Resilience defines Packers Week 3 victory vs. Saints

Despite being down 17-0 to start the fourth quarter and missing Aaron Jones, Christian Watson, David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, and Jaire Alexander, the Green Bay Packers showed nothing but resiliency.

The Packers scored 18 consecutive points in the fourth quarter to storm back and complete one of the largest comebacks in franchise history.

After an Anders Carlson 38-yard field goal to cut the Saints' lead down to 14 with 13:51 left in the fourth quarter, Green Bay only needed two more possessions to make the game interesting. Only two-and-a-half minutes later, the Saints punted the ball back to Green Bay.

Back-to-back defensive pass-interference penalties on the Saints, resulting in 67 yards, set the Packers offense up with a first-and-10 on the New Orleans 13. After picking up a first down on an 11-yard pass to Jayden Reed, on fourth-and-goal, Jordan Love scrambled to the right for a one-yard rushing touchdown.

After finally getting into the end zone, the Pack was faced with its biggest decision of the game, going for the two-point conversion. Analytics would say, in a two-possession game, after the first touchdown, go for two. If it's successful, the next time they score, it would put them in front. Even if the team fails the two-point attempt, it would still be a one-possession game.

Packers never-give-up attitude lifts them to stunning victory vs. Saints

Just like the rest of the fourth quarter, analytics were on the Packers' side. Love scrambled around behind the line of scrimmage to buy time for second-year receiver Samori Toure to peel away from Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore for the successful two-point conversion.

Only down one possession, the Packers needed the defense to step up in a huge way to have any hope of winning the ball game. They did just that.

Forcing a three-and-out, the Packers defense got the ball back in the offense's hands after just a 1:51 drive from the Saints. This stop provided Love and the offense with over five minutes at the end of the fourth quarter to go 80 yards for the win.

Completing 4/7 for 54 yards and rushing for 24 yards, Jordan Love hit Romeo Doubs on an eight-yard over-the-shoulder pass for the touchdown to all but seal the come-from-behind win in the Packers' home opener at Lambeau Field.

However, the story is not over yet. The Saints got the ball back with just a little over two minutes left in regulation to play spoiler to Jordan Love's monstrous fourth-quarter heroics. Jameis Winston, playing for an injured Derek Carr, helped set the Saints' field-goal unit up for a 46-yard attempt to seal the deal for New Orleans. However, the football gods had different plans for Love's first career start at Lambeau.

Hooking the kick wide right, New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe missed the 46-yarder to complete what was tied for the largest comeback in team history, being down 17 points in the fourth quarter.

Jordan Love finished the day passing for 22/44 with 259 yards (career-high), throwing one touchdown pass and rushing for another. Love did throw his first interception of the season.

One thing came to mind watching this game: the 2022 Packers do not win this football game. Although the teams with Aaron Rodgers were always exciting to watch, the Packers of old would fold whenever adversity struck.

This young team, however, did just the opposite. Despite missing multiple Pro Bowlers on both sides of the ball and the oldest player starting on offense only being 26, they managed to mount one of the most historic wins in franchise history.

The Packers look to build on this momentum this Thursday night in what will become one of the most important games of the season. The Detroit Lions (2-1) travel to Lambeau Field in an NFC North matchup. The winner will have sole possession of first in the division. In what feels like a must-win for Green Bay, it will be interesting to see how the team builds on the Week 3 insanity.

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