Instant analysis of the Packers’ 30-17 win over the Dolphins in Week 13

The Green Bay Packers jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead, held a 24-hour lead at halftime, and cruised to a 30-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving Night at Lambeau Field.

Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes, Josh Jacobs totaled over 100 yards, the defense produced five sacks and the Packers’ special teams created an early turnover.

The Packers are now 9-3 after winning their third straight game following the bye.

Here’s an instant analysis of the Packers’ win over the Dolphins in Week 13:

Final score: Packers 30, Dolphins 17

Live scoring

First quarter

GB 7, MIA 0: Jayden Reed 3-yard catch (12:00)
GB 14, MIA 0: Josh Jacobs 1-yard run (0:55)

Second quarter

GB 14, MIA 3: Jason Sanders 33-yard field goal (8:44)
GB 21, MIA 3: Jayden Reed 12-yard catch (1:36)
GB 24, MIA 3: Brandon McManus 46-yard field goal (0:00)

Third quarter

GB 27, MIA 3: Brandon McManus 24-yard field goal (7:42)
GB 27, MIA 11: De’Von Achane 14-yard catch (2:43)

Fourth quarter

GB 30, MIA 11: Brandon McManus 33-yard field goal (5:02)
GB 30, MIA 17: Tyreek Hill 12-yard catch (3:04)

It was over when…

… the Packers drove 78 yards — with an incredible 49-yard catch-and-run from Josh Jacobs — to set up a field goal and extend the lead to 30-11 after Quay Walker sacked on their 4th-and-1 became the 1-yard line.

Play balls

Attack – RB Josh Jacobs: He rushed for a touchdown and gained 74 yards on his four catches. For the fifth straight game, Jacobs rushed for over 100 total yards.

Defense – LB Isaiah McDuffie: Battling an ankle injury, McDuffie managed 10 tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.

Special Teams – K Brandon McManus/CB Robert Rochell: McManus scored on all six of his shots, including all three field goals, and made a tackle covering a kickoff. Rochell recovered the fumble early on a botched punt that turned the game around.

Key statistics

242: Josh Jacobs, Tucker Kraft and Jayden Reed – arguably the team’s three toughest players to tackle – combined for 242 yards and three scores on 29 touches on a frigid night at Lambeau Field.

Decisive factor

Quick start. The Packers took an early 7-0 lead after a botched punt and led by 14 after one quarter and 21 at halftime. The impressive first half gave the Packers room to maneuver while the Dolphins gained momentum offensively in the second half.

Jordan Love watch

Love started 0-for-2, including a miss on a would-be touchdown to Jayden Reed, but he finished the game 21 of 28 for 274 yards and two scores and zero turnovers. He was not released. Love played well under pressure and managed well to score finishes underneath. At least two of his seven incompletions were dropped, and one late incompletion should have been called defensive pass interference. Love’s passer rating was 129.3, his third straight game with a passer rating above 100.0.

Playing by the game

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1862346036074705407

The game could have gotten much closer with just under ten minutes left in the fourth quarter, but Rashan Gary made a stop on second down, Keisean Nixon intercepted a pass on third down, and Quay Walker stuffed Tua Tagovailoa on fourth down to keep the score at 27- 11.

Injury updates

Cornerback Corey Ballentine suffered a knee injury in the game’s opener and did not return. Defensive player Arron Mosby was evaluated for a concussion.

What’s next?

A trip to Detroit for the biggest game of the season. It will be the Packers at 9-3 versus the Lions at 11-1. Green Bay needs a win to get back into the NFC North race.

NFC North update

The Packers and Lions both won on Thanksgiving and had a big NFC North battle the next Thursday at Ford Field. The Minnesota Vikings play against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.