EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Call it a game of unsung heroes for the Packers.
They needed everybody to beat the Jets 20-17 in overtime at MetLife Stadium, because no one person was going to be able to erase all the mistakes that were turning Sunday's game into one of the uglier performances in recent memory.
Running backs Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks had big gains in overtime to get the offense into scoring position. Brooks had the biggest play, making a couple of tacklers miss and then getting an extra 15 yards for taking a hit out of bounds.
Before that, three young defenders shared in the back-to-back sacks on the Jets' OT possession – Barryn Sorrell, Brandon Cisse and Dani Dennis-Sutton.
Before that, with the score tied at 17 and less than three minutes left in regulation, safety Evan Williams made a brilliant play to break up a deep ball for Jets receiver Adonai Mitchell that looked like it might put the nail in Green Bay's coffin.
And before that, receiver Skyy Moore had the long punt return that set up the tying points with five minutes left.
The list could go on.
This was an all-hands-on-deck game to find a way to win late because it was a nobody's-immune-from-a-miscue game for a good portion of it.
"Just keep playing," QB Jordan Love said of how the Packers managed to pull this one out, despite being down 10 in the fourth quarter. "The mindset for everybody in that locker room was to take it one play at a time. We knew there was a lot of game left and a lot of plays to be had."
It's difficult to believe anybody would've listed of all those names above as the guys making the plays when it mattered most.
Certainly, better-known players such as Lukas Van Ness, Xavier McKinney, Christian Watson and Matthew Golden were in the mix with the game on the line, too.
But the combination of rookies, newcomers and guys taking on bigger roles out of necessity really stood out in this one.
"I would call that a team win, all phases," said Moore, who was signed by the Packers to boost the return game and he did exactly that in a big moment. "It wasn't perfect. When the defense struggled, the offense had to pick it up or the special teams helped the offense and vice versa.
"That was a great team win, I would say. We answered the bell, for sure."
And none of that is to discount the offensive line, which had to deal with Zach Bako-Bewele (knee) and Aaron Banks (toe) both leaving the game, followed by Banks' replacement Donovan Jennings (hand) as well.
That thrust rookie Jager Burton into his first NFL action at left guard, while Anthony Belton filled in for Bako-Bewele at right tackle.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur also mentioned at one point right guard Jacob Monk was getting checked out for a possible stinger, so the coaches were getting tight end Tucker Kraft ready to enter the game at tackle with Belton possibly shifting to guard.
Thankfully that wasn't necessary, but that's how deep the Packers had to dig in this one, on their depth chart and elsewhere.
"Guys are hurting, going through it, but it feels a lot better with a win," Williams said. "Finding a way to come together near the end of the game, play some complementary football when it mattered and yeah, find a way to win. That's all that matters in this league."
But for all the mettle the Packers showed, they have a long way to go after three quarters filled with penalties, poor ball security, opposing third-and-long conversions, and all sorts of other issues.
They played just enough good football to win, but plenty of bad football to lose, too.
"I'm just proud of how everybody stayed together and just kept fighting, even when it was tough," LaFleur said.
"Continue to fight, continue to battle … I mean, we were in a dogfight. That's life in the NFL."
