The Green Bay Packers played an uneven game but found a way to overcome mistakes, injuries, and a determined opponent to defeat the New York Giants 27-20. Jordan Love threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns while the defense came up with two key turnovers in the final minute to clinch the victory. The win improves the Packers record to 6-3-1 while the Giants drop to 2-9. Here are 10 things we learned from the Packers 27-20 win over the Giants in Week 11:
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 27-20 Win Over the Giants in Week 11, Number One: Jordan Love Was Clutch
Love left the game briefly in the first half after being shaken up on a scramble. But he returned and engineered the game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter. Love’s numbers were solid but not spectacular. He completed 13-of-24 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns.
On the final scoring drive, the former Utah State star completed 4-of-6 passes including a key 33-yard effort to Savion Williams on 3rd-and-10 that kept the drive alive. He ended the drive with a pretty touchdown pass to Christian Watson and then connected with Emanuel Wilson for a critical two-point conversion that gave the Packers a seven-point lead.
Love kept his cool, overcame mistakes by his receivers and inconsistent blocking by his offensive line to lead the team to a much-needed win.
Number Two: The Defense Couldn’t Stop the Run
The Giants were starting their third quarterback in Jameis Winston and were big underdogs at home. Everybody knew they needed to run the football to stay in this game. Despite missing their top running back, the Giants were able to move the ball and limit the Packers offensive drives.
The Giants gained 142 yards rushing on 38 carries. The Giants won the time of possession battle 35:56 to 24:04.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. gained 88 yards on 19 carries. The Giants also put together five drives of nine plays or more. They also held onto the ball for more than 21 minutes out of a possible 30 in the second half.
The Packers run defense needs to be better, but they were able to come up with key stops in the closing minutes to win the game.
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 27-20 Win Over the Giants in Week 11, Number Three: Drops Were a Problem for the Offense
Love’s completion percentage looked average in this game, but the Packers receivers dropped seven passes. Romeo Doubs made some big catches, but he also had three or four drops in this game.
Drops were a major problem for the Packers receivers last season, but they had been greatly reduced this year until the Giants game.
The drops stalled several Packers drives and definitely contributed to the one-sided time of possession in this game. Watson and John FitzPatrick also had costly drops during the game.
When playing against top opponents, drops like these can be the difference between winning and losing. The Packers need to clean this up by next week.
Number Four: Drops Were a Problem for the Defense
The Packers defense also dropped potential interceptions in this game. Had the defenders held on to the ball, this could have been a very different game.
Carrington Valentine dropped two potential picks. He played the ball well and was in good position to intercept the passes but couldn’t hold on.
Javon Bullard almost had an interception, but Isaiah McDuffie couldn’t stop and collided with Bullard to knock the ball away.
Keisean Nixon also dropped a potential pick in this game.
The four missed interceptions led directly to 13 points by the Giants and prevented the Packers from taking control of the game.
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 27-20 Win Over the Giants in Week 11, Number Five: Two Turnovers in the Final Minutes Helped
The Packers defense has struggled to create turnovers all season and this game was no different. Through 59 minutes, the Packers hadn’t created any turnovers after dropping four potential picks.
But the defense came up with two big turnovers in the final minute of the game to clinch the victory. First, Evan Williams intercepted Winston in the end zone with 36 seconds left in the game and the Packers clinging to a 27-20 lead.
Then, when the Giants got the ball back, Micah Parsons recorded a strip sack of Winston and Rashan Gary fell on the loose football to end the game.
With the game on the line, the defense came up with big plays despite having a tough time for much of this game.
Number Six: Special Teams Continue to Be a Big Problem
With the exception of some great punting by Daniel Whelan, the Packers special teams continue to hurt the team.
The most obvious problem was two missed extra points by Lucas Havrisik. Before today, the team’s backup kicker had been perfect on all his extra points and field goals in his first two games. Yes, it was a windy day but missing not one, but two PATs almost cost the Packers the game.
But the missed extra points weren’t the only special teams error by the Packers. A holding penalty on Kingsley Enagbare cost the Packers valuable field position. The Packers would have had the ball at their own 41 to start a drive. Instead, they ended up at their 16.
The Packers now have two struggling kickers. The weather conditions will be an issue for the rest of the season. The Packers still have five outdoor, cold weather games on their schedule. Regardless of who is kicking, they have to succeed despite the conditions. The special teams also need to clean up the penalties and improve coverage for punts and kickoffs.
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 27-20 Win Over the Giants in Week 11, Number Seven: Malik Willis Did His Job
Backup quarterback Malik Willis entered the game late in the first quarter and played one series for the Packers. It was his first meaningful regular season action this season.
Willis did his job. He ran for 16 yards to convert on a key 3rd-and-8 situation. Then completed both of his passes. His second throw was a one-yard touchdown pass to Watson that got the Packers on the board and made the score 7-6 Giants.
Backup quarterbacks have to be prepared to come in at any time. When called upon, Willis did his job, led the team to a score and then headed back to the bench for the rest of the game after Love returned.
Number Eight: Injuries Continue to Mount
Love, Doubs, Zach Tom, and Arron Mosby all left the game at one point due to injuries, but all managed to return to action.
But the biggest injury for the Packers was the loss of running back Josh Jacobs. He left the game for good in the second quarter. Jacobs finished with 40 yards on seven carries.
The only update the Packers gave after the game was that Jacobs’ injury didn’t appear to be season ending. They will know more after Jacobs gets tests early in the week.
Jacobs remains a key part of the Packers offense. They are already without Jayden Reed, Elgton Jenkins, and Tucker Kraft. All three are key starters on the offense. Watson already missed the first six games of the season and Dontayvion Wicks, Tom, and Aaron Banks have also missed time due to injuries.
Injuries are part of the game, but these are some of the team’s key offensive players and losing Jacobs would be very costly. Wilson stepped in and did a solid job after replacing him, including running for a touchdown and catching a two-point conversion. Wilson is a solid backup, but Jacobs gives the Packers a star player at running back.
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 27-20 Win Over the Giants in Week 11, Number Nine: The Packers Offense Did Well on Third Down
Third downs are critical for any NFL offense. Love and the Packers did a great job against the Giants, and it was critical in the win.
The Packers were 7-of-11 on third downs, a 63.6 percent conversion rate. That kept drives alive and resulted in touchdowns. That’s even more critical when the kickers on both teams struggled with the windy conditions.
Number 10: Now the Schedule Gets Tougher
The Packers needed this win badly after losing two straight at home. But now the schedule will get tougher. Five of their final seven games are against division opponents with two games against the Vikings and Bears and a Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit against the Lions.
The non-division games won’t be easy either. The Packers visit Denver to face the first-place Broncos and later host the Baltimore Ravens.
The Packers will have to play at a higher level and be more consistent to finish strong. Losing this game to the Giants would have been a disaster. Now, they need to build on this win and raise their level of play down the stretch.
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