Green Bay, WI- After week one’s disappointing loss in Brazil to the Philadelphia Eagles and a last minute uncertain injury to their quarterback, all of Green Bay seemed hopeless and quiet going into week 2.
Two weeks later, the Packers returned to Lambeau Field with a 2-1 record and 2-0 record since the Eagles game in Brazil. Now, how is this possible, you might ask? The answer is simple, and his name is Malik Willis.
Willis was traded to the Packers from the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 26, as the Packers thought they would have a great backup in Willis with some practice in the system.
Fast forward a few short weeks, and the Packers were trailing 34-29 with under a minute to go in Week 1 of the NFL season. Star Quarterback Jordan Love dropped back in the pocket and threw a checkdown to running back Josh Jacobs, who rushed to get out of bounds to stop the clock.
Many Packers fans saw the season flash before their eyes as they looked back to the middle of the field to see Jordan Love on the ground, holding his knee with pain etched across his face. Love was helped off the field, and the new backup Malik Willis was sacked on the final Hail Mary attempt.
So the Packers flew back to Green Bay with seemingly crushed hopes, as neither the fans nor the players knew what type of football the new starter Willis would play.
They started the Malik Willis streak with a win at home against the Indianapolis Colts. Although Willis didn’t throw the ball much, the Green Bay offense as a whole was very effective, as Josh Jacobs ran for 152 yards on 32 carries, and the Packers rushing attack could not be stopped early in the game.
Down the stretch, Matt Lafleur trusted Malik Willis a little more with each pass he threw. He went 12 for 14 with 122 yards and a touchdown to Dontavion Wicks. The following week, though, the newest member of the Packers would really shine.
The Packers traveled to Nashville for a Sunday showdown versus the winless Titans. The game got off to a fast start as Malik Willis threw two 20+ yard passes and ran it in for a score. Cornerback Jaire Alexander helped the offense with a pick 6 off Titans quarterback Will Levis to give the Pack the 17-7 lead.
For the rest of the game, it seemed like the Packers were in control. Willis showed his ability to make good decisions on third downs, and run to convert them instead of throwing a bad pass.
Coach Matt LaFleur called one of the best games of his career. The offense didn’t turn it over once, and LaFleur’s play-calling kept the Titans’ defense on its toes.
Willis finished the game with over 200 passing yards and a touchdown, as well as 63 rushing yards and a touchdown, leading the Packers to a 30-14 win in Tennessee.
Even though Jordan Love returned the next week against the Minnesota Vikings, the Packers can feel positive that if anything bad ever happened to their all-pro quarterback, backup Malik Willis would surely get the job done.
