Packers beat Bengals in OT thriller

PACKERS 27 

BENGALS 24

OT 

Green Bay, W.I. ~  With lots of key players unavailable including, their best offensive lineman out and their two best defensive players, the Green Bay Packers were going to have to edge out a win against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.  That’s exactly what Aaron Rodgers and the Packers did, gutting out a 27-24 victory in overtime.

The Bengals, who hired offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, looked very good against the Packer defense early, racking up 21 first quarter points. Cincinnati scored touchdowns in two of their first three drives and got their third on a pick six.

Meanwhile, the Packer offense struggled mightily in the first half after a first possession touchdown. After that drive, Green Bay had drives of -7, -4, and 9.

The offensive line didn’t help matters either, specifically Kyle Murphy. He had no chance against Carl Lawson, who finished the afternoon with 2.5 sacks. The line allowed the Bengals to 6 sacks, 5 in the first half.

 

Green Bay got the ball to start off the second half and they cut their deficit to 21-14, on a Rodgers back foot toss to Jordy Nelson. Lance Kendricks had 51-yard catch-and-run play on that drive to put them in scoring position.

Heading into the last two minutes it was 24-17, Cincinnati as the two teams both kicked field goals. Rodgers and the Pack caught a big break win Joe Mixon slipped while carrying the ball on 3rd & 1, giving the Green N’ Gold a chance to tie it up.

Highlighted by some nice catches by Geronimo Allison, the MVP led Green Bay down the field with some dazzling throws down-field. A perfect throw and catch from Rodgers to Jordy Nelson on the 6-yardline tied the game up at 24. It was an inch a way from touching Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick but Nelson made the diving catch. The Game was headed to overtime.

 

The Bengals got the ball first in OT and were about to convert on 3rd down when rookie Josh Jones made a clutch tackle in open-field to get the ball back to Aaron Rodgers.

On 3rd & 10 Rodgers caught the Bengals offside and found Allison open down field. Allison did the rest of the work, cutting in and out an  in between  Bengal defenders for a 72-yard gain.

Click here to see Allison amazing catch and run. 

Mason Crosby then nailed a 27-yard field goal through the uprights and the Packers won, 27-24.

Blake Martinez, Josh Jones, and Ahmad Brooks set the tone for the Packers wih cluch defense.