The Green Bay Packers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-27 at EverBank Stadium in Week 8 of the 2024 season.
It’s time to distribute the game balls, determine the turning point and choose the course of the game:
Game balls
Offense: RB Josh Jacobs – Most of his plays, including a 38-yard touchdown, came after Jordan Love left the field early in the second half. Jacobs did everything an elite defender should do – create explosive runs, make missed tackles and maintain good attacking shape on the first try. The veteran finished with 127 rushing yards and two scores. According to PFF, Jacobs made eight missed tackles and gained nearly 100 yards after his first touch.
Defense: LB Edgerrin Cooper – The rookie played only 34 of 57 snaps, but had two stops at the line of scrimmage, broke up a pass in the seam on third down and had a decisive impact on the game. Cooper missed a few tackles, but he played at 100 miles per hour. His playing speed can be overwhelming.
Special Teams: K Brandon McManus: What a luxury it is to have a kicker who consistently gives you simple points. McManus scored all three extra points and all three field goals during a stellar performance. The game-winner was a 24-yard shot between hashes – probably the easiest kick available. However, McManus calmly went about his business, scoring 12 of the Packers’ 30 points. He was a perfect 10-for-10 on kicks (field goals and extra points) in his first two games in Green Bay.
A turning point
Josh Jacobs with all the moves for a 38-yard TD!
📺: #GBvsJAX on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/CQ3b6aZ5CZ— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
The Packers paid Jacobs top dollar in the market to create exactly this type of play. Trailing for the first time and with Jordan Love out of the game, the Packers turned to Malik Willis and Josh Jacobs to ignite the offense and erase the deficit. It was a pass or fight situation. Will the Packers crumble in the face of adversity or will they find a counterattack? Willis hit Dontayvion Wicks for a 20-yard pass into Jaguars territory. Moments later, Jacobs took a pass after reading the zone, dropped back to his left, deflected the defensive back, broke away from the linebacker’s tackle, and then hit the jets, flying outside behind Christian Watson’s block downfield to find the ball end zone from the 38 yards. The Packers suddenly had a 20-17 lead. They wouldn’t follow the trail again. Jacobs used excellent vision, agility and contact balance to create a game-changing play.
Game play
Edgerrin Cooper has no engine or effort issues. pic.twitter.com/JNLva5PJJC
— Brandon Carwile (@BCarwile_NFL) October 28, 2024
Edgerrin Cooper’s strip sack didn’t result in a defensive touchdown, but the rookie’s takeaway was the closest he got. On third down, Cooper overcame a center block and shut down Trevor Lawrence, batting the ball away with his left hand as Lawrence was thrown from behind. The resulting fumble was recovered by Devonte Wyatt, who hit an offensive lineman with the ball inside the 5-yard line. A few plays later, Willis found Tucker Kraft for a touchdown, giving the Packers a 27-17 lead.
