NFL Analysis
9/22/24
4 min read
Malik Willis Saved The Green Bay Packers Season And His NFL Career
The Green Bay Packers needed to keep their playoff hopes alive after Jordan Love's knee injury, and backup QB Malik Willis did that while reviving his NFL career in the process.
Willis helped lead the Packers to a dominant 30-14 win against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, going 2-0 as the fill-in starter for Love. He completed 13-of-19 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 73 yards and another score on 12 carries.
It's an inspiring story for Willis, who looked like he was nearing the end of his NFL career after being traded for a seventh-round pick by the Titans to Green Bay. Instead, he got his revenge against his former team and looked good enough in his two starts for the Packers to have established himself as a long-time backup quarterback in the NFL.
Willis Is the Ultimate Comeback Story
The Titans had hoped that Willis would succeed Ryan Tannehill after taking him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. But things didn't go well for the former Liberty quarterback in his first two NFL seasons.
Willis didn't look like a serviceable NFL quarterback in 11 appearances and three starts in his two seasons with the Titans. He completed just 53 percent of his passes, throwing zero touchdowns with three interceptions and just 5.3 yards per pass attempt.
What made Willis so ineffective in Tennessee was his struggles against pressure. According to Pro Football Focus, his pressure-to-sack ratio of 31.8 percent was one of the worst in the NFL in those two seasons. Despite his mobility, Willis struggled with pocket awareness and decision-making when under duress. He posted a 13.3 passer rating with two interceptions and 3.5 YPA when throwing under pressure in 2022.
Things are looking much easier for Willis in Matt LaFleur's system. RBSDM credited Willis with 11.2 total expected points added on Sunday and another 7.9 in EPA the previous week against the Indianapolis Colts.
While he was sacked three times against the Titans, Willis has done a much better job of evading pressure and extending plays in his two games with the Packers than he did in his time in Tennessee. While he can take off downfield, he did a good job at keeping his eyes downfield to find open receivers.
Matt LaFleur and his staff also did a great job designing plays for Willis in the run game. As a 219-pound quarterback with impressive speed, the Packers weren't shy about dialing up some creative ways to get Willis the ball with lead blockers.
Malik Willis keeping it for a big gain with Tucker Kraft leading the way pic.twitter.com/g4oth1Ufvq
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) September 22, 2024
That doesn't mean the Packers haven't trusted Willis as a passer, however. The offensive playbook opened up a bit more for him against the Titans, and he came away with three completions of more than 30 yards, including this clutch pass on third and 18.
come for the Malik Willis completion on third-and-long. stay for Christian Watson unleashing the most futile hurdle possible and getting dropped out of the sky pic.twitter.com/4V4RSJUoZz
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) September 22, 2024
Willis had less than two weeks after arriving in Green Bay to get ready for his first start. He didn't shy away from the challenge, and his contributions helped the Packers go 2-0 while they waited for their franchise quarterback to get back on the field.
What Does Willis' Future Hold?
The Packers have helped Willis regain his confidence, which should help him stay in the NFL for years to come.
Jordan Love is expected to return in Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings after being a game-time decision to play on Sunday. If Love stays healthy, Willis will be the backup behind Green Bay's franchise quarterback for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Willis should continue to hold down that position for the foreseeable future. According to Spotrac, he's under contract through the 2025 season, meaning that the Packers will have an established backup that they can turn to if anything else happens to Love.
However, once that contract expires, a handful of NFL teams might be interested in offering Willis starting-caliber money to leave Green Bay.
