Packers Come Up Short in Low-Possession Game

 By Eric Goska

Even St. Vince couldn't help the Packers against the Panthers.
(photos by Eric Goska)

Possessions were at a premium Sunday at Lambeau Field.

In a game that boasted fewer drives than any other in the stadium’s history, Carolina outlasted Green Bay 16-13. Ryan Fitzgerald’s 49-yard field goal as time expired proved the difference.

A 13.5 point favorite, the Packers were expected to make quick work of the Panthers. Instead, they seized up in the red zone, settling for field goals or worse when more was needed.

Green Bay registered only one touchdown in its five trips beyond Carolina’s 20-yard line. That success came late as Josh Jacobs crashed into the end zone from a yard out to knot the score at 13-13 with two minutes, 32 seconds remaining.

The Panthers countered by using eight plays and the remaining clock to set up Fitzgerald’s game-winning field goal.

Early in the game, Fox color analyst Greg Olsen offered his take on what Carolina needed to do to win.

“I think the best way to stop this Green Bay offense right now with the way they’re humming is just let Jordan Love and company stand on the sidelines.”

Though Love and the Packers won the time of possession battle by 20 seconds, they, like the Panthers, only mounted seven drives. Each was of utmost importance.

Twice, Green Bay squandered possessions with turnovers. Savion Williams lost a fumble at the Carolina 16 midway through the first quarter and Love threw an interception into traffic midway through the third.

Twice, the Packers came up empty on fourth down. Brandon McManus missed a 43-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter and Love failed to connect with Romeo Doubs from the Panthers 13 early in the fourth quarter.

Carolina also failed to come away with points on four of its advances. But the Panthers fared better in the red zone with Rico Dowdle registering rushing touchdowns on two of its three trips there.

Coming out of halftime, Olsen said this of Carolina.

“The Panthers did exactly what we said they should do, right? They want to make this a low-possession game, kind of muddy it up, make it ugly, because it’s probably your best chance of hanging in there and being competitive down the stretch.”

Low-possession game indeed. The 14 combined drives by Green Bay and Carolina set the record for the fewest in any regular-season game at Lambeau Field.

This type of game is becoming more common. Fewer turnovers, better field position following kickoffs, high-percentage passing attacks, and more fourth-down conversions have paved the way for longer, more time-consuming drives.

The number of games in which the Packers have had fewer than 10 possessions has gone up from 38 between 1975 and 2010 to 43 in the last 15 years. Green Bay is 25-18 in such games since 2011.

The Packers’ next opponent, Philadelphia, knows how to limit the competition. It has held four opponents to fewer than 10 possessions this season while notching victories over the Cowboys, Chiefs, Vikings and Giants.

Dispossessed
Fewest offensive possessions by Green Bay and its opponent in a regular-season game at Lambeau Field.
No.        Date (possessions by team)              Result
14           Nov. 2, 2025 (GB 7, Panthers 7)               GB lost, 13-16

15           Nov. 1, 2020 (GB 8, Vikings 7)                  GB lost, 22-28
15           Dec. 3, 2023 (GB 7, Chiefs 8)                    GB won, 27-19
16           Sept. 10, 1989 (GB 8, Buccaneers 8)       GB lost, 21-23
16           Oct. 5, 2003 (GB 8, Seahawks 8)             GB won, 35-13