Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson help Packers' Jordan Love withstand absence of other receivers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is thriving even with some of his favorite targets unavailable.

Christian Watson’s reliability and Dontayvion Wicks’ emergence have much to do with that.

Love continued his history of devouring defenses on Thanksgiving Day and kept the Packers in the thick of NFC North title contention by throwing four touchdown passes without an interception in a 31-24 victory that completed their regular-season sweep of the two-time defending division champion Detroit Lions.

The Packers (8-3-1) are a half-game behind the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears (9-3), who won 24-15 at Philadelphia on Friday. The Packers host the Bears on Dec. 7, their third straight game against a divisional opponent.

“You’ve got to come in and win these games and try to control your own destiny by winning out,” Love said.

Love has thrown nine touchdown passes without an interception in Thanksgiving victories over the last three seasons. His latest feast came on a day when Green Bay was missing injured tight end Tucker Kraft and receivers Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden and Savion Williams.

Kraft will miss the rest of the season after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament on Nov. 2. Reed, the Packers’ leading receiver last year, is nearing his return after being out since mid-September to recover from surgeries to his foot and shoulder.

Green Bay’s offense had been inconsistent lately due in part to those injuries, but Thursday’s game showcased the Packers’ upside.

“We’ve got dogs,” Watson said. “We’ve got some playmakers. We’re only going to get better and better as we get everybody back, so I’m excited to see it when everybody gets back.”

Watson and Wicks were the top dogs Thursday.

Watson had four catches for 80 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown early in the second half. Although he has played only six games since returning from a torn ACL, Watson already has more touchdown catches (three) than he had last season (two). His 21 receptions are approaching his 2024 total of 29 in 15 games.

Wicks matched career highs with seven catches and two touchdowns, and his 94 yards receiving were three off his career best. Wicks sealed the victory by leaping and stretching his arms to make a remarkable 16-yard catch on fourth-and-3, a notable achievement for someone who had struggled with drops earlier in his career.

“He’s always had the talent,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “Obviously you want to go attack the ball aggressively, I think that can help eliminate a lot of drops. And I know a lot of great receivers that have struggled with drops and then overcame that. … He’s got great hands. He’s a natural plucker of the football, and so it’s never like a lack of confidence in him. I’ve never wavered. I can speak for myself and our staff, we’ve never wavered on his ability.”

The offensive line didn't allow a single sack of Love Thursday. ... LaFleur's daring approach paid off, with the Packers going for it on fourth down three times and converting each attempt. ... The Packers haven't committed a turnover during their three-game winning streak. They have only seven turnovers all season. ... The Packers have totaled five penalties over their last two games.

Detroit was winning the field-position battle early in the game because of some special-teams issues by Green Bay, which included allowing a 21-yard punt return. ... The Packers allowed Jared Goff to throw for 256 yards and two touchdowns without an interception even though Detroit lost All-Pro WR Amon-Ra St. Brown to an ankle injury early in the game.

Micah Parsons has recorded six sacks over his last three games to increase his season total to 12 1/2. ... Wicks' 94 yards receiving Thursday more than doubled his previous season high of 44 against Washington. His two touchdown catches were his first two of the year. ... Love hasn't thrown an interception over his last four games. ... Isaiah McDuffie recorded 12 tackles Thursday and has 31 over his last three games.

OL Jordan Morgan didn't play a single offensive snap Thursday with rookie second-round pick Anthony Belton taking his spot at right guard. Morgan, a 2024 first-round pick, had played every snap for three straight games before playing less than one-third of the snaps against Minnesota on Nov. 23.

DL Devonte Wyatt injured his ankle and isn't expected to return this season. “It doesn’t look good, guys,” LaFleur said. “I’m sick for him. I’m sick for us.” ... Golden (wrist), Williams (foot), DL Lukas Van Ness (foot), LB Quay Walker (neck), CB Nate Hobbs (knee) and DL Karl Brooks (ankle) didn't play.

12/5 — Parsons is the first player to have at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.

The Packers and Bears face off in two of the next three weeks. They play at Lambeau Field on Dec. 7 and meet again in Chicago on Dec. 20. In between, Green Bay visits Denver on Dec. 14.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) holds the Madden Thanksgiving MVP trophy following an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) runs in for a touchdown on front of Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during the second half an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) celebrates a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) makes a catch in front of Detroit Lions safety Thomas Harper (12) for a touchdown during the first half an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) and quarterback Jordan Love (10) against the Detroit Lions during the second half an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV carried a wooden cross for all of the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on his first Good Friday as pontiff, marking the first time in decades that a pope carried the cross to every station.

