The Green Bay Packers improved to 6-2 following Sunday’s close 30-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It certainly wasn’t their best effort, but it was enough to keep them a half-game back in the closely contested NFC North.
Green Bay pulled out the victory despite starting quarterback Jordan Love not finishing the game due to a groin injury, which forced backup Malik Willis into action for the fourth time this season. With the offense relying heavily on its run game in the second half, Willis completed only four passes, but a clutch throw with just over a minute remaining got them into field goal range and eventually allowed Brandon McManus to kick a walk-off 24-yarder.
Meanwhile, the defense also didn’t live up to its potential but managed to clinch a game-changing turnover in the fourth quarter.
For this week’s film room, we are looking at three pivotal plays from the offense and defense that helped the Packers escape with a win in Week 8.
Let’s begin.
Josh Jacobs run
With Jordan Love out, Jacksonville expected Green Bay to lean on its run game. However, it doesn’t matter when you have a dynamic back like Josh Jacobs.
Here, it is 1st and 10, and the Jaguars are expecting another run. However, with the threat of Willis’ mobility, the Packers run a read option. It’s enough to occupy the safety coming downhill and give Jacobs enough time to get out on the edge. From there, he shows off his elusiveness and tough running, making one defender miss with a juke before running through an arm tackle. Also, kudos to Christian Watson for delivering a key downfield block to allow Jacobs to score the touchdown. It was arguably his best run of the season and gave Green Bay a two-possession lead in the third quarter.
Cooper’s strip sack
There are so many things to like about Edgerrin Cooper’s play this season. Sure, the rookie linebacker makes some mistakes, but he makes up for it through his playmaking. Cooper came up huge on Sunday by strip-sacking Trevor Lawrence at the five-yard line to set up a touchdown.
Cooper shows blitz and wastes no time bulldozing through the center once the ball is snapped. Lawrence tries to escape, but Cooper is too quick and closes the distance, knocking the ball loose as he corralled the quarterback. Also, Devonte Wyatt showed great hustle in recovering the fumble, even shoulder-checking an offensive lineman in the process. This massive turnover set up a Packers touchdown to give them a 27-17 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
Game winner
Matt LaFleur revealed after postgame that this play call came as a suggestion from passing game coordinator Jason Vrable even though they hadn’t practiced it during the week. Apparently, Vrable saw something in the Jaguars’ defense that made him think it could work, so they made it an option for Willis on the final drive. On 2nd and 6, Willis got the look he wanted and called an audible, switching to Vrable’s suggested play. The play starts with play action and split flow from the tight end, who is actually pass-blocking. Meanwhile, Jayden Reed is lined up as an inline blocker. But instead of blocking, the speedy slot receiver leaked out into a wheel route on the opposite side of where the play flows. Reed has a ton of separation, and Willis delivers a perfect pass that hit him in stride for a 51-yard pickup. The Packers would run out the clock and kick a game-winning field goal that stemmed from a play that wasn’t even in the game plan.