Mason Crosby hit a game winning 31 yard field goal on the last play of overtime on Sunday, in lifting the Green Bay Packers to a 27-24 win over the New England Patriots at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
With Mac Jones injured, Brian Hoyer would get the nod to start at quarterback for New England. Hoyer though left the game in the first quarter with a head injury and didn’t return, setting up the first NFL appearance for fourth round draft pick Bailey Zappe. The Patriots had the lead three times in the contest, with the first one coming on a Nick Folk field goal on the games first possession. After wide receiver Christian Watson scored on a 15 yard run in the first quarter for Green Bay, the guests would take a 10-7 lead into halftime when Jack Jones intercepted Aaron Rodgers and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown very late in the second quarter.
The Packers (3-1) took the lead back on a Rodgers 20 yard scoring pass to Robert Tonyan early in the third quarter. In what was a back and forth second half, Zappe responded with his first career TD pass of 25 yards to Davante Parker for a 17-14 Patriots lead. Crosby tied it for Green Bay with a 38 yard field goal with nine seconds left in the third quarter. Damien Harris gave the guests their final lead with a five yard touchdown run 3:41 into the fourth. Rodgers helped tie it back up with a 13 yard touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs with 6:17 left in regulation. That TD pass was the 500th in Rodgers career (including playoffs), just the fifth QB to ever accomplish that feat. The game would go to the extra session, and the hosts with their second possession of overtime would get into field goal position for Crosby. That game winning drive was helped by a Rodgers 11 yard pass to Randall Cobb on a 3rd down and short, and also a seven yard run by AJ Dillon on a 3rd and 3 at the New England 21 yard line.
Hoyer would finish 5-6 passing for 37 yards before leaving with the injury. Zappe would go 10-15 for 99 yards and a touchdown, and also lost a fumble after being sacked. Harris had 18 rushes for 86 yards and a score, and Rhamondre Stevenson added 14 carries for 66 yards. Stevenson also had four catches for 23 yards. Nelson Agholor had the most receiving yards with three grabs for 46 yards. Adrian Phillips had six total tackles to lead the defense, while Jones had three and added the interception for a touchdown. Rodgers passed for 251 yards (21-35) with two touchdowns and one interception in the win for Green Bay. The Packers rushed for 199 yards led by Aaron Jones who had 110. Allen Lazard had six receptions for 116 yards. New England is now 1-3 and is back at home to play the 1-3 Detroit Lions next Sunday.
