Jordan Love threw four touchdown passes to lead the Green Bay Packers to a convincing 34-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field. Romeo Doubs caught two touchdown passes in his return to the lineup while the defense kept the dangerous Arizona attack under wraps. The win improved the Packers record to 4-2 while the Cardinals dropped to 2-4. Here are 10 things we learned in the Packers 34-13 win over the Cardinals in Week 6:
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Win Over the Cardinals, Number One: Jordan Love Looks Healthy and Effective
Love continues to play better each week. Against Arizona, his knee looked healthier, and he was more accurate.
For the game, Love completed 22-of-32 passes for 258 yards and four touchdowns. He did throw one interception, but it came on a play where his receiver lost his footing and wasn’t his fault.
The former Utah State star also scrambled well when called upon and almost threw a block downfield when he got in the way of a defender on one play.
With each passing game, Love looks more confident and is playing better. That is a good sign for the Green Bay Packers.
Number Two: Romeo Doubs Had a Strong Return
Doubs returned after being suspended last week for “conduct detrimental to the team.” Doubs had a productive game, catching three passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns on four targets.
One of his touchdown catches was an acrobatic grab where he had to turn around and adjust to the ball in the air.
There was concern about Doubs’ attitude and whether his return would be a smooth one, but he played well and was welcomed back by the team and coaching staff alike.
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Win Over the Cardinals, Number Three: The Defense Contained Kyler Murray
For the third time this season, the Packers defense was able to prevent a mobile quarterback from beating them with his legs. Kyler Murray ran seven times for 14 yards in this game and his long run was seven yards.
The defense was able to keep Murray from doing what he did best. Although the Packers didn’t record a sack, they successfully contained a dangerous, mobile quarterback and held the Cardinals to just 13 points.
Number Four: The Running Game Clicked
The Packers didn’t have a 100-yard rusher, but the team gained 179 yards on the ground on 38 carries for a 4.7-yard average gain per carry. Green Bay also controlled the football for 36:35 compared to just 23:25 for Arizona.
Matt LaFleur mixed up his runners with seven different players getting at least one carry. That included tight end Tucker Kraft who gained two yards on a direct snap to pick up a key first down.
Josh Jacobs was effective and led the way with 62 yards on 18 carries. Emanuel Wilson added 54 yards on just seven carries, and Chris Brooks added 21 yards on just four carries.
Mix in end arounds by Bo Melton and Jayden Reed and scrambles by Love and Packers were able to keep the Arizona defense guessing.
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Win Over the Cardinals, Number Five: Brayden Narveson Missed Again
Kicker Brayden Narveson continues to struggle with consistency. He missed another kick, this one from 44 yards out. He did connect on field goals from 36 and 41 yards out and all four of his extra points.
Narveson looked shaky in pre-game warmups and the wet conditions probably didn’t help.
This week, the miss didn’t hurt the team as they led throughout the game, but it remains a concern going forward.
Number Six: Keisean Nixon Finally Got to Return the Ball
Return specialist Keisean Nixon finally got an opportunity to make some returns and he came up with a big play.
Nixon returned a punt 39 yards late in the second quarter. On the very next play, Love found Christian Watson for a 44-yard touchdown that gave the Packers a commanding 24-0 lead.
Later in the game, Nixon returned a kickoff for 37 yards. The Pro Bowl return specialist will likely play a larger role for the Packers on special teams as the weather gets colder and it becomes tougher to kick the ball out of the end zone.
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Win Over the Cardinals, Number Seven: Xavier McKinney’s Streak Came to an End
Xavier McKinney had one interception in each of the team’s first five games. That streak came to an end when the Packers failed to intercept a pass in this game.
Obviously, McKinney can’t make an interception in every game. Opposing coaches and quarterbacks are always aware of where McKinney is on the field now so he can have an impact on the game even when he doesn’t make a pick.
Number Eight: The Cardinals Hurt Themselves
For once, the Packers were not the team hurting themselves with penalties and mistakes. The Cardinals committed 13 penalties for 100 yards in the game. Many of them disrupted potential drives by Arizona.
The sloppy play helped the Packers who committed only five penalties for 40 yards.
It was encouraging to see the Packers not hurt themselves with penalties in this one-sided game.
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Win Over the Cardinals, Number Nine: The Defense Created Turnovers
While the Packers didn’t intercept any passes in this game, the team did recover three fumbles in the game. Karl Brooks recovered his own forced fumble. Rookie Evan Williams also punched out a fumble which Jaire Alexander recovered, and Kenny Clark fell on a bungled handoff by the Cardinals which gave the Packers their third turnover of the game.
The Packers won the turnover battle 3-1 and that contributed to the team’s comfortable win over the Cardinals.
Number Ten: This Was An All-Around Win
The Packers won nearly every phase of this game. In addition to the turnover battle and the time of possession, the Packers outgained the Cardinals 437-303.
The Packers dominated time of possession, prevented Murray from moving the ball consistently and moved the ball well offensively.
Offense, defense, and special teams contributed to this win and the outcome was rarely in doubt. This was the Packers most well-rounded performance of the season.
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