The Green Bay Packers looked like they might be in serious trouble early, down on the scoreboard, riding a two-game losing streak, and watching quarterback Jordan Love jog to the locker room with a left-shoulder injury. But the crisis didn’t last long, and when Love returned, Green Bay found its spark, outlasting the New York Giants 27–20 to snap its skid.
Love missed just one drive before returning to throw two touchdown passes and steady an offense that had struggled badly in recent weeks. While he was sidelined, backup QB Malik Willis stepped in and capped the temporary drive with a touchdown run by Emanuel Wilson, helping Green Bay take early advantage of a Giants run defense ranked 31st in the league.
“We don’t win that game without Malik,” coach Matt LaFleur said.
The Giants surged ahead 20–19 on a grinding 15-play touchdown march led by Jameis Winston, who was making his first start in nearly a year. With the Packers suddenly trailing again, Love responded with his best sequence of the day. On third-and-10, he escaped pressure and hit rookie Savion Williams for a 32-yard gain, setting up the go-ahead strike.
Four plays later, Love found Christian Watson for a 17-yard touchdown with 4:02 remaining, then connected with Emanuel Wilson for a successful 2-point conversion, igniting chants of “Go, Pack, Go!” from the large Green Bay contingent at MetLife Stadium.
Winston tried to rally the Giants late, but Packers rookie Evan Williams closed the door with an end-zone interception with 36 seconds left. New York’s final snap produced a Winston fumble, sealing its fifth straight defeat.
Love finished 13 of 24 for 173 yards with touchdown passes to Watson and TE Josh Whyle, though several drops hurt his numbers. Green Bay shared the load on the ground, producing 106 rushing yards before halftime, even after star RB Josh Jacobs exited with a knee injury early in the second quarter.
“It was gritty and tough,” LaFleur said. “Jordan was under duress a lot and kept giving guys chances.”
With interim coach Mike Kafka taking over after the firing of Brian Daboll, the Giants (2–9) showed energy. Winston threw for 201 yards and scored on a QB sneak, while Devin Singletary added two rushing touchdowns. But costly mistakes, including turnovers and an inability to stop the Packers late, doomed them.
“I really wanted to get a win for these guys,” Winston said.
Lucas Havrisik, filling in for injured Brandon McManus, missed two extra points, pushing Green Bay’s league-leading total of failed kicks to nine. Penalties and early defensive lapses also made the path harder than necessary.
