Packers Escape Desert With 27-23 Win

Packers stage come back for first road win of the season 

One-score NFL games are often fickle outcomes driven by a few high-leverage plays in key situations. Entering Sunday’s game at the Arizona Cardinals, the Green Bay Packers were 0-1-1 in such contests this year. The Pack showed their mettle in the biggest moments with a comeback, 27-23 victory. They outscored Arizona 14-3 in the fourth quarter.

“There were a lot of things that didn’t go right, but that’s what it takes in this league,” coach Matt LaFleur said, again praising his team’s resiliency. “It’s encouraging we haven’t played our best ball. Our guys are a resilient group and I’m really proud of them.”

Josh Jacobs’ second touchdown delivered the Packers’ their first lead with 1:50 remaining. On the ensuing Cardinals drive, Micah Parsons’ career high third sack effectively delivered the Packers the win – a hail mary attempt was harmlessly tipped out the back of the end zone three plays later.

Parsons’ registered his other two sacks on third-and-goal plays, forcing the Cardinals to settle for a field goal each time. He ended with five tackles – four for loss – and five quarterback hits. Additionally, Pro Football Focus credited him with an astounding 10 pressures in the game.

While Parsons played his best in the defense’s biggest moments, Jordan Love did so for the offense. No moment loomed larger than a fourth-and-2 on the game-winning touchdown drive. That moment almost never happened.

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Gut Reactions: Packers Dig Deep To Beat Cardinals

CHTV co-founder Aaron Nagler chats with Packers fans after the team's 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Packers 27 Cardinals 23 Game Balls & Lame Calls

You never, ever apologize for wins in the NFL. Ever.

The Packers found themselves in an absolute battle in the desert, and found a way to win. Truth be told, if someone had told you that before the game had started, would you have been surprised? The Cardinals have now been the victim of 5 straight losses decided on the final drive, giving their all to some really good teams along the way. The 49ers, Colts, and Seahawks all found themselves in a similar predicament that the Packers did, all probable playoff teams who had to eek out a win against this Cardinals squad.

In the NFL, you've got to learn how to win all sorts of games. When confronted with a scrappy, play-your-heart-out type of situation like the Browns and Cowboys game, the Packers couldn't get the W. This week they did, and the Packers are 4-1-1, and could end today as the #1 seed with a Buccaneers loss (or an even bigger lead on the Lions for the division crown).

Credit to Matt LaFleur (more on him later) and the offense for that massive 4th down pickup on the final drive. If the Packers had settled for the field goal, we saw how that would have played out (another overtime game as the best possible outcome). In the words of the man himself, "Scared money don't make money." New kicker Lucas Havrisik also gets an honorable mention for the longest kick in franchise history, which ended up having massive implications at the end of the game.

Don’t miss this week’s edition of Game Balls and Lame Calls.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Packers vs Cardinals

Aaron Nagler hands out the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from the Green Bay Packers Week 7 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Packers Snap Counts Vs. Arizona: Week 7

The Packers activated Center Jacob Monk from injured reserve. Monk was active but did not play. The Packers elevated DE Aron Mosby and RB Pierre Strong from the PS. Josh Jacobs was able to play so Strong was actually inactive. OT Anthony Belton, Kicker Brandon McManus, DE Devonte Wyatt, and DE Lucas Van Ness were inactive due to injury. CB Kamal Hadden and OL Donovan Jennings were healthy scratches.

Check out who played and how much in this week’s Packers Snap Counts.

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The Lass Word: Championship Qualities

It seems ridiculous to say, after a game in which they made enough mistakes to lose several games.  But the Green Bay Packers showed championship qualities in their heart stopping 27-23 victory over Arizona.  Champions don’t always play well.  But in the fourth quarter, when it’s time to roll up your sleeves and go out and win the damn game, you get it done. 

The Packers have not always displayed that ability.  It was lacking in a loss to the Browns, and a tie with the Cowboys.  But in this game they played the final ten minutes like a team that knew they were going to win, confident they were going to do whatever it took, and then went out and did it.  It began with Matt LaFleur’s decision to go for it on fourth and two in the final minutes, turning down a short field goal try that would have tied the game.  Championship teams don’t play for ties.  In effect, he was telling his team to prove it.  To justify the expectations.  To prove it to themselves.  It was a bold expression of confidence.  And his players responded. 

The win keeps Green Bay on top of the division, regardless of what the Lions do Monday night.  If Detroit beats Tampa Bay, the Packers, at 4-1-1, would have the best record in the conference.  There is a long way to go, and the Packers have some glaring problems to address.  But now they have shown the capability of going on the road, overcoming adversity, and making a series of clutch plays to win a game they know they should win.  That’s what champions do…

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