In the extensive history of football, an NFL preseason game has rarely assumed a more inconsequential guise than the Green Bay Packers’ recent match against the New England Patriots under the lights of Lambeau Field.
As the fourth quarter clock ticked down to 10 minutes and 29 seconds, a pivotal third-down conversion was executed by Green Bay’s Sean Clifford, connecting with Malik Heath. Yet, the significance of this play was eclipsed by the unfortunate collision involving Isaiah Bolden, a rookie cornerback from Jackson State, and his teammate Calvin Munson. The immediacy of the situation made it evident that this was no ordinary injury incident.
Within moments, a flurry of trainers swarmed the field. A few minutes later, Isaiah Bolden was gingerly transported off the field, his arms immobilized. Those anticipating a hopeful thumbs-up gesture were met with disappointment.
In the midst of tending to Bolden’s injury, a conversation unfolded between Packers coach Matt LaFleur and Patriots coach Bill Belichick. With Bolden being escorted to the locker room, LaFleur and Belichick made their way to the Patriots’ huddle. Shortly thereafter, the pronouncement was made that the game was to be suspended.
Amidst the ensuing silence, the crowd dispersed, offering muted applause as they filed towards the exits. It was a moment of unparalleled hush, unusual for a gathering of thousands.
Displayed on the scoreboard was a seemingly inconsequential score: Patriots 21, Packers 17. It stood as a testament to the game’s insignificance.
Within the realm of the match itself, Packers quarterbacks Jordan Love and Clifford continued their commendable preseason performances.
Over the course of three series, Love achieved a completion rate of 5 out of 8 passes, amassing 84 yards and securing a touchdown. The final flourish of his performance was a 19-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Reed. The well-executed throw came after AJ Dillon thwarted an impending blitzer, allowing Love to unleash a precise pass to the rookie receiver, who managed to grab the ball at the 5-yard line, evade a tackle, and triumphantly score.
Meanwhile, Clifford, who had previously achieved a 20-of-26 record with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a recent match against Cincinnati, maintained his momentum by completing 8 out of 11 passes for 78 yards in the opening half. His contributions resulted in three possessions yielding a touchdown – Patrick Taylor’s 8-yard run after eluding former first-round selection Josh Uche – and a 52-yard field goal courtesy of Anders Carlson on the half’s final play. Impressively, six of his 11 preseason possessions thus far had culminated in points for the Packers.
The initial half saw its own share of highlights: Romeo Doubs’ stunning 42-yard catch along the sideline set the stage for Love’s touchdown drive. This feat notably overshadowed Doubs’ longest catch during his rookie season, which had spanned only 26 yards. Clifford’s touchdown drive commenced with a sack-strip executed by second-year outside linebacker Kingsley Enagbare. Additionally, Carlson adeptly secured two extra points and a field goal.
Acknowledging the inherent lack of significance in preseason outcomes – a fact underscored by this instance – the Packers, amidst their transition following the off-season trade involving Aaron Rodgers, have their focus fixed on Love. In two games, he has achieved a 12-of-18 passing record, accumulating 139 yards along with two touchdowns. Following a practice session that saw him throw two interceptions on Thursday, Love managed to navigate Saturday’s encounter without any interception threats, though he did encounter a mishandled shotgun snap alongside center Josh Myers during the initial series.
Equally significant is the composition of Love’s cohort of emerging receivers. Doubs’ exceptional elongated reception showcased a remarkable aesthetic quality. Initially, the officiating authorities ruled him to have traversed out of bounds. However, it was coach Matt LaFleur who opted to challenge this judgment, and as events unfolded, it became evident that Doubs indeed managed to establish contact with the field through his left foot, even as he was being pulled towards its periphery. Reed, positioned as the second selection among the team’s second-round picks, harnessed his velocity to create openings and seamlessly extended his noteworthy streak into the summer season, commemorating the occasion with his inaugural Lambeau Leap.
During the final act of the third quarter, the Patriots secured a 21-17 lead in a decisive play. This unfolded through the actions of second-year quarterback Bailey Zappe, who effortlessly maneuvered around the right end to achieve a 6-yard touchdown on a pivotal fourth-and-2 situation. It is important to note that Brenton Cox’s inward trajectory in his pursuit allowed him to be forcefully brought down by the right tackle, thereby creating an unobstructed path for Zappe to achieve the score.
In response, Clifford promptly orchestrated a decisive reaction. Benefitting from impeccable protective measures, he delivered a precisely executed 25-yard strike to Heath, who showcased exceptional elevation amidst a crowd of defenders, thereby effecting a pivotal play. The subsequent sequence witnessed back-side slanting maneuvers directed towards Cody Chrest and Heath, resulting in consecutive third-down conversions. It is notable, however, that the pass to Heath ultimately marked the culmination of the night’s proceedings.