In Week 6 of the 2024 season, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 34-13 at Lambeau Field.
It’s time to distribute the game balls and choose how to play:
Game balls
Offense: QB Jordan Love – He threw four touchdown passes, including three on third down and one against a sluggish running back in a rush. His only loss was the result of Bo Melton’s mid-course fall. Love threw true third-down passes to Jayden Reed for 5 yards and Romeo Doubs for 10 yards. In the second half, he adjusted the play on the line, carried out the attack and gave Doubs a 50/50 chance to play the ball against the defender who had his back to the passer. The Packers offensive line gave him good protection, but Love managed to get through three times. He completed 68.8 percent of his passes and did a great job of balancing aggressive play downfield and secure play in front of goal.
Defense: S Evan Williams – The rookie’s safety was excellent through 38 snaps. After one snap in the first half, Williams took the quarterback on a zone read and stopped Kyler Murray in the open field for a third-down fumble. Then his perfectly timed and true punch forced a fumble into Packers territory, ending the Cardinals’ final threat. Williams was effective as a deep safety and reliable ball carrier. His stop of Murray and forced fumble were two of the biggest defensive plays of the game.
Special Teams: Returning Keisean Nixon – Finally, the two-time All-Pro was given a chance to impact the game as a returner. His career-long 39-yard punt return set up a 44-yard touchdown catch for Christian Watson, and he also had a season-long 37-yard return before halftime. Nixon finished the game with 99 return yards. It’s possible that the worsening weather will give Nixon a better chance of regaining his winning streak in the coming weeks. And don’t be surprised if Nixon takes over as the primary punt returner for Jayden Reed.
Game play
https://twitter.com/packers/status/1845543467146998038
The Cardinals, who trailed 24-0, extended their lead to 24-13 by scoring 13 straight points between the second and third quarters. The Packers offense responded with a long scoring run that helped put the game away.
The touchdown came on 3rd and 5 on a special drive that the Packers were unprepared for. Love adjusted the defense, motioned Romeo Doubs to the right side, took the snap in time, and made a throw against the 7-man Blitz that was behind him with Cover-0.
“They went all out,” Love said. “I trusted Rome, took him one-on-one, and he made a great play catching the ball and finishing in the end zone. Great game by Roma.”
With a loose runner on the right side, Love had to drift to buy time. At the last second he threw his back foot away to fend off the ball.
Doubs made a double move from the outside. He tracked down the ball, caught the ball in front of cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and scored to give the Packers a 31-13 lead in the third quarter. Game, set, match. The Cardinals never threatened again.
