Packers Beat Panthers 27-19 as Jordan Love Throws 3 TDs and Josh Jacobs Scores Twice

The Green Bay Packers built a 17-point lead and then held on, beating the Carolina Panthers 27-19 on Thursday Night Football at Lambeau Field.

Jordan Love threw three touchdown passes, Josh Jacobs scored twice and Green Bay’s defense sacked Bryce Young six times, according to the Associated Press. The Packers withstood three turnovers of their own and a late Carolina push to improve to 5-3. The Panthers fell to 3-4.

“Late in the game, it wasn’t good enough,” Love said, per AP. “We weren’t able to finish the way we wanted. That’s something we’ve got to improve on, clean up as an offense and be better there.”

Packers vs. Panthers final score and how it happened

Green Bay started poorly, fumbling the opening kickoff to set up a Carolina field goal and then going three-and-out. After that, the Packers scored touchdowns on three of their next four possessions:

• Love hit Tucker Kraft for a 12-yard score on third-and-8. Rookie kicker Trey Smack’s extra point bounced off the left upright, leaving it 6-3.
• Christian Watson’s 53-yard catch set up Jacobs’ 1-yard touchdown run, which put Green Bay ahead for good at 13-10.
• Matthew Golden caught a 24-yard touchdown on third-and-13, one play after dropping a potential score, for a 20-10 lead.
• After a fourth-down stop of Chuba Hubbard at midfield to open the second half, Love found Jacobs on a 4-yard touchdown pass for a 27-10 lead.

Carolina then pushed back. Zakee Wheatley intercepted a Love pass in the end zone early in the fourth quarter, and Young later hit Jalen Coker for a 26-yard touchdown on fourth-and-3 with 5:37 left to make it 27-19. The 2-point try failed. The Panthers turned it over on downs at midfield with 2:41 left, and their last chance ended when Dani Dennis-Sutton sacked Young.

“Love the fight in the group,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said, according to AP. “Didn’t expect anything less.”

Jordan Love and Bryce Young stats

• Jordan Love: 30 of 41, 288 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
• Bryce Young: 23 of 41, 209 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, sacked six times
• Josh Jacobs: 21 carries for 39 yards and a TD, plus a 4-yard TD catch
• Christian Watson: 8 catches, 113 yards
• Chuba Hubbard: 22 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD; 7 catches, 38 yards

AP noted that Green Bay has not allowed any of its last five opponents to score more than 20 points.

Josh Jacobs suspension: what’s the latest?

Thursday was Jacobs’ second game back. He spent the start of the season on the commissioner’s exempt list after charges stemming from a May altercation with his then-girlfriend, and he pleaded no contest in September to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property, AP and NFL.com reported. The league removed him from the exempt list ahead of Week 7, but NFL.com said its review of his case remains ongoing. No suspension has been announced.

After his rushing touchdown, Jacobs briefly put his hands behind his back while celebrating with teammates, and some viewers took it as a reference to handcuffs. Jacobs said after the game that the celebration was modeled on the gospel song “Break Every Chain” and was planned with teammates including Savion Williams.

“I didn’t think it was going to be a thing that can be perceived a certain type of way,” Jacobs said, per AP. He added that the broadcast showed only part of the celebration.

Injuries and other notes

Watson went to a hospital by ambulance after his 53-yard catch, was diagnosed with a broken rib and returned in the third quarter. Carolina cornerback Will Lee hurt his hamstring on the same play and was carted off. Panthers guard Corey Bullock hurt a quadriceps, and Packers tight end Josh Whyle was evaluated for a concussion, AP said.

Several Milwaukee Brewers, a night after winning the World Series, brought the Commissioner’s Trophy to Lambeau Field, and the Packers honored late former president Bob Harlan at halftime.

FAQ