The Green Bay Packers went ahead 14-0 in the first quarter, 24-7 at half time and cruised to a 30-17 win over the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving Night at Lambeau Field.
Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes, Josh Jacobs created over 100 total yards, the defense produced five sacks and the Packers special teams got a turnover early.
The Packers are now 9-3 after winning their third straight game coming out of the bye.
Here is an instant analysis of the Packers’ win over the Dolphins in Week 13:
Final score: Packers 30, Dolphins 17
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| MIA (5-7) | 0 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 17 |
| GB (9-3) | 14 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 30 |
Live scoring
First quarter
GB 7, MIA 0: Jayden Reed 3-yard catch (12:00)
GB 14, MIA 0: Josh Jacobs 1-yard run (0:55)
Second quarter
GB 14, MIA 3: Jason Sanders 33-yard field goal (8:44)
GB 21, MIA 3: Jayden Reed 12-yard catch (1:36)
GB 24, MIA 3: Brandon McManus 46-yard field goal (0:00)
Third quarter
GB 27, MIA 3: Brandon McManus 24-yard field goal (7:42)
GB 27, MIA 11: De’Von Achane 14-yard catch (2:43)
Fourth quarter
GB 30, MIA 11: Brandon McManus 33-yard field goal (5:02)
GB 30, MIA 17: Tyreek Hill 12-yard catch (3:04)
It was over when…
… the Packers drove 78 yards — using an incredible 49-yard catch-and-run from Josh Jacobs — to set up a field goal, extending the lead to 30-11 on the drive after Quay Walker’s sack on 4th-and-1 from the 1-yard line.
Game balls
Offense — RB Josh Jacobs: He rushed for a touchdown, and his four catches gained 74 yards. For the fifth straight game, Jacobs went over 100 total yards.
Defense — LB Isaiah McDuffie: Fighting through an ankle injury, McDuffie produced 10 tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
Special teams — K Brandon McManus/CB Robert Rochell: McManus connected on all six of his kicks, including all three field goals, and he made a tackle covering a kickoff. Rochell recovered the fumble on a muffed punt early that turned the game.
Key stat
242: Josh Jacobs, Tucker Kraft and Jayden Reed — arguably the team’s three hardest players to tackle — combined for 242 total yards and three scores on 29 touches during a cold night at Lambeau Field.
Deciding factor
Fast start. The Packers jumped ahead 7-0 early after a muffed punt and led by 14 after one quarter and 21 at halftime. The impressive first half gave the Packers leeway as the Dolphins gained momentum offensively in the second half.
Jordan Love watch
Love started 0-for-2, including a deep miss on a potential touchdown to Jayden Reed, but he finished 21-of-28 for 274 yards and two scores and zero turnovers. He wasn’t sacked. Love played well under pressure and did well finding completions underneath. At least two of his seven incompletions were dropped, and a late incompletion should have been called defensive pass interference. Love’s passer rating was 129.3, his third straight game with a passer rating over 100.0.
Play of the game
https://twitter.com/packers/status/1862346036074705407
The game could have tightened in a big way with just under 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, but Rashan Gary made a stop on second down, Keisean Nixon broke up a pass on third down and Quay Walker stuffed Tua Tagovailoa on fourth down to keep the score 27-11.
Injury updates
Cornerback Corey Ballentine suffered a knee injury on the game’s opening kickoff and didn’t return. Defensive end Arron Mosby was evaluated for a concussion.
What’s next
A trip to Detroit for the biggest game of the season. It’ll be the 9-3 Packers against the 11-1 Lions. Green Bay needs a win to get back into the NFC North race.
NFC North update
The Packers and Lions both won on Thanksgiving, setting up a huge NFC North battle next Thursday at Ford Field. The Minnesota Vikings play the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
