Calling the 51-yarder in under-30 time “equivalent to difficulty” with the 57-yarder inside Detroit last week in a similar critical phase of the game, Crosby remained perfectly on the field goals of the season (16-of-16 ).
Carolina returned to a one-goal game with an interesting strategy, as first-year coach Matt Rhule threw a goal in first place in the red zone with 2:04 left after a 40-meter catch and led by receiver DJ Moore (six catches, 131 meters).
With only one timeout available, Rhule wanted to get points before the two-minute warning, so the game wouldn’t come down to an onside shot, and his trick almost worked.
When his defense fired Rodgers for the fifth time this season, the Panthers recovered the ball with 55 seconds left, but a point-to-point penalty put them on their own 20, costing a valuable field position.
The Packers defense put pressure on Bridgewater (21-of-35, 258 yards, 82.8 rating) to produce a four-and-out, ultimately sealing Green Bay’s 11th win.
LaFleur complained about the inability to “get out there and put someone aside,” leaving room for widespread criticism as the Packers prepare for a much tougher opponent, the AFC playoff-bound Tennessee Titans, in eight days.
“I did,” LaFleur said. “We did what we had to do.”