Game Recap: Packers Hold on, Beat Panthers 24-16

The Green Bay Packers (8-2, 3-0 NFC North) head into their bye week with an enormous win under their belt after topping the Carolina Panthers (5-4, 1-1 NFC South) 24-16 at Lambeau Field Sunday. In a snowy battle that literally came down to the last second, the Packers were able to hold on and secure the win. Right now, Green Bay is sitting in a better position than I think any of us ever imagined. An 8-2 record, undefeated in the division, and with the Saints' loss today, a second overall ranking in the NFC.

“I was really proud of our guys effort. We talked about them, to them, going into this game just about leaving it all on the field,” coach Matt LaFleur said at his post-game press conference. “Especially with what we have coming up, being that we have a bye week ahead, just wanted to make sure we had no regrets out there tonight. I thought our guys battled for four quarters.”

The Panthers were the first to get on the scoreboard Sunday after sneaking their way into Packers’ territory off busted coverage. Carolina quarterback Kyle Allen then found wide receiver Curtis Samuel for the 2-yard touchdown pass.

Green Bay was quick to respond on their next offensive drive. Wide receiver Allen Lazard had an impressive 19-yard catch on 3rd and 9 and then wide receiver Davante Adams picked up a first down to put the Packers in position. Then, running back Aaron Jones punched it for the touchdown off a 5-yard rush to tie the game at 7.

Carolina then responded with 50-yard field goal attempt that was good, putting them up 10-7. The Packers were forced to punt on their next drive, but the defense was able to respond with a major turnover. Panthers’ quarterback Kyle Allen fumbled and Packers’ defensive end Montravious Adams was in the right place at the right time to recover it.

The Packers took advantage, going down field quickly off a vintage 37-yard 12 to 17 connection. Jones found the endzone for the second time that day Sunday, this time off a 1-yard rush, putting Green Bay up 14-10.

The Packers got a chance to extend their lead as time was expiring before the half but were unable to make something out of it. I would talk more about that sequence, but I really like writing for this site and talking with you all every week and I know Nagler would have a heart attack if I did. So, moving on.

To open the second half, Green Bay came out firing. Rodgers and Adams connected again off a 37-yard pass play. Then, it was who else but Aaron freaking Jones who picked up 25-yards on a huge play and then rushed for his third touchdown of the day to put the Packers up 21-10.   

Green Bay’s defense also wanted to join in on the fun, picking off Carolina in the endzone after a huge drive for the Panthers. Safety Adrian Amos missed the ball but tipped it just enough that corner Tramon Williams was able to dive on it for the interception. Running back Jamaal Williams led the way the following drive off a few nice runs, but it was not enough to get the Packers in the end zone. Mason Crosby’s 47-yard field goal attempt was good however, putting the Packers up 24-10.

Carolina was not backing down, keeping the game within reach until the very end. Star running back Christian McCaffery responded with a touchdown and the Panthers attempted to go for two, but were unsuccessful, cutting the score to just 24-16.

The Panthers got the ball back with 2:24 left on the clock and it was absolutely enough time for them to try and tie the game. They made it down to Green Bay territory and after stopping them on fourth down to end the game, Preston Smith was called offsides, giving the Panthers life again. Luckily, the Packers were able to make a huge goal line stand as time expired to win the game.

With another dominant performance from Jones and Williams, Kenny Clark coming to life and heading into the bye week 8-2, there was plenty to takeaway from Sunday’s game.  

What we learned: Jimmy Graham isn’t totally dead

Well, Jimmy Graham must have wanted to prove all of Twitter wrong because he had quite the game Sunday. Graham finished the day with 2 receptions for 59 yards (ESPN stats) with a MONSTER 48-yard pickup to put Green Bay in scoring position.

Not only was Graham shaking guys off him like he was a youngster out there, but he was making crucial blocks too.

It was great to see him get more involved and I truly hope it was not a one-time fluke.

"He's not worried about self-accolades or anything like that,” LaFleur said. “He's invested in this football team and all he wants to do is win, whichever way that has to happen."

What went right: The run game

Davante Adams did not lie when he said that he Packers’ 1,2 punch at running back was the filthiest in the league. Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams proved to be a power duo again this week for Green Bay.

Both backs had 13 carries on the day and combined for 156 rushing yards (ESPN stats). It is so much fun to watch this offense when the two running backs are both providing such significant value.

