Lambeau Field was a snow globe as the Carolina Panthers lined up for one final play. Four seconds left, two yards away. Christian McCaffrey got the handoff and drove off left guard but Kyler Fackrell somehow sliced through to get a piece of the running back, allowing Preston Smith and a few of his buddies to push him to the ground while an offensive lineman was trying to pull him over the goal line. Referees ruled him down but it took a replay review to confirm it. The Packer defense bent for 88 yards, 35 inches on the game's final series, but didn't break for that final inch and claimed a 24-16 victory to hit 8-2 on the season heading into the latest bye week ever.
The oft-maligned Green Bay D actually had several chances to finish off the contest before the fateful stop. Jaire Alexander dropped what looked like a surefire pick six on the second snap of the drive. Carolina converted a 4th and 10 for 12 yards to the Green Bay 23. A 4th and 1 pass to McCaffrey was broken up by Darnell Savage but Preston Smith lined up offsides giving Carolina two cracks from the 2. A pass to the star running back went incomplete in the flat and then came the decisive stop.
The Green Bay offense planned to run against the 26th ranked rushing defense and they did. Aaron Jones piled up 93 yards on just 13 carries, scoring three touchdowns. It was his second game with at least three scores on the ground, something that hasn't been done since Jim Taylor put up three of those games way back in 1962.
Jamaal Williams added 63 tough yards on 13 carries and he was hoping for a touchdown on a Matt LaFleur gamble to end the first half. Leading 14-10 with the ball at the one, LaFleur went for it but miscommunication on the front allowed Gerald McCoy to blast Williams for a loss of 2.
The offense did get points to start the third quarter, Jones ran it in from 13 yards out for a 21-10 lead but those lost three points would come back to haunt the Pack.
Kyle Allen, starting his seventh game for the injured Cam Newton at quarterback, proved to be both elusive and effective. He was sacked three times but avoided several others, making big throws to D.J. Moore and Greg Olsen who combined for 17 receptions and 218 yards. But the second year quarterback also turned the ball over twice which proved critical. A first half fumble on the center exchange was recovered by Montravius Adams which the Packers converted into a touchdown and then in the third quarter, he escaped the rush but forced the ball into the end zone and the pass was deflected by Adrian Amos into the arms of Tramon Williams. The Packers then marched 51 yards to set up a 47 yard Mason Crosby field goal for their final points.
The flurries began in the second half and by the end of the contest, the tundra was covered with frosting and maybe the white grass covered up just enough of the white paint at the goal line to make McCaffrey's final carry hard to see.
Whatever the case, LaFleur's team hits their week 11 bye with the second best record in the NFC at 8-2:
(Audio: Matt LaFleur)
There was plenty of offense on the 34 degree night. The Panthers outgained the Pack 401-388. Allen finished with 307 yards through the air while Rodgers managed 233.
McCaffrey was held in check for the most part. He did gain 108 yards on the ground and 33 more through the air but big plays were kept to a minimum.
Davante Adams was able to run more downfield routes in his second week back from the turf toe injury, catching 7 balls for 118 yards. Jimmy Graham had two big grabs including a 48 yard catch and run. He nearly had a touchdown on the front pylon but was ruled to have only one foot inbounds. That play came moments before LaFleur's "
gut feeling" about going for it at the end of the half.
Two players left with concussions, Tremon Smith and rookie Ty Summers.
The inactives were Ryan Grant who still hasn't suited up since being signed three weeks ago, Dexter Williams, Ka'Dar Hollman, Josh Jackson, Cole Madison, Adam Pankey and Robert Tonyan.
Ibraheim Campbell made his season debut and showed up with 6 tackles and a forced fumble against McCaffrey that Carolina was able to recover.
The Packers recovered from the listless showing in Los Angeles to beat an NFC team that still has playoff aspirations even at 5-4. Now they can finally catch their breath for the six game stretch run beginning against the conference front runners, the San Francisco 49ers on the road.
