Felipe's Positives - Week 8, 2024

The Green Bay Packers improve to 6-2 after defeating the Jaguars in Jacksonville.

Starting today, "Felipe's Positives", will spotlight the Green Bay Packers' standout performances every Monday during football season. Whether it’s a coach, a player, a position group, or an entire unit, each week we'll break down who made a positive impact in the game.

This week, the Green Bay Packers edged out the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-27 with a last-second field goal. It's the second consecutive week Green Bay has secured victory in the final moments with a clutch field goal.

Without further ado, let's get to some positives: 

1-Josh Jacobs

Jacobs powered the Packers' offense with 127 yards on 25 carries, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt and scoring two touchdowns. Not bad for a "below-average" running back, right? "I told myself yesterday if it came down to it, I’d put the team on my back," Jacobs told Megan Olivi in a post-game interview. He is currently a top-five back in rushing yards and yards after contact. Josh Jacobs may be set for another heavy workload next week. On Monday, an MRI confirmed good news regarding Jordan Love's status; he suffered a strained groin on Sunday and the Packers will monitor him throughout the week. If he can't go, I'd expect Jacobs to have over 25 touches against the Detroit Lions.

2-Tucker Kraft

It feels like Tucker Kraft’s name comes up every week, and for good reason. He caught three passes for 78 yards this week, including a 67-yard strike from Jordan Love. Scoring a touchdown on National Tight Ends Day was fitting, and he’s now recorded multiple catches in 16 straight games, which is the longest streak for a Packers tight end in the Super Bowl era. He was also Green Bay's highest-graded player in the game, per Pro Football Focus. Safe to say Kraft has crushed Green Bay's third-round curse.

3-Malik Willis

Once again, Malik Willis came to the Packers' rescue. He completed 4 out of 5 attempts for 56 yards, including a touchdown to Tucker Kraft. He an absolute seed out of a play-action bootleg to Jayden Reed, which placed Green Bay in field goal range. His dual-threat ability was crucial in setting up Jacobs' 38-yard touchdown. On that play, the safety blitzed off the edge but hesitated on the read option, opening a small window for Jacobs to turn upfield for the score.

4-Edgerrin Cooper

Cooper is Green Bay's top off-ball linebacker. Against Jacksonville, he logged 34 defensive snaps, recorded a pressure, a strip sack on Trevor Lawrence that set up a touchdown, the second-most tackles, and led Green Bay in stops, which is a tackle that result in an offensive failure. He earned the team’s third-highest defensive and coverage grades. Cooper needs (and should) get all the snaps he can get. 

5-Xavier McKinney

It's certainly a risky (and questionable) choice to throw in Xavier McKinney's direction in 2024. He recorded his sixth interception of the season this Sunday, the most by any Packers player since Casey Hayward in 2012, achieving this in less than 7.5 games. McKinney is on track for All-Pro honors, as his play recognition, anticipation, and range embody everything you want in a starting safety.

6-Special Teams

Now, listen: The special teams did not jeopardize the game against the Jaguars, and given how abysmal the unit has been for some time, it’s worth celebrating a solid performance. They executed efficiently and did their job effectively. Daniel Whelan averaged 48.2 yards per punt, with four inside the 20. Brandon McManus was perfect, going 3 for 3 on extra points and kicking the game-winning field goal for the second straight week. He’s provided, so far, much-needed stability to Green Bay's kicking unit.

Let’s hope these guys can carry the momentum into next week. The Packers are heading into a massive divisional matchup against the Detroit Lions next Sunday, and they’ll need everyone to step up big time.

 

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Felipe is a Brazilian Packers writer covering the #GoPackGo for CheeseheadTV, Zone Coverage, and Packers Talk. Additionally, he contributes to Cheeseheads Brazil. Follow him on twitter at @Aceti_Felipe.

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Comments (15)

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stockholder's picture

October 28, 2024 at 03:05 pm

I like your list. Well done.

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Starrbrite's picture

October 28, 2024 at 06:54 pm

Yes—good list.

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LambeauPlain's picture

October 28, 2024 at 03:25 pm

Love and Alexander have no damage per MRIs...Jacobs OK...Williams seems likely to play.