Aaron Rodgers loves it too. In the post-game press conference when someone asked him about MVP candidate Christian McCaffery he responded with, “Maybe it's time to start talking about Aaron Jones."

According to ESPN, Aaron Jones’ 14 touchdowns on the season are tied for the second-most through 10 games in Packers franchise history.

What went wrong: Penalties…again

According to the FOX broadcast, the Packers had 10 penalties for 64 yards against the Panthers Sunday. If you thought the Packers were racking up the penalties in the last couple of weeks, think again. This was the most yards they had in penalties since week five against the Cowboys.

An offsides penalty was so close to possibly causing Green Bay the game Sunday and little mistakes like that cannot keep happening, especially late in the season.

Woof.

Offensive Standouts: Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, Davante Adams

I already talked about the stellar performance from Jones and Williams but let’s talk about Davante Adams. In just his second game back since his turf toe injury, he looked elite again. He led the team in receiving with 7 receptions for 118 yards and had a handful of critical first down pickups (ESPN stats).

Defensive Standouts: Kenny Clark

Kenny Clark decided Sunday was his day to ball and put on a fantastic defensive performance for Green Bay. Clark had 4 tackles, 2 of which were solo and 1 tackle for a loss (ESPN stats). Clark was putting pressure all over Carolina and was crucial in making stops on multiple 3rd down plays. A lot of people had a lot to say about Kenny Clark leading up to this game and he certainly silenced some haters with his performance.

Up next, bye week!

On a more personal note: I want to give a very special “Happy Birthday” shout out to my Dad today. My dad is the reason I am a Packers fan and it was awesome to get to watch this game with him on his big day. He is the best person I know, and I owe so much to him. Happy Birthday Dad, and as always Go Pack Go!

 

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__________________________

Sarah Kelliher is a contributor for CheeseheadTV and a podcaster with Pack-A-Day Podcast. She can be found via Twitter @sarahkelliher4

 

9 points
 

Comments (30)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
JerseyAl's picture

November 10, 2019 at 08:22 pm

" I would talk more about that sequence, but I really like writing for this site and talking with you all every week and I know Nagler would have a heart attack if I did. So, moving on."

lol. Well done Sarah. And Happy Birthday to Dad!

9 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 11, 2019 at 01:29 am

He'd have a bye week in which to recover. Just needs to toughen up!

3 points
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murf7777's picture

November 10, 2019 at 08:29 pm

Kenny Clark is back.....how great was it to see pressure up the middle again!

6 points
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Cubbygold's picture

November 10, 2019 at 08:30 pm

Announcer recap:

Aikman is getting worse. Completely baffled on why GB would attempt to draw CAR offside on 4th and short, take the delay of game, then punt.

11 points
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LeotisHarris's picture

November 10, 2019 at 09:23 pm

I'm concerned about Troy. He doesn't look well.

2 points
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mnbadger's picture

November 10, 2019 at 08:34 pm

This team is fun and frustrating to watch. Great plays followed by boneheaded plays. Can clearly beat or lose to just about any other team. Great 8-2 start. The team (and my heart) has a couple of weeks to get ready for the stretch run.

4 points
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Jonathan Spader's picture

November 10, 2019 at 11:54 pm

Saints lost to the Falcons. Last week NE lost to the Ravens. That's called playing in the NFL. It'd be great to won every week bit eventually iy would suck the fun oit of watching. 8-2 is way better than fans expected.

1 points
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Lphill's picture

November 10, 2019 at 08:35 pm

Packers need to start looking for help in the middle , maybe bring back Mohammed Wilkerson and see what inside linebackers are available , Martinez looks absolutely lost on plays , like he is frozen in place , AJ was a much better linebacker regardless of what so many here think of AJ , Oren Burks is a bust it’s time to put Ty Summers in. Jaire Alexander I guess read into his own hype it’s time he starts to defend some passes and catch some balls.

2 points
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EdsLaces's picture

November 10, 2019 at 08:35 pm

Is Lazard our #2 ? Sure seems like it. Happy Birthday to Dad! Next time catch those ints secondary damn! GPG!

