The Green Bay Packers used a pair of touchdown passes from Jordan Love to Jayden Reed, over 100 total yards from Josh Jacobs, three field goals from Brandon McManus, five sacks of Tua Tagovailoa and a special teams takeaway to cruise to a win over the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving Night at Lambeau Field.
The Packers have won seven of the last eight games, including three straight coming out of the bye week, to get to 9-3 after 11 games.
The game turned early when Dolphins returner Malik Washington muffed a punt following Green Bay’s first possession, and Love hit Reed on a 3-yard touchdown pass three plays later to start the scoring. The Packers added a 1-yard touchdown run from Jacobs late in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead and then got a second score from Reed and a field goal from McManus to end the first half with a 24-3 advantage.
The Dolphins piled up passing yards and scored twice in the second half, but it wasn’t nearly enough to threaten a comeback. Green Bay led by at least two scores from 14-0 on and held a three-score advantage for long stretches.
Love completed 21 of 28 passes for 274 yards and two scores. Jacobs scored a rushing touchdown and caught four passes for 74 yards, including a career-long reception of 49 yards. Christian Watson had a 46-yard catch setting up a score, and the Packers had four rushers produced a carry gaining at least 10 yards. Tight end Tucker Kraft added six catches for 78 yards.
Linebacker Quay Walker had a key play in the second half when he sacked Tagovailoa on fourth down from the 1-yard line with the Packers up 16 points. Kenny Clark, Kingsley Enagbare, Lukas Van Ness and Brenton Cox Jr. also had sacks. Isaiah McDuffie, who was questionable to play with an ankle injury, played through the ailment and produced double-digit tackles. Van Ness and Walker had a pair of tackles for losses.
McManus was perfect, connecting on all three field goals and all three extra points. Keisean Nixon had a season-long 43-yard kickoff return to start the game.
With a holiday win accomplished, the Packers can recovery this weekend and begin prep for a primetime showdown with the Detroit Lions next Thursday night at Ford Field.
