How the Packers offense can move the ball vs. Colts without Jordan Love

Winning in the NFL is no easy feat, no matter who you have under center. Losing your franchise quarterback in the final seconds of Week 1 makes it even harder. Depending on who you believe more, Matt LaFleur or Ian Rapoport, Jordan Love may play this week, or he may be out several games.

The Packers' official stance is that Love is doubtful to play in Week 2. They downgraded his status from questionable on Saturday.

That would make Malik Willis the starting quarterback. Fear not, Cheeseheads, I believe where there is a Willis, there is a way to win!

Willis is entering his third season in the NFL, coming to the Packers after two years with the Tennessee Titans. He capped off his college career by leading the Liberty Flames to back-to-back bowl wins. As a pro, Willis hasn't lit the world on fire by any stretch of the imagination, going 35/66 for 350 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions.

It's a much different situation in Green Bay than what Willis had to work with in Tennessee. Willis saw his most action in the 2022 season, where his leading receiver was Robert Woods, who was coming off a torn ACL. Willis now has significantly more talent at his disposal, whether it be Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, or Jayden Reed (if he is able to go).

You may be asking, "What does any of that have to do with this week's matchup?" Well, that is a fair question, but the answer is simple. Willis won't have to light the world on fire for the Packers to be successful. Here's how they can win.

Blueprint for the Packers to beat Colts with Malik Willis in Week 2

There are a couple of ways that Green Bay can escape the Love injury with a win or two. The first is what many teams will likely prep for: the Josh Jacobs factor. Jacobs was deemed the workhorse back prior to the Love injury, a designation that will almost certainly ramp up now.

He is as dynamic as it gets, capable of flashing in the run game and as a receiving back. With this capability, defenses can't load the box as they would against a more straightforward running back, like AJ Dillon, perhaps. Getting Jacobs up to speed and back to his 2022 self is one part of the blueprint, but not the only key.

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The Packers have an opportunity to mirror a game in October 2021. Green Bay went down to Arizona with nearly its entire receiving corps out of the game. Many figured Aaron Rodgers would need to lean on Aaron Jones, and given who was active for the game, who would blame them? No offense to Juwann Winfree, Amari Rodgers, and Equanimeous St. Brown, but not one of them is on an active roster in 2024.

To everyone's surprise, Rodgers came out slinging. He would go 22/37 for 184 yards and two touchdowns, and Green Bay got out of the desert with a 24-21 win.

Matt LaFleur could look to mirror this game, with the same theory, just opposite components. Green Bay has the talented, relatively proven NFL receivers with an unproven quarterback. Willis may end up throwing 25-30 times against the Colts with the group he has. Look for Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks to thrive in the intermediate passing game, and of course, you can never rule out Christian Watson as a deep threat.

Willis proved at Liberty that he certainly has big-play arm ability. If you watch his college tape, you can see him get in rhythm, and he has the confidence to make every throw.

Willis is also capable with his legs. The Packers' ability to spread the field and keep defenses honest with Jacobs and potential jet sweeps and push passes will keep the Colts' defense guessing. With the Titans, defenses could load up, not fearing the passing game as much, and could focus on Derrick Henry and Willis a lot more. It will likely be a different story in Green Bay, which can spring Willis as a runner. Willis had 32 carries for 144 yards and a touchdown with the Titans.

Everyone is writing off the Packers in Week 2. However, if they can execute a game plan that fits Willis's strengths and build around his style of play with their dynamic roster, the Packers should be able to manage without Love for a couple of weeks.

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