Live Updates: Green Bay Packers 20, Washington Redskins 15
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Follow along for updates from Sunday's game between the Green Bay Packers (9-3) and Washington Redskins (3-9). Scroll down for the latest from Lambeau Field and join the conversation.
Pregame
The World’s Best Preview
Smith Brothers are double trouble
Inside the Redskins: Peterson’s a “freak”
Lewis and Rodgers: “Real recognizes real”
Tyler Ervin: Returner and barber
Inactives
The Packers will be without starting cornerback Kevin King (shoulder) and top backup corner Tony Brown (heel). King had played in all 12 games with 11 starts and had recorded a team-high four interceptions and a second-ranked 16 passes defensed, by the coaches’ count. King practiced all week and was full participation on Friday.
King has a history of shoulder problems, dating to his time at the University of Washington and an abbreviated rookie season with the Packers, but it is not known whether this is a related issue.
Against the run-first Redskins, the Packers will go with Jaire Alexander and Tramon Williams as their starting corners. That could elevate Chandon Sullivan into the slot or give Josh Jackson an opportunity to get off the bench. Even with the injuries, rookie cornerback Ka’Dar Hollman is inactive for the 10th time.
Green Bay’s other actives: receiver Ryan Grant, running back Dexter Williams and reserve offensive linemen Adam Pankey and Yosh Nijman.
Guard Billy Turner, who was added to the injury report on Saturday as questionable due to illness, is active. New returner/running back Tyler Ervin also is active.
For Washington, receivers Paul Richardson and Trey Quinn, who rank third and fourth on the team in receptions, and former Packers outside linebacker Chris Odom, who had two sacks last week, are among the inactives.
Final thought
One huge factor in the Packers’ advantage today should be in the red zone, where Green Bay is one of three teams in the top 10 offensively and defensively. Green Bay’s second-ranked red-zone offense (70.0 percent touchdowns) will face Washington’s 16th-ranked red-zone defense (56.8 percent).
The big edge is on the other side of the ball. Green Bay’s defense is No. 6 (47.5 percent) while Washington’s offense is No. 31 (35.7 percent).
“That’s when we’ve got to be at our best,” defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said. “We hate being that bend but don’t break but, when they do get there, it’s we have to, A, have a good play, and then, B, execute it. I think our guys firmly grasp what we’re doing.”
First quarter
Packers 7, Redskins 0 (9:06 remaining)
The score: Aaron Jones scored on a 4-yard run on third-and-1. Jones followed a pancake block by right tackle Bryan Bulaga and tight end Marcedes Lewis, then ran through a tackle attempt near the goal line for the score. It was touchdown No. 15 for Jones.
Key play: The Packers started at midfield after Tyler Ervin’s 10-yard punt return. The return was Green Bay’s longest of the season and gave the Packers plus-2 yards for the season. On third-and-6, the pocket appeared to be collapsing around Rodgers but he took one step back and a void formed for a 13-yard scramble.
Packers 7, Redskins 0 (7:28 remaining)
Green Bay’s defense got off to a hot start. On the first series, Kenny Clark and Kyler Fackrell combined for a third-down sack. On the second series, safety Adrian Amos came untouched for a first-down sack to put Washington into a hole. On the punt, Tyler Ervin returned the ball 12 yards to the Redskins’ 48, but Green Bay couldn't take advantage.
Packers 14, Redskins 0 (0:34 remaining)
The score: Aaron Rodgers threw a rocket to tight end Robert Tonyan, who was wide open between cornerback Fabian Moreau and safety Montae Nicholson, for a 12-yard touchdown.
Key plays: On the first play of the drive, Rodgers hit tight end Jimmy Graham, who bobbled the ball and dodged a defender for a gain of 25. One play later, Aaron Jones burst off the left side for a gain of 16. The drive started at the 43 – excellent field position again – on Tyler Ervin’s 18-yard punt return. On three tries, he’s recorded the team’s three longest punt returns of the season, putting the Packers from minus-8 yards to plus-32.
The first quarter ended with that 14-0 lead. Green Bay had a 111-12 edge in total offense, including 62 to minus-6 through the air. The Packers’ defense forced three three-and-outs in as many possessions against the league’s worst scoring offense.
