Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 27-18 Win Over the Bengals in Week 6

The Green Bay Packers got back on the winning track with a 27-18 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field. Josh Jacobs gained 150 total yards and scored two touchdowns in a game the Packers never trailed in. Jordan Love threw for 259 yards and ran for some key first downs. The win improves the Packers record to 3-1-1 while the Bengals fall to 2-4. Here are 10 things we learned from the Packers 27-18 win over the Bengals in Week 6:

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 27-18 Win Over with the Bengals, Number One: The Defense Had a Great First Half

The Packers defense dominated in the first half. The Bengals gained just 65 yards in the first 30 minutes of the game and picked up just four first downs. Three of those first downs and 44 yards came in the final 1:06 of the half when Cincinnati ran their two-minute drill.

The Packers stuffed the Cincinnati running game and didn’t give Joe Flacco a chance to get into a rhythm throwing the football.

Things changed after halftime, but for the first half, the defense was dominant and set the tone for the game. Had the offense been more efficient in the first half, the game could have been over early.

Number Two: Josh Jacobs Had a Great Game

While he fell just short of 100 yards rushing, Jacobs had a strong performance that keyed the Green Bay offense. He gained 93 yards rushing on 18 carries and ran for two scores. That gave him a healthy 5.2 yards per carry.

Jacobs was also a key receiver for the Packers in this game. He caught five passes on five targets for 57 yards including a 29-yard gain that helped set up the Packers first touchdown.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 27-18 Win Over the Bengals, Number Three: Matthew Golden Came Up Big

Rookie receiver Matthew Golden made three catches for 86 yards. His shortest gain of the game was 20 yards. The first-round pick out of Texas got open downfield and also ran the ball well after making his three catches.

While it wasn’t a dominant performance by Golden, he clearly made progress and made a big impact on the team’s eventual win. Golden appears to be developing into a playmaker and that’s just what the Packers need to see.

Number Four: The Defense Put Pressure on Joe Flacco

The Packers defense only sacked Flacco once in this game. Lukas Van Ness came up with the sack in the second half which almost derailed the Bengals initial touchdown drive.

But the Packers did get pressure on Flacco throughout the game. The veteran didn’t have time to throw deep downfield and had to settle for check downs and quick release passes. His longest completion of the game gained just 19 yards. When you have a strong receiving duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, you should be able to complete at least one deep pass.

Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary, and Van Ness helped limit the downfield passing game. The Packers missed Devonte Wyatt, but they got the job done throughout the game.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 27-18 Win Over the Bengals, Number Five: The Defense Didn’t Create Any Turnovers

The Green Bay defense still has just two turnovers through their first five games. They didn’t create any against Cincinnati. In fact, they weren’t even close.

Most NFL defenses have trouble stopping offenses but come up with big, game-changing plays. This year’s defense is doing the opposite. The Green Bay defense doesn’t allow large gains and holds opponents in check but hasn’t been able to come up with the big, game-changing plays.

The defense will need to force turnovers to become truly elite. You would think the turnovers will come with all that pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Two in five games is just not good enough.

Number Six: The Offensive Line Held Up

The Packers offensive line got two starters back and changed the lineup at another position. Both Aaron Banks and Zach Tom returned from injury and got the job done despite not being 100 percent healthy.

Meanwhile, the Packers inserted Jordan Morgan as their starting right guard and rotated former starter Sean Rhyan in for several series.

The offensive line did a better job of opening holes for the running game. The Packers averaged 4.6-yards per carry on the ground. Meanwhile, Love was sacked only once, and the Bengals recorded just four quarterback hits.

It helped that Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals best pass rusher missed the second half due to injury.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 27-18 Win Over the Bengals, Number Seven: Love Threw Deep Well

Love finished the game with 259 yards passing on 19 completions. That’s 13.6-yards per completion. All of Golden’s catches went for 20 yards or more. Tucker Kraft had a 24-yard catch, Romeo Doubs had one for 21 yards and Jacobs picked up 29 on his longest reception.

Love also scrambled effectively, picking up some key first downs with his legs when his receivers were covered or the pass rush got too close.

The Packers passing game was not consistent throughout this game, but they came up with big plays when they needed them.

Number Eight: Keisean Nixon Got Picked On

In the second half, the Cincinnati offense moved the ball by picking on Keisean Nixon, the Packers best cornerback. They lined up Chase on Nixon and were able to move the football.

Chase caught 10 passes on 12 targets. He also drew a pass interference call on Nixon.

In the second half, Chase was particularly effective. He caught eight passes for 80 yards after intermission with Nixon being the primary defender in coverage on nearly all of them.

Nixon didn’t allow any big plays downfield, but he was beaten consistently by Chase in the second half which helped the Bengals move the chains and score points.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 27-18 Win Over the Bengals, Number Nine: The New Kicker Did His Job

Kicker Brandon McManus missed this game due to injury. The Packers signed Lucas Havrisik who last kicked in the NFL for the Rams in 2023.

Havrisik did his job well. He made all three of his extra points and made field goals of 43 and 39 yards for a nine-point night.

Havrisik also did a good job placing kickoffs inside the landing zone, something the Packers had struggled with at times this season. As soon as McManus is healthy, he’ll be the kicker again, but Havrisik did his job well.

Number 10: Bring on the Cardinals

The Packers are now 3-0 at home and 0-1-1 on the road. Up next is a road game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cards lost to the Colts 31-27 on Sunday. They played the game without starting quarterback Kyler Murray who is not expected to play against the Packers.

The Packers need to show they can win on the road and build some momentum. The win over Cincinnati was solid but hardly dominant. Arizona won’t be an easy opponent, but it is a game the Packers will be favored to win. They need to back that up and start stringing some wins together during this, the easier part of their schedule.