Packers freeze out dolphins as Miami’s cold weather woes continue

On By Littum

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes to Jayden Reed and the Green Bay Packers took advantage of a fast start to beat Miami 30-17 and snap the Dolphins’ three-game winning streak Thursday night.

Green Bay (9-3) has won three straight and seven of its last eight.

Miami (5-7) continued its recent history of struggling in cold weather.

Jordan Love (left) and Tua Tagovailoa meet on the field during the Packers’ 30-17 Thanksgiving victory over the Dolphins on Nov. 28, 2024. AP

The starting temperature at Lambeau Field was 27 degrees (-2.7 Celsius) with 10 mph winds, light showers and a wind chill of 18.

The Dolphins have lost their last 11 regular season or postseason games in which the kickoff temperature has been below 40 degrees (4.4 Celsius).

The Dolphins’ last win in a game with a kickoff temperature of 40 or lower was a 34-31 overtime triumph at Buffalo on Dec. 24, 2016.

Green Bay plays three games in 12 days.

The Packers beat the San Francisco 49ers 38-10 on Sunday and visit the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions next Thursday night.

Love was 21 of 28 for 274 yards.

Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa went 37 of 46 for 364 yards with two touchdowns, though he was also sacked five times.

A dejected Tua Tagovailoa leaves the field after the Dolphins’ loss to the Packers. Getty Images

Love and Reed connected on touchdown runs of 3 and 12 yards, Josh Jacobs scored from 1 yard out and Brandon McManus kicked two field goals as Green Bay built a 27-3 lead.

Miami tried to rally.

Tagovailoa’s 14-yard pass to De’Von Achane — and a 2-point conversion pass to Jaylen Waddle — cut Green Bay’s lead to 27-11 with 2:43 left in the third.

After Miami stopped Jacobs for a 2-yard loss on third-and-1 to force a punt, the Dolphins drove again and had second-and-goal at the 1 early in the fourth quarter.

A smiling Jordan Love (10) and Josh Jacobs enjoy some turkey while being interviewed by Melissa Stark and Leroy Butler after the Packers’ Thanksgiving win. Getty Images

Then the Packers made a stand at the goal line to thwart the comeback attempt. After Rashan Gary stopped Achane on second down and Tagovailoa couldn’t connect with Jonnu Smith on third down, Quay Walker made a fourth-down sack with 9:33 left.

A 49-yard completion from Love to Jacobs then set up a McManus 33-yard field goal with 5:02 left. Miami capped the scoring on a deflected 14-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to Tyreek Hill with 3:04 left.

Miami’s slow start allowed the Packers to take command.

After forcing a three-and-out on the game’s opening possession, the Dolphins gave Green Bay a first-and-goal opportunity when Malik Washington muffed a punt and Robert Rochell recovered the fumble at the 9.

The turnover set up Love’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Reed on third-and-goal.

Green Bay reached the end zone again on its next series as Jacobs’ touchdown capped a 12-play, 76-yard drive that lasted nearly seven minutes.

The Dolphins had first-and-goal at the 9 in the second quarter, but settled for Jason Sanders’ 33-yard field goal.

Green Bay then scored 10 points in the final 96 seconds of the half to make it 24-3.

On third-and-2 from the 12, Reed caught a pass around the line of scrimmage and capitalized on a downfield block from Dontayvion Wicks to reach the end zone.

After Tagovailoa overthrew Achane on fourth-and-5 from Green Bay’s 38 with 22 seconds left, a pair of completions from Love to Tucker Kraft helped the Packers get into position for McManus’ 46-yard field goal as time expired.