NFL
Who won Thursday Night Football Week 8?
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers handed the Arizona Cardinals their first loss of the season despite having two top receivers on the COVID list.
It was the marquee match up of Week 8, albeit a touch watered down because of injuries to both teams, especially the Packers, but Aaron Rodgers found a way to lead Green the 24-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night.
Packers do it with out top two WRs
The big story coming into the primetime game was the Green Bay wide receiving core who were decimated by COVID. Rodgers was without two of his top receiving options, being forced to play with two wideouts that had a combined three catches coming into the new season.
The absence of Devante Adams and Allen Lazar didn’t stop Rodgers from throwing for two touchdowns and leading the Packers to victory on a night in which he had under 200 yards passing
The night got off to a slow start as the the Cardinals were the only ones to score in the first quarter. Kyler Murray hit DeAndre Hopkins on a huge pass down the left sideline on the games first scoring drive.
Jones needed to be great and was
Green Bay responded with 10 points of their own in the second quarter to take the lead going into half time. Aaron Jones, who was going to have to be big with two of the top receiving targets out with COVID issues, went for over a hundred yards of total offense with a rushing touchdown.
After a muffed punt by Arizona, the defense held the Packers on a goal -to-go situation, giving Green Bay a 10-7 lead in to the halftime break after a Mason Crosby chip shot.
Murray was picked off deep in Arizona territory on the third play of the second quarter. It took the Packers just five plays and 14 yards. The TD pass to Randall Cobb would be the first of four consecutive scoring drives.
Murray and Ertz looking dangerous already
Murray followed up the Packers short touchdown drive by hitting Zach Ertz on a 20 yard pass play to bring the the Cardinals back to a three point deficit at 17-14 going into the fourth quarter.
The Packers scored on the first play of the fourth quarter to extend the lead to a two possession ball game after Rodgers connected with his one time favorite receiver Randall `Cobb for a second time.
It took the Cardinals under five minutes to answer back, and bring the Packers lead with in a field goal after James Conners 9 yard touchdown run.
Douglas game winning interception with 15 seconds left
The Packers drove all the way down the field and had a chance to ice the game but failed to convert on a 4th and 1 from the Arizona 1 yard line and it left a small window of opportunity open for the Cardinals to march down the field and either tie or take the lead.
Murray went 12 plays and 94 yards in three minutes only to have his would be game winning pass intercepted by Rasul Douglas in the end zone with 15 seconds left on the clock.
In the end the Packers held on to for their seventh win straight win while handing the Cardinals their first defeat of the year and drawing level at the top of the NFC at 7-1.