The Miami Dolphins aimed to shift their narrative; however, it has continued to persist.
Jordan Love guided the Green Bay Packers to a victory on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit last year; however, he did not receive the traditional turkey leg during the postgame interviews. His teammates committed to ensuring that Love would receive a turkey leg this time, and he certainly earned it by completing two touchdown passes to Jayden Reed in a commanding 30-17 win over the Miami Dolphins.
“It was special; the joke was not getting a turkey leg last year,” Love said. “Coming in here, get the win, the turkey leg after, it was very delicious, something to celebrate.”
Josh Jacobs brought a turkey platter into the locker room after the game. He contributed significantly with 43 of the Packers’ 114 rushing yards and scored one touchdown.
The Packers have won three games in a row and seven in their last eight. They are enjoying turkey legs and sides with a 9-3 record.
The Green Bay Packers are scheduled to play three games over a 12-day period. They recently achieved a victory against the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 38-10 and will be traveling to face the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions next Thursday evening.
The Dolphins (5-7) faced the same narrative: challenges once again in adverse weather conditions. The kickoff temperature at Lambeau Field was 27 degrees Fahrenheit (-2.7 degrees Celsius), accompanied by 10 mph winds, light flurries, and a wind chill factor of 18 degrees.
“I wouldn’t say any of the things that were out there as far as the elements are going to be use as an excuse as to the reason we started slow,” Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said. “When you are on the road it is always tough to communicate at a high level the way you want to. That is why it is premiere in walk through in practice when it is loud you are locking in.”
Tagovailoa has a record of 0-5 in games played at temperatures below 40 degrees at kickoff, including playoffs while serving as the starting quarterback.
The Dolphins have experienced a defeat in their last 12 regular-season or postseason games where the kickoff temperature was below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius). Their most recent win in such conditions was a 34-31 overtime victory against Buffalo on December 24, 2016.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Dolphins recorded 20 missed tackles during the loss, resulting in an additional 132 yards gained by the Packers.
“I thought we were soft,” Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks said after the game. “Simple as that, I thought we were soft today. I don’t know if guys was too cold. … I don’t know what it was. I feel like the elements played a part in how we played as a group, and that was the result that we got.”
Dolphins were down 14-0 in the opening quarter with only five offensive plays ran.
The game ultimately showcased a significant difference in physicality. The Packers demonstrated a more robust presence than the Dolphins on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Whether it was in their rushing attack or their ability to disrupt Tagovailoa, the Packers maintained a relentless approach throughout the game. The skill position players effectively supported their teammates, contributing to a dominant performance against the Dolphins.
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