The Green Bay Packers enjoyed a late-night Thanksgiving feast Thursday, complete with cold weather, big reach and some awkwardness in the later parts of the meal.
By the end of the first half, the Packers had a 24-3 lead over the Miami Dolphins. At the final whistle, it was a 30-17 victory at Lambeau Field. Their offense had little trouble moving the ball, while their defense took advantage of a Miami team struggling to put together a drive in cold weather, with mistakes including a muffed punt. It was a familiar story for dolphins in cold weather.
The temperature was 27 degrees at kickoff and only got cooler from there. The Dolphins’ biggest mistake came on a straight muffed punt that set up the Packers’ first touchdown, and there was no redemption until after halftime.
The second half featured at least some drama when the Dolphins scored a touchdown and converted a two-point attempt to cut the deficit to 16. They soon reached the red zone again and were at the 1-yard line on second-and-goal.
Next three plays: rush for no gain, incomplete pass, sack.
Jordan Love finished the game 21-of-27 passing for 274 yards and two touchdowns, while the Green Bay run game posted 114 yards. The Dolphins’ offense didn’t quite gel — Tua Tagovailoa finished with 364 yards passing — but they didn’t run the ball when it mattered.
The loss was costly for the Dolphins, who are now out of the playoff picture at 5-7. They have a favorable final five games of the season (Jets, Texans, 49ers, Browns, Jets), but even if they win, they will need help.
Meanwhile, the Packers move to 9-3, which is still good enough for third in a stacked NFC North. The 11-1 Detroit Lions also won Thursday to stay two games ahead, while the 9-2 Minnesota Vikings face the 6-5 Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Here’s how it went down on Yahoo Sports:
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Final: Packers 30, Dolphins 17
The Packers won their third straight, and the Dolphins another cold-weather loss. This game went down at halftime, got a little interesting in the third quarter, then turned into a runaway victory.
The Packers went for a home run on Christian Watson’s deep pass on 3rd-and-11. It was a perfect ball, but some heavy contact from the Miami secondary led to an incompletion. The Packers aren’t happy, but that doesn’t really matter.
It’s the Dolphins’ ball with 1:56 left, down 13. A timeout remains.
Twelve words from NBC’s Jason Garrett that sum up the bigger problem: “They’re not a physical team; That manifests in games like this.” Can this regime fix it? https://t.co/Jmm6ANSXWe
The Packers recover the onside kick. They can end it here with a few first downs.
Touchdown: The Dolphins make the score a little more respectable with a deflection TD
Tagovailoa accidentally finds Tyreek Hill for his second touchdown pass of the game (good). Two-point conversion fails (bad). The Dolphins are down 30-17 with 3:04 left and need multiple onside kicks to go right to avoid being 507 (ugly).
The Dolphins were down by three scores with five minutes left and put Tua Tagovailo — whose career was in doubt due to a concussion earlier this season — to finish the game. sure
Field Goals: The Packers went up 19 to effectively end it
Five minutes left, and zero plays. The Packers are up 19 and have to worry about staying warm for the rest of the game.
With that 49-yard reception, Josh Jacobs went over 100 yards from scrimmage for the fifth straight game. He had 19 touchdowns for 113 total yards.
There are big swings. Jaden Reed dropped a screen pass and the ball was returned to the end zone… but replay confirmed it was an incomplete pass. It was an exciting few seconds for the Packers.
Josh Jacobs shook off a defender and ran 49 yards to put the Packers in the red zone. This is the longest reception of his career.
That was painful from the dolphin. They got the ball at the Green Bay 1-yard line, then stopped on three straight plays.
Quay Walker has flipped a switch these past few weeks. Jeff Hafley seems to be giving him more opportunities to fly downhill and rush the passer. Whatever it is, it’s working – something clicked.
Turnover on down: The Dolphins stalled on 4th-and-goal
Up 27-11 with 9:39 left, the Dolphins go for it and get a Tua Tagovailoa sack by Quay Walker. A flag for offensive holding is denied and the game may be played.
None of these dolphin catches are contested. Guys just being wide open.
Tua Tagovailoa gets the Dolphins on the edge of the red zone with a pass to Odell Beckham Jr., but is hit by an unblocked Rashaan Gary. There was some controversy over the passer penalty, but the lack of contact with the helmet saved the Packers.
Another offside for the Packers. Believe me, it’s four o’clock tonight.
