5 important takeaways for Packers after rewatching Week 2 win vs. Colts

The Green Bay Packers are now 1-1 after taking down the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field this past weekend.

Green Bay was able to game-plan around not having franchise quarterback Jordan Love leading the offense, and while it wasn't flashy by any means, it was enough to get the win at Lambeau.

Once again, after taking some time to digest the game over the weekend, I rewatched the game. This is what I was able to gather "After Further Review."

Key takeaways for Packers after rewatching the Week 2 victory

Penalties are still a killer for Packers

In Week 1, Green Bay committed 10 penalties for 71 yards down in Brazil. The team cleaned things up a bit, but penalties still proved costly, committing six infractions for 50 yards against Indianapolis. The Packers were backed up twice on their opening drive and had a Josh Jacobs touchdown taken away due to a penalty on the second drive. A phantom roughing-the-passer call on Lukas Van Ness aside, Green Bay cannot be putting itself in tough spots, especially without Love.

All things considered, four of the six penalties occurred early in the first half, so this is definitely a step in the right direction. If Josh Myers can avoid getting downfield too early on screens, things should be trending in a good direction.

Matt LaFleur's best game?

One of the things I wanted to avoid with this series is an overreaction from being lost in the moment. However, after watching this game again, this may genuinely be Matt LaFleur's best game in terms of game planning and scheme.

Malik Willis had been inside the halls of 1265 Lombardi Ave for 19 days. Very few jobs in this country expect you to be on the front lines of a new gig with just over two weeks of training, let alone be a successful NFL quarterback. LaFleur was in his bag to really put Willis and the team in the best position to win the game.

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Willis was 12-of-14 for 122 yards through the air and got his first NFL touchdown pass, connecting with Dontayvion Wicks on a perfectly thrown ball. Nothing flashy, and not likely sustainable long-term, but it was enough to get the job done. The Packers offset the passing by going to the ground 53 times for 261 yards, led by Josh Jacobs toting the ball 32 times for 151 yards.

LaFleur told the media last week that Willis didn't need to know 100% of the playbook, just 100% of the game plan. The team used plenty of motion and line-pulling to open up the run and intermediate passing games. With another week to prep, the playbook should expand if Willis is called upon in Week 3 in Tennessee.

Packers defense rose to the challenge

This was the defensive performance many hoped for, or even expected when Green Bay moved on from defensive coordinator Joe Barry for Jeff Hafley this offseason. The Packers forced three interceptions, bringing their total to five on the season. This almost matches their 2023 total of seven.

Eric Wilson probably had his best game as a pro. The Colts tried running a speed option when Wilson contained the end and forced Anthony Richardson to pitch to Trey Sermon. Wilson then made the tackle for a loss and forced the Colts to attempt a 50-yard field goal, which Matt Gay missed.

The Packers got off the field when it mattered. Hafley's defense contained the Colts to 2-of-9 on third down. In fact, the Colts only converted on a third down late in the fourth quarter, once on their lone touchdown drive, and in the final minute of play when Green Bay was playing prevent and ultimately got its final interception of the contest on a Hail Mary attempt two plays later.

The biggest concern is the run defense. The Colts rushed 18 times for 140 yards, an average of 7.8 yards per carry. Jonathan Taylor is a phenomenal back and ended up with 103 yards, including a long of 29. We may never know why the Colts ended up going away from the run when it was so effective, especially when it was never more than a two-possession game.

Patience with Brayden Narveson

Well, Brayden Narveson has missed another field goal attempt. This puts Narveson at 6-of-8 for the season after having gone 3-of-4 in both games this season. It is only two games into the year, and Narveson is perfect on extra-point attempts. It is a concerning pattern, but Packers fans should be patient with the young kicker.

No one ever wants to leave points on the board, and if the trend continues, it will need to be addressed. Narveson needs more time to determine what his NFL fate would be. I will add, though, that his kicks pass the eye test considerably better than both Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph, which is a redeeming factor.

Malik Willis is enough in short stints

LaFleur was in his bag on Sunday. Willis wasn't flashy but hit on the passes he needed to, including the touchdown to Wicks. He also hit a longer pass to Romeo Doubs for 39 yards, which set up a Narveson field goal early in the fourth quarter. Despite limited playbook knowledge, Willis was a significant upgrade over Sean Clifford's and Michael Pratt's preseason efforts.

He has more arm talent and showed the ability to make the right reads when in the pocket. He also had the awareness to pull it down and run, which young quarterbacks can lack.

Would I want Willis as my long-term starting quarterback? Probably not, but he did enough to win and gives the team a chance against Tennessee. With more time learning the playbook, LaFleur creating a game plan around his strengths, and a defense going in the right direction, the Packers can get by without Love.

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