the rest of the highlights and lowlights as the Packers finished their schedule against the NFC East 2-1-1.
Offensive Hero: Let's go with Love, who was just 13-for-24 (should have been 20-24) for 174 yards. He also led the offense to two second-half touchdowns on three possessions, not counting the team's final possession of the game.
Offensive Zero: Tight end Luke Musgrave is showing he is not the answer for the absence of Tucker Kraft. The second-round draft pick was the Packers third-best tight end Sunday behind John Fitzpatrick and newly-signed Josh Whyle. Musgrave had one catch for minus-1 yard on a play where he fumbled out of bounds and dropped two other passes.
Defensive Hero: Safety Evan Williams not only had the big interception, he recorded nine tackles and had a pass breakup.
Defensive Zero: Coordinator Jeff Hafley, according to some, was auditioning for the Giants open head coaching job. Let's just say New York will likely look elsewhere.
Play of the Game: Williams interception on 3rd-and-6 from the Packers 14-yard line on a pass intended for Jalin Hyatt saved the game. It was the second-year safety's second interception of the season.
Turning Point: Trailing 20-19, the Packers faced 3rd-and-10 from their 47-yard line. Love found rookie Savion Williams for a 33-yard gain to the Giants 20. Two plays later, Love found Watson for the go-ahead touchdown.
Special, not Special: Punter Daniel Whelan 48.8 yards on his four punts, including a 61-yarder on his final punt with 21 second to play.
Kicker Lucas Havrisik, who had been 6-for-6 on kicks before Sunday, missed two of his three extra point attempts.
This and That: Willis came in, played one series and took the team on a touchdown drive. He competed two passes for six yards and a touchdown and ran ice for 16 yards and a first down. … For the first time this year the Packers allowed a first-quarter touchdown as the Giants scored on their opening drive. … Watson caught four passes for 46 yards and the two touchdowns. …Emanuel Wilson took over for Jacobs (40 yards on seven carries) and also had 40 yards on 11 carries. … Romeo Doubs caught four passes, but dropped three. …Micah Parsons had a sack-and-a-half and now has eight on the season.
Injuries: Jacobs (knee) left in the first half and did not return. Linebacker Quay Walker suffered a stinger late in the game.
Inactives: Injured cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee) was ruled out Friday. Kicker Brandon McManus (calf) was downgraded to doubtful, Saturday, and did not dress. Defensive end Lukas Van Ness was listed as questionable but missed his fifth straight game begging the question why wasn't he put on IR? Wide receiver Malik Heath did not make the trip via coach's decision. Offensive lineman Donovan Jennings was a healthy inactive.
Up Next: The Packers will play their first division game since opening day when they host the Minnesota Vikings (4-6) at Lambeau Field. The Packers lost twice both by two points to the Vikings last year and have dropped three of the last four meetings.
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