My Positive Takeaways From Packers vs Miami

After reviewing the game film, a few positives emerge from the Green Bay win on Thanksgiving.

The Packer Defense Does Not Miss Preston Smith

Preston Smith was a leader in the clubhouse and a veteran who stayed healthy throughout his career. But he was not comfortable in the new defensive system. The Packers traded him, a long-time defensive starter, during a push to make the playoffs. The move brought gripes from fans and even elicited a typically backhanded, passive-aggressive comment from Aaron Rodgers about Green Bay “valuing draft picks.”

But that comment missed the real reason the Packers were comfortable trading Smith. Green Bay had three young defensive ends that needed snaps in live games to improve. Since Smith’s departure, Lukas Van Ness has three sacks (although official stats only credited him for one against Miami, I definitely saw two), Brenton Cox Jr. has two sacks, and Aaron Mosby has looked good on limited snaps. Mosby’s tackle of De’Von Achane for a six-yard loss was a key play in stalling a Miami drive that resulted in a field goal.

Unfortunately, another TFL by Mosby was wiped out by an offside penalty. The Packers’ “gamble” was hoping that with more snaps, Van Ness and Cox Jr. would improve their play, and so far, their assessment is paying dividends.

The Packers Running Trio Are All Playmakers

Coach LaFleur is using Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson, and Chris Brooks together in the game plan so well that third-round draft pick MarShawn Lloyd and veteran A.J. Dillon have not been missed. Defenses cannot predict a run or pass play by looking at who is in the backfield. A great example was LaFleur’s play call on third and four at the Miami 22-yard line in the first quarter.

Miami had been selling out to stop Jacobs’s inside runs. Jacobs finished with a 2.3-yard average for the game. But on this play, LaFleur subs in Wilson and calls a run on third and four. Wilson takes the inside handoff, bouncing the play outside for a 15-yard gain. Third and four became first and goal at the seven.

Wilson was a shoelace away from scoring on the play. Wilson had one more run for nine yards. Brooks was also used effectively, carrying three times for 28 yards. LaFleur also used Jacobs and Brooks in the pass game, with Jacobs having the longest gain from scrimmage after delivering a sick slash-cut that left defender Tyrell Dodson in Door County. LaFleur is also putting two backs in the backfield on some plays, effectively confusing defenders both pre- and post-snap.

Keisean Nixon Was a Great Resigning

Brian Gutekunst made a couple of great signings this offseason. Xavier McKinney replacing Darnell Savage—what an upgrade! Josh Jacobs has been more reliable than fan-favorite Aaron Jones. But the resigning of Kesian Nixon was met with skepticism. The repeated gripe was, why spend money on a kick returner?

Let’s face it, even the writers and fans that had no problem with Nixon’s resigning did not see him locking down the outside corner position and playing above his pay grade. With the injuries to Alexander and the lack of improvement from Valentine and Stokes, Nixon’s play has been critical to the defense. His pass defense on third down at the goal line during Miami’s promising second-half drive highlighted his solid play.

Quay Walker Is Improving

Against Miami, Walker not only had good stats, but he also had good plays away from the play, too. One highlight was Walker running step for step with speedy wideout Tyreek Hill 35 yards downfield to the end zone. Even when he did not make the play, he was playing fast, getting in front of offensive linemen assigned to block him and covering his gap.

This is the second game in a row Walker has looked good on film. He still has room to grow, but he was much improved from early in the season.

The Offense is Starting to Click

After a first series where he missed his first throw—a deep bomb intended for a wide-open Jayden Reed—and then a hard hit that caused an incompletion that was first ruled a fumble, Jordan Love had a great game. Accurate passes that found open receivers and passes that trusted his receivers in tight windows. The first touchdown pass to Reed was a fine example.

Love hit Reed right in his hands a step away from the sideline, just out of the reach of the defender. Later, he rifled another sideline pass to Dontavion Wicks that whizzed by a Miami defender’s outstretched hands for a first-down catch. His long bomb to Watson was the icing on the cake—a ball that when thrown looked like it was a 50/50 ball. Love led Watson perfectly, and the speedy receiver accelerated away from the defender, making a tough diving catch.

Their reduced scoring in the second half was a bit disappointing, but between the need to take time off the clock and a 30-point total against a quality defense, fans should be satisfied. Miami’s defense is a veteran group with a tough defensive line, but they could not get to Love. If the offensive line can keep Love clean and his receivers catch their targets, this team has great potential. How much potential could be answered next Thursday in Detroit.