An alarm went off and a flashing light pulsed against the Packers backdrop in the Nissan Stadium interview room during Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur’s postgame press conference on Sunday.
LaFleur remarked, “I guess it is because they told me this city was going to burn if we came in here and won the game.”
Malik Willis wasn’t talented enough, in the Tennessee Titans’ opinion, to be their backup quarterback this season. However, he was sufficient to lead Green Bay to a 30-14 triumph over the Titans on Sunday in Nashville.
Day after Tennessee’s last August preseason game, Willis was dealt to the Packers.
“All victories are significant,” Willis stated, declining the Titans’ chance to make a “I-told-you-so” statement. It doesn’t actually do very much, roughly speaking. Although seeing some of my old friends was cool, I don’t think it adds or subtracts anything.
Due quarterback Jordan Love’s knee injury, Willis was starting for the second straight game. He completed 13 of 19 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions and ran six times for a team-high 73 yards and one touchdown.
With 12:25 remaining in the first quarter on Sunday, Willis opened the score with a 5-yard run to end Green Bay’s first possession. Then, with 8:25 remaining in the third quarter, he connected with running back Emanuel Wilson for a 30-yard touchdown throw to give the Packers a 27-7 lead.
With six seconds left in Green Bay’s 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on September 6, Love suffered a knee injury. The Packers also triumphed 16-10 over the Indianapolis Colts on September 15, Willis’s first start.
LaFleur remarked, “I just cannot articulate the job that he’s done in the short period of time.” I swear, people are unable to comprehend it. You people are so ignorant. Although you believe you understand it, you don’t. I’ve never seen anything like what he’s been able to accomplish, so congrats to him and everyone in his immediate vicinity.
After graduating from Auburn, Willis signed with Tennessee in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he started three games after Ryan Tannehill was injured. Although the Titans placed waiver claim Joshua Dobbs ahead of him late in the season, he may have started more games.
Will Levis, a second-round draft selection the previous season, passed Willis in the depth chart and made it to the starting lineup for Sunday’s contest. Levis ran three times for 12 yards against the Packers and completed 26 of 34 throws for 260 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Levis was supported by Mason Rudolph. Willis became unnecessary for Tennessee when Rudolph, a former quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was signed by the Titans in free agency.
Willis stated, “I think it’s just a different opportunity more than anything else.” “As a rookie, I only had three starts, and as I already stated, I simply wasn’t ready for that level of play. And in the last two weeks, I’ve been attempting to take advantage of my next opportunity by working hard and grinding every day. I’ve had plenty of time to accomplish this. Above all, though, I believe that you should just keep up your hard work and recognize that you never know when an opportunity will present itself, so you need to be prepared to seize it when it does.
Following 53 rushing attempts by the Packers against the Colts the previous week, Willis found wide out Jayden Reed for a 30-yard pass to start Sunday’s contest.
During the first touchdown drive, Willis also found wide receiver Christian Watson for a 30-yard completion on third-and-6.
During Green Bay’s second play, a field goal was scored, then Willis ran for 20 yards on third-and-two and eight yards on third-and-seven.
In order to set up the Packers for a field goal on the last play of the first half, Willis completed passes of 18 yards to Romeo Doubs, the wide receiver, and 37 yards to Watson, the quarterback, on third and 18.
Regarding Willis, LaFleur remarked, “I can’t say enough about him.” “Just the work he did to be able to guide our attack and be effective. And during the course of the game, he produced some huge plays. I believe he made several very impressive plays with his legs. plays in the passing game after that. Obviously, on that first drive to hit Christian, some of those third-down-and-longs to make some of those completions down the field. Subsequently, in the second quarter of the match, he made a huge play by hitting Romeo over the center. That play in the game was simply enormous.
Willis gave the victory credit to the Green Bay defense. With 51 seconds remaining in the first quarter, cornerback Jaire Alexander returned one of the interceptions 35 yards for a score, giving the Packers eight sacks.
Willis exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, they went crazy.” “That was incredible. Is that eight sacks? Oh my god. That was really amazing. They, you know, won the game for us. If we may say so, those boys performed admirably. Everyone was worthy of a game ball. They keep saying, “I’ll pay everyone as much money out of my pocket as they want.” I’ll increase their pay. Oh my god. Hey, it was really great. However, seeing was good. And you just love to see it pay off out on the field after all those guys work so hard all week.
The Packers’ next game is against the Minnesota Vikings on September 29 at 12:00 CDT at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This is an NFC North matchup.
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