A ferocious defensive stand and Trey Smack’s rookie heroics salvaged a chaotic, penalty-ridden comeback, overcoming stagnant play-calling and devastating early injuries to secure a gritty road victory.
After falling to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, the Green Bay Packers were trending towards an 0-2 record.
Matt LaFleur had his team down 17-7 against the New York Jets in the fourth quarter, and everyone knows how the final 15 minutes have gone recently for this Packers team.
Shockingly, the Packers were able to come back and force overtime. This defense played out of their minds, and in the end, rookie kicker Trey Smack called game to push the Packers to 1-1.
20-17 was the final from MetLife Stadium in a rainy game that featured 27 combined penalties for 289 yards. It wasn't pretty, far from it, but a win is a win and the Packers desperately needed this one.
The Good: Packers defense looked phenomenal
Green Bay seemed poised to win this game in regulation when the defense stopped two huge runs on 3rd and 2 and 4th and 1.
Once overtime came around, rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse was all over Geno Smith on the first play and then Lukas Van Ness recorded a huge second down sack.
Sure, the Jets had 285 yards, but the Packers had four sacks and held New York to four yards per play which turned out to be good enough to get the job done.
Time and time again, this defense bailed out LaFleur's play-calling, and in the end Jordan Love and Co. were able to pull out a win.
The Bad: LaFleur's play-calling
Somehow, the Packers weren't able to win this game in regulation. MLF got too cute after a 60+ yard punt return by Skyy Moore, and while settling for a field goal was great as it tied this game up at 17, it simply isn't going to cut it in the long run.
Then, after getting the crucial fourth down stop, this team was somehow unable to get roughly 10 yards to try and end the game in regulation. Play calling was a huge issue in this game, and it desperately needs to be addressed.
The Ugly: Two early injuries
Jayden Reed went down on one of the first plays of the game, and then Zach Bako-Bewele followed just one play later.
The Packers couldn't have asked for a worst start, and both were almost immediately ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Both injuries are something to monitor moving forward. Officially, Reed was out with a neck injury while Bako-Bewele was ruled out due to a knee injury.
