Green Bay Packers (2-1) – New Orleans Saints (2-1): 18-17
New Orleans had the game in hand. Everything was going well until Derek Carr went out with a shoulder injury following a sack.
The Saints then lead 17-0 midway through the third quarter. Except that on his five possessions, Jameis Winston (10/16, 101 yards) did not go for the slightest point, while Green Bay scored 18. Worse, New Orleans missed a 46-yard field goal which could have given it back the advantage with 1mn10 to go.
Silent for three quarters of the match, the Packers found unexpected resources to make an improbable comeback. Reduced by numerous absentees, Green Bay had all the difficulty in the world entering the meeting. First slowed down by his indiscipline and imprecise execution, the attack was delayed. Unexpected, as the first 3 quarters had been sluggish, not to say simply mediocre. Far from being at his best during his team’s crossing of the desert, Jordan Love (22/44, 259 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int, 1 TD on the ground) transformed into the money time to go and glean a courageous victory.
Green Bay without solution
After a round of observation of sterile possession on both sides, it was the Saints who opened the scoreboard first through Jimmy Graham who remembered the good memories of the Packers. A school punt return from Rashid Shaheed even allows the visitors to make a first break. If Derek Carr (13/18, 103 yards, 1 TD) doesn’t spark, he provides the minimum and his team returns to the locker room at 0-17.
Because on the other hand, the Packers remain silent. Weighed down by penalties, Jordan Love’s attack is slipping and Matt LaFleur once again shows his inability to adjust. The aerial attack peaked at 60 yards at halftime. With his back to the wall, Love forces and is even intercepted after the break. Seven possessions for as many empty returns.
Derek Carr touched, Love wakes up
And soon an eighth. Yet arriving in the red zone, the inaccuracy of the Packers quarterback was the reason for a 4th attempt which could have given momentum to his team. Hit in the shoulder on a sack by Rashan Gary, Derek Carr had to leave the field and leave the reins of the attack to Jameis Winston, who quickly returned the lead to the Packers.
And after trying, the locals finally manage to move the chains. First a field goal, then it clicked. Two 80-yard drives ended in touchdowns. Love on the ground first, to which is added the 2 points of a successful conversion, then the quarterback throws his first touchdown in his garden by connecting with Romeo Doubs (5 rec, 73 yards, 1 TD). The Packers take control.
Despite a victorious field goal position in the final moments, the Saints let the opportunity slip away and a victory that held out their arms to them. The worst could happen in the coming hours. NFL Media reports that Carr was taken to the hospital to be examined for possible internal injuries.
