Josh Jacobs wore the last turducken from the NFL’s Thanksgiving roster out of Lambeau Field after leading the Green Bay Packers to a 30-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday. Jordan Love and Isaiah McDuffie, fellow turkey leg recipients, weren’t far behind, waving their winning meal in the air to show off fans who braved the frigid temperatures.

Love, who notably didn’t get a turkey leg in a win over the Detroit Lions last year, led the offense 21 of 28 passing for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Jayden Reed was on the receiving end of both scores, while Jacobs also reached the end zone early in the first half with a 1-yard run.

Jordan Love DOT 🎯 pic.twitter.com/uMpCePWbbE

—NFL (@NFL) November 29, 2024

Miami saw multiple comeback attempts sputter in the second half, despite Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throwing for a season-high 364 yards and two touchdowns. The Dolphins managed just 39 yards on the ground and didn’t shake the narrative that they get stuck playing in cold weather.

The Packers defense keeps its cool

If you want an example of a bend-but-don’t-break defense, watch the Packers against the Dolphins early in the fourth quarter. Miami once trailed 27-3, but easily marched to 27-11 and threatened to cut the deficit to one score with plenty of time remaining.

Tagovailoa’s completions weren’t difficult either. Guys ran wide open. Tagovailoa didn’t make deep shots, but rather found intermediate completions to move the chains consistently. Miami conceded a second goal from the 1 with about 11 minutes left, but Green Bay’s goal-line defense stood firm. Defensive end Rashan Gary ripped down running back De’Von Achane at second. Cornerback Keisean Nixon broke up a pass for tight end Jonnu Smith in the flat on third down. Linebacker Quay Walker sacked Tagovailoa on a delayed blitz on fourth down. Green Bay’s offense followed that sequence with a nine-play, 78-yard drive for a field goal that took four minutes and 31 seconds to take a 30–11 lead and all but seal the game. — Matt Schenidman, Packers beat writer

A reliable veteran is created

The Packers appear to have finally found a kicker. After six misses by Brayden Narveson in the first six games, general manager Brian Gutekunst traded the undrafted rookie for veteran Brandon McManus. Gutekunst wanted someone who had already been through the ups and downs in the NFL and made it to the other side, not a young kicker who struggled along the way, as the Packers couldn’t afford to waste their talent with an inconsistent kicker. With scores of 46, 24 and 33 yards on Thursday, McManus is now 10-for-11 on field goals this season and hasn’t missed any of his 16 extra-point attempts. — Schenidman

Tua is freezing

Tagovailoa said after Sunday’s win over the Patriots that he wanted to quash any stories about his struggles in the cold. Tagovailoa actually played well in his first game at Lambeau Field, completing 37 of 46 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns, parts of which came against a Packers defense seemingly happy to keep easy completions in front. Tagovailoa’s only glaring miscue was a fourth-down pass that sailed over Achane’s head late in the first half and allowed the Packers to get three points before halftime. Despite Tagovailoa’s impressive performance under adverse conditions, it was not nearly enough to eliminate the Packers, winners of three straight games. — Schenidman

Required reading

(Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)