“I think it will be an important sign because of what the pope represents, a spiritual leader in the world today, and for this voice, that everyone wants to hear, that says Christ still suffers,” Leo told reporters this week outside of the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo. “I carry all of this suffering in my prayer.”

Inside the Colosseum, Leo lifted the cross and began the rite flanked by two torchbearers, who accompanied him throughout the hour-long procession from inside the Colosseum, through the crowd outside and up steep stairs to the Palantine Hill where he gave the final blessing.

At the first station, marking the moment Jesus was condemned to death, the meditation prepared especially for Leo's first Good Friday underlined that those with authority will have to answer to God for how they exercise their power.

"The power to judge; the power to start or end a war; the power to instill violence or peace; the power to fuel the desire for revenge, or for reconciliation,'' read the meditation written by Rev. Francesco Patton, who was custodian of the Holy Land 2016-25, charged, among other things, with looking after sacred sites.

Some 30,000 faithful gathered outside the pagan monument, following the stations as they were recited over loud speakers.

They included Sister Pelenatita Kieoma Finau from Samoa and a member of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary.

"We have been part of our parish stations of the cross, but this is so exciting. It is very meaningful to have the experience of being with the people of Rome on this special occasion,'' she said.

John Paul II carried the cross for the entire procession from his first Good Friday as pontiff in 1979 until his hip surgery in 1995, when he carried it just part of the way, according to AP reports at the time.

For the first two years of his papacy, Benedict XVI carried the cross for the first station inside the Colosseum, then followed other bearers in the procession that ends on a platform on the Palatine Hill.

Pope Francis never carried the cross, but participated in the procession until his health worsened. He died after a long illness last year on Easter Monday, which fell on April 21.

Pope John Paul II was just 58 when he became pope, and was known as a hiker and outdoorsman. His two successors were in their late 70s when they began their papacies, and Francis was missing part of a lung due to a pulmonary infection as a young man.

The Way of the Cross commemorates the final hours of Jesus’ life, from his death sentence to taking up the cross to his crucifixion, death and burial. The procession ends outside the Colosseum atop the Palatine Hill.

“The Way of the Cross is not intended for those who lead a pristinely pious or abstractly recollected life,” Patton wrote in his introduction. “Instead, it is the exercise of one who knows that faith, hope and charity must be incarnated in the real world.”

At 70, Leo is physically fit and an avid tennis player and swimmer. Before becoming pope, Leo would work out regularly at a gym near the Vatican, with a plan befitting a man in his early 50s, according to his former trainer.

On Holy Saturday, the pontiff will preside over a late night Easter vigil, during which he will baptize new Catholics, and lead Roman Catholics into Christianity’s most joyous celebration marking Christ’s resurrection.

On Easter Sunday, the pope will celebrate an open-air Mass in St. Peter’s Square before delivering his Easter message and offer the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing to the city of Rome and the world.

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Barry reported from Milan.

Pope Leo XIV carries a lightweight, 1.5-meter (5-foot) wooden cross during the Via Crucis, the torchlit Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession at the Colosseum in Rome, Friday, April 3, 2026, which symbolically retraces Jesus Christ's steps to his crucifixion on Calvary in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Faithful attend the Via Crucis, the torchlit Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession led by Pope Leo XIV at the Colosseum in Rome, Friday, April 3, 2026, which symbolically retraces Jesus Christ's steps to his crucifixion on Calvary in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo XIV carries a lightweight, 1.5-meter (5-foot) wooden cross during the Via Crucis, the torchlit Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession at the Colosseum in Rome, Friday, April 3, 2026, which symbolically retraces Jesus Christ's steps to his crucifixion on Calvary in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Leo XIV carries a lightweight, 1.5-meter (5-foot) wooden cross during the Via Crucis, the torchlit Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession at the Colosseum in Rome, Friday, April 3, 2026, which symbolically retraces Jesus Christ's steps to his crucifixion on Calvary in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Leo XIV carries a lightweight, 1.5-meter (5-foot) wooden cross during the Via Crucis, the torchlit Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession at the Colosseum in Rome, Friday, April 3, 2026, which symbolically retraces Jesus Christ's steps to his crucifixion on Calvary in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Leo XIV attends the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Catholic Good Friday, Friday, April 3, 2026 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Leo XIV attends the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Catholic Good Friday, Friday, April 3, 2026 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)