The Green Bay Packers left Jacksonville with more questions than answers in their 30-27 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars should take this result as a sign that they have the ability to be a team over .500 like last season, but fail to pull through in four of their five games decided by five points or less.
Jacksonville head coach, Doug Pederson, was without their running back Travis Etienne Jr. for the second straight week, and Tank Bigsby's impact was not as influential as it was the week before. The Jaguars were toe-to-toe with Green Bay, picking up the defensive effort a little too late in the second half.
While the Packers move to 6-2, second in the NFC North, their victory did nothing to sure up their defensive pass game. They were performing well in all other areas except when Jordan Love left the game early in the second half and Malik Willis took over.
What are the key takeaways?
Jordan Love's TD-INT rate
The Packers starting quarterback has 15 to nine touchdown to interception ratio in the six games he has played. Love left the game in the third quarter because of a groin injury and, for the first time this season, did not throw for a passing touchdown, let alone throw for multiple.
Love still racked up 196 yards on 14/22 passing in a little over a half. The only way Green Bay is going to have a chance of winning the NFC North, which is the most competitive division in football right now, is to clean up the giveaways. They ran for 170 yards against Jacksonville, so they can depend on their run game if all else offensively fails.
Jaguars wide receiver core
The worst possible scenario happened for all Jacksonville fans. All three of their top receivers left the game due to injury at some point. Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder) do not have as serious injuries as Christian Kirk who will be out for the remainder of the season with a fractured collarbone.
The trio this season has combined for 1,169 yards on 78 receptions, but only combined for 119 yards on five receptions. Lawrence's biggest aerial target, Thomas, has been locked down more defensively and his explosive plays are going to be limited against secondary that can force turnovers out of nowhere.
The Jaguars are far from being able to turn their season around and fight for playoff contention, especially with the Houston Texans leading the division at 6-2. At this point, the remainder of the season should be to focus on the weakest part of their game and regroup for next season.
Packers takeaway ability
Green Bay's defense has forced turnovers in every game this season. Safety Xavier McKinney recorded his sixth interception this season without any after a two-game spell. Rookie Edgerrin Cooper recorded a strip sack recovered by Devonte Wyatt and set up their offense with a 1st&Goal at the Jacksonville five-yard line.
Defensively the Packers need to clean up how they defend the passing game. They can force turnovers. However, it would not mean much if their opponent could still throw for 308 yards and set up the opportunity for them to steal a victory from Green Bay. Against the run, they did extremely well holding Bigsby to 78 yards on 18 carries, and Jacksonville to 91 yards rushing in total.
What is Next?
The Jaguars will travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles on CBS on Sunday at 4:05 pm ET.
Green Bay will host their divisional rival, the Detroit Lions, in a must-watch NFC North matchup on Sunday at 4:25 pm ET on FOX.
