The Packers took a stumbling offensive step closer to securing the number one seed in the NFC with a harder than it should have been 24-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers Saturday night at Lambeau Field. After scoring touchdowns on each of their first three possessions in the first half for a 21-3 lead, the offense mustered only 49 total yards after intermission adding a 51 yard Mason Crosby field goal and getting timely help from the defense to thwart a Panther comeback in moving their record to 11-3 and still in control of a first round playoff bye.
Aaron Jones was the difference maker on offense, rushing for 145 yards on 20 carries including a 46 yard burst on his first attempt on the opening series. That led to Robert Tonyan’s one yard touchdown catch, his 10th of the season, tying Keith Jackson for the most by a tight end and only one behind Paul Coffman’s franchise best 11 in 1983. It was also the 40th touchdown pass of the year for Aaron Rodgers as he became the first quarterback in NFL history with at least three seasons of 40 or more.
The Panthers countered with a 36 yard Joey Slye field goal but Green Bay marched 75 yards in 13 plays to pad the lead to 14-3 when Rodgers scrambled in from six yards out. On the drive, Jamaal Williams left the game for good with a quad injury after a two yard catch.
The game’s biggest swing came next. The Panthers reached the Green Bay one yard line when Teddy Bridgewater tried to lunge over the line but when he raised the ball up into the air, it was punched out by linebacker Krys Barnes. Kevin King scooped it up and returned the huge fumble 48 yards to midfield. Seven plays later, Jones walked in untouched around left end for an 8 yard score. Instead of a 14-10 game, the Packers took a 21-3 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The second half was nothing but misery for the offense with two consecutive three and outs, the second ending with Derek Brown’s sack of Rodgers. Carolina cashed in good field position with Bridgewater’s 13 yard scoring run to make it 21-10. When the offense fizzled again after just one first down, the Panthers drove 76 yards in 16 plays and nearly made it a 4 point game. Bridgewater tried to stretch a 7 yard run into a score when King forced a fumble that was recovered in the end zone by Ian Thomas but the touchdown was taken off the board with a holding penalty. Carolina settled for a 22 yard Slye field goal but it was a one score game at 21-13 with 8:39 left.
The Packers only third down conversion of the second half came when Allen Lazard got loose on a shallow cross and picked up 22 yards. Green Bay reached the Panther 25 but on third down, Rodgers was sacked again for a loss of 8. Mason Crosby didn’t flinch, drilling a 51 yard field goal with 3:39 to play. It was the second week in a row the veteran came through, a 57 yarder in Detroit late and his 16th of the year without a miss gave the Pack breathing room.
Bridgewater hit DJ Moore on a short slant and when he broke through three Packers, King, Chandon Sullivan and Christian Kirksey, he turned it into a 40 yard gain to the Green Bay 25. Panther Head Coach Matt Rhule decided to kick the field goal immediately and Slye converted from 33 yards out giving Rhule the two minute warning and one timeout to get the ball back. The strategy worked as Rodgers endured his 5th sack of the night, a season high, dumped for a loss on third down. J.K. Scott’s 53 yard punt with a holding penalty to boot, backed up Carolina to their 20 with :55 to play.
Bridgewater dodged a sack but was called for intentional grounding that cost the Panthers 10 yards and a 10 second runoff. Three straight incompletions allowed the Packers to take over and take a knee to secure the second consecutive 24-16 final over the Panthers at Lambeau.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur gladly accepted the victory that left an awful lot to be desired:
Carolina outgained the Packers 364-291 even though Green Bay had a 242-150 yard advantage at halftime.
Rodgers had a difficult time making plays downfield, hitting 20 of 29 passes for 149 yards and one score. But the five sacks for 47 yards lost led to a net passing total of a paltry 96 yards. He said the Panthers played a strange looking, almost collegiate defensive style, a 3-3-5 look with soft coverage that didn’t allow any operating room for Davante Adams. He caught a team high 7 passes but for just 42 yards and a long of 14. Lazard’s 22 yard grab in the 4th quarter was the biggest passing play of the night. While Carolina blitzes rarely got home, the four man rush broke down protection for the season high 5 sacks.
Jones had 114 of his 145 yards in the first half.
Bridgewater finished 21 of 35 for 258 yards, getting sacked three times and escaping a few more with 4 scrambles for 26 yards and a touchdown. Mike Davis gained 59 yards on 14 carries and Moore led the receiving corps with 6 catches for 131 yards. While the Packers defense bent again, the were resolute in the red zone with 4 stops in five trips.
Christian Kirksey led the defense with 9 tackles but Adrian Amos may have put up his best game of the year with 7 stops, a sack and three pass breakups.
Aside from Williams quad injury, the only other significant mishap was an eye injury that finished the night for Barnes in the 4th quarter.
The inactives for Green Bay were Jordan Love, Josh Jackson, Jonathan Garvin, Simon Stepaniak and Jace Sternberger.
It was pretty early, got a bit ugly late but all the Packers want for Christmas is the number one seed. That’s still within their grasp.
Next up for the Packers, the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau next Sunday night at 7:20 PM.
