The Carolina run game was a thorn in the Packers’ side as they came into Lambeau and stole a 16-13 win.
The Packers, adorned in their throwback blue and brown jerseys, started strong on defense, forcing a three-and-out, and the offense looked poised to score, but a fumble in the red zone ended what started as a promising drive.
A Brandon McMannus field goal gave the Pack the lead, which they did not hold onto for very long.
The next drive, Carolina pounded the ball, and Rico Dowdle would punch it in from 5 yards out to take the lead.
McMannus would tack on a field goal before the half, and would try to add another coming out of the break, but the 43-yard attempt was no good.
The Panthers would add another touchdown, this time on a 1-yard Dowdle run, but a missed extra point kept the game in reach.
The Packers would finally break through and score a touchdown with 2:32 left in the game to tie it, but Carolina would get into field goal range and put one through as time expired to take home the win.
Carolina would end the day with 163 rushing yards, with Dowdle accounting for 130. Quay Walker said they knew that was Carolina’s game plan, the defense just didn’t execute.
“It’s easy to pinpoint and just blame somebody,” he said before taking accountability for his mistakes.
“I could do a better job of getting downhill,” he admitted, “It came down to winning one-on-ones…we’ve got to get off the blocks.”
The defense played very well on the back end, allowing only 102 yards through the air, a stat that Safety Evan Williams said doesn’t mean anything to him, at least immediately after the game.
“There’s a lot of things we need to clean up in the run game,” he said bluntly. “We knew it was going to be one of those games where they are just trying to keep the ball out of the offense’s hands… it’s frustrating not being able to get the stops when you need them.”
Offensively, frustration is the word of the day, as QB Jordan Love admitted.
“It’s very frustrating. I think everybody in that locker room is very frustrated,” Love said. “What we are walking out of that locker room feeling is if we don’t play our best, we are going to get beat just like that.”
O-Lineman Sean Rhyan, who took over at left guard when Aaron Banks went down with a shoulder injury, was also frustrated with the offense’s struggles, especially in the red zone.
“We’ve got to get better in the red zone. We NEED to get better in the red zone,” he admitted. “Not shoot ourselves in the foot. I had a dumb…penalty that took us out of a manageable situation. I had a couple of things I wish I could get back.”
But, looking ahead to Philadelphia, Rhyan says the message is simple: “It’s a race to get better quick.”
The Packers have a long week to prepare, as they will be hosting the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football next week.
