The Green Bay Packers (6-3) couldn't have dreamed of a better game at Gillette Stadium against the defending AFC champion New England Patriots (5-4). Green Bay dominated New England in every facet of football in its 45-27 victory.
Jordan Love (372 yards passing and four total touchdowns), Christian Watson (171 yards receiving and a touchdown) and Matthew Golden (164 yards receiving and a touchdown) tore up the Patriots' secondary all day long. Much of Golden's damage came against Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, the NFL's highest-paid cornerback. Green Bay's defense also shined with four turnovers forced-- three interceptions of Drake Maye and a forced fumble out of Rhamondre Stevenson's hands.
Love is now the fourth Packers quarterback with 350-plus passing yards, three-plus passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in a game, joining predecessor Aaron Rodgers (three times), Brett Favre (2001) and Lynn Dickey (1983). He is also the first player to hit all those numbers in a game against the Patriots. Watson and Golden are now the second duo in Packers history with 150-plus yards receiving and a touchdown each in the same game, along with Pro Football Hall of Famer wide receiver Don Hutson and Andy Uram in 1942.
Even more impressive is how both cooked Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, the NFL's highest-paid cornerback who is on a four-year, $135 million contract with $96.4 million guaranteed. Gonzalez allowed all 7 targets to Golden that he faced on 17 matchups to be caught for 105 yards, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats. He also allowed Watson to catch the football all three times on all his three targets in their four matchups against each other for 82 yards receiving and a touchdown. Gonzalez is now the player since 2018 to surrender more than 80 receiving yards to multiple players in the same game, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats. He previously had never allowed more than 71 yards in a game to a single wide receiver.
Love opened the second half with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Savion Williams. That made the score 31-14 with 10:51 left in the third quarter. It was Watson's turn to find the end zone in the second half. On the very first play after Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie forced a Stevenson fumble and recovered it for Green Bay's fourth takeaway of the day, Love uncorked a laser over the middle of the field that hit Watson right in the hands for a 39-yard touchdown catch. He followed up that throw with a run into the end zone for a two-point conversion that put the Packers up 42-14 with 4:10 left in the third quarter.
Green Bay is dead last in the NFL in rushing offense (68.2 rushing yards per game) while leading the league in dropped passes with 23, eight more than the next closest teams (the one-win Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers). Love has also been hit 57 times this season, the fifth most in the league entering "Sunday Night Football" and "Monday Night Football" in Week 9. Despite all that adversity, Love leads the NFL in passing yards (2,618) and completions of 20-plus yards (40) and is third in passing touchdowns (19).
With the Packers winning five of their last six games to improve to 6-3 in 2026, Love deserves league MVP buzz.
Maye came close to winning both an NFL MVP and a Super Bowl in 2025. However, the 24-year-old quarterback still has plenty to improve upon halfway through his third NFL season. Maye now has two halves with three-plus interceptions while the rest of the NFL has combined for one in 2026. His awareness, anticipation and pocket presence could all stand to be refined as the Patriots enter the second half of the 2026 season as the AFC's seventh and final playoff team with a 5-4 record.
Yes, the Packers aren't without warts, but they have what it takes to win the NFC North. The division-leading Minnesota Vikings (6-1) do have the league's best defense across numerous metrics, but the Packers lead the NFL with 19 takeaways. Against Maye on Sunday, Green Bay produced 11 unblocked pressures, the second most in a game this season, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats. The Packers now lead the NFL with 43 unblocked pressures, the most in the NFL, and that's without All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons. Parsons is set to return in a couple weeks against the Los Angeles Rams. Green Bay pressured Maye on 51.2% of his dropbacks on Sunday, the highest pressure rate of his career in the regular season. The Packers nearly matched the 52.8% pressures rate the Seahawks hit against him in the Super Bowl last season, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats.
Minnesota also has a big quarterback issue with Kyler Murray not fitting into coach Kevin O'Connell's scheme through the first half of the season. Their record could also begin to level out as they play the NFL's toughest schedule from Weeks 8-11. The Detroit Lions needed a buzzer-beater field goal and questionable calls to defeat Green Bay in Detroit in Week 20-17 in Week 7. They face the Packers again in Week 18. Green Bay already beat the Chicago Bears 31-7 in Week 5, and even though Chicago was without Caleb Williams that day, the Bears were the betting favorites at Lambeau Field that day.
The NFC North is the league's toughest division, but Green Bay has the ingredients to win it with their video game-like passing game and ball-hawking defense.