It's only Monday so need to see who practices this week...but glass is half full.

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GregC's picture

October 28, 2024 at 04:09 pm

Thanks for the good news. Unfortunately Love is the one who is most likely to miss the next game, judging by the way he was limping around out there, but at least it appears there was no major damage caused by him playing hurt as long as he did.

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Coldworld's picture

October 28, 2024 at 05:35 pm

Love and Alexander seem unlikely. Williams seems to depend on the source. The real question isn’t really will they be active but the extent to which they are themselves if they do play. I’m not expecting a lot of clarity from the team this week.

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Starrbrite's picture

October 28, 2024 at 06:55 pm

Lambeau—Thanks for the update.

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Untylu1968's picture

October 29, 2024 at 06:37 am

Our bye is coming at a very good time!

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ricky's picture

October 28, 2024 at 05:53 pm

The Lions are going to be tough to beat. But one thing this team has shown since a couple of early stumbles is that they know how to win. It's not always pretty. In fact, it can be downright frustrating to see them cause themselves problems. But when gut check time comes, this team is like Ghosbusters: They're going to answer the call, and be able to say, "We came, we saw, we kicked it's ass!"

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relleum61's picture

October 28, 2024 at 05:56 pm

I was at the game. It was really hot in the stadium, so I am not surprised the Pack suffered these types of injuries.

Cooper was great. His strip/sack was just a fantastic play. Not mentioned is that Gary had a pressure-pass block on the play before. Had Gary been a little more aware, her could have caught his deflection for an easy walk into the end zone. Still, it set the stage for the next play by Cooper.

Willis was calm and composed. His one incompletion was a drop by Doubs that was right in his hands. Had Doubs caught it, it was going to be a long gainer.

Josh Jacobs had an "almost" identical TD earlier in the game that looked like the 38 yarder later in the game. The Jags linebacker just barely caught an ankle as Jacobs cut to the outside after about an 8 yard gain. Later in the game, same play, the LB was too tired to get the ankle tackle and Jacobs was off to the races.

The 67 catch and run by Kraft was awesome to watch. The stiff arms he delivered on the Jags player were just brutal!

Willis was so calm on that big pass to Reed. Great play!

Great game. I think the crowd was 40% green and gold! "Go Pack Go" carried the day!

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GregC's picture

October 28, 2024 at 06:07 pm

Always fun to hear from someone who was right there in the stadium. When I looked at the weather forecast earlier last week, it said a high of 78 on game day, which didn't concern me at all. It ended up being 86. Maybe that's one reason the defense wore down.

FYI: Replay showed that it was Colby Wooden, not Rashan Gary, who got his hand on that pass. But Gary had pressure too.

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Major Snafu's picture

October 28, 2024 at 08:19 pm

Pass d still sucks. Reason same people same result. One guy knows how to play and he is often just in the right place to field crap throws.
Passing teams should go full commando on the pack. The jags waited to long.
I do agree with others that Hatfly knows dam well our corners can't play man and they can't cover fast guys in the slot, the talent ain't there. So Barry's zone scheme is the only prayer they have. ya that was Barry's playbook being used.

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Untylu1968's picture

October 29, 2024 at 06:40 am

Scrap the positives headline, the piss in your cheerios crown is awake! Anything positive to say??

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Mister Chievous's picture

October 28, 2024 at 08:53 pm

looks like we finally have a dependable kicker. of course, nothing but short kicks. i'll feel better when he casually knocks down a 54 yarder. side note: Carlson is 5 for 5 in sf. figures

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GregC's picture

October 29, 2024 at 05:20 am

Carlson has already missed an extra point, though: 3 of 4 on the season.

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T7Steve's picture

October 29, 2024 at 06:25 am

I thought they hired a new trainer, and these pulled muscles / soft tissue injuries were a thing of the past. Have to play in hot weather, cold weather, wind, rain and mud.

Is Love's groin related to playing on and compensating for a sore knee? Hope this isn't a lingering type thing, his mobility is part of what makes this offense so hard to defend.

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