Packers Hold Off Jaguars, Improve to 7-2 on the Season

NFL: 

Green Bay 24, Jacksonville 20

–Aaron Rodgers’ six-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams with nine minutes left in the game proved to be enough to put away the Jaguars on a cold and windy Lambeau Field Sunday afternoon. 

In a matchup that seemed to heavily favor the Packers, the 1-and-7 Jaguars struck first – and held a 3-0 lead after one quarter thanks to a 52-yard field goal from Chase McLaughlin. 

Rodgers would connect with Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 78 yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter to put the Packers in front for the first time on the day. Jacksonville would grab the lead back a short time later thanks to a 91-yard punt return for a touchdown by Keelan Cole. 

Trailing 10-7, Rodgers called his own number and ran for a six-yard score with 2:15 left to cap a 13-play, 81 yard drive to put the Packers back on top at 14-10. Adrian Amos intercepted Jaguars rookie quarterback Jake Luton late in the quarter, which set up a Mason Crosby field goal and gave Green Bay a 17-10 lead at the break. 

Jacksonville would score 10 unanswered points to start the second half, with Luton tossing a 12-yard touchdown pass to Cole in the third quarter to tie the game, and McLaughlin adding a 31-yard field goal to give them a 20-17 lead with 12:40 left. 

Rodgers’ go-ahead touchdown pass to Adams came with 9:03 left, and finished a 7-play, 75 yard drive to put Green Bay ahead 24-20. 

The Packers would give the ball back to the Jaguars with 2:25 left, but back-to-back sacks on second and third down and an incomplete pass on 4th & 26 with just over a minute left would end the game, and allow Green Bay to run out the clock. 

STAT LEADERS: 

Green Bay: 

Passing: Aaron Rodgers – 24/34, 325 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: Aaron Jones – 13 carries, 46 yards

Receiving: Marquez Valdes-Scantling – 4 catches, 149 yards, 1 TD

Jacksonville: 

Passing: Jake Luton – 18/35, 169 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: James Robinson –  23 carries, 109 yards, 0 TD

Receiving: DJ Chark – 4 catches, 56 yards. 

UP NEXT: 

The Packers improve to 7-2 with the win and travel to Indianapolis for a 3:25 PM kickoff next Sunday. 

Other NFC North Action: 

Detroit 30, Washington 27

–Lions’ kicker Matt Prater boomed a 59-yard field goal through the uprights as time expired to give Detroit a win over Washington at home. The Lions led 24-3 early in the third quarter, only to see Washington outscore them 24-3 to tie the game at 27 with 16 seconds left. Matthew Stafford threw for 276 yards and three touchdowns in the win for Detroit, who improved to 4-5 on the year with the win. The Lions travel to Carolina next Sunday. 

Monday, the 5-4 Chicago Bears host the 3-5 Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.