Plenty to Love as Packers Beat Bengals in Preseason Opener

Jordan Love threw a touchdown pass and Sean Clifford led a strong night by the rookies as the Green Bay Packers beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday night.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Aug 11, 2023 10:17 PM EDT

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jordan Love threw a touchdown pass and several unheralded members of the Green Bay Packers’ rookie class delivered significant contributions in Friday’s 36-19 preseason victory at the Cincinnati Bengals.

Love (7-of-10, 46 yards, one touchdown) and rookie Sean Clifford (15-of-20, 193 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions) combined to complete 22-of-30 passes during the first half as the Packers led 21-16.

Love’s touchdown came on a beautiful lob to Romeo Doubs over veteran cornerback Sidney Jones, a former first-round pick. It was a strong night against Cincinnati’s backups after he impressed the starters at Wednesday’s joint practice.

“I thought he looked poised,” coach Matt LaFleur said of Love at halftime. “It looked like he was in total command. All in all, I thought it was a very productive day for him.”

Clifford, a fifth-round draft pick, served up two interceptions to safety Tycen Anderson. The first was a pick-six and the other came on a 2-minute drill to put the Bengals in position to build upon their 16-14 lead just before halftime. Instead, Jake Browning’s pass was deflected by sixth-round defensive tackle Karl Brooks and intercepted by seventh-round cornerback Carrington Valentine.

The Packers celebrate an interception by Carrington Valentine. (Photo by Katie Stratman/USA Today Sports Images)

Given another chance to run the 2-minute, Clifford drilled receiver Dontayvion Wicks, another fifth-round rookie, against tight coverage for a catch-and-run gain of 47 yards to the 19. That set up his 6-yard touchdown to Tyler Davis.

“I tell you what, that’s impressive,” LaFleur said of Clifford overcoming the interceptions. “Not many people can recover from that. You throw back-to-back picks, obviously the pick-six really hurt us, but I love seeing guys bounce back from tough situations and he responded well.”

Clifford played into the fourth quarter and finished 20-of-26 passing for 208 yards and added 27 yards on two runs.

The Packers outgained the Bengals 437-274.

The Packers took a 30-19 lead late in the third quarter behind a dominant sequence. First, Samori Toure returned a kickoff 44 yard to the Bengals’ 49. Next, Clifford hit undrafted rookie receiver Malik Heath for 12.

Earlier in the week, LaFleur called Heath a “goon” – something he also called Allen Lazard. On the next play, Clifford ran for 13 yards on a read-option keeper thanks to Heath, who blocked safety Marvell Tell about 10 yards downfield and out of bounds. Tell, obviously embarrassed, retaliated on the sideline and was flagged for a late hit.

On the next play, Emanuel Wilson rumbled 11 yards for a touchdown. Right guard Sean Rhyan pulled, fullback Henry Pearson led the way and left tackle Kadeem Telfort had the key block at the point of attack.

The Packers put the game on ice with about 9 minutes to go when Wilson turned on the jets for an 80-yard touchdown. At right tackle, Rasheed Walker washed his man down the line of scrimmage while tight end Austin Allen fought to at least a stalemate on the edge. Tell filled the hole between the two, but Wilson bounced outside and looked a lot faster than his 40-yard time of 4.57 seconds coming out of Division II Fort Valley State. Wilson went untouched, beating safety Larry Brooks for about 70 yards to the end zone.

However, rookie kicker Anders Carlson was wide right on the extra point for the second time.

Wilson finished the night with six carries for 111 yards to account and the two scores.

Defensively, Valentine continued his strong summer. Getting the start with Jaire Alexander nursing a groin injury, Valentine had one interception and three passes defensed. Undrafted outside linebacker Brenton Cox’s deflection created an interception by Dallin Leavitt, his pressure forced a third-down incompletion and another pressure almost set the table for an interception by Anthony Johnson.

Late in the game, undrafted rookie safety Benny Sapp almost intercepted a pass on second down and undrafted rookie cornerback William Hooper broke up back-to-back passes.