Packers-Jets In-Game Takeaways: Green Bay Wins In Overtime

The Green Bay Packers have never reached the playoffs after losing their first two games. On the heels of their embarrassing Meltdown in Minnesota, they’ll need to get back on track on Sunday against the Jets.

Follow along for the latest from rainy MetLife Stadium

Packers Beat Jets In Overtime

The Packers overcome a horrendous start and did what they failed to do last week.

They finished.

Here's the early game story from Green Bay's overtime win. ⬇️https://t.co/SgEdE2L6Km
— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) September 20, 2026

Overtime

Packers 17, Jets 17 (7:29 remaining)

On first down, Brandon Cisse blitzed off the corner to help set up Barryn Sorrell’s sack. On second down, Lukas Van Ness stormed inside right tackle Armand Membou for a sack to continue his dominant game. A false start and a harmless checkdown forced a punt, and the Packers will take the ball at their 34.

Fourth Quarter

Packers 17, Jets 17 (0:00 remaining)

Lukas Van Ness might be having his best game as a pro. On third-and-2 in the final moments, he helped blow up a running play. On fourth-and-1, Van Ness got inside of the tight end and joined Jonathan Ford in stuffing Braelon Allen.

The Packers had a chance to win the game, starting at midfield, but did absolutely nothing with it. So, it’s overtime.

Jets 17, Packers 17 (2:59 remaining)

This is why you pay for a returner. Skyy Moore broke three tackles on a 63-yard return to the Jets’ 19.

The Packers managed only a field goal, though, so it’s a tie game with about 3 minutes to go.

Jets 17, Packers 14 (7:58 remaining)

Finally. The Packers are back in the game on Jordan Love’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson. The big plays were a 38-yard interference penalty on a deep ball to Matthew Golden and an 18-yard catch and run by Golden.

Jets 17, Packers 7 (11:04 remaining)

The Packers just can’t get out of their own way. Backed up at their 14 after Chris McClellan’s penalty on a punt return, MarShawn Lloyd got the ball punched out by former teammate Kingsley Enagbare and Harrison Phillips recovered.

Green Bay’s defense prevented a total disaster, but Jason Sanders kicked the chip-shot field goal to lead by 10. Can the Packers, who have only eight first downs, somehow find 10 points with a wounded quarterback.

Green Bay is in deep trouble, with every step forward followed by two or three steps backward.

Jets 14, Packers 7 (12:35 remaining)

On the final play of the third quarter, the Jets ran a give-up screen on third-and-12. Breece Hall eluded Dani Dennis-Sutton and Xavier McKinney for a 43-yard gain to Green Bay’s 40. The play included 49 yards after the catch.

Green Bay escaped, though. A botched toss lost 14 yards and Edgerrin Cooper sacked Geno Smith. After the punt return, Chris McClellan was flagged for unnecessary roughness. It was another unforced error for the Packers as the world’s ugliest football game sputters toward the finish.

Third Quarter

Jets 14, Packers 7 (0:47 remaining)

With Jordan Love dealing with an injured throwing hand, he threw one in the dirt to Christian Watson on third-and-3. The Packers are in deep trouble.

Jets 14, Packers 7 (2:30 remaining)

On third-and-4 at the start of the drive, Karl Brooks missed a sack and Geno Smith ran for a first down. The Packers paid a stiff price for that mistake. A roughing-the-passer penalty on Lukas Van Ness moved the ball to the 5, and Geno Smith hit Garrett Wilson for the touchdown against Brandon Cisse on the next play.

The Packers have had trouble finishing. They’re going to have to finish strong to win. A starting point would be cutting out the stupid penalties; they have been penalized 10 times.

Packers 7, Jets 7 (7:30 remaining)

Green Bay’s putrid offensive performance continued. After Matthew Golden sold an interference call to move the ball out to the 37, Tucker Kraft was flagged for holding, Jordan Morgan was flagged for a false start and Donovan Jennings – in for Aaron Banks at left guard – gave up a sack/strip.

The Jets on third-and-19 gave the Packers a first down when David Bailey was busted for a hands-to-the-face penalty, but the Packers did nothing with it. On third-and-9 from the 34, nobody blocked blitzing safety Andrew Cisco, and Love threw it to the turf to prevent the sack.

Packers 7, Jets 7 (12:25 remaining)

Lukas Van Ness is continuing his big game. On second-and-6, he combined with Zaire Franklin for a tackle for loss. On third-and-9, Evan Williams blitzed, which allowed Van Ness to get free. Van Ness and Dani Dennis-Sutton forced Geno Smith into a throwaway.

A great punt pinned the Packers at the 6. Another stupid penalty, this one unnecessary roughness on Dennis-Sutton, means they’ll start at the 3.

