The Green Bay Packers didn’t just beat the New England Patriots on Sunday. They took control of the game in every phase and walked out of the road matchup with a 45-27 win that landed like a clear message to the rest of the NFL.
Jordan Love was right at the center of it. He looked every bit like a quarterback pushing his way into the MVP conversation, finishing 23 of 29 for 372 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. He added a 13-yard rushing score, too, and kept finding answers against New England’s defense.
His biggest strikes came to Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, who both turned in huge afternoons. Watson caught seven passes for 171 yards and a touchdown, while Golden hauled in 10 receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown. Together, they made life easy on Love, especially when the Packers wanted to attack downfield.
Green Bay got another touchdown from Savion Williams, who finished with three catches for 25 yards and also chipped in 13 rushing yards on three carries.
The Packers also had to adjust in the backfield after Josh Jacobs left with an injury. Kaleb Johnson stepped into the lead role and gave Green Bay a much-needed lift, running for 68 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. His production made the ground game look far more dangerous than it has at other points this season.
Defensively, the Packers’ safeties were everywhere. Xavier McKinney, already a former All-Pro, picked off Drake Maye twice, and Evan Williams added another interception of his own. Their work only strengthened the case that Williams could be heading toward All-Pro recognition himself.
Maye finished 21 of 38 for 299 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. Green Bay also kept New England in check on the ground until garbage time.
The pass rush did its part, too. Karl Brooks collected two sacks, Isaiah McDuffie added one, and Dani Dennis-Sutton and Brenton Cox Jr. split another.
Special teams held up as well, with rookie kicker Trey Smack delivering one of his cleaner outings. He made all four extra points and all three field goals, including a 51-yarder.
If Smack can keep that kind of consistency going, it gives Green Bay another piece it can trust as it pushes toward an NFC North title and a postseason berth.
In Other News...
Packers Statement Win Comes With One Immediate Concern
The Packers got the kind of win that can reshape a conversation, rolling past the Patriots 45-27 to move to 6-3 after nine weeks. Green Bay had contributions all over the field, with Matthew Golden and Christian Watson making plays at receiver, Evan Williams helping set the tone on defense and Kaleb Johnson adding to the attack behind Jordan Love.
Jordan Love also kept the offense humming, but the bigger immediate storyline came from the backfield. Josh Jacobs left the game early with a hand injury, and for a team that just delivered a statement performance, the next question is how long it can keep that momentum if one of its most important pieces is suddenly in doubt. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fans Had Every Reason To Hate How This Call Was Covered
A frustrating sequence in the Packers-Patriots game had Green Bay fans bristling long after the flag was thrown. Packers edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton drew a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on what looked like light contact with backup quarterback Tommy DeVito, and the call helped keep a New England drive alive at a time when the Packers were trying to stay in control.
The bigger complaint, though, was not just the penalty itself but how it was shown. Broadcasts around the NFL have increasingly left viewers without the replay context they need on controversial calls, and this one fit the pattern too neatly for comfort. When a borderline flag changes field position and the television coverage does not really slow it down for scrutiny, it leaves fans with the same sour feeling and very few answers. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Have A Trade Deadline Need Fans Can Actually See
Injuries have left the Packers looking for help on defense, and the trade deadline is suddenly a place where the front office might have to do more than just monitor the market. One name that fits the need is Philadelphia linebacker Zack Baun, a Milwaukee native and former Wisconsin player who has carved out a solid NFL career and would make sense as a plug-in option if Green Bay decides to add experience and versatility to a thin unit.
The appeal is obvious because Baun checks both the football and hometown boxes, but the logistics are still the real question. Green Bay would have to decide whether the price is worth it and whether the timing lines up before the deadline, with no deal confirmed and the Packers still weighing how aggressively to address the hole on defense. [Read more 🡒]