It was a hot and humid Florida day and it took everything the Packers had to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-27 today. The Packers lost quarterback Jordan Love to a groin injury in the third quarter and it looks like Love will be missing time for a second time this year. It didn’t matter the first time and it didn’t matter today. Malik Willis simply came in and won the game.
There was no immediate word on the severity of Love’s injury but I can’t see him returning until after the team’s bye week in two weeks. So that would mean Willis would start for the Packers in their showdown for first place in the division next week against the Lions in Lambeau. Not ideal despite his 2-0 record as a starter this year. The Lions are clearly the best team in football right now, as much as it pains me to say it.
Love throws another interception
Before leaving the game Love made sure to throw his weekly interception. This time a really bad one inside the Jags ten yard line. It was a terrible decision trying to force one in to Romeo Doubs. This simply can’t continue when Love returns from injury. The rest of the Packers’ schedule is filled with playoff-caliber teams and those kinds of mistakes will be hard to overcome.
Willis didn’t throw an interception and even led the game-winning drive starting with 1:48 left. On the second play he hit Jayden Reed for a 51-yard catch and run to set up the game winning field goal just like that. He also let two other touchdown drives, one that ended in a 38-yard touchdown run by Josh Jacobs and the other a short one after the Packers recovered a fumble inside the Jags ten yard line.
Defense up and down
After a stellar performance against the Houston Texans last week the Packers’ defense came back to earth a little this week. The defense gave up 390 yards and could not get off the field on two critical fourth quarter drives that let the Jaguars tie the game at 27. They also let the Jaguars go 53 yards in 45 seconds for a field goal right before the end of the first half.
They did intercept Lawrence once and also force a Lawrence fumble, but there is a lot cleanup to do again. The Packers did suffer a few injuries that certainly played a role in the game as well.
It was a much needed win and the Packers move into sole possession of second place in the NFC North after losses by the Bears and Vikings. I hope Love is back for Detroit, but either way, the Lions are going to be tough to beat.