Joran Love, Christian Watson and Matthew Golden all had historic days while their defense racked up four takeaways, making Sunday a near-perfect outing in their 45-27 victory. It's back to the drawing board for Drake Maye and the defending AFC champion Patriots.
Veteran Tyrod Taylor is now in at quarterback.
New England gets to 21 points with wide receiver Mack Hollins breaking free down the right sideline for a 22-yard touchdown. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye now has as many touchdown passes as he has interceptions (three) while trailing 42-21 with 1:11 left in the third quarter.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love uncorked a play-action pass bomb deep down the middle of the field on the first play after their defense's fumble recovery, and wide receiver Christian Watson hauled it in for the 39-yard touchdown. Love is now up to 362 yards passing and 3 touchdowns on 22 of 28 throwing. Watson is now up to 171 yards receiving and a touchdown on 7 catches. Green Bay also tacked on a two-point conversion on a run from Love to take a 42-14 lead with 4:10 left to play.
Green Bay Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie punched the football loose from New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson's arms, and he jumped on the football at the Patriots' 39. The Packers lead 34-14 with 4:16 left in the third quarter.
With Matthew Golden (154 receiving yards and counting) and Christian Watson (132 receiving yards and counting) both over 90 receiving yards today, they have their fourth game as a duo with 90-plus receiving yards each. That surpasses Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb (2014) for the most such games by a duo in Packers history
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love found wide receiver Savion Williams, a 2025 third-round pick out of TCU, in the back left corner of the end zone for the 10-yard touchdown on third down. He is now up to 270 yards passing and 2 two passing touchdowns on 16 of 21 passing, in addition to a 13-yard rushing touchdown, one drive into the second half. The Packers are back up 17, 31-14, with 10:51 left in the third quarter.
Matthew Golden had the 150-yard first half, but don't sleep on Christian Watson either. He is now up to 99 yards receiving on 5 catches with his latest catch for 28 yards.
The New England Patriots needed just four plays to travel 64 yards down the field for a touchdown. All 64 yards came from Drake Maye's right arm as he completed throws of 9 yards, 28 yards, 19 yards and 8 eight yards. The last throw was a floater of a touchdown pass from eight yards out to wide receiver Efton Chism. New England trails by 10, 24-14, with 2:42 left in the first half.
Green Bay now has 14 points off of Drake Maye's three interceptions. The Packers lead 24-7 with 4:45 left to play.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has completed all seven of his throws to wide receiver Matthew Golden for 150 yards and a touchdown. Their latest connection goes for 24 yards.
Green Bay All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney is living up to his resume with his second interception of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. He baited Maye into throwing to Eli Raridon over the middle, and he easily undercut the throw. Maye now has three interceptions, which is tied for his single-game, career high. Maye also threw three interceptions in the 2026 season opener at the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Green Bay takes over at their own 31.
Green Bay moved Laken Tomlinson from right guard to left guard, his natural position and 36-year-old Pro Bowler Kevin Zeitler checks in at right guard for the Packers for the first time in 2026.
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson cooked Green Bay Packers backup linebacker Nick Niemann on a wheel route to break wide open for a 30-yard receiving touchdown. The Patriots now trail the Packers 17-7 with 9:23 left in the first half.
Green Bay Packers safety Evan Williams entered Week 9 as Pro Football Focus' highest-graded safety with a defensive grade of 90.6. Williams showed why by perfectly playing the football after rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse's deflection for an interception. Green Bay entered Week 9 with 15 takeaways, and now they have two more in the first half on Sunday. The Packers lead 17-0 with 12:54 left in the first half, and they have the football back at their own 23.
Trey Smack has had a bumpy rookie season with 5 missed field goals in 16 tries and 3 missed extra points in 19 tries through the first eight weeks of 2026. However, he's off to a good start on Sunday with two made extra points and a 41-yard made field goal. Packers lead 17-0 with 13:37 left in the first half.
With Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love's 43-yard completion deep down the right sideline, he has 136 yards and a touchdown on 7 of 8 passing at the end of the first quarter. Of Love's 136 yards, 126 of them went to Matthew Golden, who beat New England Patriots No. 1 cornerback Christian Gonzalez on most of those completions. That includes the 43-yarder to wrap up the first quarter. Golden hasn't been bothered yet by the NFL's highest-paid cornerback. Love completed all six of his throws to Golden in the first quarter for 126 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Christian Watson accounted for the other 10 yards. The Packers lead 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love's first completion to wide receiver Matthew Golden was a 16-yard toe tapper down the right sideline. In an effort to avoid a potential challenge from the New England Patriots, Love quick-snapped the football, which caught the Patriots' secondary off guard. Golden flew down the right sideline all by himself, and Love found him for a 49-yard gain. On third-and-goal from the five, Love found Golden once more wide open in the middle of the end zone for a touchdown after two New England defensive backs followed Christian Watson into the right corner of the end zone.
