GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – O ye of little faith.
Not many in the crowd 78.043 figured the Green Bay Packers would pull off a fourth quarter miracle down five significant players at the start, not to mention down 17 points to the New Orleans Saints with 15 minutes to play, but they did with a remarkable rally for an 18-17 victory to win an 11th straight home opener at Lambeau Field. In back to back games, the final quarter has gone from the sublime, coughing up a 12 point lead in the 25-24 loss in Atlanta last Sunday, to the ridiculous with a host of big plays and key flags to make it 2-1 on the season with a huge early showdown looming against the likewise Detroit Lions in four days hence.
The inactive list gave everyone a pause in the building as the Packers ruled out David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Aaron Jones, Christian Watson and Jaire Alexander 90 minutes before kickoff. The resulting uncertain lineup led to uncertain play to say the least as the Saints put up all 17 of their points before halftime. Sins were committed by all three phases early. On Green Bay’s opening series, they tried to fool New Orleans on 4th and 2 from the Saints 44 yard line. Emmanuel Wilson took a handoff to the right, stopped and tried to lateral the ball across the field to Jordan Love. It got to him on one bounce and Love struggled to pick it up. When he did, he had a wide open Dontayvion Wicks downfield but his throw wobbled incomplete. New Orleans cashed in the field position with a 55 yard drive in nine plays. Derek Carr found one time Packer Jimmy Graham over the middle for an 8 yard scoring strike.
In the second quarter, Daniel Whelan’s punt was fielded by Rashid Shaheed at his 24 yard line. He found a quick hole up the left side, cut hard to his right and found open field, racing 76 yards for a touchdown that made it 14-0.
Love finally got a drive going that reached the New Orleans 27 but on third and 8, he got sacked for a loss of 14 when cornerback Alontae Taylor came clean on a blitz, pushing Green Bay out of field goal range. The Saints got a fantastic one handed catch from Chris Olave for 27 yards to set up Blake Grupe’s 25 yard field goal with :06 left in the half and boo birds sent the Pack into the locker room down 17 to nothing.
The third quarter had more of the same for a mistake prone Packer team. Their 8th penalty of the day forced Love to convert a third and 14 and his deep ball to Romeo Doubs was picked off by Lonnie Johnson Jr, the first interception thrown this season.
Rashan Gary then may have turned the tide. His second of a career best three sacks in the game had him snap down Carr hard on his shoulder and he would not return. Jameis Winston came on and his first series ended with just one first down.
Doubs made a finger tip 30 yard grab to get the Packers in New Orleans territory but on the first play of the 4th quarter, Love and running back Patrick Taylor weren’t on the same page as a 4th and 2 quick pass out wide sailed incomplete. Green Bay’s defense continued to dig in forcing a three and out and that’s when the Packers picked up the tempo. Reed pulled in a 22 yarder and Doubs caught another for 17. The drive stalled but Anders Carlson connected from 38 yards to get Green Bay on the board.
The defense got another quick stop and Love challenged the aggressive New Orleans secondary deep. Back to back downfield throws drew pass interference penalties, the first covered 45 yards, 22 on the next. The drive reached first and goal at the two but a pair of fade passes missed. Taylor gained a yard on third down. Love then called his own number and sidestepped Demario Davis for a one yard touchdown making it 17-9.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur then heeded assistant coach Connor Lewis’ emphatic call to go for two. Even when pre-snap motion was mixed up, Love kept the play alive and found Samori Toure open over the middle that pulled Green Bay within 6. New Orleans gave it back after another three and out and the Packers were 80 yards away with 5:23 left. It was Love’s legs that got the drive moving as he bolted from the pocket, sprinted to the left sideline and stayed in bounds to race 24 yards to the New Orleans 45. Reed, who had a couple of balls glance off his fingers, laid out for a 30 yard gain to the 15. On third and 3 from the 8, Love tried one more backshoulder shot to Doubs who wrestled the ball away from Issac Yiadom for the tying touchdown. Carlson calmly delivered the PAT and the Packers moved in front with 2:27 remaining.
Winston found Olave twice against third string corner Corey Ballentine, forced into service with Alexander out, and Carrington Valentine out with a bicep injury. The 28 and and 10 yard receptions got New Orleans to the 28 yard line. Grupe came on for a 46 yard field goal attempt. The large flag atop the north end zone stands was clearly blowing from right to left. That’s where Grupe played the kick hoping it would get the needed push but it sailed wide right. Carlson said while the big flag above indicated one direction, the Lambeau winds with the ribbons atop the goal post were blowing in the opposite direction and wouldn’t allow the kick back inside the uprights.
Love knelt down three times and the Packers had one of the most uncanny comeback wins ever, at least according to Matt LaFleur:
There were a host of players who came up big when it looked bleak and I caught up with a few after the game:
The Packers outgained the Saints 340-252. Love finished 22 of 44 for 259 yards with one score and a pick for a passer rating of 66.4. He was also the leading rusher on the day with 9 scrambles for 39 yards and his first rushing touchdown. A.J. Dillon finished with 33 yards on 11 carries and Keisean Nixon finally got his wish, getting an offensive snap by taking an end around for 11. Luke Musgrave led the receivers with 6 catches for 49 yards. Doubs finished with 5 catches for 73 yards and the game winning TD. Rudy Ford and Quay Walker led the defense with 7 tackles each, Gary had three sacks, four quarterback hurries and three tackles for losses, he was on a mission all afternoon. Kenny Clark had a sack on the first series of the game.
Carr’s shoulder injury ended his day after he hit 13 of 18 for 103 yards and a score, a 104.6 rating. Winston finished 10 of 16 for 101 yards. Olave had 8 catches for 104 yards and Kendre Miller was the leading rusher with 34 yards on 9 carries. New Orleans was without the suspended Alvin Kamara and former Packer Jamaal Williams who landed on injured reserve Saturday with a hamstring pull.
But don’t discount the top notch players the Packers had to do without, not to mention De’Vondre Campbell leaving in the first half with an ankle injury. Zach Tom also couldn’t finish, suffering a knee injury in the 4th quarter.
The league’s youngest team was also beset with penalties, 11 for 90 yards, making it 27 accepted flags in the first three weeks. The punt cover breakdown was unusual for a unit that had shown progress in the first three weeks.
In the end, Love’s poise and his teammates’ belief in him allowed the Packers to fight to the finish and what a finish it was in front of an impressive list of alumni who were introduced at halftime. They’ve been a part of plenty of Lambeau memories and the 2023 Packers created one with an unforgettable rally. The enjoyment will be short lived however as the Detroit Lions, 20-6 winners over the Falcons at Ford Field, come to town with first place in the NFC North on the line on Thursday night. Better make sure to stick around to the final gun.
