Packers avoid disastrous loss, edge Jaguars

Updated: Nov. 15, 6:30 p.m.

The Green Bay Packers held on in the final seconds for a tight 24-20 win over the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

The Packers’ defense turned in one of its best showings of the season and capped it off by posting a couple of sacks on the game’s final possession to help the hosts hold on and move to 7-2 overall.

Green Bay’s offense racked up nearly 400 total yards of offense, but two costly turnovers — and a special teams touchdown allowed — allowed Jacksonville to hang around. The Pack took the lead for good on a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to receiver Davante Adams.

“Obviously, we’re happy with the win, although we didn’t play our best and we all know that,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur. “I think we recognize that. We didn’t play to our standard. There’s a lot of improvement out there for us.

“But anytime you win in this league you’ve got to enjoy that. You’ve got to give a lot of credit to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They came ready to play. They showed more emotion than we did. They battled and you’ve got to give them a lot of credit.”

It was a slow start to the contest for the Packers’ offense on a cold and windy day from Lambeau.

After accumulating just 51 yards in the first quarter, the Packers flipped the script in the second quarter. With the wind at their backs, Rodgers unleashed a deep ball to receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who made the catch and then eluded a pair of defenders — getting some help from a referee who got in the way — on his way to a 78-yard touchdown.

Later in the quarter, a booming but line drive 59-yard punt from Packers punter J.K. Scott gave Jaguars returner Keelan Cole Sr. a chance to make a play. The receiver broke through the Packers coverage and eventually got past Scott for a 91-yard touchdown to give the visitors the lead again.

Green Bay’s offense responded with a 13-play, 81-yard scoring drive to get the lead right back though.

Valdes-Scantling caught a 22-yard pass to convert one third down on the drive before running back Jamaal Williams converted two others — one on a 12-yard pass and the other on a 1-yard run. The drive was capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by Rodgers.

The Packers defense got their offense the ball right back, as safety Adrian Amos intercepted a pass from Jacksonville rookie QB Jake Luton.

Green Bay had to settle for a 39-yard field goal from kicker Mason Crosby and took a 17-10 lead into the break.

Green Bay’s defense forced a punt to open the second half. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Rodgers hit Adams for a 20-plus yard gain before the receiver fumbled and the Jaguars recovered.

It led to a 12-yard touchdown pass from Luton to Cole to tie the game.

A couple possessions later — when Adams was out of the game with an ankle injury — Rodgers threw an interception while targeting Valdes-Scantling on a third-and-eight play.

That turnover led to a Jacksonville field goal, which put the visitors up 20-17 early in the fourth quarter.

Rodgers and the offense bounced back in a hurry though, putting together a 75-yard drive in just over three-and-a-half minutes.

Rodgers found tight end Robert Tonyan for a big third-down conversion before running back Aaron Jones broke off a 20-yard run and Rodgers found MVS for an 18-yard completion. Rodgers then found Adams on first-and-goal off a nice play fake.

Green Bay’s defense continued its strong game by forcing a punt on the next possession, but the offense couldn’t seal the game up, so the defense stepped back onto the field.

The Jaguars got all the way to the Green Bay 36-yard line before outside linebacker Rashan Gary sacked Luton to bring up third-and-16. Fellow OLB Preston Smith then sacked Luton to make it fourth-and-26 and the rookie threw an incompletion the next play after more heavy pressure from the Packers.

“We had to get the win,” said Amos of the late stop. “We (weren’t) always in situations where we wanted to be but those are the type of games where defense has got to show up and make those stops.”

Along with allowing only 260 total yards and getting a takeaway, the Packers’ defense only allowed the Jaguars to convert four of their 13 fourth-down chances.

Linebacker Christian Kirksey led the team with seven combined tackles in his return to the lineup. Cornerback Chandon Sullivan had six tackles in his expanded role with fellow CBs Kevin King and Jaire Alexander out with injuries. Along with the two late sacks, outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith also registered a sack.

On the offensive side of the ball, Rodgers completed 24 of his 34 attempts for 325 yards and the two scores. Valdes-Scantling had four catches for 149 yards, while Adams had six receptions for 66 yards.

The Packers run game was limited to 80 yards on 25 attempts, with Jones leading the way with 46 rush yards. Jones finished with 95 total yards, while Williams was at 55 total yards.

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