By Eric Goska
 |
| (photos by Eric Goska) |
Invisible fencing can teach a family pet to stay within a
set boundary.
In a similar vein, stingy defense and ball-control offense can
prevent an opponent from straying too far.
Green Bay erected its version of an unseen wall during
the first half of its 27-18 victory over the Bengals Sunday at Lambeau Field.
In holding Cincinnati scoreless in the opening two quarters, the Packers allowed their visitors to run just one play from beyond midfield.
Allowing an opponent to run no more than one play from beyond the 50 during the
opening 30 minutes of play is not an everyday occurrence. The Packers have
turned the trick 24 times since 1952, going 22-1-1 in those games.
Green Bay is undefeated at Lambeau Field when playing this
type of game. Its record at the stadium, which opened in 1957, is 11-0-1.
Despite facing Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, perhaps the best receiving duo in the NFL, Green Bay allowed Cincinnati to run but one play from beyond the 50 prior to halftime. No easy feat when three Bengals drives began at their own 36-, 37- and 40-yard lines.
But starting so close to the 50 did nothing for the Ohioans. Green Bay forced three three-and-outs and surrendered all of four yards on nine plays.
Not until one minute, six seconds remained in the second
quarter did quarterback Joe Flacco marshal his teammates into Packers
territory. The bulk of Cincinnati’s first-half yards (44) came on this advance
which saw Flacco spike the ball from the Green Bay 49 to kill the clock with
one second remaining.
From there, Evan McPherson would have connected on a
record-setting 67-yard field goal that hit the crossbar and fell over, but the
Packers had called a timeout. McPherson came up short on his second attempt
from that distance.
While the Packers played stout defense, their offense
engaged in a game of keep away. In running 38 offensive plays, Jordan Love and
his teammates controlled the ball for 21:44. They possessed it for 13 minutes
in the first quarter alone.
The second half, as any nail-biting Packers fan will tell you, was a different story. Cincinnati ran 27 of its 40 plays in Green Bay territory and gained 109 yards.
Flacco completed 14 of 22 passes for 98 yards and two
touchdowns (104.0 rating) beyond the 50 in the second half. His scoring strikes
to Tanner Hudson and Chase pulled the Bengals to within one score in the third
and fourth quarters, respectively.
But Green Bay countered with 99 yards on 14 plays in Cincinnati territory. Jacobs scored on a 14-yard run and Tucker Kraft hauled in a 19-yard TD pass to keep the Packers out front until newcomer Lucas Havrisik all but put the game out of reach with a 39-yard field goal with 1:52 to play.
On Oct. 20, 1994, Green Bay permitted the Vikings but one play beyond the 50 in the first half in the Metrodome, but wound up losing 13-10 in overtime.
The 12 regular-season games at Lambeau Field in which
the Packers allowed their opponent to run either zero or
one offensive play from beyond the 50 in the first half.
Oct. 12, 2025 Bengals 1 GB won, 27-18
Sept. 15, 2024 Colts 1 GB won, 16-10
Dec. 4, 2016 Texans 1 GB won, 21-13
Oct. 2, 2014 Vikings 0 GB won, 42-10
Dec. 21, 2006 Vikings 0 GB won, 9-7
Nov. 10, 2002 Lions 1 GB won, 40-14
Sept. 24, 2001 Redskins 0 GB won, 37-0
Oct. 15, 1995 Lions 0 GB won, 30-21
Nov. 30, 1975 Bears 1 GB won, 28-7
Dec. 3, 1972 Lions 0 GB won, 33-7
Oct. 3, 1971 Bengals 1 GB won, 20-17
Oct. 5, 1958 Lions 1 GB tied 13-13
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