Packers 30-27 Jaguars (Oct. 27, 2024) Game Recap

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Backup Malik Willis completed a 51-yard pass to Jayden Reed, who set up Brandon McManus' second game-winning score in as many weeks, a 24-yard pass that lifted the Green Bay Packers to a 30-27 victory led Jacksonville on Sunday.

Willis led the Packers (6-2) to their fourth straight win, this time with Jordan Love watching from the sideline. Willis completed 4 of 5 passes for 56 yards, with a touchdown and the biggest completion of the day.

Willis found Reed wide open on the left sideline after safety Andre Cisco went down in coverage. It was all the Packers needed to rebound from Trevor Lawrence's perfectly placed 14-yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram that helped tie the game.

Engram caught the ball between three defenders and gave the Jaguars (2-6) the momentum they needed. But Packers coach Matt LaFleur delivered a blow to Jacksonville in the second period.

Josh Jacobs ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns for Green Bay, which lost Love to a left groin injury in the third quarter. After a second pass to Jacobs, Love fell to the ground near the sideline. Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker nudged Love after the play, but the quarterback had been hobbled most of the game.

On the first drive of the game, Love appeared to tweak his groin. After an incomplete pass, he began to favor his left leg. He ended up in the medical tent and when he came out, his thigh was being wrapped.

He wasn't the same the rest of the day and struggled to move in the pocket. The team said it was questionable whether he would return. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 196 yards, with one interception – his league-best ninth of the season.

The Jaguars lose six players to injuries

The Jaguars lost all three of their starting receivers: Brian Thomas Jr. (chest), Christian Kirk (shoulder) and Gabe Davis (shoulder). Kirk was quickly ruled out after injuring his left shoulder while attempting a diving catch.

Jacksonville also lost cornerback Ronald Darby (hip), right guard Brandon Scherff (knee) and left guard Ezra Cleveland (ankle). Scherff was the only one who could return.

Jacksonville can't seem to cover the shortages

Green Bay's Tucker Kraft was the latest tight end to do any damage to the Jaguars. Kraft had a 67-yard reception in the second quarter in which he broke a tackle and stiff-armed another defender to set up a field goal. He added a 3-yard touchdown catch in the fourth.

Kraft's performance wasn't a surprise considering how many of his colleagues have made similar big plays against Jacksonville in recent weeks. New England's Hunter Henry had eight balls for 92 yards last week. Chicago's Cole Kmet had five catches for 70 yards and two scores the week before. And Indianapolis' Mo Alie-Cox started the trend with two receptions for 37 yards and a score earlier this week.

McManus returns to beat his former team

McManus returned to where he played last season and made three field goals in the win.

McManus was with the Jaguars in 2023 and signed with Washington in the offseason before two women sued him and the Jaguars in civil court alleging he sexually assaulted them while they worked as flight attendants on the Jaguars' trip to London.

The NFL later said it found insufficient evidence that McManus violated personal conduct policies and the lawsuit was settled. McManus signed with Green Bay last week and hit a 45-yard field goal on the final play of the Packers' 24-22 victory over the Houston Texans last Sunday.

Other serious injuries

The Packers lost rookie safety Evan Williams to a hamstring injury.

Next

The Packers host NFC North rival Detroit next Sunday.

The Jaguars play in Philadelphia, and coach Doug Pederson returns to face his former team for the second time in three seasons.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl