Packers turn back Panthers at the last second
The Green Bay Packers improved to 8-2 after defeating the Carolina Panthers 24-16 at snowy Lambeau Field.
Carolina scored first but the Packers responded. It was 14-10 GB at halftime but the Packers came out in the second half and scored 10 points in the third quarter to take a 24-10 lead going into the fourth. The Panthers scored a touchdown but missed on a 2-point conversion to pull to within 24-16. They made one last effort to tie the game but Christian McCaffrey was stopped short of the goal line as time expired and the Packers held on to win and clinch a non-losing season.
Analysis and thoughts about the game:
Aaron Rodgers and Christian McCaffrey are legitimate MVP candidates, but perhaps one other player has made his way into the conversation as well. I’m talking about Aaron Jones. He scored 3 times again, the first Packer to have more than one game of 3 touchdowns or more in a season since Sterling Sharpe in 1994 and the first running back to do so since Jim Taylor in 1962. That is some good company right there.
Carolina was up 10-7 and driving again until a bad snap resulted in a turnover and the Packers recovered. Aaron Jones scored his second touchdown at that point in the game and the Packers never looked back.
It got interesting in the Packers’ final drive of the first half. Panthers’ DE Gerald McCoy got called for a roughing the passer penalty against Rodgers in the endzone and gave the Packers new life. They would drive down to the Carolina 1-yard line and went for it with 2 seconds left in the half only to get rejected by McCoy as time expired. The same guy who extended the Packers’ drive ended up making the huge play to deny them any points on their final drive before halftime. By the way, I don’t disagree with Matt LaFleur going for it in that situation. The execution was bad. Carolina would have their own failed play later in the game.
Kyle Allen would have a nice game passing the ball but during their first drive of the third quarter, his pass in the redzone was deflected by Adrian Amos and intercepted by Tramon Williams, which would lead to a field goal by Mason Crosby. Actually, Crosby would miss a 52-yard field goal only for Dontari Poe to line up across from the center, which resulted in a penalty and new life from 47 yards, which Crosby converted to make it 24-10.
Carolina would not go away easily. They drove down the field and McCaffrey scored from 3 yards out to make it 24-16. Ron Rivera, who is sometimes known for gambling, went for 2 points but Allen’s pass to Greg Olsen was knocked away and the score remained 24-16.
The Packers ultimately had to punt and Carolina was backed up at their own 11-yard line, but they made a furious attempt late in the game. Jaire Alexander dropped an interception early in the drive that would have sealed the game. They allowed a fourth-down conversion to D.J. Moore and the Packers stopped Carolina on fourth-down late in the game only for Preston Smith to end up offsides and give the Panthers new life. Two plays later, it came down to the final play of the game.
At the 2-yard line, a Christian McCaffrey run got stopped short of the goal line. After a lengthy review, the call was upheld and the Packers could finally exhale and celebrate victory.
Both coaches made controversial calls that ultimately backfired. LaFleur went for it with two seconds left in the half instead of kicking the field goal. Jamaal Williams was stuffed for a loss and the half ended with the Packers only up 14-10. After Carolina pulled to within 24-16, Rivera went for 2 and failed. I understand his reasoning. He wanted to make it 24-18 and if they could stop GB, he could win it with a touchdown and an extra point. If they failed (which they did), they could tie it with a touchdown and a successful 2-point try. He never got the chance to do it though.
It was an exciting game in cold temperatures. Carolina is a good team and they didn’t go down easily. The defense once again gave up a bunch of yards, but when plays needed to be made, they were able to make them. It was disappointing to see dropped interceptions. I want to see the defensive backs make those plays and make things easier on the defense. I do give them credit for keeping Carolina out of the endzone on the final play, even if they dug themselves a hole time and time again on that drive alone.
The bottom line is the Packers are 8-2, which is better than what they have been the previous two seasons. They have a week off before they play on the road vs the undefeated San Francisco 49ers. They have looked good offensively at times in this game. Davante Adams had triple digits in receiving yards, a good sign for this offense moving forward. I wish they would have put the game away earlier but they turned back a good Carolina team with a good young quarterback. Cam Newton may have played his last game in a Panther uniform.
The win is all that matters. The Packers need to improve in many areas but they held on and are now 8-2. They are in great shape right now in the playoff picture. Let’s rest up and finish off these next six games on a winning note. Enjoy the week off Packer fans! We will see you on the West Coast in two weeks!
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #GregGoshaw @gg901
