The Green Bay Packers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 25-22 in overtime Sunday. It was a nail-biting finish that had five missed field goals between both teams in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime.
Aaron Rodgers played another great game, completing 27 passes on 39 attempts for 344 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. It was his first interception since Week 1. Aaron Jones was back to leading the Packers’ rushing attack, with 103 yards on 14 carries that included a 57-yard rush in the fourth quarter. A.J. Dillon was productive in the receiving game, with 49 yards on four catches and one touchdown. In addition, Davante Adams had a career day, posting a career-high 206 yards on 11 receptions and one touchdown.
On defense, both Adrian Amos and De’Vondre Campbell intercepted Bengals Quarterback Joe Burrow. Campbell also had a tackle for loss in the game. In addition, Preston Smith and Krys Barnes both recorded a sack.
For the Bengals, Burrow played well, completing 26 of his 38 attempted passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns. However, he had two interceptions. Backup Running Back Samaje Perine put together a nice day, leading the team in rushing with 59 yards on 11 carries. Also, Perine also got involved in the receiving game, with 24 yards on four receptions and a touchdown. First-round pick Ja’Marr Chase continued to impress, with 159 yards on six catches and a touchdown. Chase now has five total touchdowns in his first five games. Joe Mixon also had a rushing touchdown and 33 rushing yards on 10 carries in limited action.
The Bengals’ defense also had some key contributors. Chidobe Awuzie intercepted Rodgers and had a tackle for loss. Vonn Bell had a strong performance with three tackles for loss, and Trey Hendricks recorded two sacks.
The Packers’ defense continued their pattern of giving up the first points of the game, as the Bengals scored a touchdown near the end of the first quarter. The Packers were able to respond quickly, scoring a touchdown on a 12-yard pass to Dillon. Mason Crosby however missed the extra point making the score 7-6 Bengals early in the second quarter.
The Packers continued to strike with a 44-yard field goal from Crosby. Then, they scored again on a five-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Adams. That touchdown was Rodgers 422nd touchdown pass of his career, giving himself the fifth-most touchdown passes in NFL history. The Packers couldn’t celebrate for long, as the next Bengals’ drive resulted in a 70-yard touchdown bomb from Burrow to Chase. The halftime score was 16-14 in favor of the Packers.
The Packers added two field goals by Crosby in the third quarter to give them an eight-point lead. The Bengals were able to add an eight-yard touchdown run by Mixon. The Bengals converted their two-point attempt on a two-yard pass from Burrow to Tee Higgins to tie the game.
This is where the game got weird. The next three drives resulted in missed field goals. Crosby missed a 36-yard field goal and a 51-yard field goal that would have ended the game and given the Packers the win. Whereas Bengals kicker, Evan McPherson missed a 57-yard field goal to give his team the lead.
The missed field goals led to overtime where the oddities continued. Crosby and McPherson both missed another field goal from 40-yards and 49-yards respectively. Finally, Crosby took the field one final time, and ended the game with a successful 49-yard field goal after missing his prior three field goal attempts.
“…I just wanted so badly to come through there,” Crosby said postgame. “I had a couple go bad there, and I’m just happy to hit that last one. There was a little bit of relief.”
Crosby hadn’t missed a field goal or PAT in the first four games, and he made 27 field goals in a row prior to his first miss Sunday.
No one described the game better than Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor, who said, “That thing was a roller coaster.”
The Packers got the win, but they are dealing with more injury problems. Kevin King left the game in the second half with a shoulder injury. Also, Campbell left in the third quarter with a shoulder injury, but he returned to the game.
Burrow was taken to the hospital after the game as he was having trouble speaking, but he has since been evaluated and cleared.
The Packers are doing something special, starting 4-1 despite missing several starters. They have missed key players like David Bakhtiari, Za’Darius Smith, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jaire Alexander, and Elton Jenkins for most of the season so far. One can only imagine what this team will look like at full strength.
Next week, the Packers travel to Chicago to take on first-round pick Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears (3-2). The Packers are listed as 4.5-point favorites.