GREEN BAY – The Packers squandered several scoring opportunities and ultimately paid the price, as the Panthers kicked a 49-yard field goal on the final play of the game for a 16-13 decision at Lambeau Field.
With the loss, Green Bay fell to 5-2-1. The Panthers improved to 5-4.
The Packers didn't find the end zone until just over two minutes remained, finally scoring a TD to tie the game at 13. But a 19-yard run by Panthers RB Rico Dowdle on the ensuing possession got Carolina into field-goal range, and the Panthers ran the clock down to one second before kicking for the win.
Dowdle had 25 carries for 130 yards and two TDs, while Panthers QB Bryce Young was just 11-of-20 for 102 yards with an INT for a 48.3 rating. WR Tet McMillan had four catches for 46 yards.
For the Packers, QB Jordan Love was 26-of-37 for 273 yards with an INT and 80.1 rating. RB Josh Jacobs had 17 carries for 87 yards and a TD. WR Romeo Doubs had seven catches for 91 yards, and WR Christian Watson had two receptions for 58. TE Luke Musgrave had three catches for 34 yards after TE Tucker Kraft (knee) left the game.
The Packers also lost WR Matthew Golden (shoulder), LG Aaron Banks (stinger) and DL Colby Wooden (shoulder) to injuries during the game.
Here's a recap of all the action:
Packers and Panthers scoreless after first quarter
Carolina won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. Rico Dowdle was tackled a yard short of the first down after replay assistance. Carolina went for it on fourth-and-1 but punted after a Tommy Tremble holding penalty.
Starting at their own 28, Green Bay moved across midfield on a 7-yard Emanuel Wilson run on second-and-5. Tucker Kraft caught a 10-yard pass on a crossing route before Josh Jacobs busted an 18-yard gain up the middle to the Carolina 16.
On the next play, Savion Williams fumbled on a screen pass. It was forced and recovered by Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom.
A pair of 16-yard pass to Tet McMillian helped push Carolina into Packers' territory. The quarter ended with the Panthers facing second-and-7 at the Green Bay 15.
It was announced at the end of the first quarter that left guard Aaron Banks has a stinger and is questionable to return.
Panthers lead Packers 7-6 at halftime
Safety Xavier McKinney got a strip sack of Young after coming on a blitz, but Panthers running back Chubb Hubbard corralled the loose ball and gained eight yards.
Micah Parsons tackled Dowdle for a 2-yard loss on the next play. On third-and-6, Young threw a wayward ball the back of the end zone that McKinney picked off for a touchback.
Green Bay was facing a third-and-11 when Jordan Love connected with Christian Watson for 51 yards. Love surpassed 10,000 passing yards for his career on the pass. Achieving the feat on his 1,308th pass attempt, Love became the second fastest in team history to hit 10,000 passing yards behind Aaron Rodgers (1,299).
After two false starts and a sack, Green Bay settled for a 49-yard Brandon McManus field goal to put the Packers up 3-0 with 7 minutes, 53 seconds left in the first half.
Dowdle broke a 29-yard run on the first play of the next drive. Young converted on third-and-5 with a 22-yard pass to Xavier Legette. Dowdle gained the necessary yard on a fourth-and-1 carry up the middle at the Green Bay 6.
The Panthers pulled ahead 7-3 with a 5-yard Dowdle touchdown run with 2:22 left in the first half, completing the 10-play, 76-yard scoring drive.
The Packers started their next series at the 42 after a 33-yard Williams return. Green Bay reached the two-minute warning after Jacobs gained eight yards. The Packers were called for two holding penalties, leading to Matt LaFleur using his first timeout with 56 seconds left and Green Bay facing second-and-20 at its own 42.
Love got out of it, though, with a 30-yard pass to Doubs across the middle. Chris Brooks, who was in pass pro on the pass to Doubs, then leaked out for a 16-yard check down to the Carolina 12.
The Packers used their second timeout with 10 seconds remaining after a 4-yard pass to Jacobs. Love and Doubs couldn't connect on third-and-6 and McManus made a 27-yard field goal to cut Carolina's lead to 7-6 at halftime.
Panthers lead Packers 13-6 after three
Green Bay opened the second half with two Jacobs carries for nine yards. Doubs converted the third-and-1 with an 8-yard slant.
Jacobs broke a 16-yard run down the right sideline, but Tucker Kraft (knee) was injured on the play. The team also announced defensive lineman Colby Wooden (shoulder) was out for the game.
The drive stalled after 5-yard pass to Matthew Golden at the 25 and McManus missed the 43-yard field goal wide left. The Panthers took over at their 33.
Carolina ran the ball four straight times before Young's third-and-4 pass sailed incomplete. Doubs caught the fair catch at the Green Bay 11.
Doubs also caught a 10-yard out from Love on third-and-7. Carolina challenged whether he completed the catch, but the ruling on the field stood and the Panthers were charged their first timeout.
Love was picked off on a deep ball intended for Watson on the next play. Tre'Von Moehrig intercepted the ball and returned it to the Green Bay 38.
On third-and-3 from the Packers' 15, Hubbard bounced outside for eight yards and the first down. On third-and-goal from the Green Bay 4, Keisean Nixon was called for pass interference.
Dowdle scored on a 1-yard TD to extend the Panthers' lead to 13-6 with 2:12 remaining in the third quarter. Dowdle was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct during his score, and Ryan Fitzgerald's 48-yard extra point was no good.
Love caught Carolina offsides and turned the third-and-9 free play into a 29-yard pass to Doubs to the Panthers' 42.
Panthers beat Packers 16-13, Green Bay falls to 5-2-1
The fourth quarter began with Christian Watson going to the medical tent to be evaluated for a concussion. On fourth-and-5, Chris Brooks caught a pass in the flat and took it eight yards to the Carolina 28.
A 6-yard pass to Savion Williams and 7-yard Jacobs run moved Green Bay back inside the Panthers' red zone. Emanuel Wilson was dropped for a loss of five yards on a wide screen, setting up fourth-and-8 from the Carolina 13.
The Packers turned the ball over on downs with 10:45 left after Love's pass fell incomplete after nearly being picked in the end zone. Green Bay is now 0-for-4 in the red zone.
An illegal formation and false start pushed Carolina back to its own 19. Young went across the middle to McMillian on third-and-14 but gained only four yards and the Panthers punted.
Love opened with a 21-yard pass to tight end Luke Musgrave on a play action pass. Watson returned during the drive.
After a 5-yard pass to Musgrave, Love converted a fourth-and-3 situation with an 11-yard pass to Malik Heath on a stop route. Love's next pass went to Watson for a 6-yard gain to the Carolina 26.
It was announced that both Kraft and Golden (shoulder) were out for the game.
Musgrave moved Green Bay into the red zone for the fifth time with an 8-yard catch. A 6-yard pass to Williams set up first-and-goal at the Panthers' 7.
Land Clark's crew missed Jacobs' 1-yard touchdown run, but Matt LaFleur successfully challenged to overturn the ruling on the third-and-goal run. McManus made the extra point to tie the game at 13 with 2:32 remaining.
Carolina took over at its 29. Edgerrin Cooper tackled Dowdle after a 2-yard gain, as the game reached the two-minute warning.
McMillian caught back-to-back passes for 19 yards to move Carolina to midfield. Dowdle gained 19 yards on a draw to the Packers' 31 on second-and-10. Dowdle gained just one yard on two carries, but Fitzgerald made a 49-yard field goal to seal the win.
