Dope Sheet: Packers host Dolphins for Thanksgiving game

16 hours ago

Packers.com

The Green Bay Packers welcome the Miami Dolphins to Lambeau Field for a faceoff in prime time on Thanksgiving.

It is the second straight year that Green Bay has played on Thanksgiving, but only the second time at home on the holiday since 1923 (Chicago, 2015). It is the first time the Packers have played on Thanksgiving in back-to-back years since they faced Detroit every year from 1951-63. It marks the first Thursday meeting between the Packers and Dolphins. It is just the seventh meeting between the two teams at Lambeau Field and the fourth this century (2002, 2010, 2018). It will be the second prime-time game for the Packers this season and the first of four consecutive scheduled prime-time games, which would be the first time the Packers have played four straight prime-time games in a single season since the merger (Elias Sports Bureau). Thursday will be the second of three games over a 12-day span for Green Bay as the Packers travel to Detroit to play the Lions next Thursday. It is the Packers' first time playing on a Thursday in back-to-back weeks since 2015 (Weeks 12-13).

WITH THE CALL

NBC will broadcast the game as play-by-play man Mike Tirico joins analyst Jason Garrett in the booth with Melissa Stark reporting from the sidelines.

All Packers games can be heard on the Packers Radio Network, which is made up of 54 stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and North and South Dakota. 97.3 The Game – WRNW-Milwaukee is in its third season as the flagship station of the Packers Radio Network. For a map and full listing of radio affiliates, go to packers.com/video/radio-network. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play), two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (analyst), and three-time Packers Pro Bowler John Kuhn (sideline reporter) call the action. McCarren first joined the team's broadcasts in 1995 and enters his 30th season calling Packers games. After originally being paired together in 1999, McCarren and Larrivee enter their 26th season of broadcasts together. They surpassed Jim Irwin and Max McGee for the most regular-season and postseason games broadcast for the Packers with 313 at the 2018 season opener against Chicago. The broadcast is also available on Sirius Satellite Radio on channel 82 or 225 or through the app (Packers Radio Network feed). Westwood One will be broadcasting on radio to a national audience with Ryan Radtke (play-by-play) and Derek Rackley (analyst) on the call and Scott Graham hosting pregame and halftime shows.

THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT

Packers vs. Dolphins:

All-time, regular season: 6-10 All-time, at home (regular season): 3-4 (3-3 at Lambeau) Streaks: Green Bay has won five of the last six regular-season games played. Last meeting, regular season: Dec. 25, 2022, Hard Rock Stadium, Packers won, 26-20

Matt LaFleur: 64-30-0, .681; (3-4 postseason); 6th NFL season Mike McDaniel: 25-20, .556; (0-2 postseason); 3rd NFL season Head to Head: LaFleur 1-0 vs. McDaniel vs. Opponent: LaFleur 1-0 vs. Dolphins; McDaniel 0-1 vs. Packers

MATT LaFLEUR…In his sixth season as the Packers' 15th head coach.

Is in his 16th season in the NFL, having previously served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Redskins, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16), and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09). In his first five seasons leading the Packers, authored one of the greatest starts to a head-coaching career in NFL history. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, his 56 wins are tied for the second most in league history by a head coach in his first five seasons in the NFL, trailing only George Seifert (62 in 1989-93). Became the first coach in NFL history to post 13-plus wins in three straight seasons and his 39 wins from 2019-21 passed Seifert (38) for the most wins by an NFL head coach in his first three seasons in the league (Elias). His 39 wins are also tied for the second most by a coach over any three-season span in league history, trailing only Andy Reid's 40 wins with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2020-22 and Mike Ditka's 40 wins with the Chicago Bears from 1985-87 (Elias). In his first season leading the Packers in 2019, became the first coach in club history to lead the team to the playoffs in his debut season. Also led the largest one-year win improvement in team history (plus-seven wins).

MIKE McDANIEL…In his third season as the Dolphins' 11th head coach.

Is in his 17th season as an NFL coach, having previously spent five seasons on San Francisco's staff as run game specialist (2017), run game coordinator (2018-20) and offensive coordinator (2021). He also spent time with the Atlanta Falcons (2015-16), Cleveland Browns (2014), Washington Redskins (2011-13), and Houston Texans (2006-08). Led Miami to back-to-back postseason appearances in 2022-23 for the first time since 2000-01, becoming just the third head coach in Dolphins history to make back-to-back playoff appearances in his first two seasons, joining Don Shula (1970-71) and Dave Wannstedt (2000-01). In 2023, the Dolphins recorded their first 11-win season in 15 years and led the league in total offense (401.3 ypg) for the first time since 1994. The team also led the league in passing offense (265.5 ypg), yards per carry (5.1) and quarterback hits allowed (59), while finishing second in scoring offense (29.2 ppg). In his only season as offensive coordinator, helped the 49ers finish No. 7 in the NFL in total offense (375.7 ypg) and rushing offense (127.4 ypg) as San Francisco advanced to the NFC title game.

