Packers forcing more turnovers under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — New Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s offseason emphasis on forcing more turnovers is paying early dividends.

Green Bay’s defense has had five interceptions and six total takeaways through the first two weeks of the season to lead the NFL in both categories entering Monday.

It’s a dramatic change from last season, when the Packers intercepted just seven passes all season to rank next-to-last in the NFL, ahead of only the Tennessee Titans’ six.

The Packers (1-1) say they’re having fun playing in Hafley’s system.

“I’ve been saying this since the offseason, we get to play with vision on the quarterback, and I love doing that, especially,” Packers safety Xavier McKinney said after a 16-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. “And I know we do as a defense because we’re able to play with our instincts, we’re able to call out different things, see different things and be able to just trust in what we see and go out there and make a play.”

The Packers signed McKinney from the New York Giants during the offseason to upgrade a safety position that was one of the team’s biggest weaknesses. He has responded by picking off a pass in each of Green Bay’s first two games. Last year, nobody on the Packers intercepted more than two passes all season.

McKinney had the first of Green Bay’s three interceptions Sunday when linebacker Quay Walker pressured Anthony Richardson into overthrowing a pass intended for Alec Pierce. Eric Wilson picked off a pass early in the fourth quarter and Evan Williams intercepted Richardson’s desperation pass attempt on the game’s final play.

Green Bay’s opportunistic defense and dynamic rushing attack helped the Packers win without starting quarterback Jordan Love, who injured his left medial collateral ligament in a season-opening 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Packers rushed for 261 yards — including 237 in the first half — while Malik Willis stepped in for Love and avoided making the types of mistakes that proved so costly for Richardson.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur had no update Monday on Love’s potential availability for their upcoming game at Tennessee.

“I know he's doing everything he can,” LaFleur said. “If he's ready, he'll be ready. And if he's not, then we'll proceed with Malik.”

Green Bay’s defense had two interceptions and a fumble recovery against Philadelphia, but couldn’t slow down the Eagles whenever they weren’t turning the ball over. The Packers’ defense was much more effective Sunday and managed to force turnovers at key moments.

The interceptions by McKinney and Wilson both came after Indianapolis had reached the Green Bay 40-yard line. Williams’ interception sealed the victory.

“Guys are just playing hard,” said Wilson, who also forced a fumble. “I think when we do that, when everybody plays together, it’s a beautiful thing to see.”

The Packers have an NFL-leading 424 yards rushing through the first two weeks of the season entering Monday. Josh Jacobs ranks third in the league entering Monday with 235 yards rushing. … Green Bay’s plus-4 turnover margin ranks second in the league entering Monday, behind only Pittsburgh’s plus-5. … Packers opponents are converting just 26% of their third down conversion attempts (6 of 23).

Jacobs’ fumble into the end zone continued Green Bay’s red zone struggles. The Packers have scored touchdowns in only two of their seven trips inside an opponent’s 20-yard line. Brayden Narveson already has eight field-goal attempts.

P Daniel Whelan had all three of his attempts Sunday downed inside the 20. His net punting average was 46.3 yards. … The entire starting line of LT Rasheed Walker, LG Elgton Jenkins, C Josh Myers, RG Sean Rhyan and RT Zach Tom deserves credit for helping Green Bay gain 261 yards rushing, including 237 in the first half. Green Bay had its highest single-game rushing total since gaining 262 yards on the ground in a 31-3 victory over the Denver Broncos on Dec. 28, 2003. … Willis delivered the best performance of his career so far by going 12 of 14 through the air with his first career touchdown pass and no turnovers.

Narveson has missed a field-goal attempt in each of his first two games. … After getting a sack in Green Bay’s season opener, DL Rashan Gary had no sacks or tackles Sunday.

RG Jordan Morgan left with a shoulder injury. RB MarShawn Lloyd said Monday he sprained his ankle.

800: The Packers’ win Sunday made them the first NFL team to earn 800 regular-season victories.

