Packers 27, Panthers 19: Green Bay holds off a late Carolina push on Thursday night
The Packers led by 17 in the third quarter, then needed a fourth-down stop and a Watson third-down catch to close it out.
Green Bay beat Carolina 27-19 at Lambeau Field on Thursday night, moving to 5-3 while the Panthers fell to 3-4, according to NFL.com. The Packers built a lead of as much as 17 points in the third quarter and then had to hold on as Carolina closed the gap to one score with about five minutes to play.
How it went
NBC Sports reports Green Bay led 27-10 midway through the third quarter. The Packers' touchdowns came on a 12-yard catch by Tucker Kraft, a 24-yard catch by Matthew Golden, and two from Josh Jacobs: a 4-yard reception and a 1-yard run. Carolina's Ryan Fitzgerald kicked field goals of 39 and 50 yards, and Bryce Young and Chuba Hubbard also scored.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Panthers on the stat sheet. NBC Sports says they outgained Green Bay 109 to 32 in the period. They could not finish it. With 2:41 left, Young threw incomplete on fourth-and-5 from midfield, Carolina's best chance at a comeback. Christian Watson then caught a 7-yard pass on third-and-2 with 2:33 left, which let Green Bay run out the clock. Carolina got the ball back with 22 seconds remaining, and Dani Dennis-Sutton sacked Young with four seconds left.
Love's night, and a messy one
Jordan Love was 30-of-41 for 288 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Watson had eight catches for 113 yards and Golden seven for 79. NFL.com calls Love's performance mostly solid.
It was not clean. Green Bay turned the ball over three times: Coleman Owen fumbled the opening kickoff, Watson lost a fumble in the first half, and Love threw the interception. Carolina turned those giveaways into only a field goal, NBC Sports reports. The Packers also ran for just 2.5 yards per carry, per NFL.com; Jacobs had 21 carries for 39 yards plus six catches for 13 yards. Green Bay outgained Carolina 354 yards to 258.
Watson was hurt in the first half with a chest injury and was taken to the hospital as a precaution. His tests came back clear and he returned in the third quarter, NFL.com reports.
The Panthers' side
Carolina struggled for most of the night. NFL.com says it did not pass 200 yards through the air until 7:47 remained, and the offensive line allowed six sacks. Young finished 23-of-41 for 209 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and was hit nine times, per NBC Sports. Hubbard ran 22 times for 81 yards and a score, and Tetairoa McMillan had six catches for 58 yards.
What it means
The Packers get a win and a stronger record out of a game that was more comfortable early than late. The turnovers and the thin rushing numbers are the things the box score says they will want cleaner. For Carolina, a loss on a night when the defense kept the game within reach through the fourth quarter leaves them under .500 at 3-4.