Packers vs. Panthers: Highlights, game tracker and more

The Green Bay Packers faced the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 17 in Week 15 of the 2017 NFL season. Here are highlights from the game.

The Green Bay Packers (7-6) received an early Christmas present this week when quarterback Aaron Rodgers announced he was cleared to return and will play in this week’s all-important tilt against the Carolina Panthers (9-4). Rodgers, who broke his collarbone earlier in the season in a loss at Minnesota, gives the Packers a chance to beat anyone.

With that said, Rodgers doesn’t play defense and Cam Newton and the Panthers offense made quick work of a struggling Green Bay defensive unit. They pieced together a 15-play drive on their first series of the game, which culminated in a touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey, who was big on the drive. However, the Pack did answer as Rodgers found Davante Adams for the score to even it up.

Rodgers would then strike again for the Packers late in the second quarter, thanks in large part to Randall Cobb. The shifty wideout put the moves on the Panthers secondary and found his way into the end zone with under a minute left in the first half. That gave Green Bay a 14-10 lead gong into the locker room.

However, the Carolina offense and Newton in particular found their rhythm after the break. A quick seven-play drive ended with Greg Olsen — who had a monster day — wide-open for a touchdown. Meanwhile, Rodgers looked rusty as he threw three interceptions on the day, with the Panthers capitalized on, as Newton scored again with a circus-catch from Damiere Byrd to go up 24-14.

Byrd caught another score early in the fourth quarter after a Mason Crosby field goal made it a one-score game. But that only set up some dramatics at the end of regulation. Rodgers found Richard Rodgers for 24 yards and a touchdown as the Packers pulled within seven points with about 2:45 left on the clock. They then recovered the onside kick, setting up more heroics.

However, Geronimo Allison ruined that storybook ending. He made a catch on a pass from the returning quarterback, but was then stripped, and the Panthers recovered to seal the big win for Carolina.

Highlights

Next: NFL Week 15: Fatal flaw of each current playoff team

The Panthers enter this weekend’s game winners of five of their previous six games. Last week’s win over Minnesota was impressive. The Vikings were the hottest team in the league before last week. Green Bay, meanwhile, has been surviving. The Packers lost their first three games without Rodgers, but have found ways to win in recent weeks. Playing Tampa Bay and Cleveland probably helped the Pack.