Packers look sloppy but rally in fourth quarter to beat Cardinals, improve to 4-1-1

GLENDALE, Ariz. − It might have taken a five-hour flight delay, but the Green Bay Packers learned two valuable lessons about themselves Oct. 19 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Most important, the Packers showed they can win on the road in their 27-23 victory at State Farm Stadium. After a loss to Cleveland and a tie to Dallas last month, it was their first road victory of the season.

It was how the Packers reached victory that might be even more important as the season progresses. In each of their first five games, the Packers started with a double-digit lead before ever allowing a point. On Sunday, they had to play from a deficit for the first time.

After falling behind 13-3 before halftime, the Packers played catchup for the first time this season. It wasn’t until inside the 2-minute warning that the Packers had their first and only lead against the Cardinals.

Here are some highlights:

Matt LaFleur’s biggest decision this season leads to win

With less than 3 minutes left, trailing by a field goal and squarely within Lucas Havrisik’s range, Matt LaFleur sent his kicking unit onto the field.

Then he called timeout.

It was a difficult decision, whether to tie or ride an offense that looked disjointed for much of the game. The Packers clearly are missing something in their passing game without Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. Even more, running back Josh Jacobs was on a snap count, playing through a calf injury.

LaFleur decided to go with his franchise quarterback instead of the kicker who has looked really good replacing Brandon McManus but has been in town for only two weeks. Jordan Love connected with tight end Tucker Kraft for 15 yards to the left sideline, extending a drive that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown for Jacobs to take their first lead of the game.

It was Jacobs’ third straight game scoring two rushing touchdowns.

It was Love’s biggest throw of the day, especially considering the Cardinals would need only one first down to seal a win after LaFleur burned his second timeout of the half. Love finished 19-of-29 passing for 179 yards, one touchdown and a 93.9 rating.

Havrisik still had his moment to shine.

Packers capitalize on new NFL rules to steal 3 critical points before halftime

With 7 seconds before halftime, the Packers’ offense took the field at their own 35-yard line because of a touchback. A year ago, the possession would have started at the 30, but the Cardinals’ kickoff reached the end zone. That meant 5 extra yards.

It still seemed like a situation where an offense might simply take a knee and regroup after a dismal first half. The Packers trailed 13-3 after allowing a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Trey McBride. But a rule change allowing kickers to use the same ball they practice with during the week on gamedays has pushed out field-goal range longer than ever before.

So LaFleur decided to take a shot. Jordan Love found receiver Romeo Doubs over the middle for 22 yards, driving the Packers to the Cardinals’ 43-yard line with 1 second left. After a timeout, Havrisik split the uprights from 61 yards to steal 3 points, cutting the Packers’ deficit to a touchdown entering halftime. It was a Packers franchise record.

It put a lot of faith in Havrisik, who the Packers signed two weeks ago before playing the Bengals as a replacement for injured kicker Brandon McManus. With McManus missing his second straight game because of a quadriceps injury on his kicking leg, Havrisik came through again. He has now made all 10 of his kicks, including four field goals, the past two weeks.

Rashan Gary ends sack drought and Packers takeaway drought on same play

The Packers were two days short of a full month since their last takeaway when Rashan Gary ended that drought in the third quarter. Perhaps not a coincidence, they also were two days short of a full month since Gary’s last sack.

That changed when Gary stripped the football from Jacoby Brissett. Safety Evan Williams recovered the loose ball, setting up a Packers touchdown to tie the score at 13 apiece.

The Packers entered Sunday with only two takeaways this season, their last coming on Xavier McKinney’s interception before halftime against the Cleveland Browns. It was that same game Gary had his last sack before Sunday. He now has a team-high 5.5 this season.

The Packers also got plenty of rush from Micah Parsons in his first multi-sack game in green and gold. Parsons unofficially had 10 pressures and five quarterback hits with his three sacks, the second coming on third-and-goal to force a late field goal. The third came on the Cardinals’ final drive.

This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers look sloppy but rally to beat Cardinals, improve to 4-1-1