The Green Bay Packers outscored the New Orleans Saints 18-0 in the fourth quarter, creating a stunning 18-17 win and improving Matt LaFleur’s team to 2-1 after three weeks despite not having Aaron Jones, Christian Watson, David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins and Jaire Alexander on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
The first three quarters were misery. But in Jordan Love’s first career start in Green Bay, the Packers caught fire and eventually knocked the Saints from the ranks of the unbeaten.
Buy Packers TicketsWhile the comeback happened in the fourth quarter, the Packers’ final drive of the third quarter built some confidence. Love hit Luke Musgrave and Patrick Taylor for a a pair of third-down conversions, but the drive failed on a turnover on downs inside the Saints’ red zone. Once the Packers got the ball back, the offense started rolling, and they never stopped.
Here are all the biggest plays that made the comeback happen:
First defensive stop
The Packers turned the ball over on downs on the first play of the fourth quarter. Game over? Not so fast, the defense said. The Saints went three-and-out, and Rasul Douglas delivered the stop on Michael Thomas short of the sticks on third down. The comeback never would have gotten off the ground had the defense not risen to the occasion to start the fourth quarter. A short punt gave the Packers the ball back at the 44-yard line with 12:50 left. Time to roll.
Jordan Love to Jayden Reed for 22 yards
Scoring drives so often need explosive plays to get going. Down 17-0 with around 12:30 left in the fourth quarter, Jordan Love and Jayden Reed delivered one. The rookie receiver ran a nice route from the slot to disengage from Alontae Taylor, and Love found him in stride for a 22-yard gain. One play later, Love hit Romeo Doubs for 17 more yards. Just like that, the Packers were in field goal range. A few plays later, Anders Carlson got the Packers on the board with a 38-yard kick.
Rashan Gary sack
.@RashanAGary in on a mission 😤
Gary's first three-sack game of his career.#NOvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/invjEIRutn
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 24, 2023
After the Packers cut the lead to 17-3, the Saints ran five plays and punted the ball away after draining around two minutes from the clock. Why the short drive? Rashan Gary delivered a sack, which set up second-and-long, and the Packers defense eventually held on 3rd-and-4 (credit Corey Ballentine for good coverage on Chris Olave). The Saints punted the ball back to the Packers with 8:36 left.
Dontayvion Wicks draws 45-yard DPI
On back-to-back plays to start the ensuing drive, the Packers gained 67 yards on pass interference penalties. The first was drawn by Dontayvion Wicks, who got behind Alontae Taylor. Love’s underthrow forced Wicks to adjust to the ball, and Taylor made clear contact down the field. Easy call. One play later, Romeo Doubs drew a 22-yard pass interference penalty on Isaac Yiadom. Just like that, the Packers had 1st-and-10 at the Saints’ 13-yard line with 8:16 left.
Jordan Love to Jayden Reed, 11 yards
The Packers got a key third-down conversion from Jordan Love to Jayden Reed after a pair of incompletions set up 3rd-and-10 from the 13-yard line. Reed eventually worked himself open in the middle of the field, and Love bought just enough time in the pocket to make the throw. The conversion set up 1st-and-goal from the 2-yard line.
Jordan Love 1-yard TD run
.@jordan3love takes it himself on 4th down!
TOUCHDOWN! 🙌#NOvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/9vZuuG025N
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 24, 2023
The key to the comeback. It all could have ended on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line, but Jordan Love kept the ball on a read option play and made Demario Davis miss in the open field before diving into the end zone for the score. The touchdown cut the Saints lead to 17-9, and gave Matt LaFleur a chance to go for two. The fake drew in two defenders and Love made a terrific effort to get into the end zone.
Jordan Love to Samori Toure, two points
So, why go for two down eight points? Easy. It’s a one-score game regardless of whether you get the two points or not. But if you get it, a chance opens up to win the game with a touchdown and extra point (which is exactly how this game played out). Matt LaFleur admitted he didn’t like the playcall on the two-point conversion but rolled with it, knowing Love could extend the play if necessary. He did just that, buying time before firing the ball to Samori Toure against Marshon Lattimore’s coverage. Lattimore had no clue the ball was coming. 17-11.
Third down stop
Protecting a six-point lead, the Saints quickly went three-and-out. On 3rd-and-4, Rashan Gary and Preston Smith hurried Jameis Winston into what looked like a throwaway. The Saints’ drive took up all of 1:36 off the clock, and the Packers took over at the 20-yard line following a special teams penalty.
Love scrambles for 24 yards
After A.J. Dillon converted a 3rd-and-1, Love stepped up in the pocket and away from pressure before scrambling down the far sideline and gaining 24 yards. Love beat Carl Granderson to the edge, and Romeo Doubs delivered a key block downfield to let Love keep moving down the sideline. Just like that, the Packers were in Saints territory.
Jordan Love to Jayden Reed for 30 yards
Maybe the best pass play of the day for the Packers arrived in a huge spot. On 2nd-and-10 from the 45, Jordan Love hit Jayden Reed for 30 yards on a vertical route from the slot. Reed beat Alontae Taylor. He got subtle separation at the end of the route and dove to make the catch. Huge play.
Love to Doubs, touchdown
.@jordan3love ➡️ @RomeoDoubs 🫶
TOUCHDOWN! 🙌 #NOvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/7THJuT36gQ
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 24, 2023
Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams or Jordan Love to Romeo Doubs? Only the numbers on the uniforms provided the difference. A terrific route from Doubs, a perfect back-shoulder throw from Love and a spinning, well-controlled catch from Doubs provided the game-winning play. 18-17.
3rd-and-8 sets up missed field goal
The Saints marched into field goal range but faced 3rd-and-8 from the 30-yard line. A conversion could have put the Packers in a bad spot. Instead, the defense delivered a stop. The Saints tried to run a combo route but Darnell Savage diagnosed it, flew downhill and stopped Michael Thomas after a 2-yard gain. The tackle set up a 46-yard field goal for Blake Grupe, a rookie kicker. There’s nothing easy about a 46-yarder at Lambeau Field. Grupe missed wide right. Game over.
