Christian Watson a Star in Victory over Dallas

 By Eric Goska

Cowboys fans hoping to see Dallas blanket Packers
receiver Christian Watson left Lambeau Field disappointed.
(photos by Eric Goska)

Breakout performance or one-game wonder?

Time will tell if Christian Watson ultimately sizzles or fizzles during his career with the Packers. But for one evening at least, the rookie appeared worthy of the capital Green Bay expended to draft him.

Watson’s three touchdowns helped Green Bay slip past Dallas 31-28 in overtime at Lambeau Field thus ending the team’s five-game losing streak. The receiver’s two fourth-quarter scores erased a 14-point deficit to force the extra period.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst sent two second-round picks (Nos. 53 and 59) to Minnesota to move up to No. 34 overall and select Watson in the 2022 NFL draft. That was a considerable price to pay to land the North Dakota State product as the team sought to offset the loss of Davante Adams who signed with the Raiders.

Amid high expectations, Watson met with injury. Knee surgery sidelined the 23-year-old for much of training camp. Hamstring issues kept him out of three games (Buccaneers, Jets, Commanders). A concussion shut him down early against the Bills.

Add to that the drop heard ‘round the world – Watson failed to haul in what would have been a 75-yard scoring pass on Green Bay’s initial play of the season – and the gifted wideout had done little to excite.

That changed against the Cowboys. In his fourth start, Watson came up with four catches for 107 yards and three indispensable touchdowns.

Watson grabbed his first 6-pointer by speeding past cornerback Anthony Brown for a 58-yard TD that tied the score at 7. He hauled in his second on a 39-yard, fourth-down play to pull Green Bay to within seven at 28-21. He snagged his third, a 7-yarder, with 2 minutes, 29 seconds left in regulation, to knot the score at 28.

Watson converted a key third down the one time he failed to reach the end zone. He came away with three yards when two were needed to keep alive the 89-yard advance that he capped with his hat trick.

“Think this is Christian Watson’s coming out party?” play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt asked rhetorically after Watson scored for the third time.

“I think that’s pretty fair to say,” analyst Greg Olsen concurred.

In reaching triple digits, Watson became the 67th player since 1932 to register 100 yards receiving in a regular-season game for the Packers. More impressive, he became just the fourth to include three receiving TDs in his initial 100-yard offering.

Andy Uram was the first to do so. He counted on passes from Cecil Isbell (2) and Joe Laws (1) while totaling 174 yards on four receptions.

Uram, unlike Watson, was a veteran. The running back was in his fifth season when Green Bay blew out the Cardinals 55-24 in 1942.

Max McGee (1954) and James Lofton (1978) were rookies when they got theirs. McGee and quarterback Tobin Rote hooked up three times for 104 yards and three scores in downing the Eagles 37-14 in 1954. Lofton and David Whitehurst collaborated three times for 107 yards and 18 points in toppling the Saints 28-17 in 1978.

On Sunday, Watson played a season-high 54 snaps against the Cowboys. Allen Lazard (63) was the only Packers receiver with more.

The extended playing time appeared to boost Watson’s confidence. It certainly inflated his receiving totals for the season as he went from 10 catches for 88 yards to 14 for 195.

One hopes Watson stays healthy and enjoys a long and productive career. Lord knows, the Packers are in desperate need of something more than a one-game wonder.

Fast Getaways: One Hundred and a Hat Trick

Since 1932, the four Packers players who came away with three receiving TDs the first time they surpassed 100 yards receiving in a game.

Yards	Player	Date	Opponent	Result
174	Andy Uram	Nov. 1, 1942	Cardinals	GB won, 55-24
104	Max McGee	Oct. 30, 1954	Eagles	GB won, 37-14
107	James Lofton	Sept. 10, 1978	Saints	GB won, 28-17
107	Christian Watson	Nov. 13, 2022	Cowboys	GB won, 31-28