The Green Bay Packers remained in last place in the NFC North despite beating the New England Patriots on Sunday.
asserted
Packers → remain → Sunday
But that doesn’t mean anyone will be eager to play them anytime soon.
asserted
anyone → mean → them
The Packers dismantled the Patriots in their Week 9 matchup, winning 45-27 in a dominant showing.
asserted
Packers → dismantle → showing
Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love had an MVP-level performance, completing 23 of 29 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns.
asserted
Love → have → yards
The Packers’ defense also played well, picking off Drake Maye three times.
asserted
defense → play → Maye
“That was a total team victory,” Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur said postgame.
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LaFleur → say → ?
“Each phase contributed in a large way.”
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phase → contribute → way
Playing in a division in which every team has at least six wins has the Packers at the bottom of the NFC North.
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team → play → North
Love is a major reason Green Bay should be taken seriously as a Super Bowl contender.
asserted
Bay → take → contender
Playing behind a questionable offensive line, Love entered Sunday ranked 10th in QBR and has been the league’s top deep-shot thrower.
asserted
Love → play → QBR
He entered Sunday first in passes of both 20-plus yards and 40-plus yards, and he carved New England up with big play after big play.
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he → enter → play
Love completed a 49-yard pass on the Packers’ second drive, a 43-yard pass on their third drive and then a 23-yard strike, followed by another 43-yard shot, on Green Bay’s final touchdown drive before halftime.
asserted
Love → complete → halftime
Coupled with Maye’s turnovers, Love’s passing pushed the Packers to a 24-7 lead after two quarters.
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passing → couple → quarters
In the second half, Love completed throws of 28 yards, 33 yards and 39 yards (for a score) before he was ultimately removed from the game in the fourth with Green Bay holding a 45-21 lead.
asserted
Bay → complete → lead
“I can’t say enough about the play of Jordan Love.
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I → say → Love
He makes my job a hell of a lot easier,” LaFleur said.
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LaFleur → make → lot
He added, in regard to his quarterback’s deep passing, “Those are low-percentage throws in theory, but he’s making them look high-percentage.”
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them → add → theory
Love said he appreciated the aggressiveness of his coach’s game plan, commending him for continuing to dial up big plays.
“It definitely felt like a real fun game to be part of,” he said.
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he → say → game
Packers receivers Matthew Golden and Christian Watson deserve their fair share of the credit for the offense’s success, as well.
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Golden → deserve → success
They each had at least 160 receiving yards against the Patriots.
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They → have → Patriots
Watson caught seven balls for 171 yards and a score, while Golden added 10 receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown of his own.
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Golden → catch → own
Love is on pace to shatter his career high in passing yards.
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Love → shatter → yards
He threw for 4,159 yards in 2022.
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He → throw → 2022
At his current rate, he’ll throw for 4,945 if he plays in all 17 games.
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he → throw → games
The Packers have been able to light teams up despite having an inefficient rushing attack.
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Packers → light → attack
Green Bay entered Sunday ranked last in expected points added per rush, according to Sumer Sports.
uncertain
Bay → enter → Sports
The Packers had only 485 yards rushing all season before Sunday’s win, fewest in the NFL and more than 100 yards fewer than the 31st-ranked Houston Texans.
asserted
Packers → have → Texans
That means Love has had to carry the offense on his shoulders, and he has delivered.
“He’s standing in there, he’s taking hits, and he’s still dealing the ball,” LaFleur said, adding that he would agree that Love is playing at an MVP level.
asserted
Love → mean → level
Meanwhile, the defense has held up its end of the bargain.
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defense → hold → bargain
Green Bay went into Week 8 ranked in the top 10 in EPA per play defensively, and it was ranked in the top seven against both the run and the pass.
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it → go → run
On Sunday, the Packers forced Maye into one of his worst performances of the season.
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Packers → force → season
After having thrown only two interceptions in his last five starts, Maye threw for three alone against Green Bay.
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Maye → throw → Bay
The Packers now lead the NFL with 13 picks.
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Packers → lead → picks
There’s no question Green Bay has the talent on both sides of the ball to be formidable in the postseason, but making it there will be an uphill climb.
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making → ’ → it
The Packers came out of Sunday’s game in the seventh and final playoff spot in the NFC, with the rest of the NFC North ahead of them and two 5-4 teams who made the playoffs a year ago (the Los Angeles Rams and the defending champion Seattle Seahawks) behind them.
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who → come → them
Green Bay will at least have a chance to make up ground in the division next weekend, as it will host the first-place Minnesota Vikings.
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it → have → Vikings
“We gotta be able to regroup,” Love said.
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Love → got → ?
“The mindset just has to be complete focus and preparation on Minnesota.
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mindset → have → Minnesota
It’s all about getting back to work.”
asserted
It → ’ → work
The Aporia
