The Green Bay Packers’ loss to the New York Giants was a mixed experience, with both positive and negative aspects.
The Green Bay Packers, who had won three straight games and held the seventh and final playoff spot in the NFC, fell to the New York Giants 24-22. The Packers struggled throughout the game, turning the ball over three times, and quarterback Jordan Love struggled. Undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito, who lives with his parents, carved up Joe Barry’s defense, making their postseason hopes tenuous.
Green Bay has fallen to 6-7 and is tied with the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay for the seventh and final playoff spot. The Giants improved to 5-8. The Packers’ loss to the Giants has had positive impacts on the team. Baker Mayfield has been compared to Tom Brady for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Brock Purdy has become a fan favorite for MVP. Green Bay’s second-round draft pick is one of only four rookies in team history to post 40-plus receptions, 500-plus receiving yards, and five-plus receiving TDs.
LaFleur praised Reed as a strong competitor and war daddy. Reed continued his impressive first season by carrying four times for 38 yards and a touchdown, and completing eight receptions for 27 yards. The Packers used Reed in similar ways to injured running back Aaron Jones.
Green Bay’s quarterback, Jordan Love, praised Reed for his ability to learn and grow every day. Kraft, Green Bay’s rookie third round pick, was overwhelmed early in the season but showed significant growth throughout the year. Kraft set season-highs in receptions (four) and yards (64), including a 43-yard catch late in the game that set up an Anders Carlson field goal.
Green Bay’s Malik Heath had the first touchdown of his career, a six-yarder with 1:33 left that gave the Packers a 22-21 lead. The Giants were on the move on their opening possession, but linebacker Isaiah McDuffie dumped running back Saquon Barkley for a 3-yard loss to help kill the drive. The Giants went for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 49-yard line late in the first half. Barkley went wide right, but linebacker Eric Wilson stuffed him for no gain.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love had been red hot in recent weeks, but struggled with accuracy and decision making all night. He finished 25-of-39 for 218 yards with one touchdown, one interception, and one lost fumble. Love had been outstanding when it came to ball protection recently, but his two turnovers were killers.
The Giants started undrafted, rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito, who completed 17-of-21 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown. DeVito ran for 71 yards and led an eight-play, 57-yard drive in the final 90 seconds to win it. This was an embarrassing performance for Barry’s unit.
The Packers have started recent games strong, scoring touchdowns on their opening drive in three of their last four games. Green Bay scored touchdowns on their first two offensive possessions against both Detroit and New York.
