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QB’s headline Matchup between the Packers and Dolphins on Thanksgiving night
Last updated on November 27, 2024, via Field Level Media
During Sunday’s home victory over the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love played football without an interception for the first time this season.

The Packers have an opportunity to be just as effective when they play the Miami Dolphins at home on Thanksgiving night. Just don’t count on Love to soften his style when the playoff contenders meet.

“I definitely am a guy who always wants those big plays, want to put that pressure on the defense and take some of those shots,” Love stated.

Love had two touchdowns and a season-low 163 yards on 13 of 23 passes against the 49ers. Despite Josh Jacobs’ dominance in the running game (26 carries, 106 yards, three touchdowns), Love managed to find a balance.

“Those are the lessons that I had to learn last year and I’ll continue to learn: just when the right time (is) to take those shots,” he stated. “Instead of just locating those completions, if people get a step or we’re in the proper coverage. Because sometimes these check-downs and simply locating those completions result in big plays as well.”

Despite finishing third in the tough NFC North, Green Bay (8-3) is two games ahead of its opponents in the loss column and is vying for the sixth seed in the league playoffs.

The Dolphins (5-6) have won three straight games and are currently 1 1/2 games behind the Denver Broncos for the seventh AFC slot.

“I think this is an awesome opportunity,” Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback for the Dolphins, stated. “Being able to play Thursday night football, prime time on Thanksgiving.”

Since coming back from injured reserve in Week 8, Tagovailoa has been on the rise. He has 11 touchdowns through the air with just one interception in his five games back, including four on Sunday in a 34–15 victory over the New England Patriots at home.

Tagovailoa rejected the idea that Thursday’s cold temperatures in Green Bay would be sufficient to keep him cool. When the temperature drops below 40 degrees, the Hawaiian-born signal-caller is 0–7.

He remarked, “To me, it’s just a mindset,” “That’s really all there is.”

Anthony Weaver, the defensive coordinator for Miami, further stated: “I’ve never lost a game and thought, ‘Guys, it was too cold outside.'”

Green Bay must defend Miami’s diverse group of playmakers. De’Von Achane, a running back, produced two touchdown receptions versus New England, demonstrating his involvement in the passing game.

The Dolphins have at least 41 receptions and 535 yards from tight end Jonnu Smith and wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Together, the three have scored nine touchdowns.

Second-year linebacker Lukas Van Ness, whose strip-sack against the 49ers was the huge play he claimed he needed for his confidence, is expected to give Green Bay another shock. It resulted in Jacobs’ third touchdown.

“I told myself I’m going to get off the ball, use my God-given abilities and just get in the backfield and make a play,” Van Ness stated. I believe I’ve been wanting to do it all year. I simply have to keep doing that.”

Green Bay has won five of the last six meetings, while Miami leads the series 10-6 overall. The visiting Packers won 26–20 on Christmas Day 2022 in the clubs’ most recent meeting, which also took place on a holiday.

In 2002 and 2018, Green Bay defeated Miami at home in both of those games.