GLENDALE, Ariz. – Micah Parsons has always had this mythical gear he hits when the game is on the line.
The Packers defensive end found it and then some Sunday at State Farm Stadium.
The perennial Pro Bowler's greatness was on display against the Arizona Cardinals, as Parsons dug deep into his arsenal to unleash one of the finest performances of his football career during the Packers' 27-23 win in front of 64,810.
Five quarterback hits, four tackles for loss and a career-high three sacks, all of which were significant. Most importantly, he notched four pressures in the fourth quarter alone.
Seeing more 1-on-1 rush opportunities than he's seen all season, Parsons went to work while rushing from practically everywhere on the defensive front. When on the edge, Cardinals tackles Paris Johnson and Jonah Williams had their work cut out for them.
"When it's time to win the game, something just switches," Parsons said.
"I don't think it was my best pass-rush game, I just think it's the first time (opponents) allowed me to rush this year. I mean if you look at the looks I've been getting, double tight ends, chips, full slides and then also just other guys stepping up."
It wasn't a perfect day for Parsons and the defense, but both brought their best when their best was required during a knockdown, drag-out battle against the Cardinals, who outproduced Green Bay in total yards (330-262) and time of possession (34:10-25:50).
Playing behind veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, Arizona opened the game with a 15-play, 59-yard scoring drive but it was Parsons who helped keep the Cardinals out of the end zone.
After combining with Nate Hobbs for a tackle for loss of Bam Knight on first-and-goal, Parsons beat Johnson to Brissett on third down and forced Arizona to settle for the first of three Chad Ryland field goals.
It would be a recurring theme, as Green Bay stopped Arizona again on its second scoring drive despite Parsons having a sack wiped out in the second quarter when he was called for a hip-drop tackle after chasing down Brissett on second-and-14.
"I don't think so. That's just an effort play," said Parsons when asked if there's anything he could've done differently. "I'm rushing, that guy, he's about my size at quarterback and I just did what I thought … I did not intentionally hip drop, I just pray I don't got the fine in my locker when I come in on Tuesday or Monday."
While Parsons drew what had been an elusive offensive holding penalty later in the second quarter on a run play, he didn't find Brissett again until the fourth quarter.
With the game tied at 20, Parsons again came through in the red zone with a sack of Brissett that lost 11 yards for the Cardinals on third-and-goal.
Holding Arizona to three points and then forcing a turnover on downs on the Cardinals' next possession enabled the Packers' offense to jump out to a 27-23 lead thanks to a gutsy 10-play, 48-yard offensive drive that ended with a 1-yard Josh Jacobs touchdown.
The Packers' defense successfully defended that first lead of the day with less than two minutes remaining. Despite the Cardinals getting to the Green Bay 26 with less than a minute left, Parsons notched a third sack of Brissett on first down for a 9-yard loss to force the Cardinals to burn their second timeout.
After surviving a Brissett scramble and two incompletions, Parsons and the Packers held on for the win, a step in the right direction for a unit that has struggled to keep points off the board in the fourth quarter this season.
"There was a couple of them … where it happened so fast I didn't even have to do much back-pedaling," safety Xavier McKinney said. "He has the ability to get back there so fast it feels like the play didn't really start. I think that's just the ability he has."
Making the moment extra sweet was the fact it was Parsons' first three-sack game after notching three 2½ sack performances in his first four-plus seasons.
Parsons' performance complemented a productive day for a Green Bay pass rush that tallied six sacks and 12 hits on Brissett despite not having defensive linemen Devonte Wyatt (knee) and Lukas Van Ness (foot).
McKinney and Parsons agreed there's plenty for the defense to clean up, but Sunday was another reminder of why the Packers sent two first-round picks and Pro Bowler Kenny Clark to Dallas to acquire Parsons at the beginning of the year.
These were the moments the Packers envisioned.
"Same player you seen from Dallas making big-time plays is the player you see now," said defensive end Rashan Gary, who had two quarterback hits and a key strip sack at the start of the third quarter.
"The confidence, the swagger, what he brings to the defense, that's what you expect from him. It's gonna be hell for anybody that goes against him."
