Packers 27, Giants 20 — Love’s Return Lifts Green Bay in Meadowlands

Lead: Jordan Love returned from a left-shoulder injury and engineered the decisive touchdown drive as the Green Bay Packers beat the New York Giants 27-20 on Nov. 16, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Backup Malik Willis contributed a touchdown while filling in, and Emanuel Wilson converted a two-point attempt that proved pivotal. The win snapped Green Bay’s two-game losing streak, but came with cost: starter Josh Jacobs left in the second quarter with a knee injury and was ruled out after halftime. The Giants, making a coaching change and starting Jameis Winston for the first time in 11 months, dropped their fifth straight game.

Key Takeaways

• Final score: Packers 27, Giants 20 on Nov. 16, 2025, at MetLife Stadium.
• Jordan Love (returning from a left-shoulder injury) completed 13 of 24 passes for 173 yards and two touchdown passes, including the 17-yard go-ahead score to Christian Watson with 4:02 remaining.
• Backup Malik Willis recorded a touchdown while filling in during Love’s absence; Emanuel Wilson finished with a rushing TD and caught the successful 2-point conversion from Love.
• Green Bay rushed for 128 yards total, with 106 coming before halftime as the Packers exploited a Giants defense ranked 31st against the run.
• Josh Jacobs exited early in the second quarter with a knee injury and was officially ruled out after halftime.
• Special teams miscues continued: kicker Lucas Havrisik missed two extra points (wide right and wide left); Green Bay leads the league with nine missed kicks this season, including field goals.
• Jameis Winston, making his first start in 11 months with Mike Kafka in his debut as interim coach, finished 19 of 29 for 201 yards, threw a quarterback-sneak TD and lost a game-ending fumble.
• Green Bay’s defense created a critical end-of-game turnover when Evan Williams intercepted Winston in the end zone with 36 seconds left.

Background

The Packers entered the Meadowlands seeking to halt a two-game slide and to stabilize a season of mixed results; the victory moved them to 6-3-1. Jordan Love had missed time with a left-shoulder injury sustained on a tackle earlier in the season; his availability was a key narrative for Green Bay’s offense. The Giants, meanwhile, are in the midst of upheaval — Brian Daboll was fired and Mike Kafka was elevated to interim coach, with Jameis Winston starting his first game in 11 months after injury and roster changes.

Both teams faced personnel issues heading into Sunday. Green Bay lost kicking continuity when Brandon McManus was sidelined with a quadriceps injury, forcing the team to rely on Lucas Havrisik. New York was already missing corners, with Paulson Adebo a late scratch and rookie Korie Black leaving with a hand injury in the second quarter. Those absences compounded the Giants’ defensive struggles, particularly against the run (ranked 31st in the NFL), setting the stage for Green Bay’s early ground success.

Main Event

The game’s momentum swung in the fourth quarter. With the score close and the Packers trailing, Love — who had taken a heavy hit on a run in the first quarter and briefly left the game — engineered a 3:20, two-minute style drive that ended with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson. That score gave Green Bay the lead, and the subsequent two-point conversion to Emanuel Wilson extended it.

Earlier in the game, starting running back Josh Jacobs left after contact to his knee and did not return; he was officially ruled out shortly after halftime. While Jacobs was sidelined, Wilson and the Packers’ offense leaned on the rushing attack, accumulating 106 of the team’s 128 rushing yards before the break. Malik Willis also contributed a touchdown while filling in for Love during that stretch.

The Giants had significant offensive moments as well. Jameis Winston completed 19 of 29 passes for 201 yards and orchestrated a 15-play, 85-yard scoring drive that gave New York a temporary 20-19 lead. Devin Singletary added two rushing touchdowns for the Giants, and New York’s sustained drives tested Green Bay’s previously stout defense, which allowed its first opening-quarter touchdown of the season.

The final sequence sealed the outcome: Love’s go-ahead scoring drive and a late defensive play. With 36 seconds remaining, Evan Williams intercepted Winston in the end zone after pressure and coverage forced an errant throw, preserving a 27-20 Packers victory.

Analysis & Implications

Green Bay’s offensive identity in this game leaned on opportunism against a weak run defense. Running for 106 of 128 yards before halftime showed the Packers’ ability to attack the Giants’ clear vulnerability on early downs. That formula helped mask Green Bay’s broader inconsistencies — drops, penalties and special-teams errors — and produced just enough scoring to win on the road.

Jordan Love’s return matters beyond this single result. Completing 13 of 24 for 173 yards with two TDs while operating through traffic and drops indicates the offense can function with him under center; however, the volume of dropped passes and the injury to Jacobs expose fragility. If Love remains healthy, the Packers have a QB who can manage close games and execute under pressure, but the receiving corps and line must reduce mistakes to sustain success.

For the Giants, the loss underscores transitional turmoil. Mike Kafka’s interim debut and Winston’s first start in nearly a year produced mixed results: sustained drives and two TDs from Singletary, but also multiple near-interceptions and a game-ending turnover. New York’s defense, especially against the run, continues to be a limiting factor — a top priority for any short-term improvement plan.

Special teams remain a leaguewide differentiator: Green Bay’s nine missed kicks this season (including Havrisik’s two missed extra points Sunday) put pressure on the offense to compensate. Until the kicking game stabilizes, the Packers cannot rely on narrow margins in tight games long-term.

Comparison & Data

Context: The table highlights how Green Bay’s early rushing success and Love’s timely passing overcame inconsistent kicking and defensive lapses. The Packers’ pre-halftime rushing dominance contrasts with the Giants’ continued defensive struggles against the ground game (NFL rank: 31st vs. run).

Reactions & Quotes

“Go, Pack, Go!”

Meadowlands crowd

“Evan Williams’ interception in the end zone preserved the win and reflected the defense’s ability to deliver under pressure.”

Team coverage / postgame analysis

“Mike Kafka’s debut came amid roster and injury challenges; the result extends New York’s losing streak but offers discrete positives in drive management.”

League analysts

Unconfirmed

• Long-term prognosis for Josh Jacobs’ knee remains unclear pending imaging and team updates; no official timetable was provided after he was ruled out Sunday.
• The severity of Quay Walker’s stinger and whether it will affect his availability beyond short-term remains unreported by the team as of this writing.

Bottom Line

Green Bay’s 27-20 victory in East Rutherford was defined by Jordan Love’s timely return, a productive early rushing attack and a clutch late defensive play. The win halts a two-game skid and improves the Packers to 6-3-1, but it exposed ongoing issues: special-teams inconsistency and vulnerability to penalties and drops.

For the Giants, the result compounds transition pains; Mike Kafka’s debut and Jameis Winston’s return showed some offensive life but also costly turnovers and missed opportunities. New York remains 2-9 and faces pressing roster and schematic questions, particularly around run defense and secondary health.

Looking ahead, Green Bay will host the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday and must address kicking and ball-security issues to sustain momentum. The Giants travel to Detroit with rebuilding work and injury recoveries at the top of the agenda.

Sources

• ESPN recap (media coverage)
• Associated Press NFL hub (news agency)