Maybe the Green Bay Packers are being rewarded with their patience over the potential quarterback of the future. Green Bay beat the New Orleans Saints 20-10 at Lambeau Field Friday night in their only Pre-Season appearance at home as third year quarterback Jordan Love continued to take steps in many positive directions. After missing a deep shot to rookie receiving sensation Romeo Doubs on the game’s opening series, Love engineered two long scoring drives in the first half. The first one covered 14 plays and 73 yards with smart throws to Juwan Winfree for 15 yards and Doubs for 17 on back to back plays. The offense eventually reached the New Orleans 6 yard line before stalling. Ramiz Ahmed staked Green Bay to a 3-0 lead with a 25 yard field goal.
The Saints got even thanks to a 59 yard kickoff return, one of many miscues from new Special Teams Coordinator Rich Bisaccia’s unit, but the starting defense dug in forcing veteran Will Lutz to connect on a 59 yard field goal on the final play of the first quarter.
The ensuing drive was even more impressive. Backed up by a holding penalty and a sack, the offense certainly got help when Malcolm Roach got called for roughing the passer on a third and 19 call but Love made the Saints pay. Buoyed by a strong effort for Tyler Goodson, the rookie running back from Iowa making a strong bid for the number three job, the offense covered 80 yards in 11 plays with Love hitting Winfree again for 21 yards and then throwing a perfect back shoulder touch pass that Doubs snatched over the top of cornerback Brian Allen for a 4 yard touchown and a 10-3.
Love would stay on the field into the fourth quarter and even though he wasn’t helped with some dropped balls and a fumble by reserve tight end Tyler Davis, finished his night 12 of 24 for 113 yards and the score. He also made plays with his feet beginning with an 11 yard scamper on the game’s opening play. While the numbers won’t put him even in the Pre-Season Hall of Fame, Head Coach Matt LaFleur opened his post game press conference with strong words of encouragement.
Love followed LaFleur in the media auditorium and admitted he’s in a good place with his continued development.
Winfree and Doubs both led the team with three receptions and Romeo has now found the end zone in each of his first two NFL games, experiencing his first Lambeau leap he said was a treat. Goodson is another player taking advantage of his opportunities. On the Pack’s first touchdown drive, he accounted for 46 of the 80 yards with runs of 9, 9 and 15 that got the team to the four yard line, plus a catch in the flat for 10 more. He would have been the Pack’s leading rusher on the night if not for third string quarterback Danny Etling. Looking over a third and 1 play from his own 49, Etling faked the inside dive handoff and darted to his right on a read option. When the New Orleans safety and corner bit down inside, Etling got to the corner and the sideline and raced 51 yards untouched for the score. It wasn’t the first time he’s made a huge play with his legs. As a rookie with New England, he ran 82 yards for a touchdown.
On defense, linebacker Isaiah McDuffie matched his game one total with 6 tackles. Three plays early stood out. He chased down a bubble screen on the right sideline to help stall the first possession for New Orleans. Another wide receiver screen to the left and the former Boston College linebacker was there again. When a screen pass to back looked like it might break for big yardage, McDuffie was able to shove an offensive lineman into the running back who tumbled to the turf.
The unit is dangerously thin at safety with Adrian Amos among the 30 players who didn’t dress. Darnell Savage and Innis Gaines are dealing with hamstring issues and rookie Tariq Carpenter is also nicked. They’ve had to sign two street free agents in the last 8 days and both got on the field. Micah Abernathy, a former USFL player made an acrobatic interception of Saints quarterback Ian Book by reading the out route, almost flying over the intended receiver and falling just inside the sideline with the catch. Even De’Vonte Cross, who signed on Tuesday, got in some snaps late. Another safety, Shawn Davis alertly picked up a botched snap by Book that got kicked forward and he returned it 37 yards that set up Ahmed’s second field goal of the night from 45 yards and a 13-3 lead late in the second quarter.
After the Tyler Davis fumble, the latest in a series of mistakes from a tight end the Packers had been counting on, New Orleans was able to cash in for their only touchdown right before intermission. Book found number one pick Chris Olave behind linebacker Tipa Galeai and caught the corner fade before Davis could close on the 20 yard TD strike.
The second half was fraught with a couple of wild special teams plays. Punters Blake Gillikin of New Orleans and Pat O’Donnell were trading bombs. Gillikin hit one that rocketed across the field, bounced past Amari Rodgers and covered a whopping 82 yards. He hit another for 67 while O’Donnell also showed a strong leg with a long of 61. But on two occasions, the Packers had major personnel issues. They got flagged for having 12 men on the field and on another punt, they only had 10. A couple of penalties also marred the unit’s evening.
The defense was able to keep New Orleans from closing the gap, despite some wild scrambles and escape jobs by Book on their final possession which ate up nearly the final 8 minutes of the game. Chris Slaton, another free agent making a name for himself did sack him once and New Orleans attempted a 35 yard field goal hoping to get the ball back one more time but it missed wide left and the Packers ran out the clock.
There’s still one more week to get things fixed and sort out the final roster spots.
LaFleur said he’ll meet with his veterans and decide soon whether or not they’ll take the field in the Pre-Season finale next Thursday night in Kansas City.
The only injury reported during the game was to yes, another safety as Vernon Scott left with a shoulder injury.
The crowd of 71,754 endured a rain shower in the third quarter.
The Special Olympics of Wisconsin was the beneficiary of the Pack’s Give Back Game as volunteers and athletes were treated to seats in the north end zone and many athletes took part in a flag football game at halftime.
