Packers 30, Jaguars 27: Game balls, turning point, play of the game

Game balls, turning point and the play of the game from the Packers’ Week 8 win over the Jaguars.

The Green Bay Packers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-27 at EverBank Stadium during Week 8 of the 2024 season.

It’s time to hand out game balls, break down the turning point and pick the play of the game:

Game balls

Offense: RB Josh Jacobs — Most of his production, including a 38-yard touchdown, came after Jordan Love exited the game early in the second half. Jacobs did all the things an elite back must do — he created explosive runs, produced missed tackles and kept the offense on track on first down. The veteran finished with 127 rushing yards and two scores. Per PFF, Jacobs forced eight missed tackles and gained almost 100 yards after first contact.

Defense: LB Edgerrin Cooper — The rookie played only 34 of 57 snaps, but he was in on two run stops at the line of scrimmage, broke up a pass down the seam on third down and had the game-changing strip-sack. Cooper missed a few tackles, but he played the game at 100 miles per hour. His game speed can be overwhelming.

Special teams: K Brandon McManus: What a luxury it is to have a kicker who can consistently get you the easy points. McManus made all three extra points and all three field goals during a perfect performance. The game winner was a 24-yarder from between the hashes — arguably the easiest kick available. But McManus calmly went about his business, delivering 12 of the Packers’ 30 points. He’s a perfect 10-for-10 on kicks (field goals and extra points) during his first two games in Green Bay.

Turning point

The Packers paid Jacobs top-of-the-market money to create exactly this kind of play. Trailing for the first time and with Jordan Love out of the game, the Packers turned to Malik Willis and Josh Jacobs to ignite the offense and erase the deficit. This was a fold-or-fight situation. Would the Packers crumble in the face of adversity or find a counter punch? Willis hit Dontayvion Wicks to convert a third down and scrambled 20 yards to get into Jaguars territory. A snap later, Jacobs took a handoff on a zone read, cut back to his left, juked a defensive back, slid off a tackle attempt from a linebacker and then hit the jets, weaving to the outside behind Christian Watson’s downfield block to find the end zone from 38 yards out. The Packers suddenly led 20-17. They wouldn’t trail again. Jacobs used excellent vision, agility and contact balance to create a game-changing play.

Play of the game

 

Edgerrin Cooper’s strip-sack didn’t create a defensive touchdown, but the rookie’s takeaway was the closest thing to it. On third down, Cooper beat the block of the center and closed down Trevor Lawrence, using his left hand to swipe the ball away as Lawrence was being sacked from behind. The resulting fumble was recovered by Devonte Wyatt, who beat an offensive lineman to the ball inside the 5-yard line. A few plays later, Willis found Tucker Kraft for a touchdown to put the Packers up 27-17.