Packers Dominate Dolphins in Thanksgiving Nightcap, Keep NFC North Hopes Alive
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Thanksgiving football is always a feast for fans, but for the Green Bay Packers, it was also a chance to keep their playoff dreams alive. Earlier in the day, the Chicago Bears failed to lend a helping hand, botching the end of their game against the surging Detroit Lions. That left the Packers with no choice but to take care of business themselves. And boy, did they deliver.
In the finale of the Thanksgiving Day triple-header, the Packers handled the Miami Dolphins with a commanding 30-17 victory at Lambeau Field. The win keeps Green Bay (9-3) within striking distance of the NFC North-leading Lions (11-1). While the Packers still need some help to catch Detroit, they’ll have a golden opportunity to make a statement when they face the Lions next Thursday night at Ford Field.
It’s safe to say the Packers are in much better shape now than they were during their Week 9 loss to Detroit. Back-to-back decisive wins over the San Francisco 49ers and Dolphins have given Green Bay a much-needed boost. Notably, these two games are the only ones this season where quarterback Jordan Love didn’t throw an interception. Even without wide receiver Romeo Doubs (concussion), Love connected for two touchdown passes with rookie standout Jayden Reed. Running back Josh Jacobs also found the end zone, marking his third straight game with a rushing touchdown and his fifth in that span.
Key Moments and Takeaways
Pivotal Play
The tone for the game was set early when Packers backup quarterback Robert Rochell recovered a muffed punt by Miami’s Malik Washington inside the Dolphins’ 10-yard line. Instead of Miami taking over after a Packers three-and-out, Love capitalized on the mistake by throwing his first touchdown pass to Reed. From that point on, Green Bay never looked back.
Most Surprising Performance
Could the Packers’ pass rush finally be coming alive? It sure looked that way in the second quarter. With Green Bay holding a 14-3 lead, Lukas Van Ness and Kingsley Enagbare delivered back-to-back sacks on Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, forcing a punt. Van Ness now has sacks in consecutive games after a slow start to the season, while defensive tackle Kenny Clark notched his first sack of the year in the fourth quarter.
Promising Trend
Two weeks ago, the Packers were one of the worst red-zone offenses in the league, ranking 27th with a touchdown rate of just 48.7%. But things have turned around in a big way. Green Bay scored touchdowns on nine consecutive red-zone trips over the past two games before settling for a field goal on their first red-zone possession against Miami. According to ESPN Research, this streak was the second-longest in the NFL this season. The Packers went 4-for-5 in the red zone against the Dolphins, a promising sign as they gear up for their showdown with Detroit.
Miami Dolphins: Cold Weather Woes Continue
For the Miami Dolphins (5-7), the night was a chilly reminder of their struggles in cold weather. Despite bringing over 3,000 pounds of cold-weather gear to Wisconsin, it took nearly three quarters for Miami to find any rhythm. By then, it was too late.
The Dolphins allowed more than seven yards per play, snapping their three-game winning streak and complicating their playoff hopes. Miami is now two games behind the Denver Broncos for the final AFC playoff spot, with ESPN’s Football Power Index giving them less than a 20% chance to make the postseason.
QB Breakdown
Tagovailoa’s performance was a mixed bag. He completed 37-of-46 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns but was sacked five times. While he was efficient under pressure, completing 7-of-8 passes for 62 yards, he missed key throws to Tyreek Hill and De’Von Achane. The Dolphins’ inability to finish drives, combined with a non-existent run game, sealed their fate.
Promising/Concerning Trend
Miami’s struggles in cold weather are no longer just a narrative—they’re a fact. Tagovailoa is now 1-7 in games played in temperatures under 50 degrees, and the Dolphins have lost seven straight outdoor games when the temperature is below freezing. With road games against the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets still on the schedule, this trend could spell trouble.
Biggest Hole in the Game Plan
Stopping the run was a glaring issue for Miami. After holding five straight opponents under 100 rushing yards, the Dolphins allowed the Packers to surpass that mark in the first half alone. Green Bay averaged a staggering 7.3 yards per play, moving the ball at will and controlling the game from start to finish.
What’s Next?
- Packers: A massive NFC North showdown at the Lions (8:15 p.m. ET, Dec. 5).
- Dolphins: A home game against the Jets (1 p.m. ET, Dec. 8).
Originally Written by: Rob Demovsky
