By Eric Goska
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| Aaron Jones, shown here in a preseason game, rushed for 127 yards against the Panthers. (photo by Eric Goska) |
Over the years, the Packers have played dozens of teams that had
10 or more losses. In most cases, Green Bay prevailed.
This tradition of dispatching bottom feeders continued –
barely –as the Green and Gold staved off Carolina 33-30 at Bank of America
Stadium. The win was hard earned as the Packers had to weather a last-ditch
effort by the Panthers that came within a whisker of forcing overtime.
Teams with 10 or more losses can be ticking time bombs. With little to lose, they can play loose and take chances.
With the worst record in the NFL, the Panthers have embraced
the role of spoiler. A week before hosting the Packers, they dealt a blow to
Atlanta’s postseason aspirations by edging the Falcons 9-7.
Sunday, they did their best to upend Green Bay’s run for the playoffs.
The Packers first encountered a 10-game loser on Nov. 27,
1930 when they, with a record of 8-2, traveled to Philadelphia to face the
Yellow Jackets (4-11-1). Red Dunn threw three touchdown passes as Green Bay
romped 25-7.
A year later, the Pack (11-1) took on the Dodgers (2-10) at
Ebbets Field. Verne Lewellen’s 1-yard scoring plunge proved the difference as Green
Bay escaped with a 7-0 triumph.
With 14-game (or fewer) schedules in effect from 1932
through 1977, the Packers only faced six 10-game losers during those 46 seasons. They went 5-1 with the
lone loss coming in Atlanta where the Falcons (2-11) beat them in the 1974
season finale.
Most of the contests involving 10-game losers have come
after the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. Green Bay has faced 29 such
opponents in the last 45 seasons.
Overall, Green Bay is 30-7 against teams with 10 or more
losses. The last Packers stumble against a win-starved club occurred on Jan. 9, 2022
when the Lions (2-13-1) toppled them 37-30 to close out the 2021 campaign.
That’s the only time the Green and Gold has dropped a decision
to a team with 12 or more losses.
In Charlotte, Jordan Love’s 5-yard TD toss to Romeo Doubs on
the first play of the fourth quarter gave Green Bay a 30-16 lead. But the game
was far from over as that period is the one in which the Packers have yielded
the most yardage.
Sure enough, Bryce Young, came alive in the final 15
minutes. He completed 13 of 17 passes for 177 yards and two scores (148.4
rating) to pull Carolina into a 30-30 tie with four minutes, five seconds
remaining.
Even after Anders Carlson’s 32-yard field goal put Green Bay
in front 33-30, Young didn’t blink. With 19 seconds and no timeouts
remaining, the rookie from Alabama completed consecutive passes of 22 yards to
D.J. Chark Jr. and Adam Thielen to reach the Packers’ 31-yard line.
But time ran out before Young could spike the ball to stop
the clock. Instead of Eddie Pineiro taking the field to attempt a 49-yard field
goal, the officials declared the game over.
At 7-8, Green Bay still has a chance to reach the playoffs.
To get there, Green Bay will have to defeat the Bears (6-9) who could have 10
losses when the teams meet to wrap up the regular season in a couple of weeks.
Green Bay is 6-0 in games against Bears teams that have had 10 or more losses.
How Green Bay has fared against teams with 12 or more losses.
0-15 Lions Dec. 28, 2008 GB won, 31-21
1-14 Cowboys Dec. 24, 1989 GB won, 20-10
2-13 Lions Dec. 15, 1979 GB won, 18-13
2-13 Buccaneers Dec. 22, 1985 GB won, 20-17
2-13-1 Lions Jan. 9, 2022 GB lost, 30-37
0-12 Browns Dec. 10, 2017 GB won, 27-21
2-12 Buccaneers Dec. 12, 1983 GB won, 12-9
2-12 Buccaneers Dec. 14, 1986 GB won, 21-7
2-12 Buccaneers Dec. 21, 2014 GB won, 20-3
2-12 Panthers Dec. 24, 2023 GB won, 33-30
3-12 Vikings Dec. 16, 1984 GB won, 38-14
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