The Green Bay Packers delivered one of their best performances of the season on Thanksgiving, defeating the Miami Dolphins 30-17. Contributions from the offense, defense, and special teams were crucial, with several players standing out.
Quarterback Jordan Love was exceptional, completing 21 of 28 passes for 274 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, earning a 129.9 passer rating. It marked his second consecutive game without a turnover and his third straight with a passer rating above 100.
On defense, Isaiah McDuffie and Quay Walker silenced pregame doubts about the linebackers. The duo combined for 20 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and three tackles for loss, playing a pivotal role in the victory.
Special teams also had key contributors. Robert Rochell recovered a fumble in the first quarter, setting up the Packers’ opening touchdown. Kicker Brandon McManus was flawless in the challenging cold conditions, converting all his field goal and extra point attempts.
The Packers’ well-rounded effort showcased their potential as they secured an impressive win.
Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur Is Frustrated with One Thing
While the Packers’ Thanksgiving win over the Dolphins showcased excellent complementary football, it wasn’t without flaws. Green Bay committed seven penalties for 44 yards, with several stemming from a persistent issue: the defensive line’s inability to consistently line up onsides.
According to NFL Penalties, the Packers lead the league in defensive offsides calls, having been flagged eight times this season, well above the league average of 3.16 per team. The problem persisted on Thanksgiving, with TJ Slaton flagged for a neutral-zone infraction and Devonte Wyatt penalized for encroachment.
Head coach Matt LaFleur is visibly frustrated with the repeated nature of these penalties. “The only thing I would say we have to do a much better job on is we have to make sure we line up onsides. It feels like it’s Groundhog Day,” LaFleur said postgame.
On Monday, he elaborated further, saying, “No, it’s really annoying. You’ve got to be conscious. I guess we’ve got to drill it more. I got to get refs out there at practice to tell when a guy’s offsides. I told those guys and, obviously, just telling isn’t enough. We’ve got to start checking with the officials. It’s become such a problem and it’s going to kill us.
“It hurt us yesterday. That is one thing from the defensive side of the ball that we absolutely have to get corrected. Shoot, it gave them an opportunity on the field goal. We got them to fourth-and-9, we jump offsides, they decide to go for it, they convert. Now, luckily, we held them to three but, still, you can’t put yourself in those situations, especially against really good football teams.”
The Packers will need to address this issue quickly as they prepare to face the 11-1 Detroit Lions on Thursday. Facing a team of Detroit’s caliber, avoiding such mistakes will be crucial to their chances of success.
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