Love Accounts for 4 TDs as Packers Rout Patriots 45-27

Jordan Love did not need long to get going. Xavier McKinney picked off Drake Maye on New England’s first pass of the day, and on the second snap of the drive Love scrambled 13 yards for a touchdown. He was never really slowed down after that. Love threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns, ran for a score, and the Green Bay Packers beat the New England Patriots 45-27 at Gillette Stadium, the Packers’ official recap showed.

Green Bay is 6-3 and has won five of its last six. New England falls to 5-4. Next Sunday is the big one, with the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings coming to Lambeau Field for an NFC North game.

Golden Early, Watson Late

Love finished 23 of 29 with a 153.2 passer rating before Tyrod Taylor took over with about nine minutes left. His first touchdown pass, a 5-yard slant to Matthew Golden, was the 100th of his career. Golden had six catches for a career-high 126 yards before the first quarter was over and finished with 10 for 164.

Christian Watson took over in the second half. With the Packers up 34-14, Isaiah McDuffie ripped the ball away from Rhamondre Stevenson, and on the very next snap Love hit Watson down the seam for a 39-yard touchdown. Love ran in the two-point try himself to make it 42-14. Watson finished with seven catches for 171 yards, also a career high. Golden and Watson combined for 17 catches on 18 targets.

Four Takeaways and a Backfield Question

McKinney had two interceptions, giving him five on the season, and Evan Williams added another. The four takeaways made it six straight games with at least two for Green Bay. Maye threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns but also three picks and was sacked four times, two of them by Karl Brooks.

The worry is in the backfield. Josh Jacobs left in the first quarter with a hand injury and did not return. Kaleb Johnson stepped in with 14 carries for 68 yards, including his first career rushing touchdown and a 34-yard run that pushed Green Bay past 100 rushing yards for the first time this season.

Smacktok pick lean: Lean higher on Matthew Golden receiving yards against Minnesota. He drew the early volume in Foxborough, and Love found him for gains of 49 and 43 yards in the first quarter alone. If Jacobs is ruled out with the hand injury, shift the running back lean to Kaleb Johnson rushing attempts, since he took the bulk of the carries once Jacobs left.

Love has the Packers rolling. The Vikings come to Lambeau next, and that one will shape the NFC North race.