First-Half Studs and Duds

The score is tied 7-7 at halftime. Here’s a quick-hitting list of studs and duds for the Packers. The Packers have 81 yards and five first downs; they are 0-for-4 on third down.

Stud: Edge Lukas Van Ness

Van Ness had four tackles, including one sack and three tackles for losses. He had two tackles of Jets quarterback Geno Smith on third down.

Stud: LB Edgerrin Cooper

Cooper had three tackles, including two for losses. During the Jets’ 2-minute drive, he blitzed up the middle and it seemed pretty clear that he had been held but there was no penalty.

Stud/Dud: RB Kaleb Johnson

Kaleb Johnson got his first touches on offense since he was acquired during final roster cuts. He gave the Packers a spark with his power and explosiveness but fumbled late in the first half.

Dud: Pass Rush

The pass rush is Van Ness or bust.

Dud: Discipline

On the heels of a league-worst 12 penalties last week, the Packers were guilty of six penalties – and those were just the accepted ones. They resulted in 75 yards.

Second Quarter

Packers 7, Jets 7 (4:00 remaining)

Skyy Moore’s big-time kickoff return gave the Packers a spark with the ball at their 44, but Kaleb Johnson was blasted by safety Andrew Cisco on a first-down run. Johnson’s fumble was recovered by Jordan Love but for a loss of 8. Then, Tucker Kraft caught a tight end screen but got it popped free from behind by rookie David Bailey. Kraft collected the ball and pressed it against his butt a right tackle Anthony Belton arrived. Jets coach Aaron Glenn challenged but the call stood.

Love’s third-and-long pass to Bo Melton hit the turf, not that it would have mattered.

Packers 7, Jets 7 (6:04 remaining)

The Packers had no pass rush on Geno Smith’s third-and-11 conversion to Garrett Wilson. Next, on play-action, Keisean Nixon was beat deep and tackled Adonai Mitchell for a 34-yard penalty for pass interference. Then, on third-and-19, the Packers once again produced no pass rush as Smith hit Mitchell for 14 and a first down at the 6. The Jets scored on the next play, with Nixon and Brenton Cox blowing contain on Braelon Allen’s touchdown. Jonathan Gannon is going to need to blitz, especially on third down.

Packers 7, Jets 0 (9:35 remaining)

The Packers, perhaps in a funk after seeing Jayden Reed and Zach Bako-Bewele carted off the field on back-to-back plays, drew first blood. Jordan Love on second-and-goal from the 6, threw a screen to MarShawn Lloyd. Excellent perimeter blocking allowed Lloyd to cut back inside for a clear runway to the end zone.

Kaleb Johnson provided a jolt to the running game with four carries for 25 yards. Love ripped passes of 20 yards and 13 yards to Christian Watson, the second of which came after Jacob Monk’s holding penalty sent the Packers back 20 yards.

Packers 0, Jets 0 (15:00 remaining)

The first-quarter MVPs were easy for the Packers.

Edge Lukas Van Ness had three tackles, including a chase-down tackle of Jets quarterback Geno Smith and a big third-down sack late in the first quarter.

Punter Daniel Whelan was exceptional. He had three field-flipping punts, with a 61.3-yard average and two muffed punts that the Jets were fortunate to recover.

First Quarter

Packers 0, Jets 0 (5:38 remaining)

Holding by Kamal Hadden on the punt return. Holding on Christian Watson on a first-down run. Watson missed a block on a receiver screen. What a hot mess.

Fortunately for the Packers, Daniel Whelan flipped the field and J. Michael Sturdivant drew a holding penalty on the return

Packers 0, Jets 0 (7:43 remaining)

The more things change, the more things stay the same. On third-and-4, Karl Brooks jumped offside to hand the Jets a first down. On third-and-9, Javon Bullard broke up Geno Smith’s deep pass but was penalized for taunting.

Green Bay’s defense got off the field, only for Kamal Hadden to be flagged for holding, forcing the Packers to start at their 8.

Anthony Belton is in at right tackle.

Packers 0, Jets 0 (13:34 remaining)

The opening plays could hardly have gone worse. On what was either a broken play or a play the Jets totally snuffed out, Jordan Love scrambled on first down and was sacked by rookie David Bailey.

On second down, a receiver screen to Jayden Reed resulted in a short gain but Reed taking a helmet/shoulder-to-helmet hit from veteran linebacker Demario Davis. With the entire Green Bay bench gathered near him, Reed spent several minutes on the turf before he was carted off the field.

On third down, Love was wide open over the middle and dropped the ball for what would have been a big gain over the middle. While in pass protection against Bailey, right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele was injured and carted off the field with an air cast on his right leg.