The Packers face Willis’ former team Sunday when they visit the Tennessee Titans. Green Bay acquired Willis from Tennessee for a 2025 seventh-round pick after he was unable to beat out Mason Rudolph for the Titans’ backup quarterback job.

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Green Bay Packers linebacker Eric Wilson (45) reacts after intercepting a pass as Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) looks on during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Green Bay Packers linebacker Eric Wilson (45) celebrate as intercepting a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata (68) during the first half of an NFL football game, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)

Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) tries to escape from Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin (16) after an interception during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) reacts after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is rising near its records on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve kicked off its efforts to prevent a recession with a bigger-than-usual cut to interest rates.

The S&P 500 was 0.5% higher in afternoon trading and at the edge of its all-time closing high set in July. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 175 points, or 0.4%, and on track to top its record set on Monday. The Nasdaq composite was 0.8% higher, as of 2:20 p.m. Eastern time.

The momentous move by the Fed helps financial markets in two big ways. It eases the brakes off the economy, which has been slowing, and it also gives a boost to prices for all kinds of investments. Besides stocks, gold and bond prices had already rallied in recent months on expectations that cuts to rates were coming.

Because the cut was so well telegraphed, and markets had already moved so much in anticipation of it, Wall Street’s reactions weren’t that big on Wednesday despite the historic nature of the Fed’s action. It was the first cut to rates in more than four years, and it closes the door on a run where the Fed jacked the federal funds rate to a two-decade high in hopes of slowing the economy enough to stifle the worst inflation in generations.

Now that inflation has eased back significantly from its peak two summers ago, the Fed has said it can turn more of its attention toward protecting the job market and overall economy, which have under the weight of higher rates.

The only question is how much the Fed will cut rates by to do so, which can prove to be a tricky balance. Lowering rates would ease the brakes off the economy by making it easier for U.S. businesses and households to borrow. But it could also offer more fuel for inflation.

The Fed released forecasts Wednesday that said its median official expects to cut the federal funds rate by another half of a percentage point through the end of the year. That could indicate a traditional-sized cut of a quarter of a percentage point at each of its two remaining meetings scheduled for 2024.

After that, the median Fed official is projecting another full percentage point in cuts during 2025.

Making things complicated, some critics say the Federal Reserve is moving too late to protect the economy and may have missed the window to prevent a recession. Others, meanwhile, are saying it will need to be careful about cutting rates too much because of the possibility that inflation remains stubbornly higher than it has in recent decades.

Treasury yields were mixed following the Fed’s move.

The 10-year Treasury yield edged down to 3.64% from 3.65% late Tuesday. The two-year yield, which more closely follows expectations for Fed action, fell more sharply to 3.55% from 3.60%.

On Wall Street, Intuitive Machines soared 42% after NASA awarded it with a contract worth up to $4.82 billion for communication and navigation services the space agency will use to establish a long-term presence on the moon.

Trading in Tupperware Brands remained halted after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Its stock has been sinking, down to 51 cents, since a mini-revival early in the pandemic sent its stock above $30.

McGrath RentCorp., a company that rents and sells mobile office trailers, portable classrooms and other structures, fell 4.6% after it agreed to terminate its proposed buyout by WillScot following tough scrutiny of the deal from U.S. regulators.

In stock markets abroad, indexes were modestly lower in Europe after finishing higher in much of Asia.

The Bank of Japan and the Bank of England are also holding monetary policy meetings later this week. Neither central bank is expected to move on rates, though the language of what the officials say could be an indicator of later moves and still influence markets.

AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed.

Trader Edward Curran works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Specialist John O'Hara works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Trader Leon Montana works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Trader Aaron Ford works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Trader Michael Capolino works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

A bus passes the Wall St. subway station on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

The New York Stock Exchange, with a banner for American Eagle Outfitters, is shown on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

A person stands near an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

People stand near an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

People stand in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

A person rides a bicycle in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)