Love Throws Three Touchdowns as Packers Beat Panthers 27-19

The Green Bay Packers beat the Carolina Panthers 27-19 on Thursday night at Lambeau Field, improving to 5-3. Jordan Love did most of the work, going 30 of 41 for 288 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception.

Love's touchdowns went to three different players: tight end Tucker Kraft, receiver Matthew Golden and running back Josh Jacobs. Jacobs scored twice himself, catching a four-yard pass and running in from one yard out. He carried 21 times for 39 yards, so most of his impact came near the goal line and in the passing game.

Carolina fell to 3-4. Bryce Young went 23 of 31 for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His 26-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker with 5:37 left cut the lead to 27-19. His two-point try, a bonus play from the 2-yard line, was incomplete, and that was the last real chance for the Panthers. Chuba Hubbard ran for 81 yards on 22 carries and scored, and he caught seven passes for 38 more.

The biggest scare came in the second quarter. Christian Watson hurt his chest after a 53-yard catch and was taken to a local hospital, according to The Guardian. Doctors cleared him, and he came back late in the third quarter. He finished as the game's top receiver with 113 yards on eight catches.

Carolina lost a defender on the same sequence. Cornerback Will Lee hurt his hamstring and was carted to the locker room. The Panthers already had three other cornerbacks on injured reserve, a designation that keeps players out for an extended stretch: Akayleb Evans, Mike Jackson and Jaycee Horn.

The night also had a champion's touch. Brandon Woodruff held the Commissioner's Trophy over his head during a timeout before the second quarter. Several Milwaukee Brewers, including Christian Yelich and Jacob Misiorowski, were honored at the stadium a night after the Brewers won the franchise's first World Series title.

For Green Bay, the win keeps a respectable season moving in the right direction. For Carolina, it is another close loss to add to a 3-4 record. Watson's health and Love's passing will be the things to watch as both teams turn toward their next games.