So much for the frozen tundra.
With the late summer sun blazing down on the second-hottest day in Lambeau history, on a day when linemen were vomiting all over themselves and the football, the Green Bay Packers crafted an offensive game plan that would make Vince Lombardi swoon.
The Indianapolis Colts knew the Packers would try to run the ball into the ground. All 80,000 fans at the game knew the passing game would likely be a rumor with Malik Willis at the helm. Yet the Colts were powerless to stop a Packers offense that saw six different players carry the ball in the first quarter alone to the tune of an astounding 164 yards.
You knew there was a part of Matt LaFleur that was jacked up by the challenge. How do you set up a young QB for success when he’s been in the building for less than three weeks, hasn’t started a game in two years, and who’s yet to throw a touchdown pass in his three career starts?
You do it by playing big boy football, letting your linemen know all week that this week was on them, that they could beat the opponent by punishing them on the ground early and often.
LaFleur emptied his playbook, using motion and misdirection to keep the Colts defense off balance throughout the first half. Josh Jacobs was the battering ram workhorse. But by sprinkling in carries for Jayden Reed, Bo Melton, Willis, and the other backs, the Colts never seemed to know what was coming – at least in the first half.
If not for Jacobs’ fumble in the end zone, negating a potential 17-point lead and giving the Colts a stay of execution, the Green and Gold had a near-perfect first half. There were also a few untimely penalties, something that plagued the team in the opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, but they cleaned that up in the second half.
As for Willis, who was asked to be that time-honored cliché game manager, he exceeded expectations. Willis limited mistakes and took care of the football. He made plays when he needed to, like the laser to Dontayvion Wicks for his first career touchdown pass and throwing a deep ball for Romeo Doubs to go up and pluck out of the air.
The Colts adjusted in the second half, and yards were much harder to come by after the intermission. Part of that was LaFleur calling a more conservative game with less motion and gadgets, which can be infuriating. That ultimately kept Indy within shouting distance until the game’s final play.
You have to believe the offense was gassed because they were on the field for 40 minutes. Still, it’s damn nice to have a workhorse back like Jacobs, who carried the rock 32 times and said after the game he could play another half. Pretty sure he was the only guy in the locker room who felt that way, except maybe for the defense.
The Pack’s dominance in the running game gave Jeff Hafley’s unit plenty of time to hydrate and review their iPads on the sidelines, and they gave fans a strong bounce-back performance.
Another game, another three takeaways, highlighted by Xavier McKinney’s second pick in as many weeks. And, of course, rookie Evan Williams snagged one too – it seems like he got an INT almost every day in practice during camp. In his first game as a pro, he came down with the failed Hail Mary, which ended the game.
The defense was mostly responsible for Anthony Richardson’s worst game as a starter (QB rating of 42). It prevented him from doing damage with his legs and denied him any explosive plays in the passing game like he put on tape the previous week.
They faltered a bit in the third quarter when Jonathan Taylor got hot and started gassing them with some big runs, but the Colts inexplicably left him on the sidelines for most of the fourth quarter when they went to hurry-up mode.
The Packers only gave up two third-down conversions and picked off three passes. They only recorded one sack because they were more concerned with not letting Richardson take off and run. The next few QBs on the schedule are pocket passers, so hopefully they can focus on applying more pressure.
Let’s also see if rookie kicker Brayden Narveson can get through a game without missing a field goal try. Growing pains are an expectation with a rookie kicker. Still, it’d be nice to see him deliver a clean game, especially with the margin for error narrowed while Jordan Love heals.
Speaking of which, it sounds like the team is preparing to roll with Willis for the next game or two (though who really knows?). Next week, he may face the team that drafted and dispatched him. With a game ball tucked away safely in his locker, Willis can continue crafting the next chapter of his young career. He’ll likely need to do more next week against a much better defense in a less friendly environment.
Fortunately for him and the rest of the offense, the early forecast for Nashville calls for a high of 89 degrees on Sunday. Just the way they like it, provided there are vomit buckets available for the linemen.