Second quarter
Packers 14, Redskins 0 (11:22 remaining)
The Packers gave up their initial first downs of the game but Preston Smith slammed the door with a third-down sack – giving him a team-leading 11.5 for the season. Jaire Alexander is shadowing rookie receiver Terry McLaurin, who has zero catches on two targets.
Packers 14, Redskins 6 (3:44 remaining)
The score: Adrian Peterson ran through a tackle attempt by Tramon Williams for a 2-yard touchdown.
Key play: Starting at their own 5, the Redskins ran the ball on eight consecutive plays for gains of 7, 8 and 4 yards by Derrius Guice, 11 yards by Adrian Peterson, 23 yards by Guice and 1 and 13 yards by Peterson. After Za’Darius Smith stripped Peterson for a loss of 3, Dwayne Haskins hit Steven Sims. Blake Martinez immediately stripped the ball and safety Adrian Amos recovered for an apparent turnover. However, the fumble was overruled on review. On third-and-13, Haskins hit Kelvin Harmon for a gain of 30. On the next play, Peterson scored. The extra point was wide right.
On Guice’s big run, he suffered a knee injury when chopped down by safety Darnell Savage. Guice missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury and then half of this season with another knee injury. His return is questionable.
Halftime: Packers 14, Redskins 6
With momentum slipping away, Green Bay moved into scoring position late in the first half. On a third-and-5 from the Redskins' 34, Aaron Rodgers threw low to Davante Adams. On fourth-and-5 from the outskirts of field-goal range, Rodgers had a month of Sundays and hit Adams for a gain of 9 and the first down. On the next play, however, outside linebacker Ryan Anderson had a sack, strip and recovery with 51 seconds remaining.
Washington had a chance to score late in the half but Dwayne Haskins telegraphed his pass to receiver Kelvin Harmon and was intercepted by safety Adrian Amos.
Third quarter
Packers 17, Redskins 6 (10:08 remaining)
The score: Mason Crosby, who missed part of the week while attending his sister-in-law’s funeral, hit a 32-yard field goal.
Key plays: Running back Aaron Jones had a 15-yard catch on the first play of the series and a 23-yard run on the second play of the series, and Jamaal Williams ran for 7 to convert a fourth-and-1.
Meanwhile, in Washington injury news, standout second-year back Derrius Guice was ruled out with the knee injury sustained in the second quarter and outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan was ruled out with a calf injury in the third quarter.
Packers 17, Redskins 9 (11 seconds remaining)
The score: Dustin Hopkins made a 52-yard field goal.
Key plays: On third-and-10, cornerback Tramon Williams was flagged for interference on an incomplete pass to Steven Sims. Washington converted three third downs on the drive but shot themselves in the foot with a botched running play on second-and-9 resulted in quarterback Dwayne Haskins losing 1 yard.
Fourth quarter
Packers 20, Redskins 9 (2:34 remaining)
The score: Mason Crosby made a 33-yard field goal to cap a 14-play, 74-yard drive that consumed 7:24.
Key play: On third-and-14, running back Aaron Jones lined up as the middle man of a three-receiver set. He got deep and into the hole of Washington’s zone for a gain of 25. Jones ran for 5 to convert a third-and-3 and added a 12-yard run to help put the Packers into position for the clinching score.
Packers 20, Redskins 15 (1:17 remaining)
The score: Dwayne Haskins fired a 13-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Terry McLaurin for the score. McLaurin made a remarkable one-handed catch on a ball thrown behind him against cornerback Jaire Alexander and safety Darnell Savage. Blake Martinez tackled Haskins on the two-point play.
Key play: Davante Adams recovered the onside kick to end the game.
Final: Packers 20, Redskins 15
Aaron Jones rushed for 134 yards and added 58 receiving yards for 192 total yards. Green Bay improved to 10-3 – Matt LaFleur becoming the first rookie coach in franchise history to win 10 games in the process – to remain in control of the NFC North. But they’ll have to play better to beat Chicago here next week and at Minnesota in Week 16.
LaFleur was happy to win but disappointed in the team's performance on offense. “No, never, no. We'll never apologize for winning," he said. "We're always going to feel good about winning. But you always want to go out there and put your best performance out there. I think there was more out there today for us."
