5 biggest reasons for Packers' blowout win vs. Patriots in Week 9

The Green Bay Packers stepped into Gillette Stadium on Sunday with a tall task against the reigning AFC champions. By the end of the game, the Packers had made a huge statement.

Matt LaFleur's team absolutely dismantled the Patriots on Sunday, winning 45-27 in a game that didn't even feel as close as the 18-point score suggested. The Packers' defense forced a ton of mistakes, including four turnovers, and the offense was on fire from the start. The win puts Green Bay at 6-3 and shows how good they can be when playing at their best.

As the team looks ahead to a big divisional game against the Minnesota Vikings next week, let's break down some of the biggest reasons for the victory.

How the Packers dismantled the Patriots in Week 9

1. Jordan Love

As Jordan Love goes, so goes the Packers' offense, and on Sunday, the offense went absolutely wild. Love finished the game with 372 passing yards, four total touchdowns, and a near-perfect 153.2 passer rating and 98.2 QBR. According to ESPN's Benjamin Solak, Love finished with six completions of 20-plus air yards, a feat that's only been done this year by...Jordan Love (against the Chicago Bears in Week 5).

Most importantly, Love looked ready and willing to make any type of throw on Sunday. He took constant deep shots, trusted his receivers, and even used his legs to get a rare rushing touchdown.

While his name is not likely to catapult to the top of the MVP odds, it has to be somewhere in the conversation at this point. Love currently leads the NFL in passing yards, is fourth in touchdown passes, and is, simply put, single-handedly carrying the Packers' offense while it still struggles to find any semblance of a running game.

2. Christian Watson and Matthew Golden

A quarterback is only as good as his wide receivers, and right now, the Packers' wide receivers are playing like some of the best in the NFL. Watson and Golden had another incredible day on Sunday, finishing with a combined 335 receiving yards. Watson finished with seven receptions and 171 yards for a touchdown, while Golden had 10 receptions and 164 yards with a touchdown.

While the numbers are eye-popping, what's even more impressive is who they performed well against. The Patriots boast one of the best secondaries in the league, headed up by one of the best cornerbacks in football in Christian Gonzalez.

That didn't seem to matter one bit, though, as the pair still made history by becoming the first Packers duo to record 150-plus receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in a game since 1942.

Much like Jordan Love's MVP candidacy, it's unlikely that the duo is heralded as the best wide receiver group in the NFL. If they continue performing like this, though, they will become impossible to ignore.

3. Evan Williams and Xavier McKinney

Speaking of duos, Evan Williams and Xavier McKinney might have the crown for best safety group in the NFL. Sunday was another shining example of their skill: McKinney picked off Drake Maye twice, while Williams added an interception of his own on an absolutely amazing tip-drill pick along the sidelines.

While McKinney had a slower start to the season, with some fans even questioning his future on the team, Williams has been stellar from the start. The young safety is currently playing like an All-Pro and continues to add to his already great season. After years of the Packers' secondary being one of the team's biggest woes, the group has suddenly become a beacon of hope.

4. Jonathan Gannon

The man behind the defense, Jonathan Gannon, is slowly proving to be one of the biggest offseason moves of the entire NFL. Despite many misgivings amongst fans and media when he was hired by the Packers, Gannon has proven he was more than worth the job.

The Packers' defense, which has long been an issue over the years, has surprisingly been its strongest unit so far this season. Alongside the aforementioned safety duo, Gannon (along with passing game coordinator Bobby Babich) has the Packers playing amazingly in the secondary and surviving without key players like Edgerrin Cooper and Micah Parsons.

Despite Parsons not being on the field yet, the team's pressure rate is currently among the NFL's best, and perhaps most importantly, Gannon doesn't let up regardless of game situation. Even when the Packers were up by a significant amount, Gannon kept the pressure up and never gave the Patriots a chance to make things close.

5. Trey Smack

Truth be told, the Packers didn't exactly need Trey Smack to come away with a win on Sunday. However, it was nice to see the young kicker bounce back and have a perfect game.

Smack finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals and made all four of his extra-point attempts as well. The kicker had entered the game struggling and was reportedly having trouble with kicks before the game in the New England weather. Thankfully for him and the Packers, though, it didn't end up mattering, and he'll be looking to carry that momentum into the future games.

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