THE PACKERS-DOLPHINS SERIES

The series between Green Bay and Miami began in 1971 with the Dolphins winning nine of the first 10 games played in the series, including the first eight (1971-94). With the Packers' first victory over the Dolphins in 1997, Green Bay has won six of the last eight games played and three consecutive matchups. The Packers are 2-0 against the Dolphins in games played in November at Lambeau Field (Nov. 4, 2002 & Nov. 11, 2018).

NOTABLE CONNECTIONS

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel coached together with the Houston Texans (2006-08), Washington Redskins (2011-13) and Atlanta Falcons (2015-16)…LaFleur also coached with Dolphins assistant head coach/TEs Jon Embree in Washington (2010), LBs/run game coordinator Joe Barry in Los Angeles (2017) and senior offensive assistant Chandler Henley and OLBs coach Ryan Crow in Tennessee (2018)…Packers RB Chris Brooks entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Dolphins in 2023 and played in nine games for Miami last season…Packers running game coordinator/LBs coach Anthony Campanile was the Dolphins' LBs coach from 2020-23, and was part of McDaniel's staff in 2022-23…Packers WRs coach Ryan Mahaffey was with the Dolphins as a fullback/tight end during the 2012 preseason…Packers assistant DL coach Vince Oghobaase signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2010…Packers director of player engagement Grey Ruegamer was drafted by the Dolphins in the third round (No. 72 overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft and spent one season with Miami…Packers DL T.J. Slaton attended American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla., and played at the University of Florida (2017-20)…Packers DL Brenton Cox Jr. (2020-22) and LB Ty'Ron Hopper (2019-21) also played at Florida…Packers WR Christian Watson went to H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Fla. …Packers T Kadeem Telfort was born in Miami, Fla., and attended Booker T. Washington High School (Sr.) and Norland Senior High School (Fr.-Jr.) in Miami, Fla. …Barry served as Green Bay's defensive coordinator in 2021-23…Barry coached with Packers assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia and assistant special teams coach Byron Storer on the Chargers' staff in 2012 and with Bisaccia in Tampa Bay (2002-06, 2009)…Dolphins OL coach Butch Barry was a senior analyst for the Packers in 2020 and was born in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. …Dolphins senior personnel executive Reggie McKenzie spent 18 years (1994-2011) in the Packers' personnel department…Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith was born in Milwaukee, Wis., and attended Cedarburg (Wis.) High School…Dolphins FB Alec Ingold was the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Wisconsin as a senior at Bay Port High School (Green Bay, Wis.) and played at the University of Wisconsin (2015-18)…Dolphins QBs/pass game coordinator Darrell Bevell played QB at Wisconsin (1992-95) and was on Green Bay's coaching staff for six seasons (2000-05)…Dolphins associate head coach/RBs Eric Studesville was born in Madison, Wis., and played defensive back at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (1985-88)…Dolphins offensive assistant Rob Everett was a senior offensive analyst at Wisconsin in 2023…Dolphins DBs/pass game specialist Ryan Slowik was a personnel intern with the Packers in 2003, and played (2002-03) and coached (2004) at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh…Slowik's father, Bob, was on Green Bay's coaching staff for five seasons (2000-04)…Dolphins offensive assistant Max McCaffrey spent time on Green Bay's practice squad in 2017…Packers national scout Sam Seale's son, Ricky, is a college scout for the Dolphins…McDaniel (2014 only), Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and pass game coordinator/secondary Brian Duker (2015 only) coached with Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and DBs coach Ryan Downard in Cleveland in 2014-15 while Dolphins S Jordan Poyer played for the Browns…McDaniel and Hafley were also on San Francisco's staff together in 2017 along with Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, assistant DL coach Vince Oghobaase and Embree…Packers strength and conditioning coordinator Aaron Hill joined McDaniel and Dolphins WRs/passing game specialist Wes Welker on the 49ers' staff in 2019-21…Packers TEs coach John Dunn and Smith coached together for the Bears in 2016-17…Smith and Dolphins assistant OL coach Lemuel Jeanpierre were on the Raiders' coaching staff from 2018-20 with Bisaccia, Storer and Packers passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley…Ansley and Smith were on the Chargers' staff together in 2021…Packers passing game coordinator Jason Vrable and DL coach Jason Rebrovich were on the Bills' staff with Weaver and Dolphins special teams coordinator Danny Crossman in 2013…Campanile served as the DBs (2017) and co-defensive coordinator/DBs (2018) at Boston College when Dolphins CBs coach Mathieu Araujo also worked with the Eagles' DBs as an intern (2017) and graduate assistant (2018)…Packers offensive assistant Sean Mannion and Dolphins offensive assistant Roman Sapolu were teammates at Oregon State in 2011-14, and Poyer also played for the Beavers in 2011-12…Packers RB Josh Jacobs, S Xavier McKinney, Dolphins QB Tue Tagovailoa, WR Jaylen Waddle, DT Da'Shawn Hand and OL Lester Cotton were all teammates at Alabama.