Packers’ Willis and Jacobs Lead Comeback Win Over Jags 30-27

Déjà Vu with an unwanted twist. The Packers lost starting quarterback Jordan Love. Then they lost their first half lead.

But Malik Willis stepped up, leading the Packer offense on a textbook two-minute drill allowing Brandon McManus to play the hero in his second straight game. McManus nailed the winning 24-yard field goal, but Willis and Josh Jacobs were the true heroes on this sunny day in Jacksonville.

This game had swings of momentum and emotions for Packer fans. The defense started with a dominating display, shutting down Jacksonville in the first quarter. Then, just as fans of the Green and Gold began to relax thinking the game might be a blowout, The Jaguars offense sprang to life making it close at halftime.

Jordan Love was limping a bit during the first half, causing fan concern, but that small worry hemorrhaged into a full panic when he tried to limp off the field, falling before he got to the sideline. Shortly after Love’s exit the impressive Packer defense of the first quarter seemed to vanish and the Jaguars took the lead with just over 5 minutes left in the third quarter.

Down 17-13, having squandered a ten-point first half lead and now being led by our backup quarterback, the outcome looked grim. But Malik Willis was not listening to the naysayers. Willis stepped in and supplied the third installment of his amazing hat trick of three wins for Green Bay this season.

Willis entered the game in the third quarter facing third and long after Jordan Love collapsed with what looked like a knee injury but was listed during the game as a groin injury.

The offense punted after Willis’ first play from scrimmage came up short. The Jaguars had started the game with an anemic offense. Two three and outs followed by an interception deep in their own territory helped put the Packers up 7-0.

Another three and out forced by the Packer defense and it seemed the game would end in embarrassment for Jacksonville. The Packers went up 10-0 on a McManus 31-yard field goal after Love led a 67-yard drive that stalled at the Jacksonville 13-yard line.

At that point Packer fans might have thought the game would be a cakewalk, but the Jaguars found some holes in the Packer defense. They drove 67 yards, slicing big chunks of yards.

Passes for 33 and 18 yards followed by a run of 14 gashed the Packers. The touchdown was a keeper by Lawrence that had Rashan Gary exposed. Lawrence faked it to a running back and then ran right past Gary who never gave the QB a look until he was well past him.

The Packers and Jags then traded field goals for a 13-10 Packer halftime lead.

Second Half

When Willis came in for his second offensive play as quarterback in the third quarter, the Packers had surrendered their lead. The Jaguars drove 93 yards for a touchdown to lead the game for the first time with just over 5 minutes left in the third quarter.

The game had swung full circle. Now Green Bay was playing in a hostile location, their starting quarterback was sidelined, and they were down four points. Willis then did what any smart second-string quarterback would do.

He handed off the pigskin to running back Josh Jacobs. Jacobs scored the first points of the game on a three-yard rumble after Xavier McKinney picked off Trevor Lawrence at Jacksonville’s 28 yard line.

With the Packers needing to turn the momentum, Jacobs took the ball repeatedly. He finished the drive with a 38-yard scamper for the go-ahead touchdown making it 20-17.

On Jacksonville’s next possession rookie Edgerrin Cooper flew in to sack Lawrence, punching the ball out. Devonte Wyatt recovered to give the Packer offense first and goal at the 5 yard line. This time Willis dropped back to pass and found Tucker Kraft leaking out towards the sideline all alone. Kraft walked into the end zone pumping the Packer lead back to ten points 27-17.

Not Over Yet

But Jacksonville fought back. Two drives and 138 yards of offense produced ten points to tie the game at 27 all.

Willis then turned the game back to the Packers. A deep pass to a wide-open Jayden Reed for 51 yards broke the drive open. The Packers continued to rush the ball. With 59 seconds remaining Willis handed the ball of to backup running back Chris Brooks.

Brooks had a big hole, but instead of going for the touchdown, he sat down after getting the first down at the four-yard line. A brilliant move by Brooks that required Jacksonville to burn all its time outs and allow the clock to run out as McManus nailed the three pointer for the win. Having faith in your kicker is so important, as the Packers final drive proved.

The Packers are now 6-2, and face Detroit in Lambeau next week.