Packers flip fourth quarter script against Saints
The Green Bay Packers were up, 24-12, against the Atlanta Falcons before losing, 25-24, in Week 2 and it taught them a lot about what it means and what it takes to win in the NFL. "That's what the games are like in the NFL – I'm learning you got to bring your A game […]
The Green Bay Packers were up, 24-12, against the Atlanta Falcons before losing, 25-24, in Week 2 and it taught them a lot about what it means and what it takes to win in the NFL.
"That's what the games are like in the NFL – I'm learning you got to bring your A game every week," rookie receiver Jayden Reed told reporters after the loss. "… You have to bring it for four quarters in the NFL. You have to keep swinging to the last the last whistle. It doesn't stop…
"… You always feel momentum swinging… and in the NFL, you just gotta learn how to bounce back."
Well, the Packers certainly learned their lesson quickly as they stormed back from being down 17-0 in the fourth quarter to beat the New Orleans Saints, 18-17. Sure, the team caught some big breaks via Derek Carr's injury and Blake Grupe's missed field goal that would've given the Saints a two-point lead with under a minute to play. But, ultimately, Jordan Love and the Packers defense (mostly Rashan Gary) were the difference-makers in the Packers' biggest comeback win since 2018.
"I've never been a part of a win like this," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters after the win. "The guys in the locker room, they believe in winning and one another, and they continue to battle. As a coach, that's all you can ask of anybody – is to continue to fight [and] continue to battle…
"… The resiliency of that locker room was incredible. I have never seen anything like it. It's hard not to get too emotional about it. But, you know, I just can't say enough great things about this group, in terms of just their mentality, [and] their belief in one another."
The Packers were down, 17-0, at the start of the fourth quarter. They didn't score their first points of the game until Anders Carlson hit his 38-yard field goal attempt with 11:00 to go. After that, the Packers offense put together two back-to-back 80-yard scoring drives -anchored by a gutsy, yet rational, two-point conversion call- to win the game.
And it's not like the offense had much momentum before those three drives, either. There were a ton of mistakes throughout the game and they came in all forms and fashions. Miscommunications, penalties, bad play calls – you name it. Whatever could go wrong, pretty much went wrong.
But Love and co. kept pushing and fighting. And sure enough, they broke through and pulled off the fourth-biggest comeback in franchise history.
"It was like a nightmare that turned into a dream," said LaFleur.
"That's a credit to everybody. I know, it wasn't perfect [during] a lot of that game, but guys never flinched and they showed out and showed up and made plays at the end," Love said after the game.
Love's aggressiveness was key in the victory. Time and time again he took shots and tested what is a very good Saints secondary and eventually, it paid off. The Saints committed back-to-back DPIs on the Packers' first touchdown drive that gave the offense 67 free yards and set them up for six points. He also had a 24-yard scramble that keyed the second scoring drive and it wasn't just any scramble – Love wisely turned back inside after it looked like he was going out of bounds and it moved the Packers offense into Saints territory.
The first-year signal-caller already has the respect of his teammates, but that kind of confidence and persistence is what galvanizes a team most and it builds perseverance that is crucial in this sport. The team is growing and learning, together, which is as important as it is invaluable. And it should only help the team find more ways to win, in the end.
"I think it's just confidence for a whole team – the way we were able to stick together," said Love. "Nobody flinched [and we were] able to put up a comeback win like that down 17. I think that's a huge confidence booster for our whole team. And more importantly, to bounce back off the loss we had last week. I think it's a huge confidence booster and it brought us all together a little bit closer today."
Featured image via Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
