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11/28 17:38 CST Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson help Packers' Jordan Love
withstand absence of other receivers
Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson help Packers' Jordan Love withstand
absence of other receivers
By STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is thriving even with some of his
favorite targets unavailable.
Christian Watson's reliability and Dontayvion Wicks' emergence have much to do
with that.
Love continued his history of devouring defenses on Thanksgiving Day and kept
the Packers in the thick of NFC North title contention by throwing four
touchdown passes without an interception in a 31-24 victory that completed
their regular-season sweep of the two-time defending division champion Detroit
Lions.
The Packers (8-3-1) are a half-game behind the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears
(9-3), who won 24-15 at Philadelphia on Friday. The Packers host the Bears on
Dec. 7, their third straight game against a divisional opponent.
"You've got to come in and win these games and try to control your own destiny
by winning out," Love said.
Love has thrown nine touchdown passes without an interception in Thanksgiving
victories over the last three seasons. His latest feast came on a day when
Green Bay was missing injured tight end Tucker Kraft and receivers Jayden Reed,
Matthew Golden and Savion Williams.
Kraft will miss the rest of the season after tearing an anterior cruciate
ligament on Nov. 2. Reed, the Packers' leading receiver last year, is nearing
his return after being out since mid-September to recover from surgeries to his
foot and shoulder.
Green Bay's offense had been inconsistent lately due in part to those injuries,
but Thursday's game showcased the Packers' upside.
"We've got dogs," Watson said. "We've got some playmakers. We're only going to
get better and better as we get everybody back, so I'm excited to see it when
everybody gets back."
Watson and Wicks were the top dogs Thursday.
Watson had four catches for 80 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown early in
the second half. Although he has played only six games since returning from a
torn ACL, Watson already has more touchdown catches (three) than he had last
season (two). His 21 receptions are approaching his 2024 total of 29 in 15
games.
Wicks matched career highs with seven catches and two touchdowns, and his 94
yards receiving were three off his career best. Wicks sealed the victory by
leaping and stretching his arms to make a remarkable 16-yard catch on
fourth-and-3, a notable achievement for someone who had struggled with drops
earlier in his career.
"He's always had the talent," coach Matt LaFleur said. "Obviously you want to
go attack the ball aggressively, I think that can help eliminate a lot of
drops. And I know a lot of great receivers that have struggled with drops and
then overcame that. ... He's got great hands. He's a natural plucker of the
football, and so it's never like a lack of confidence in him. I've never
wavered. I can speak for myself and our staff, we've never wavered on his
ability."
What's working The offensive line didn't allow a single sack of Love Thursday. ... LaFleur's daring approach paid off, with the Packers going for it on fourth down three times and converting each attempt. ... The Packers haven't committed a turnover during their three-game winning streak. They have only seven turnovers all season. ... The Packers have totaled five penalties over their last two games. What needs help Detroit was winning the field-position battle early in the game because of some special-teams issues by Green Bay, which included allowing a 21-yard punt return. ... The Packers allowed Jared Goff to throw for 256 yards and two touchdowns without an interception even though Detroit lost All-Pro WR Amon-Ra St. Brown to an ankle injury early in the game. Stock up Micah Parsons has recorded six sacks over his last three games to increase his season total to 12 1/2. ... Wicks' 94 yards receiving Thursday more than doubled his previous season high of 44 against Washington. His two touchdown catches were his first two of the year. ... Love hasn't thrown an interception over his last four games. ... Isaiah McDuffie recorded 12 tackles Thursday and has 31 over his last three games. Stock down OL Jordan Morgan didn't play a single offensive snap Thursday with rookie second-round pick Anthony Belton taking his spot at right guard. Morgan, a 2024 first-round pick, had played every snap for three straight games before playing less than one-third of the snaps against Minnesota on Nov. 23. Injuries DL Devonte Wyatt injured his ankle and isn't expected to return this season. "It doesn't look good, guys," LaFleur said. "I'm sick for him. I'm sick for us." ... Golden (wrist), Williams (foot), DL Lukas Van Ness (foot), LB Quay Walker (neck), CB Nate Hobbs (knee) and DL Karl Brooks (ankle) didn't play. Key number 12/5 --- Parsons is the first player to have at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. Next steps The Packers and Bears face off in two of the next three weeks. They play at Lambeau Field on Dec. 7 and meet again in Chicago on Dec. 20. In between, Green Bay visits Denver on Dec. 14. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl |
