2 weeks Ago
The home opener is in the books. It was not one for the history books. The Green Bay Packers were starting a backup quarterback, and it was clear they knew it.
The Indianapolis Colts did not find their way into the endzone until after the 2:00 warning in the fourth quarter. Behind a big day from Josh Jacobs and the Packers' run game, they were able to send the Lambeau faithful home happy with a 16-10 victory over the Colts Jeff Hansich - USA Today Game Ball Josh Jacobs What more can be said about Josh Jacobs? The whole world knew he was going to get the ball today. He was going to be the bell cow.
Use whatever euphemism you want. Jacobs was going to be the man to carry the Packers to victory, if they were going to get it. Jacobs ran for more than 150 yards, carrying the ball more than 30 times.
Jacobs is the only player under consideration for a game ball here. He earned every bit of it. Now, the Packers may have to lean on him again in a week against a Titans team that has held Chicago's D'Andre Swift and the New York Jets' Breece Hall to less than 100 yards rushing.
Lame Ball Quay Walker This is not going to be a game for Quay Walker to remember. He was victimized in the run game several times, before what was arguably his biggest blunder of the day. Anthony Richardson threw a pass right into Walker's chest that would have ended the game.
Instead of catching it, Walker had the ball bounce right off his chest, and into the arms of Alec Pierce. The game could have ended there. Anthony Richardson got a few more opportunities to make the Packers pay.
That led to more tense moments that did not need to be made. More lenience is given to a player who makes spectacular plays if they miss some simple ones. For now, Walker makes neither.
This is a big year for Walker, and he needs to be better for this defense to reach its peak. Pivot Point: Josh Jacobs Fumbles On the Goal Line The Packers were crushing the Colts on the ground early and often to start the game. It didn't seem to matter where they ran, or how, they got whatever they wanted.
When Malik Willis converted a 3rd down attempt with his legs early in the second quarter, he set the offense up with first and goal inside the five. Josh Jacobs got the ball looking for his first touchdown as a Packer and looked like he was going to hit paydirt. Unfortunately, he forgot to bring the ball with him.
Jacobs fumbled at the goal line, and the ball bounced in the end zone where Laiatu Latu recovered the ball, keeping the deficit at 10. The Packers would have led 17-0 assuming they made the extra point, if Jacobs scored. With the way their ground game was going, the Packers likely could have cruised to a victory with a 3-score lead.
Instead, they led by 10 and never extended the lead to put the game out of reach. Play of the Game Romeo Doubs' 39-yard catch. Facing a 3rd and 5 following a 50-yard field goal that was missed by Colts' kicker Matt Gay.
The Packers needed a play from their passing game. They didn't ask for much on the day, but Malik Willis dialed this one up for Romeo Doubs. Doubs fought through contact and made a contested catch down the right sideline that put the Packers in position.
Willis' throw and Doubs' catch put the Packers in position to salt the game away. Instead, the drive stalled, but a field goal from Brayden Narveson put the Packers 16-3 with 10:54 to play. There wasn't much to like about the passing game, nor much that was asked from it, but this play earns play of the day.
"I just think Romeo made a great play," Malik Willis. "All those guys, they go out and make plays, you see a guy like Wicks, that was a quick throw, he turned it into a touchdown." Deep to Doubs! #INDvsGB pic.
twitter.com/XoQBLMzTf2 A Thank You Card The Packers might owe Shane Steichen a thank you card for today's festivities. Steichen is often praised as a quarterback guru and praised for his aggression.
Today, however, there were some decisions that left you scratching your head if you're a Colts fan. No bigger than early in the fourth quarter than the sequence that led to Matt Gay missing a 50-yard field goal. Jonathan Taylor was tearing up Green Bay's defense, averaging more than eight yards-per-carry at this point of the game.
On 3rd-and-1 Steichen called for Richardson to run a speed option. Jonathan Taylor was on the sideline on the play. Kingsley Enagbare and Eric Wilson strung the play out, leading to a loss of five.
It's an easy first-guess to suggest that Jonathan Taylor should have at minimum been on the field. It's even easier to suggest he should have gotten the ball. Instead, he didn't get the ball on that play.
Nor did he get the ball on the next possession, which ended in an Eric Wilson interception. The Packers won today on the strength of their defense and run game, but they might want to send Steichen a thank you card as well. Up Next: The Packers will head to Tennessee to take on the Titans for their second game on the road.
The Titans lost week one to the Chicago Bears, despite not allowing Chicago's offense to score a touchdown. They fell to 0-2 today after losing to Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets in their home opener. Related: Jordan Love is Inactive against the Colts.