Packers Have Their No. 1 Line

The Packers will field their No. 1 offensive line on the field against the Jets.

Based on pregame warmups, the Packers are rolling with left tackle Jordan Morgan, left guard Aaron Banks, center Sean Rhyan, right guard Jacob Monk and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele. The big change from last week is at guard, with the veteran Banks healthy and replacing Donovan Jennings, who struggled last week at Minnesota.

The starting line was also the most-used combination during training camp. So, it’s not just that the team has deemed them its best players, it should be their most cohesive unit.

Banks started 57 games the past four seasons, including 14 games last year after the Packers signed him to a four-year, $77 million contract in free agency. Last week, Morgan made his second career start at left tackle, Jennings made his first NFL start, Sean Rhyan made his ninth career start at center and Monk made his first career start at guard and second overall.

Green Bay’s line was overwhelmed last week by the blitzing Vikings. The stability and strength brought by Banks should help.

“You can't keep dwelling on it or else it's going to trickle over,” Rhyan said on Thursday. “It's kind of like a play. If you have a bad play you can't dwell on it. It could turn into two, three, four bad plays. So, we're just kind of keeping it last week and f***king move on.”

One thing to watch will be Banks’ long-term presence on the field. The Packers have to win this game, to be sure, but they also have to be aware of the impact of the MetLife turf on Banks’ knee with a short turnaround coming up for Thursday night’s home opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

If the Packers go to the bullpen, will it be Jennings? Rookie Jager Burton? And is there a place somewhere on the line for last year’s second-round pick, Anthony Belton?

With less than one hour until Packers-Jets kickoff, here are:

🏈Inactives: https://t.co/YRRbTb2uOf
🏈Predictions: https://t.co/lr9jcK8Rxk
🏈10 key players: https://t.co/9Hhw40vHae
🏈Why they'll win: https://t.co/UdOzAFzeBn
🏈Why they'll lose: https://t.co/bieUXOgm9x
— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) September 20, 2026

Pregame: Three Big Things

One: The Packers are coming off a horrific loss, but that’s ancient history now. The Packers can’t turn back time. They can only turn the page. On defense, this was the message from linebacker and defensive captain Zaire Franklin:

“I think just focusing on daily improvement. I think we had a great message this morning about just focusing on going 1-0. A lot of times, you’re not going to climb a mountain looking at the top of it. You climb it just thinking one step at a time. I feel like we’re just going to continue to focus on the day to day, week to week and let the chips fall where they may.”

Two: One reason why the Packers lost to the Vikings was their complete inability to protect quarterback Jordan Love, who took a beating as the protection unit continually allowed blitzers to run free into the backfield.

For center Sean Rhyan, the emphasis this week is obvious.

“F***ing protect J-Love and f***ng move the ball. Keep it simple, keep it easy,” he said.

By the official stats, Love was hit 15 times last week. No other quarterback was hit even 10 times. The Jets (probably) won’t blitz like the Vikings did, but they do have quality pass rushers with Will McDonald and rookie David Bailey off the edge.

“I’m not going to freak out or overreact or anything like that,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. “This is the first game of a 17-game season, so we’ve just got to make sure we keep improving. We keep focusing on the things that we can control, and that’s the biggest thing, is guys just have got to make sure they’re — on a weekly basis, on a daily basis — just trying to improve a little bit at a time. And I think over the season that’ll become big.”

Three: It will be easier for the Packers to protect their fourth-quarter leads if they have bigger fourth-quarter leads to protect.

Last season, the Packers were a mediocre 14th in the red zone with a touchdown rate of 57.6 percent. The Packers enter Sunday’s game ranked 29th in the red zone (25.0 percent) after going 1-of-4 vs. Minnesota.

“That’s an area where we’ve got to improve on. Wasn’t up to our standards,” Jordan Love said. “I think we called some pretty good plays down there; just comes down to executing and making plays. That was the unfortunate part. We had a couple missed opps down there.

“We’ll see. We’ll get this run game going down there and, obviously, in pass situations, we’ve got to hit. I think there’s a couple instances where protection holds up, we had some opportunities and we weren’t able to hit those.”

The Jets did not give up a red-zone touchdown last week against the Titans.

Packers Close as Favorites

The Packers opened as 3.5-point favorites against the Jets and that’s where the line closed at FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under is 44.5. Almost 60 percent of the money is on Green Bay to cover.

Jordan Love’s over/under is 254.5 yards. Jets running back Breece Hall is the betting favorite to score a touchdown. He’s followed by Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd, Packers receiver Christian Watson and tight end Tucker Kraft.

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY PACKERS NEWSLETTER

Add us as a preferred source on Google