Two long-standing trends -- the Packers' run of avoiding losing streaks and the Jets' inability to string together a three-game winning streak -- have come to an end as New York snapped Green Bay's 15-game, regular-season winning streak at Lambeau Field with a 27-10 win Sunday. The Jets have their first three-game winning streak since Weeks 10-12 in the 2019 season.
The Packers had multiple streaks snapped: their second-longest home regular-season winning streak at Lambeau Field in franchise history, their 12-game winning streak -- straight up and against the spread -- after a loss (the longest streak by any team since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger). Also, Green Bay now has its first losing streak of the Matt LaFleur era, since 2019.
The Jets defense had Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense without any type of rhythm all afternoon. Green Bay's 13 drives included five punts, a blocked field goal, a lost fumble, three turnovers on downs and a blocked punt returned for touchdown. Green Bay had a punt and field goal blocked in the same game for the first time since they did so against the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFC divisional round last season.
New York's three-game winning streak coincides with quarterback Zach Wilson's return from a knee injury, averaging 29.3 points per game with him at the helm this season since Week 4. They had averaged only 17.3 points per game under the stewardship of 37-year-old backup quarterback Joe Flacco in the first three weeks of the 2022 season. Wilson is the first Jets quarterback to win his first three starts of a season since Mark Sanchez in 2009, the first season of New York's consecutive AFC title game appearances.
Breece Hall had another standout performance a week after setting the Jets' rookie scrimmage yards record with 197 against the Dolphins in Week 5. He totaled 116 rushing yards and a touchdown on 20 carries this week with his 34-yard rushing touchdown effectively serving as the knockout punch against a struggling Packers bunch on both sides of the ball. Hall has become the first Jets rookie with a rushing touchdown in three games in a row since Tony Pagie in the 1984 season.
Now, the Jets are multiple games above .500 for the first time since the 2015 season when they went 10-6 with head coach Todd Bowles and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick leading the way.
After winning 13 games in each of LaFleur's first three seasons, Green Bay has matched its loss total (three) from the 2019 and 2020 seasons (finished 13-3 in both years), and the Packers are one defeat away from equaling their losses amount from their 13-4 campaign a year ago.
Why the Jets won
The Jets were simply the stronger team, literally, on both sides of the ball. New York's offensive coordinator, Mike LaFleur, Matt's younger brother, dialed up an offense that outran the Packers 179-60. The Green Bay's offensive line struggled all day to generate any push off the line of scrimmage. Gang Green sacked Rodgers four times, tied for his season-high that occurred in Week 1 at the Minnesota Vikings, and left him flummoxed when dropping back to pass all day. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams was the Jets' X factor on Sunday, putting together a performance reminiscent of Aaron Donald with five tackles, five quarterback pressures, and a career-high two sacks. With a defense and running game like this, the Jets could shake up the AFC's hierarchy this season.
Why the Packers lost
The Packers still look like they haven't figured out their best mode of attack offensively since losing All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders in the offense. Their only touchdown was a deep-shot, 25-yard passing touchdown from Rodgers to wide receiver Allen Lazard, but other than that, they showed no consistency on offense. Too many drives stalled out at the edge of field goal range thanks to the timing between Rodgers and his receivers being just a little bit off or because they allowed untimely sacks as Rodgers scanned the field. The Packers have soul-searching to do on offense, and it needs to happen quickly. Otherwise, the franchise is in jeopardy of squandering what could be the final season of their future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback's career.
Defensively, the team kept Zach Wilson in check, limiting him to 110 passing yards on 10 of 18 passing. However, the Packers are allowing 135.2 rushing yards per game, which ranks in the bottom 10 of the entire league. Green Bay has six first-round picks starting defensively, they're not lacking in talent. Defensive coordinator Joe Berry's zone-based scheme has led to the defense lacking when needing to come up and stop the run. Significant changes need to be made, otherwise the Packers could be in the market for a new defensive play-caller next offseason.
Turning point
The Jets' six-play, 55-yard touchdown drive that was capped by Hall's 34-yard rushing touchdown put a stake through the heart of the Packers even though it concluded on the first play of the fourth quarter. Green Bay had just scored its first touchdown, a 25-yard strike from Rodgers to Lazard, which trimmed the New York lead to 17-10. Hall's burst all the way down the field that pushed the Jets' lead back to 14 gave the rest of the game a feeling of inevitability. The Packers proceeded to then turn the ball over on downs on their final two possessions.
Play of the game
Special teams has been the Packers' weak spot for the last few seasons, an area that appeared much improved under coordinator Rich Bisaccia, the Raiders' interim head coach who led the team to the playoffs after Jon Gruden's firing a year ago. However, the same blocking issues on both field goals and punts remain. The Jets blocking a Packers punt and returning it 20 yards for a touchdown was a nearly identical play to the 49ers' blocked punt and subsequent return touchdown in last year's playoffs. The play led to New York's first 14-point lead of the game, one they never relinquished.
What's next
From here, the Jets will head west for a road game against former Packers offensive coordinator and now-Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett in Denver. As for the Packers, they hit the road to play the wounded Washington Commanders. Quarterback Carson Wentz suffered a fractured finger on his throwing hand on "Thursday Night Football" against the Chicago Bears, so the Packers could face either Taylor Heinicke or rookie Sam Howell.