The Packers' road to victory was paved with selflessness

GREEN BAY – The world saw a new side of Josh Myers on Sunday when the Packers center caused a stir by vomiting before the snap on an unseasonably hot day at Lambeau Field.

But in the flood of memes and jokes, the incident that garnered widespread attention on social media was lost: Myers and the Green Bay Packers offensive line were in the middle of a run-blocking seminar and pressed the ground pedal harder than any other Packers offensive line in the last 45 years.

Head coach Matt LaFleur called out a run-heavy game plan that produced 261 rushing yards on 53 attempts en route to a 16-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, a performance Myers proudly referred to as “dirty football” in the postgame locker room.

“As an offensive line, we knew we were going to run the ball 50-plus times,” Myers said. “Matt challenged us very early in the week. He challenged our group and said it was going to run over us, and I think we met that challenge.”

Myers and the O-line are among countless examples of units and phases that helped the Packers cope with the absence of franchise quarterback Jordan Love last Sunday.

Looking to extend its home opener winning streak to 12, Green Bay tapped recently signed Malik Willis to become the Packers' first backup QB to start a home opener since Anthony Dilweg filled in for Don Majkowski in 1990.

While Willis did an excellent job on his 19th official day as a member of the team, Green Bay fought together in all three phases to secure a typical team victory.

Josh Jacobs carried the ball more than any other Packers running back in the last 16 years. This investment in the running game resulted in Green Bay throwing the ball just 14 times. Yet the Packers' talented receivers still got to the ball as blockers.

“It was all about winning,” said second-year wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who recorded three catches for 29 yards and Green Bay’s only touchdown.

“We just did what we had to do and made some plays in the run game. We got our blocks so we could have explosive plays in the run game. Malik just got here (and that played a big part in that). We just had fun blocking in the run game. We knew what we were getting into when we came into the game.”

An economical game plan wouldn't have worked, however, if the defense hadn't kept Indianapolis off the scoreboard. With containment the top priority, the defensive front had to be pragmatic in its pursuit of Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson after an explosive Week 1 performance against the Houston Texans.

Green Bay finished the game with just three QB hits and one sack, but was able to maintain its offensive routes to neutralize Richardson's dual threat. The strong QB completed 50% of his passes, threw three interceptions, and managed just 37 yards.

“It's tempting, but the most important thing is to stick to the game plan,” defensive end Rashan Gary said when asked about the approach to pressuring a mobile QB like Richardson. “It doesn't matter if it gets frustrating. If you execute the game plan and do it right, we'll come out on top, and that's what we did today.”

The game brought many of the Packers' offensive players back to their high school roots. The run/pass ratio was the most drastic change Myers can remember since his days as a Wing-T player at Miamisburg (Ohio) High School, but it served a purpose.

A week after catching four passes for 138 yards and a touchdown, which set a career high, Jayden Reed lined up with Jacobs in the backfield several times, keeping the Colts off balance in perhaps the most running back the sophomore receiver had played since his junior year.

Reed only managed a modest four touches for 46 yards, but his efforts were crucial to the sustained success of the offense.

“You have to give it your all to win at the end of the day,” Reed said. “This is the ultimate team sport. Whatever it takes to win, that's what we're going to do. This will help Malik offensively and give him more confidence and security and everything, yeah, whatever it takes.”

It remains to be seen if Love will be available for Sunday's road game at Tennessee or if Willis will have to face his former team. Either way, the Packers will be ready to take on the league's best defense in two games.

The plan will inevitably change after the Colts game, but Green Bay learned a thing or two about the makeup of its team on Sunday. Over the course of a 17-game regular season, that could take the Packers far once No. 10 is back on the field.

“We just talked about complementary football. We cheer each other on,” linebacker Eric Wilson said. “When we see the offense make a big play, we cheer them on. When they see us make a big play or make a big stop, we're a team and it's great to feel like we're together and playing together.”