5 points
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GatorJason's picture

November 11, 2019 at 06:13 pm

I have Lazard as #2 but not by much. Packers could draft a #2 in 2020. Follow-up WR rankings from Pre-season:

Grading Scale:
10. NFL All Pro
9.5 NFL Pro-Bowl
9.0 NFL No. 1
8.5 NFL No. 2
8.0 NFL Rotation player on game day
7.5 NFL game day active primarily for ST
7.0 NFL inactive reserve or PS player

Preseason Evaluation:
10. D. Adams: Rodgers to Adams = league top 5 combo.
8.6 G. Allison: Elusive. V reliable w G hands.
8.4 MVS: VG size/speed, explosive but low catch%.
8.4 J. Kumerow: 2nd best hands. G size/speed.
8.4 T. Davis: VG speed WR “when healthy”. Fragile.
8.2 D. Shepherd: V elusive “slot” w VG hands. Good PR/KR.
-------------------------- Six locks for 53 ------------------------------
7.4 A. Lazard: Physical WR/TE tweener. Good hands.
7.2 ESB: G size/speed, not elusive/physical. Good hands/ST.

Midseason Evaluation:
9.3 D. Adams: Explosive, elusive. Clear #1 receiver.
8.2 A. Lazard: Physical WR/TE tweener. VG hands.
8.1 J. Kumerow: 2nd best hands. G size/OK speed.
8.1 MVS: VG size/speed, explosive but low catch%.
7.7 G. Allison: G hands but slow. Not elusive
7.3 Ryan Grant: Reserve slot with experience.
======================================

0 points
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Denver's picture

November 10, 2019 at 08:39 pm

So just how long is the moratorium on discussing the end of the 1st half? I just am wondering what's up with #69? He's got to be playing hurt, but what is it? Back?? Puzzling....
Anyway, 8-2. I'll take it.

6 points
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jeremyjjbrown's picture

November 10, 2019 at 08:43 pm

Rodgers seamed to be back to forcing the ball to Adams again in the 3rd quarter and the offense stalled when he did that. I also disliked the force deep to Lazard on the rollout. Rodgers is much better when he just plays the offense and follows his reads.

0 points
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Cubbygold's picture

November 10, 2019 at 08:52 pm

26 carries between Jones and Williams for 156 yards. That's 6 YPC. You would think Aaron would enjoy riding that kind of production, rather than dropping back and getting laid out 5-10 times a game.

2 points
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Jonathan Spader's picture

November 10, 2019 at 11:56 pm

Rodgers missed a lot of reads today. He threw it away when he has Lazard wide open on the end zone and the list continues. He still had a great hame but it's frustrating leavong opportunities on the table.

-1 points
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4thand1's picture

November 10, 2019 at 09:46 pm

Take 2 valium or xantax before every Packer game. Or record it, get drunk, pass out and watch the replay. Jari should STFUP and play football, meaning catch the dam ball, could've iced the game. To many deep balls, get 1st downs. There is a ton of material for game balls and lame calls, also the good , the bad, and the ugly.

3 points
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4thand1's picture

November 10, 2019 at 10:30 pm

There wasn't one completion to a running back................WTF WTF!

2 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 11, 2019 at 01:36 am

Yeah, I don't have an answer. I wondered if the game plan de-emphasized those passes to the RB because Shaq Thompson and Kuechley are good.

Still would expected more decoys if nothing else. Maybe Dusty will comment in his passing chronicles.

0 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

November 12, 2019 at 06:18 pm

Apparently, Rivera put a CB on A. Jones in lieu of a LB and that moves the ball to the single coverage on the Wides.

0 points
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Lphill's picture

November 10, 2019 at 10:39 pm

I think they are thinking ahead to the 49 ers where they plan on using the backs in the short passing game because of the pass rush , I actually think this is why the past 2 games the Packers have not thrown to the backs for film purposes.

1 points
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deerskinlake's picture

November 10, 2019 at 11:02 pm

This team doesn't think it just reacts. They are so inapt with a smooth running offense all it is is breakdown have to break down and then Rogers pulling stuff out of his backside. So frustrating to watch I thought the script would be over with with the new coach.

-2 points
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Since'61's picture

November 11, 2019 at 02:04 pm

Yes, they are so inept that they are 8-2. I'll take 8-2 out of every 10 games all the time. If you want to see inept watch the Jets or the Giants, better yet read the last 2 sentences of your post which make no sense at all. Thanks, Since '61

4 points
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canadapacker's picture

November 10, 2019 at 11:21 pm

Jimmy is a screw up - yes he had a few good plays, But he knows better to keep both feet down on the TD pass. He also changed the first series with the bone head presnap penalty which led to the 3 and out. The 2nd and 1 should be almost always an automatic first down. Probably any tightend would have caught those 2 passes. Totally overpaid and probably the game would have been easier to win without these dumb plays.

