5 takeaways from Packers’ victory over Colts

3. Josh Jacobs was the workhorse, with only one regrettable play.

Jacobs had 20 carries for 128 yards by halftime, and he completed with 32 for 151, one carry shy of his single-game profession excessive for dashing makes an attempt. That is fairly the workload on an 85-degree day, tied for the second-hottest dwelling recreation in crew historical past.

There’s only one play he’d like to have again – first-and-goal from the Indy 4 early within the second quarter. Jacobs discovered a gap and gave the impression to be lunging for the objective line and a landing that may’ve put the Packers up 17-0 simply three offensive possessions into the sport.

However the ball squirted out as he was hit from the best, and the Colts recovered in the long run zone.

“I do not assume I can articulate what was going by means of my thoughts on that fumble,” LaFleur joked. “However that occurs. Josh, I am certain he was extra sick about it than I used to be. He ran so exhausting immediately and he at all times does.

“He is an important teammate and an important chief for our soccer crew. What did he have, 30 carries? I imply, he put in a great day’s work, I would say. So I do know clearly that may be pricey, and fortuitously for us it did not value us.”

The Packers additionally left factors on the market when rookie kicker Brayden Narveson missed a 45-yard area objective within the fourth quarter that may’ve pushed the result in 16 factors. For the second straight recreation, Narveson was 3-for-4 on area targets, with each misses coming broad proper from the left hash.

4. The protection bounced again properly from final week and stood tall, significantly in key moments.

Colts QB Anthony Richardson ended up throwing for 204 yards and Jonathan Taylor rushed for 103 on simply 12 carries. However interceptions by Xavier McKinney within the first quarter and Eric Wilson within the fourth thwarted potential scoring drives. These have been sandwiched round a fourth-down cease close to midfield within the third quarter that helped hold the Colts scoreless for greater than 40 minutes.

The method in opposition to Richardson was a lot the identical because it was the week prior in opposition to Philly’s Jalen Hurts, not wanting the opposing QB to make performs together with his legs. Dashing the passer was extra about containing him than sacking him, and it labored.

“I do know there was a pair performs he received out (of the pocket) late, however I believed for essentially the most half, they did a very good job of simply being disciplined,” LaFleur stated of the protection, which held Richardson to 5 yards dashing till the final two minutes, when he pushed his complete to 37. “(We have been) making an attempt to break down the pocket, get in entrance of him and drive him to make some dangerous choices.”

The protection additionally received a pair of stops to drive field-goal makes an attempt, one among which was missed, from 50 yards out early within the fourth quarter. It will’ve pulled the Colts inside 13-6 and altered the complexion of issues.

5. The underside line: If the Packers must play one other recreation or two with out Love, they’ve confirmed they’ll win.

“You already know adversity’s coming each week on this league,” LaFleur stated. “You face it clearly going into the sport when you do not have your star quarterback, and you have simply received to discover a solution to win.

“As a result of on the finish of the day, no person cares. This recreation is about profitable, and you have to do it, nonetheless you have to discover a means, and our guys discovered a means.”