Packers defeat the Panthers 33–30 by overcoming Joe Barry’s defence.
The Packers defeated the Carolina Panthers 33-30 on Sunday by doing precisely that. To maintain their chances of making the playoffs, the Packers needed to end their two-game losing run. The Carolina Panthers, who came into the game with maybe the worst offence in the NFL (2-12) and a box with a big red bow, were served up.
It lacked rigour. It was not a conclusive decision. However, a win is a win.
The win moved Green Bay’s record to 7-8 thanks to three touchdowns and two crucial throws from Jordan Love in the closing seconds. The decision set up a major matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, who dropped to 7-8 after losing to Detroit on Sunday night. In the event that the Packers triumph, they may have an opportunity to secure a postseason berth when they play the Chicago Bears in the regular-season finale.
According to coach Matt LaFleur, “everything is on the line.” “We train for this all year, even though it will be a big obstacle.”
The Rams are 8-7 and the Seahawks are 6th and 7th in the NFC, respectively. Green Bay, Minnesota, Atlanta, and New Orleans are all at 7-8; the Packers, who started the day in 10th place, are up one position.
“We are well aware of what is in front of us. We know what we’re capable of, so we have to go win these next two games,” Love remarked.
With 19 seconds left, Anders Carlson’s 32-yard field goal gave Green Bay the lead. Nevertheless, the Panthers managed to secure a victory. To add to Green Bay’s 31 points, Bryce Young connected Adam Thielen across the middle for 22 yards and D.J. Chark for 22 yards at the sideline. But Young was unable to clock the ball before the allotted time ran out since there were no timeouts.
Love completed 17 out of 28 passes for 219 yards. During his first season, he ran for two touchdowns and completed two passes for another, totaling thirty touchdowns. With his 127 yards of rushing, Aaron Jones gave Green Bay their first individual running or receiving performance of the year.
Nothing is easy for the Packers, so what should have been an easy victory over the weakest team in the league wasn’t.
A 30-16 advantage at the beginning of the fourth quarter would be sufficient to guarantee a happy Christmas, considering the offense’s lacklustre performance throughout the whole season and Joe Barry’s defense’s miserable situation. Correct?
Not so quickly. Following Young’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Chark, the Panthers responded. Rashan Gary was tackled during the play, resulting in a hold, but Young scored the additional two points. From ten yards farther back, the point-after attempt went wide left.
The defence had to hold onto their 30-22 advantage after Green Bay went three and out.
It was obviously unable to stop. Young’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Chark, who made a stunning grab in the end zone against Eric Stokes, was made possible by his 20-yard completion to Chark (plus an additional 15 yards for unnecessary roughness). With 4:05 remaining, the two-point run knotted the score.
Would the Packers manage to get away? Yes, because of two outstanding passes from Love in the passing game. Initially, Love withstood a Panthers challenge by hitting Romeo Doubs for a gain of 36 on third-and-4. Love slipped a throw to Tucker Kraft between two defenders on second down a few moments later. Without making a tackle, Kraft scored 20 points against the Panthers’ 13.
Love remarked, “Those guys put on two massive plays.”
Carlson was lined up for the game-winning field goal with three straight runs. With 19 seconds remaining in the game, Carlson split the uprights from 32 yards after missing a 33-yard attempt earlier in the contest.
Young, who had failed to reach 200 passing yards in seven straight games, passed for 312 yards as the Panthers established season highs with 30 points and 394 yards. Prior to this, the Panthers had failed to score 20 points in nine straight games.
At halftime, the Packers were ahead 23–10. They had five possessions, using the first four to score and the fifth to run out of time. It was Green Bay’s highest first-half total of first downs in eight years, with 251 yards and 19 first downs.
AJ Dillon’s 1-yard run set up Green Bay’s 80-yard touchdown drive to start the game. After that drive, Love sneaked in a 1-yard touchdown. After three drives, Carlson’s 53-yard field goal sealed the victory. Love moved the play to his right late in the first half, finding Dontayvion Wicks, who held off a strong hit, for a 21-yard touchdown.
About four minutes remained in the first half when the crucial play happened. The Panthers had a 16-10 advantage and were moving into scoring position. With the Packers down 38, TJ Slaton stuffs Chuba Hubbard on third-and-2. Kingsley Enagbare and Isaiah McDuffie combined to drop Hubbard in the backfield on a fourth-and-2 play.
Wicks’ touchdown run gave the Packers a 13-point advantage.
In a season marred by injuries, Jones recorded a season-high running total of 73 yards. Once the first two series were over, he had 77 yards.
Love remarked, “We all know what sort of player he is.”
During a way-too-easy 14-play drive in the third quarter, Carolina, who had been averaging 14.7 points per game and had scored a total of 15 points in the previous two games, got within 23-16.
The Packers demanded an answer, and they received it with gusto. Love tore one to Doubs for a gain of 28 on the opening play; Doubs fumbled after breaking a tackle, but Josiah Deguara came to the rescue. Jones gained 24 yards on four straight rushes.
Finally, Love found Doubs for a 5-yard touchdown on third-and-goal on the opening play of the fourth quarter. To offer the supporters the gift of a touchdown pass, Doubts hurled the ball into the seats.
