Christian Watson’s two touchdowns helped the Green Bay Packers edge the New York Giants, 27-20, on Sunday.
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Matt LaFleur had this simple message for his Green Bay Packers this week.
“I told the team, I don’t care if we win 3-0 or 49-48,” LaFleur said. “Bottom line is we have to find a way to get it done, otherwise you get criticized, and that’s just the way it is.”
It wasn’t pretty, but the Packers found a way Sunday.
Quarterback Jordan Love hit wideout Christian Watson with the game-winning touchdown and safety Evan Williams had a huge interception in the final minute as the Packers defeated the host New York Giants, 27-20.
Green Bay snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 6-3-1. The Giants fell to 2-9.
Here’s the ‘Good, Bad and Ugly’ from the Packers’ win.
THE GOOD
WONDERFUL WATSON: The Packers wouldn’t have left MetLife Stadium with a win if it wasn’t for Watson.
Watson snared a laser from Malik Willis for a 1-yard TD early in the second quarter. But Watson’s biggest play came with 4:02 left when he hauled in a 17-yard TD from Jordan Love that helped give Green Bay a 27-20 lead.
Watson, in just his fourth game back from an ACL injury suffered in Week 18 last season, faced double coverage. But Love threw a dart to the left corner of the endzone, Watson beat both defenders to the ball and made a terrific catch.
“It’s been great,” Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said of having Watson back. “His explosive plays that he’s made have really been, you know, just a big step forward with our offense. That’s one thing every game, he just seems to come up with some huge plays. And that’s just the kind of player that he is, with his size and speed, his vertical threat, how he attacks the ball. Yeah, it’s been awesome.”
GOOD HANDS SAFETY: Giants quarterback Jameis Winston gave the Packers several chances for interceptions throughout the day, and Green Bay kept looking a gift Winston in the mouth. Finally, safety Evan Williams capitalized.
Williams intercepted Winston in the endzone with 40 seconds remaining, and moments later the Packers had prevailed.
SUPER SAVION: Rookie wide receiver Savion Williams made one of the biggest plays of the day.
With 5:55 left, the Packers faced a third-and-10 from their own 48. Love scrambled, couldn’t find anyone open, then took a shot for Williams, who had one-on-one coverage.
Williams made a terrific adjustment on the ball and hauled in Love’s pass for a 32-yard reception at the Giants’ 20. Two plays later, Love hit Watson with the game-winning TD.
LOVE ME DO: Love left early in the game with a shoulder injury. But he returned and had a terrific afternoon.
Love’s stats — 13-of-24 for 173 yards — won’t wow anyone. But Love and Green Bay’s offense were ruined by seven dropped passes (see below).
Love stayed the course, though, and through a pair of touchdown passes, including the game-winner to Watson.
BE MY VALENTINE: Carrrington Valentine had two pass breakups in the first quarter. While that was undoubtedly a positive, Valentine could have had at least one interception.
On Valentine’s second PBU, the ball hit him right in the chest, but he couldn’t haul it in.
BIG STOP: The Giants trailed, 19-13, late in the third quarter and had a fourth-and-3 from Green Bay’s 10. On the fourth down play, though, Micah Parsons beat tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and Isaiah McDuffie helped him finish off Green Bay’s first sack of the day.
The Giants’ drive lasted 16 plays and took nearly 10 minutes, but produced no points.
THIS AND THAT: Matthew Golden drew a 35-yard pass interference call on defensive back Dane Belton at the Giants’ 3-yard line. Two plays later, Love threw a 2-yard TD pass to Josh Whyle to give Green Bay a 19-13 lead. … Matt LaFleur won a third quarter challenge and is now 4-1 on challenges this season.
THE BAD
WASTED CHANCES: Carrington Valentine, Javon Bullard and Keisean Nixon all dropped interceptions.
The throw to Valentine hit him right in the chest, but he couldn’t haul it in. Bullard was about to haul in interception, but teammate Isaiah McDuffie ran into him jarring the ball loose. And Nixon simply dropped his attempt on a deep ball to Jalin Hyatt.
Bullard and Nixon’s drops kept alive a drive that ended in a Jameis Winston touchdown run and gave New York a 20-19 lead.
For a Green Bay defense that has just six takeaways all season, it was a wasted opportunity to add to those totals.
RUN DEFENSE: The Packers couldn’t stop the run, as the Giants piled up 142 rushing yards on a whopping 38 carries. New York had three rushing touchdowns, and the Giants’ dominant rushing attack helped them hold a 12-minute advantage in time of possession.
THIS AND THAT: Lucas Havrisik missed two extra points on the day. On the second, the snap was high and holder Daniel Whelan had the laces pointed in the wrong direction. … Kingsley Enagbare’s holding penalty during a punt spoiled a 13-yard return by Romeo Doubs. … Edgerrin Cooper missed a third down tackle on Tyrone Tracy that hemorrhaged into a 20-yard gain and kept a Giants’ drive alive. That march eventually resulted in a Devin Singletary touchdown run. … Jameis Winston gained 10 yards on a quarterback sneak. … Isaiah McDuffie was flagged for pass interference. … Rasheed Walker had a holding penalty on Green Bay’s second possession.
THE UGLY
LUKE MUSGRAVE: The Packers were hoping their 2023 second round draft choice could step after Tucker Kraft’s season-ending knee injury. Instead, Musgrave’s disappointing career continues to sink deeper into the abyss.
Musgrave had a fumble that went out of bounds on Green Bay’s opening possession. Then just before halftime, it was initially ruled that Musgrave fumbled a short pass from Love. After officials reviewed the play, though, they determined it was an incompletion/drop and not a fumble.
At this point, putting Musgrave on the field is certainly risky business.
BUTTER FINGERS: Love might want to sue for support after Green Bay’s pass catchers dropped a ridiculous seven passes.
In the first half alone, Romeo Doubs dropped two passes, including one that killed the Packers’ opening drive. Tight ends John FitzPatrick and Musgrave both had drops, and wideout Dontayvion Wicks also had a drop.
Christian Watson then dropped a deep shot from Love late in the third quarter and Doubs had his third drop of the game midway through the fourth quarter.
ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH: The Giants opened the game with a nine-play, 65-yard drive that Devin Singletary capped with a 5-yard touchdown run. Winston hit Wan’Dale Robinson for 20 yards on a third-and-five to jumpstart the march. Winston later hit Isaiah Hodgins for 20 yards and Singletary capped the drive with a TD run.
It marked the first time this season the Packers allowed a first quarter touchdown and it was also the first time Green Bay’s defense allowed a TD on the opponent’s opening drive.