Packers Thanksgiving win/ Jordan Love/ Dolphins cold-weather loss/ Jayden Reed/ Green Bay victory/ NFL 2024/ Packers defense/ goal-line stand/ Miami Dolphins/ Lambeau Field/ GREEN BAY/ Wis./ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes to Jayden Reed as the Green Bay Packers dominated early and held off a Miami Dolphins rally for a 30-17 Thanksgiving win. Love passed for 274 yards, and the Packers’ defense delivered a crucial goal-line stand to secure their third consecutive victory. Miami, now 5-7, extended its winless streak in cold-weather games.
Packers Thanksgiving Quick Looks
- Love Leads the Way: Jordan Love threw for 274 yards and two TDs to Reed.
- Fast Start: Green Bay built a commanding 27-3 lead by the third quarter.
- Miami’s Cold Streak Continues: Dolphins lost their 12th straight game below 40°F kickoff temps.
- Crucial Goal-Line Stop: Packers defense stopped Miami’s rally with a pivotal fourth-quarter stand.
- Key Contributions: Josh Jacobs added a touchdown, and Brandon McManus kicked two field goals.
Jordan Love, Packers Beat Dolphins 30-17 on Thanksgiving
Deep Look
The Green Bay Packers powered past the Miami Dolphins 30-17 on Thanksgiving night, fueled by quarterback Jordan Love’s efficient passing and a blistering start that Miami couldn’t overcome. Love, who completed 21 of 28 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns to Jayden Reed, celebrated the victory by finally enjoying a Thanksgiving tradition—a turkey leg, much to the delight of his teammates.
Green Bay (9-3) has now won three straight games and seven of its last eight, solidifying its playoff position. The victory marked the Packers’ second win in five days, coming off a dominant 38-10 performance against San Francisco. Green Bay’s momentum will be tested further as they face the division-leading Detroit Lions in their next matchup.
A Fast Start and Decisive Defense
The Packers seized control early, capitalizing on a muffed punt recovery at the Dolphins’ 9-yard line to set up Love’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Reed. Following a 76-yard drive capped by Josh Jacobs’ 1-yard score, Green Bay jumped out to a 14-0 lead.
Before halftime, Love found Reed again on a 12-yard catch-and-run touchdown, aided by a stellar block from Dontayvion Wicks. Brandon McManus added a 46-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter, pushing the lead to 24-3.
Miami’s sluggish start in freezing conditions hindered any early momentum. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns, but a disjointed offense and five sacks allowed by the Dolphins proved costly.
Miami’s Rally Falls Short
Trailing 27-3 in the third quarter, Miami mounted a comeback attempt. Tagovailoa’s 14-yard touchdown pass to De’Von Achane and a two-point conversion to Jaylen Waddle cut the Packers’ lead to 27-11. After stopping Josh Jacobs on a critical third-and-1, the Dolphins drove to Green Bay’s 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
The Packers’ defense responded with a game-defining goal-line stand. Rashan Gary stopped Achane on second down, Tagovailoa’s third-down pass fell incomplete, and Quay Walker’s fourth-down sack quashed the scoring threat.
Green Bay extended its lead to 30-11 with McManus’ second field goal, set up by a 49-yard pass from Love to Jacobs. Miami added a late touchdown on a deflected 12-yard pass to Tyreek Hill, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.
Packers Shine Across the Board
While Love and Reed headlined the offensive effort, Green Bay’s defense played a crucial role, recording five sacks and forcing pivotal turnovers. Josh Jacobs’ hard running and McManus’ reliable kicking contributed to the victory.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, extended their dismal record in cold-weather games. Their last win in sub-40°F conditions was in 2016, and Thursday’s kickoff temperature of 27°F—with light flurries—proved challenging. Despite their efforts, Miami fell to 5-7 and saw its playoff hopes further diminish.
As Green Bay looks ahead to a challenging stretch, the team appears poised to build on its recent momentum, with key players stepping up on both sides of the ball.
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