How Packers hung on to defeat Lions 29-22 on Thanksgiving Day: Full analysis, highlights and stats
Matt LaFleur texted Jordan Love on Thursday morning that he was going to change the play call for the Green Bay Packers’ first offensive play of the game. He was concerned the Packers wouldn’t have the potential checkdowns they might need.
The first-year starting quarterback told his coach to keep it, so LaFleur did.
In an uncharacteristic decision, the Packers chose to receive the opening kickoff after winning the coin toss. And on the first play from scrimmage, Love uncorked a bomb to wide receiver Christian Watson deep down the middle of the field. The ball was underthrown — Love should’ve led Watson for a touchdown after he beat cornerback Cam Sutton on the inside — but Watson skyed for an impressive 53-yard grab between Sutton and safety Tracy Walker.
Love said they knew Wednesday that a deep shot to Watson would be first on the docket.
“It sets me up for some great dreams, different ways of coming down with it, scoring and all that,” Watson said. “I love going to bed knowing that there’s plays in the offense for me, especially starting off like that. It’s exactly the position I want to be in.”
Watson said that as soon as he ran onto the field, he saw Walker, the safety, playing low. Watson’s first couple of steps, he felt Walker not get out quickly enough.
“And that’s exactly when I knew it was going to work,” Watson said. “Obviously, got a lot of faith in my speed, so you’ve got to be able to run fast and try to beat the safety and get back to the post.”
ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57y6KtnmWSobyov46pmJyjlafAbsLSZqOip56oeq211Z5krJufp7Juwc%2BdmK2do2K1qrPHpaCgoKSofHKywIqGpoNonoKThY4%3D