In a nail-biting showdown that saw late-game heroics and an unfortunate injury setback for Green Bay’s starting quarterback, the Packers managed to secure a 30-27 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brandon McManus played hero once again, nailing a game-winning 24-yard field goal in the closing seconds to give the Packers their fourth straight win. With the victory, Green Bay now stands at an impressive 6-2, while the Jaguars drop to 2-6, struggling to overcome both injuries and errors.
Green Bay’s starting quarterback Jordan Love left the game in the third quarter after aggravating a left groin injury initially sustained during the opening drive. Love’s injury, which coach Matt LaFleur described as a “high level of concern,” could force the young quarterback to miss more time; he already missed two games in September with a sprained left knee. Backup Malik Willis seized the opportunity, completing four of five passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. His biggest play was a 51-yard pass to Jayden Reed, who took advantage of Jaguars safety Andre Cisco cramping up and falling, leaving him wide open along the sideline.
The clutch play from Willis set up McManus’ game-winning kick, marking the second consecutive week that McManus walked it off for the Packers. Despite a rocky start, Willis’s calm under pressure showcased Green Bay’s depth and resilience, especially as they may need to navigate without Love moving forward.
Trevor Lawrence led an impressive comeback, throwing a perfectly placed 14-yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. Engram caught the pass in a crowd, sparking hope for the Jaguars. But ultimately, Jacksonville’s efforts fell short due to a series of errors and penalties, with Lawrence himself contributing to the struggles. Lawrence completed 21 of 32 passes for 308 yards but had a costly fumble near the 5-yard line and an interception, allowing the Packers to maintain an advantage for much of the game.
The Jaguars suffered from an extensive list of injuries, losing all three of their starting receivers — Brian Thomas Jr. (chest), Christian Kirk (shoulder), and Gabe Davis (shoulder). The injuries didn’t stop there: cornerback Ronald Darby (hip), right guard Brandon Scherff (knee), and left guard Ezra Cleveland (ankle) also went down, leaving Jacksonville shorthanded across critical positions. Scherff returned, but the absence of others limited Lawrence’s options and put the team in a vulnerable spot.
Green Bay relied heavily on Josh Jacobs, who delivered an outstanding performance with 127 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a highlight-reel 38-yard run that saw him elude defenders Ventrell Miller and De’Antre Prince. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay’s tight end, further exposed Jacksonville’s struggles to cover his position, hauling in a 67-yard catch and a 3-yard touchdown reception. Kraft’s big play added to Jacksonville’s ongoing issue of defending against tight ends, a recurring problem in recent weeks.
While Green Bay celebrates a thrilling win and continues their four-game winning streak, concerns about Jordan Love’s health loom large. The Packers’ success moving forward may rely on how well Willis can step into the starting role if Love is sidelined for an extended period.
Jacksonville, meanwhile, will need to regroup, address their costly mistakes, and hope for a swift recovery for their injured starters. Their season faces an uphill battle, but Lawrence and the Jaguars will look to channel resilience as they aim to improve in the coming weeks.
