Packers vs Colts: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
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| Green Bay Packers backup QB Malik Willis leads the team to a narrow victory over the Colts. |
After a lackluster opening game performance against the Eagles in Brazil, the Green Bay Packers left South America with two losses. Star QB Jordan Love's knee buckled during one of the last plays of the game and as he limped off the airplane, it was apparent he would miss some time. As Green Bay braced for the worst, it was soon revealed that Love suffered an MCL sprain. Green Bay's $220 million quarterback could miss as many as six weeks, however Packers brass indicate that he will return sooner rather than later.
Never fear Malik Willis is here. The post-preseason trade for the Packers backup quarterback might go down as a season saver, as the Packers rebound from their disastrous South American trip with a big win at home against the Indianapolis Colts.
Join us as we take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from Green Bay's 12th straight home opening victory.
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| Packers RB Josh Jacobs runs all over the Colts |
THE GOOD - Malik Willis & Josh Jacobs
Learning an entire NFL offense in just under three weeks is a virtual impossibility, however as Coach LaFleur indicated that wasn't exactly the task put before newly aquired quarterback Malik Willis. Thrust into the starting lineup after a knee injury to Jordan Love, Willis only had to learn the game plan against the Indianapolis Colts, which he would also have a hand in putting together. Whatever magic concocted between LaFleur and Williams, it worked. Willis played efficient and mistake free football, adding a 39-yard strike to Romeo Doubs and a touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks, Williams' first in the NFL.
Malik Willis throws his first NFL TD pass!#INDvsGB pic.twitter.com/c2ALcrhUN6
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 15, 2024
Newly acquired Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs helped keep the Packers defense fresh and off the field, adding 151 rushing yards on the ground as Green Bay dominated time of possession, 40 minutes to 20. Jacobs would have also scored his first official touchdown as a Packer, if not for a frustrating holding penalty that took the yardage and the score off the board.
Despite an ugly, low-scoring, old-school football styled offense, the dynamic duo did enough to help Green Bay secure their first win of the season. After the game, Willis had high praise for his Packers' teammates, "They rallied behind me and I rallied behind them. We did this thing together."
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| Packers new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley needs to find a way to stop the run. |
THE BAD - Packers Run Defense
Every offseason Packers fans are told that this is the year the defense turns it around and every single offseason fans are let down regardless of high expectations. The Jeff Hafley era has begun not with a bang as we were all promised, but a resounding thud. After Eagles running back Saquon Barkley torched the Packers run defense for 109 yards and three total touchdowns, stopping the run was a major focus this week for both Hafley and LaFleur. However, it was more of the same against the Indianapolis Colts, as running back Jonathan Taylor wreaked havoc, rushing for more than 100 yards against a defense filled with first round talent. Only this time the subpar Brazilian field wouldn't be used as an excuse, as Taylor's efforts came at Lambeau Field. Taylor also rushed for more than 100 yards while the Colts offense had a mere 20 total minutes of possession.
Things won't get any easier for the Packers in the coming weeks, as they take on premiere backs Aaron Jones of the Vikings, Joe Mixon of the Houston Texans, De'Von Achane of the Dolphins, and possibly Christian McCaffrey, if the All-Pro back is cleared to compete before the November 24th matchup in Green Bay.
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| Packers coach Matt LaFleur. |
THE UGLY - Matt LaFleur's 2:00 Minute Management
Matt LaFleur is going to get a lot of credit for an ugly win against the Colts, as he deserves. Overall, his offensive gameplan was masterful, especially when considering Malik Willis has been a Packer for under three weeks.
However, the 2:00 minute management on display before the half was atrocious. Instead of trying for a field goal attempt, Green Bay ran the ball three consecutive times in an attempt to run out the clock, despite having nearly two minutes of game time left.
It's understandable that LaFleur was being conservative and doing his best to avoid a big turnover before the half, but in a close game, three points could have made a huge difference. He gets away with one here against the Colts and their inexperienced quarterback Anthony Richardson, but would he against teams like the 49ers or the Lions?
If Willis gets more playing time down the road, let's hope LaFleur isn't too conservative with the once highly touted quarterback out of Liberty University. Willis has proven that he has the arm to make difficult NFL throws and the legs to cause fits for NFL defenses. LaFleur's one word reaction to Green Bay narrowly escaping defeat sums it up nicely, "Phew."
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