The Green Bay Packers checked off almost all the boxes in their opening win over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. The No. 1 offense scored a point on the third play. There were no major injuries. The Packers were in the lead the entire time. They dominated the line of scrimmage for the most part, had no turnovers, committed just three penalties, converted nine third or fourth down attempts and made 5 of 5 kicking field goals and extra points.
The Packers led 17-3 at halftime, built a 23-3 lead in the second half, and left Cleveland Browns Stadium with a 23-10 victory.
Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from the Packers’ preseason opening win:
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Good
August 10, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) catches a touchdown pass as Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman (33) defends during the first quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Opening touchdown: A beautiful route by Dontayvion Wicks on a slot fade and a perfect deep ball by Jordan Love resulted in a 65-yard touchdown pass in the third game of the preseason.
Current first-round picks along the DL: Lukas Van Ness had a sack, three tackles for loss and several pressures, while Devonte Wyatt had a few near-sacks and pressures. They were both part of a disruptive defensive front.
WR Grant DuBose: He caught five passes, including one on fourth down to continue a drive and a 23-yard pass in the second minute that set up a field goal. His 66 receiving yards were the highest of the game. DuBose was also an active blocker. This was an outstanding performance from a receiver fighting for a spot on the roster.
S Evan Williams: The rookie safety had some impressive tackles in the open field in the first half and opened the second half with a crashing hit that led to a fumble and a takeaway. No. 33 keeps finding the ball and making impactful plays.
Bad
Red Zone: The Packers scored just 1 of 4 touchdowns in the red zone, meaning they had to settle for several short field goals. Good job for the kicker competition; not so great for scoring more points. One mistake in the red zone came when Evan Williams forced a turnover early in the second half. You can bet Matt LaFleur will make it a priority to finish drives this week.
MarShawn Lloyd Injury: The third-round rookie was only available for two appearances before exiting with a hamstring injury. Lloyd has now dealt with a hip injury and a hamstring injury during his first training camp.
AJ Dillon’s four carries: He gained just two yards on four attempts during the second drive. After the Packers went 2nd-and-1, Dillon took three consecutive snaps and gained zero net yards, resulting in a turnover on downs.
Ugly
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Bo Melton’s hands: Melton was involved in a fumble on a jet sweep and had at least two drops, including one in the red zone that probably should have resulted in an interception. Melton finished the game with one catch on four attempts for 12 yards.
