The Green Bay Packers had one plan Sunday. Run the football! You have to think the Indianapolis Colts had a pretty good inkling that was the Packers plan as well. So how on earth did the Colts allow the Packers to rush for 237 first half yards in a 16-10 win? The Packers held the ball for 13 minutes and 17 seconds of the first quarter, and did it almost exclusively on the ground.
It was complete domination by the Packers offensive line in the first half and if not for a Josh Jacobs fumble at the goal line the scoreboard would have reflected that domination. Instead, that fumble the Packers weekly missed kick kept the Colts in the game until the very end.
Defense steps up
The Packers’ defense did a great job of containing Colts’ QB Anthony Richardson and actually made some big stops when they had to. I will tell you Lambeau was as loud as I have heard it the last couple of years when the Packers were trying to hold off the Colts. Always a good sign when my watch is warning me of a loud environment.
While the Packers got the win they are going to have to find a way to throw the ball downfield a little with Malik Willis at the helm. The Colts shut down the Packers running game in the second half and that put a big strain on the defense because the offense couldn’t pass for a first down. Willis only completed one downfield pass and that was a great catch by Romeo Doubs. Next week’s opponent is going to know what’s coming so it’s not going to be so easy.
It was a masterful game plan by head coach Matt LaFleur and a huge win for the Packers while they await the return of Jordan Love. 0-2 historically is a death knell unless you are the Cincinnati Bengals. At 1-1 the Packers are right in the mix. On to Tennessee.