The Packers use a fast start to stifle the Dolphins and win their third straight

Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes to Jayden Reed and the Green Bay Packers used a fast start to beat Miami 30-17 and end the Dolphins’ three-game winning streak on Thursday night.

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

Miami (5-7) continued its recent history of cold weather woes. The kickoff temperature at Lambeau Field was 27 degrees (-2.7 degrees Celsius) with winds of 10 mph, light thunderstorms and a wind chill of 18 degrees.

The Dolphins have lost their last 11 regular-season or postseason games in which the kickoff temperature was below 40 degrees (4.4 Celsius). The Dolphins’ most recent win in a game with a kickoff temperature of 40 or less was a 34-31 overtime victory at Buffalo on December 24, 2016.

Green Bay plays three games in 12 days. The Packers beat the 49ers 38-10 on Sunday and will 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, although he was also sacked five times.

Love and Reed connected on touchdown completions of 3 and 12 yards, Josh Jacobs scored from 1 yard and Brandon McManus hit two field goals to give Green Bay 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 scored a second-and-goal on 1 early in the fourth quarter.

The Packers then made a stand at the goal line to thwart the comeback attempt. After Rashan stopped Gary Achane on second down and Tagovailoa failed to make contact with Jonnu Smith on third down, Quay Walker made a sack on fourth down with 9:33 left.

A 49-yard completion from Love to Jacobs then set up a 33-yard field goal by McManus with 5:02 left. Miami completed the scoring with 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-pointer on the game’s first possession, the Dolphins gave Green Bay a first-and-goal chance when Malik Washington parried 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 nearly seven-minute, 12-play, 76-yard drive.

The Dolphins had a 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, Reed caught a pass around the line of scrimmage and took advantage of a downfield block from Dontayvion Wicks to reach the end zone. After Tagovailoa beat Achane 38 yards on Green Bay’s fourth-and-5 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 bring.

Injuries

Packers CB Corey Ballentine injured his knee in the opener. Packers DL Arron Mosby was evaluated for a concussion.

Dolphins DB cadre Kohou injured his back when he collided with Packers WR Christian Watson on an incomplete pass. Dolphins CB Cam Smith injured his shoulder.

Next

Dolphins: Host the New York Jets on December 8th.

Packers: Next Thursday night in Detroit.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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