Through two drives, Love has two touchdowns (one rushing and one passing) while completing his first three throws for 70 yards, all to Golden. Green Bay leads 14-0 with 7:59 left in the first quarter.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has the NFL's worst run game, so he decided to take matters into his own hands and scramble into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown just two plays after Drake Maye's interception. The Packers lead 7-0 with 13:19 left in the first quarter.
New England quarterback Drake Maye stepped up in the pocket for a play-action pass downfield, and his throw to wide receiver Mack Hollins sailed to the left of his target. That allowed Green Bay Packers All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney to intercept the pass on the game's second play. McKinney returned the interception 36 yards all the way down to the Patriots' 14.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson ranked fourth in the NFL in receiving yards (708) through Week 8, the most receiving yards through eight games by a Packers since Davante Adams (2021). Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden ranked seventh in the NFL in receiving yards (609) through Week 8. Much of Golden's targets come deep down the field as he has the most air yards on targets (1,165) through eightt games since Mike Evans in 2019.
Watson and Golden are the first duo with 600-plus receiving yards each through eight games since the Miami Dolphins duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in 2022.
| Most receiving yards through Week 8 | Receiving yards |
|---|---|
SEA Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 985 |
CIN Tee Higgins | 726 |
DAL CeeDee Lamb | 709 |
GB Christian Watson* | 708 |
NO Chris Olave | 636 |
| ATL Drake London | 624 |
| GB Matthew Golden* | 619 |
* First Green Bay packers duo ever with 600-plus receiving yards each through eight games
The 2026 Green Bay Packers have the fewest rushing yards (485) by a team above .500 through eight games in NFL history. They're also the third team since 1950 with no individual 50-yard rushers through eight games.
| Fewest rush yards by team with winning record through eight games | Rush yards |
|---|---|
2026 Packers | 485 |
2016 Giants | 546 |
2009 Chargers | 557 |
The Packers ask Jordan Love to captain the ship with one hand tied behind his back, and he is powering them into a playoff position with a 5-3 record. Green Bay entered Week 9 dead last in the NFL in rushing offense by over 15 yards per game (60.6 rushing yards per game) while leading the league in dropped passes with 23, eight more than the next closest teams (the one-win Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers). Love has also been hit 53 times this season, the fourth most in the league. With all that adversity, Love leads the NFL in passing yards (2,246) and completions of 20-plus air yards (17) and is fourth in passing touchdowns (16). He is the NFL's Ethan Hunt, completing seemingly impossible missions with regularity.
| Jordan Love NFL ranks through Week 8 | NFL rank | |
|---|---|---|
Pass yards | 2,264 | 1st |
Pass TD | 16 | 4th |
Completions of 20-plus air yards | 17 | 1st |
Drake Maye is looking like the quarterback that finished second in the NFL MVP race in 2025 across the last five weeks of football in 2026. He led the NFL in both total yards and total touchdowns from Weeks 4-8. His five consecutive games with three-plus total touchdowns is the second-longest such streak in Patriots history, behind only Tom Brady's 10 in a row in New England's perfect 16-0 regular season in 2007.
| Drake Maye last five starts | Total yards | Total TD |
|---|---|---|
Week 4 vs. Buffalo Bills | 323 | 3 |
Week 5 vs. Las Vegas Raiders | 399 | 5 |
Week 6 vs. New York Jets | 259 | 3 |
Week 7 vs. Chicago Bears | 347 | 3 |
Week 8 vs. Miami Dolphins | 204 | 3 |
New England's offensive revival is helping power their run of four wins in the last five games.
| Patriots offense this season | First three games | Last five games |
|---|---|---|
W-L | 1-2 | 4-1 |
PPG | 12.0 | 29.6 |
NFL rank | T-31st | 3rd |
Almost everyone the Patriots had listed as questionable for Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers is active: Tight end Hunter Henry (foot), safety Kevin Byard (chest), cornerback Carlton Davis III (neck), offensive tackle Morgan Moses (foot), safety Brenden Schooler (hamstring) and guard Greg Van Roten (hamstring).
Green Bay's defensive revival is helping power their run of four wins in the last five games.
| Packers defense this season | First three games | Last five games |
|---|---|---|
W-L | 1-2 | 4-1 |
PPG Allowed | 30.3 | 14.6 |
NFL rank | T-29th | 3rd |