-3 points
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porupack's picture

November 10, 2019 at 11:42 pm

And Aaron Rodgers was not the best QB on the field. Geez, he's missing open receivers and holding the ball, and delay of game, and always snapping the ball on the last second of the clock. WTH? What a difference b/w him and Allen. Quick and timed throws. Carolina's passing attack was well executed. Not sure how they lost, but other than that turnover.
GB offense is missing a few sparkplugs and a notch on the timing belt.

-7 points
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Coldworld's picture

November 11, 2019 at 12:02 am

Simply can’t follow you down this path

2 points
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Guam's picture

November 11, 2019 at 08:13 am

Good to hear from you CW. Have missed your commentary lately.

0 points
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ALLGASNOBRAKES's picture

November 11, 2019 at 05:52 am

I DO NOT understand what has happened to the passes to the RB's in this offense the last 2 weeks. Where are all the creative plays to Jones and Williams we saw the 4 weeks Adams was out?? Both Williams and Jones are excellent catching the ball...LET THEM! As much as I like and appreciate the Adams to Rodgers connection or an occasional deep pass to MVS, I LOVE the Packers moving up and down the field using EVERYBODY. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that's completely GONE from the offense these last 2 weeks. Hopefully with 2 weeks before SF, MLF and his staff realize it's gone missing.

Kenny Clark was AMAZING today. There was one play when they got the sack, but Clark was the one responsible for it. Clark bull-rushed his man and on the replay, you could see the center just being moved on the TUNDRA like he was on roller skates. It was awesome!

MLF...PLEASE take points at the end of the half IF that is the best play call you can come up with. IF you're going to do that again at least SPREAD them out.

NICE stop by the defense on 4th down and excellent work in the red-zone again. They STUFFED them there after a couple of bad penalties and they picked off Allen.

8-2 is WAY better than anyone of us predicted. I think this team is tired and NEEDS the bye week to regroup for the push. Someone needs to explain to me WHY MLF's name isn't coming up in the coach of the year conversations. I mean Common Man!!!

BTW...Can anyone explain why Rivera would go for a 2 pt conversion? That was "River Boat Ron" being a total idiot IMO.

2 points
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Since'61's picture

November 11, 2019 at 02:10 pm

You spent 2 of your first 3 paragraphs in your post complaining about MLF and yet you are wondering why he does not come up in conversations for Coach of the Year. Looks like you answered your own question plus it's a little premature to discuss coach of the year for any HC at this point. Besides, what matters is winning the SB, who cares about Coach of the Year. I'll trade 50 COY awards for 1 Lombardi trophy. Thanks, Since '61

0 points
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RCPackerFan's picture

November 11, 2019 at 06:04 am

What we learned: Jimmy Graham isn’t totally dead:
Honestly it feels like Graham is really starting to come on. Watch his blocking. It has been much improved of late.

One question. On his TD that was taken away. He clearly has one foot down. The other coming up. Ok. But his knee hits the pylon. I thought that counted as part of the field? I maybe wrong on that, but I thought with his leg hitting it it would count as a foot down?

What went right: The run game:
The Jones and Williams duo is so, so good.

I'd add turnovers by the defense.

What went wrong:
Yeah Penalties are a big one.

I'd say special teams was a bigger one. Scott didn't have a good day. Crosby really missed a FG but thanks to a penalty he got to rekick it.

Offensive Standouts: Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, Davante Adams
Yup!

Defensive Standouts: Kenny Clark
Yup! I will add the Smiths as well. They were in the backfield all game long. They did have the penalties late but they were very, very good as usual.
I would say Amos was all over the place yesterday. He deserves a mention as well.

On a side note. I liked what I saw from Campbell in his first game back.

2 points
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Roadrunner23's picture

November 11, 2019 at 07:25 am

Are the Packers a perfect team no, but hey they are eight and two and have beaten some pretty darn good teams lighten up Packer fans we are in first place and 3 and 0 in our division. Pretty damn good for a first year coach and a new offensive scheme!
This is fun! Love the Packers. Enjoy the ride boys!
Go packers!

2 points
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PatrickGB's picture

November 11, 2019 at 10:05 am

We are a very good football team. Often when one phase of the team sputters then often another phase picks up its play. This is a much better team than I expected. The “It takes all 11” mantra is starting to grow on me.

0 points
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