The Green Bay Packers’ season was salvaged by Malik Willis, and with the Minnesota Vikings to town on Sunday for a crucial NFC North game, a major clash is obvious.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Without Jordan Love, the Green Bay Packers went from being Super Bowl favorites at the start of the season to underdogs against the struggling Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans.
However, after their dominant 30-14 win over the Titans on Sunday, marking back-to-back upset victories, the Packers are once again considered Super Bowl contenders. According to updated odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, the Packers now have +1800 odds to win the Super Bowl, the ninth-best in the league. This is roughly where they stood before losing both the game and their quarterback against the Eagles in Brazil.
So, the Packers are back, and so are the weekly Overreactions.
Malik Willis Saved the Season
Could Malik Willis save the Packers’ season? That was a legitimate question following Jordan Love’s injury.
Historically, the odds were grim. Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, only 9.6 percent of teams starting 0-2 have managed to make the playoffs. Since 1990, just four out of 162 teams that began 0-3 made the postseason, a mere 2.5 percent, which averages out to one team every six years. While many say it’s not how you start but how you finish, none of those 0-3 teams went on to reach the Super Bowl.
Enter Malik Willis. He did enough to edge Indianapolis 16-10 at Lambeau Field last week and more than enough to defeat Tennessee on the road.
Sure, the Packers benefited from facing the Colts and Titans, but Willis stood out as the best quarterback on the field in both matchups. The Packers didn’t need Willis to win the games outright; they just needed him not to lose. He delivered, avoiding turnovers and making clutch plays on third down. His performance, without any turnover-worthy moments, was exactly what the team needed.
“I’d say he’s exceeded my expectations,” said receiver Christian Watson. “Not because of his talent, but because he was thrown into a tough situation and handled it so well.”
There’s a strong chance Jordan Love could return for the upcoming game against the first-place Minnesota Vikings (3-0) on Sunday. With the Lions (2-1) and 49ers (1-2) not looking like the powerhouses they were last season, could Packers-Vikings be the first of a potential three-round battle that culminates in the NFC Championship Game?
Zach Tom Dominates; Relax About Rasheed Walker
The Titans feature a top-tier pass rusher in Harold Landry, who finished last season strong with five sacks in the last five games and started this season with three sacks in the first two contests.
On the other side, the Packers boast a standout right tackle in Zach Tom, who came into Sunday having gone nine consecutive games without allowing a sack, according to Pro Football Focus.
So, who triumphed in this key matchup?
Tom emerged as the clear winner. Landry recorded just one pressure, which wasn’t against Tom, who hasn’t given up a single pressure throughout the first three games. In fact, among the 63 offensive tackles who have played at least 100 snaps this season, only Tom and the Eagles’ Lane Johnson have not allowed a pressure.
While Tom continued his impressive form from last season and established himself as one of the NFL’s top offensive linemen, left tackle Rasheed Walker’s performance has been less consistent. He committed penalties for offensive holding and illegal use of hands against Tennessee, making him the second-most penalized offensive tackle in the league with six infractions in three games.
After allowing a sack in Week 1, Walker improved significantly, permitting zero pressures against the Colts and just one against the Titans. If he can adjust to the dynamic running style of Josh Jacobs, it should help mitigate his penalty issues moving forward.
Pass Rush Is Elite
Throughout the offseason and training camp, it became evident that the Packers were poised to have a formidable pass rush. During a joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay’s defensive front showcased its dominance.
In their first two games, the Packers managed only three sacks against the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and the Colts’ Anthony Richardson, opting for a more conservative approach to force those athletic quarterbacks to play as traditional passers.
However, against the Titans, the Packers unleashed their attack.
“Freedom,” is how Kingsley Enagbare described the change.
It was freedom for the Packers and a nightmare for Will Levis.
The team registered just one sack in the first half but exploded for seven in the second half, marking their best pass-rushing performance in two decades. Devonte Wyatt, who was expected to thrive in Jeff Hafley’s aggressive scheme, contributed with two sacks. Enagbare added 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble, while seven players collectively made their presence felt, including Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie, who combined for a sack on a critical fourth-down bootleg by Levis to start the second half.
“It’s amazing, man, and that’s what the coaches preach all week and what we emphasize to each other – creating turnovers and negative plays – so we can give the ball back to the offense and maximize their scoring opportunities,” said Rashan Gary, who wasn’t credited with any sacks.
“We’re out there communicating and flying around for a full 60 minutes, and whatever it takes, you’ve got to love it, and that’s the kind of outcome we’re aiming for.”
With a powerful pass rush complemented by a playmaking secondary, the Packers should be competitive in every game.
This week, they face a significantly tougher challenge against the Vikings at Lambeau Field. Minnesota boasts a strong duo of tackles in Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, tasked with protecting Sam Darnold.
If given adequate time, Darnold has proven he can challenge any defense, ranking second in passer rating, first in touchdowns, and fourth in yards per attempt through Sunday’s games. However, when pressured, he drops to 25th out of 32 quarterbacks with just 4.3 yards per attempt, which is worse than both Levis (4.5) and Willis (NFL-best 11.3).
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