How Green Bay Won With 199 Yards

The play that put Green Bay in range to tie the Jets on Sunday was a punt. Trailing by three with 4:49 left at MetLife Stadium, Skyy Moore fielded a 51-yard kick at his own 18 and returned it 63 yards to the New York 19. Three plays gained 3 yards, Trey Smack kicked a 34-yarder from the 16, and in overtime, after two sacks and a false start left the Jets at third-and-30, Smack kicked again from the 8 on first down. Green Bay 20, New York Jets 17.

That is the whole offensive story. Green Bay finished with 199 yards on 50 plays, 1 of 9 on third down, 14 accepted penalties for 133 yards and 26:57 of possession. The Jets held the ball for 37:40, converted 8 of 19 and lost. Jordan Love went 16 of 29 for 145 yards and two touchdowns, both thrown from inside the 7. The rest was Lukas Van Ness stopping Braelon Allen on fourth-and-1 at midfield with 1:20 left and a defense that sacked Geno Smith four times.

The win ended six straight losses, three of them Saturday games: Dec. 14 at Denver; Dec. 20 at Chicago, in overtime; Dec. 27 against Baltimore at Lambeau Field; Jan. 4 at Minnesota; Jan. 10 at Chicago, Wild Card; Sept. 13 at Minnesota. Five on the road; the last win before it was Dec. 7 against Chicago. The AP calls it the longest skid since 1990-91; ESPN's schedules run out before 1993, so it stays the AP's. Week 1 was not a 199-yard day: 419 yards, 387 from Love, undone by two fourth-quarter turnovers that gave Minnesota drives at the Green Bay 1 and 14. Minnesota 39, Green Bay 22.

Row three

Atlanta's third-down column, started before Carolina, reads 2 of 12 and 4 of 13, 6 of 25 through two games. The row this week adds is the Green Bay defense: 8 of 15 allowed to Minnesota, 8 of 19 to the Jets, 16 of 34. Beside it sits Green Bay's own offense, 3 of 12 and 1 of 9, 4 of 21.

Thursday night, September 24, 8:15 PM ET at Lambeau Field, Prime Video, puts a 19% third-down offense against a 24% one, and the second in front of a defense that has allowed 47%. Dex Ponce is arguing the quarterback verdict this morning; the column says something narrower. Atlanta's starter is the club's to name, and as of 7:18 a.m. Monday it had not named one.

Atlanta's offense has not taken a snap inside an opponent's 20 this season. Green Bay's defense has allowed seven red-zone trips in two games by ESPN's count and six touchdowns: T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones Sr., Jordan Mason and Justin Jefferson for Minnesota, Allen and Garrett Wilson for the Jets, none from farther out than the 16. The seventh ended in Jason Sanders's 32-yard field goal after a Jets delay of game on fourth-and-1 at the 9. No projection follows from that; the point is which column each side has left empty.

The quarterback, as reported

Love took a hit to the elbow, by the club's account, on the play he fumbled. The AP's sentence: "Love shook off a hit to his elbow that led to some numbness in his right hand to throw two touchdown passes for the Packers (1-1)." The club's recap says he didn’t miss any snaps; ESPN's Rob Demovsky wrote that his throwing hand went numb. As of 7:11 a.m. Monday no source had said whether he plays Thursday, and Green Bay had posted no practice report for the short week; ESPN's depth chart lists Tyrod Taylor behind him.

The line is the larger unknown. Right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele was carted off in the first quarter with a right knee injury that Matt LaFleur said, per ESPN, could keep him out a long time; left guard Aaron Banks left with a toe injury, his replacement, Donovan Jennings, with a hand injury, and rookie center Jager Burton finished at left guard because, per the club's notes, no other lineman was available.

LaFleur said afterward: “It was tough sledding there for about three quarters.” Three quarters is generous; the box has one converted third down across four quarters and an overtime. “It’s a huge win,” Love said. It was one Green Bay's offense did not produce.

Atlanta has not played at Lambeau since Oct. 5, 2020, Green Bay 30, Atlanta 16, which is not evidence for Thursday. The columns are an offense at 4 of 21 with its line in pieces, a defense at 16 of 34 and six of seven, and an Atlanta offense at 6 of 25 that has not yet had the chance to fail inside the 20. One of those numbers moves Thursday, and which one is the game.