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5 takeaways from Packers' 27-19 win vs. Panthers: Kraft stacks success
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- 5 takeaways from Packers' 27-19 win vs. Panthers: Kraft stacks success
The Green Bay Packers beat the Carolina Panthers 27-19 at Lambeau Field to improve to 5-3 on the season. They turned what looked like a potentially comfortable victory into a bit of a nail-biter, but overall were good value for the win as they bounced back from a tough loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Here are five takeaways from Green Bay's win on "Thursday Night Football" from Lambeau Field:
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Nothing else matters when Love is cooking
There was still plenty wrong with the Packers offense on Thursday night. The run game remained lifeless despite Josh Jacobs' return, there were more drops by Matthew Golden and a fumble by Christian Watson.
But when Jordan Love is rolling like he was for most of this game, none of it seems to matter. He was in a rhythm throughout the first half and much of the second, helped by a pretty decent pocket to throw from.
Love ended the night 30 of 41 (73.2%) passing for 288 yards, three touchdowns and a pick, in a game which was another reminder that as long as he is protected, the offense will put up points.
Packers pass rush eats
Carolina's offensive line looked overmatched coming into this game, especially after losing its best two players in Taylor Moton and Damien Lewis. That is exactly how it played out, as Green Bay's defense feasted.
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Six different players had sacks, including Brenton Cox Jr. (six total pressures), Dani Dennis-Sutton (four pressures) and Lukas Van Ness (three). There were also sacks for Barryn Sorrell, Ty'Ron Hopper and Devonte Wyatt.
Jonathan Gannon kept dialing up the pressure on Bryce Young and not for the first time this year, it helped slam the door late in the game.
Offense cannot finish
The defense had to make multiple stops late in this game because the offense was not able to put the dagger into the Panthers.
Love's interception, the lone blemish on his performance, came with the Packers in field goal range, where three points would have made it a three-score game in the fourth quarter. That would have essentially ended it, but the offense could not finish and missed other chances to do so.
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This offense is a rollercoaster and is probably going to be for the rest of the season, and shutting the door is not going to be a strength of the unit due to their lack of run game. It is what it is at this point.
Tucker Kraft stacking success
Kraft may only have put up 53 yards in the win, but he made several critical catches throughout the game including the first touchdown of the game on a tight window throw from Love, as well as a sliding grab near the sideline on a scramble drill.
His six catches tied for the most in a game this season, and this was arguably his most clutch performance so far. Kraft's box score would have looked more impressive if his long catch and run on a screen late in the game was not called back for an ineligible man downfield.
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With each passing week Kraft is starting to look more and more like the 2025 version, which is an exciting prospect for the rest of the season.
Trey Smack worries remain
Smack did not do anything to dispel the concerns around his performance on Thursday night, clanging his first extra point attempt off the post with an ugly, low line drive.
He did at least settle down and make his other kicks, but the look in Smack's eyes after one of the makes, as well as a big exhale, showed the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
It did not exactly inspire confidence, and Matt LaFleur punted rather than trusting him to make a 55-yarder after the final drive. The missed extra point was the difference between this being a one-score game or a two-score game at the end, and there is a world where it came back to bite them.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: 5 takeaways from Packers' 27-19 win vs. Panthers: Kraft stacks success
