Packers Beat Panthers, Survive Joe Barry’s Defense, Stay in Playoff Race
’Tis the season for Christmas carols, but for the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Eve, it was all about the Bachman–Turner Overdrive classic “Takin’ Care of Business.”
That’s exactly what the Packers did in beating the Carolina Panthers 33-30 on Sunday. The Packers needed to snap their two-game losing streak to keep their playoff hopes alive. Served up in a box with a big red bow was the Carolina Panthers, who entered the game with an NFL-worst 2-12 record and arguably the worst offense in the league.
It wasn’t emphatic. It wasn’t decisive. But a win’s a win.
With Jordan Love delivering three touchdowns and two key throws in the final moments, the victory improved Green Bay’s record to 7-8. The verdict set up a huge showdown next Sunday night at the Minnesota Vikings, who fell to 7-8 by losing to Detroit. If the Packers can win that game, they might have a chance to earn a playoff berth when they host the Chicago Bears in the regular-season finale.
“Everything’s at stake,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “It’s going to be a great challenge but this is what we prepare for all year.”
The Rams and Seahawks are 8-7 and sixth and seventh, respectively, in the NFC. Minnesota, Atlanta, Green Bay and New Orleans are 7-8; the Packers are 10th, up one spot entering the day.
“We know exactly what’s in front of us. We have to go win these last two games … and we know what we’re capable of,” Love said.
Green Bay took the lead on Anders Carlson’s 32-yard field goal with 19 seconds remaining. The Panthers somehow got a shot to win, anyway. Bryce Young hit D.J. Chark for 22 yards at the sideline and Adam Thielen over the middle for 22 more to Green Bay’s 31. But with no timeouts, Young wasn’t able to clock the ball before time expired.
Love was 17-of-28 passing for 219 yards. He threw two touchdown passes and ran for another, giving him 30 total touchdowns during his debut season. Aaron Jones rushed for 127 yards, giving Green Bay its first individual rushing or receiving game this season.
What should have been an easy win against the worst team in the league wasn’t easy because nothing is easy for the Packers.
Given the season-long ineptitude of Carolina’s offense and in spite of the plight of Joe Barry’s defense, a 30-16 lead at the start of the fourth quarter would be enough to ensure a merry Christmas. Right?
Not so fast. The Panthers answered on Young’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Chark. Young added the two-point run but Rashan Gary was tackled on the play to draw a hold. The point-after try, from 10 yards further back, was wide left.
When Green Bay went three-and-out, it was up to the defense to preserve their 30-22 lead.
Of course, it couldn’t get a stop. Young’s 20-yard completion to Chark (plus 15 yards for unnecessary roughness) set up Young’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Chark, who made a beautiful catch in the end zone against Eric Stokes. The two-point run tied the game with 4:05 to go.
Could the Packers escape? Yes, thanks to two enormous plays by the Love-led passing game. First, on third-and-4, Love hit Romeo Doubs for a gain of 36 that survived a Panthers challenge. Moments later, on second down, Love fit a pass to Tucker Kraft between two defenders. Neither made the tackle and Kraft picked up 20 to the Panthers’ 13.
“Two huge plays by those guys,” Love said.
Three consecutive runs set up Carlson for the game-winning field goal. Carlson missed a 33-yard extra point earlier in the game but split the uprights from 32 yards from 19 seconds to go.
The Panthers had fallen short of 20 points in nine consecutive games but Young – who had fallen short of 200 passing yards in seven consecutive games – threw for 312 yards as the Panthers set season highs with 30 points and 394 yards.
The Packers led 23-10 at halftime. They had five possessions, scoring on the first four and running out of time on the fifth. Green Bay had 251 yards and 19 first downs, its most first-half first downs in eight years.
Green Bay opened the game with an 80-yard touchdown drive, punctuated by a 1-yard run by AJ Dillon. Its next drive ended with Love’s 1-yard touchdown sneak. Its third drive ended with Carlson’s 53-yard field goal. Late in the first half, Love extended the play to his right and threw a strike to Dontayvion Wicks, who survived a big hit for a 21-yard touchdown.
The big play came with about 4 minutes left in the first half. With Green Bay leading 16-10, the Panthers were marching into scoring position. On third-and-2 from the Packers’ 38, TJ Slaton stuffed Chuba Hubbard. On fourth-and-2, Kingsley Enagbare and Isaiah McDuffie joined forces to drop Hubbard in the backfield.
The Packers turned that into the Wicks touchdown to lead by 13.
During an injury-plagued season, Jones’ season-high rushing total was 73 yards. He had 77 yards after the first two series.
“We all know what kind of player he is,” Love said.
Carolina pulled within 23-16 in the third quarter, a way-too-easy 14-play drive by a team that had been averaging 14.7 points per game and had scored a total of 15 points the previous two games.
The Packers needed an answer and got one in emphatic fashion. On the first play, Love ripped one to Doubs for a gain of 28; Doubs broke a tackle and fumbled but Josiah Deguara saved the day. Four consecutive runs by Jones gained 24 yards.
Finally, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Love hit Doubs for a 5-yard score on third-and-goal. Doubs threw the ball into the seats to give the fans the gift of a touchdown ball.
