Packers Run Out the Clock on Cardinals

 By Eric Goska

(photos by Eric Goska)

The Packers have been running circles around the competition.

But until hosting Arizona, they hadn’t run a team out of town the way they did the Cardinals.

Green Bay’s ground game came alive in the fourth quarter as it dispatched Arizona 34-13 at Lambeau Field. In closing out victory, the Packers ran the football as they seldom do in the final 15 minutes of play.

Jordan Love and his bevy of talented pass catchers gave Green Bay a lead it could not afford to lose. Love matched his career best with four TD passes – two to Romeo Doubs and one each to Jayden Reed and Christian Watson – as the Packers went up 31-13 late in the third quarter.

Emanuel Wilson and his running mates then protected that cushion, ensuring the Cardinals did not rally.  The second-year back paved the way as Green Bay controlled the clock for 11 minutes, nine seconds in the fourth quarter.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur has stressed running the football more than usual this season. This emphasis may have been borne out of necessity as newcomer Malik Willis scarcely had time to unpack before twice starting in place of Love earlier this season, but this focus continues to pay dividends.

Not only is LaFleur doling out more opportunities, he’s getting more bodies involved. Seven players carried Sunday for only the third time since LeFleur arrived in 2019.

Through three quarters, Green Bay’s ground game did little to excite. Josh Jacobs led the way with 53 yards on 15 trips as the team amassed 85 yards (20 attempts), three first downs and two runs of 10 or more yards.

Cue the fourth quarter. Paced by Emanuel Wilson (47 yards on six totes), the Packers amassed 94 yards on 18 attempts. Wilson (2), Bo Melton and Chris Brooks authored gains of 10 or more yards. First downs were turned in by Wilson (2), Brooks, Tucker Kraft, Love and Melton.

And not a holding penalty to be found anywhere.

The Packers’ final drive consisted of 10 offensive plays – all runs – that erased the final 5:37 from the clock. Even with Arizona knowing what to expect, Green Bay ripped off 61 yards on the advance, a total that included two kneel-downs by Love inside the Cardinals’ red zone.

Not since powering to 12 straight while blanking the Lions 26-0 in 2009 had the Green and Gold closed out a game with more consecutive runs.

Lugging the leather with such frequency and effectiveness doesn’t happen often. But when it does, victory follows suit.

The Packers have run 18 or more times in a fourth quarter 14 times since 1950. The team is undefeated in those games.

Green Bay’s previous busiest fourth quarter under LaFleur occurred last year against the Rams. The Packers ran 16 times and gained 72 yards in knocking off Los Angeles 20-3.

Sunday was the 31st time LaFleur’s charges have run 10 or more times in the fourth quarter of a regular-season game. Green Bay is 31-0 in those contests.

Extra Point

The Packers have rushed for 1,003 yards in their first six games of 2024. The last time the team broke the 1,000-yard barrier so quickly happened in 1963 when Vince Lombardi’s club gained 1,037 yards in going 5-1.

Former Packers quarterback Lynn Dickey signed
autographs before the Packers played the Cardinals.

Running Out the Clock
Regular-season games in which Matt LaFleur’s Packers closed

with seven or more consecutive running plays.
No.      Date                             Opponent           Result
10         Oct. 13, 2024                 Cardinals              GB won, 34-13
 9          Oct. 17, 2021                  Bears                     GB won, 24-14
 7          Dec. 23, 2019                 Vikings                  GB won, 23-10
 7          Nov. 5, 2020                  49ers                     GB won, 34-17
 7          Dec. 25, 2022                 Dolphins              GB won, 26-20