Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur gave a game ball to the entire defense and handed out individual game balls to three different players following Sunday’s dominant win over the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field.
One player from each phase got a game ball: running back Emanuel Wilson on offense, linebacker Isaiah McDuffie on defense, and safety Zayne Anderson on special teams.
“You talk about a total team effort, all three phases contributing to that win,” LaFleur said from inside the victorious Lambeau Field locker room.
The Packers defense got a game ball for limiting the Vikings to only six points and 145 total yards.
Here are the individual game ball receiptants:
Game ball: RB Emanuel Wilson
From LaFleur: “Another guy that came in…had 28 carries, 107 yards.”
With Josh Jacobs out, Wilson made his first career NFL start and produced the Packers’ first 100-yard rusher of the season. He carried a career-high 28 times, spearheading a run game that had 42 attempts, and scored a pair of 1-yard touchdowns. He showed vision, burst and contact balance as a runner, and adding two catches for 18 yards.
Game ball: LB Isaiah McDuffie
From LaFleur: “Representing the defense, this guy’s ability to control the green dot, he had a pick today.”
Replacing an injured Quay Walker and wearing the defense’s communication helmet (see: green dot), McDuffie led the team with nine tackles. More importantly, he produced several impact plays, including a third down stop in coverage against T.J. Hockenson, a stop on Hockenson’s sneak attempt on third down, a sack of J.J. McCarthy on a drive ending in a punt and an interception of McCarthy in the fourth quarter.
Game ball: S Zayne Anderson
From LaFleur: “This guy, this was the play of the game. Give it up for Zayne Anderson.”
Anderson and Daniel Whelan combined to make the game-changing play. Whelan hit a punt that bounced at the 5-yard line but spun back, and Anderson drove the returner into the ball and then recovered the fumble — creating a huge takeaway for the special teams inside the 10-yard line. Wilson scored two plays later to extend the Packers’ lead to 17-6 early in the third quarter.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Who got game balls from Matt LaFleur following Packers’ win over Vikings?
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
