Safety Xavier McKinney grabs his second INT of the year
Wes Hodkiewicz
GREEN BAY - Packers safety Xavier McKinney intercepted Carolina quarterback Bryce Young in the end zone and Brandon McManus made two field goals, but Green Bay still trails the Panthers 7-6 at halftime.
Packers and Panthers scoreless after first quarter
Carolina won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. Rico Dowdle was tackled a yard short of the first down after replay assistance. Carolina went for it on fourth-and-1 but punted after a Tommy Tremble holding penalty.
Starting at their own 28, Green Bay moved across midfield on a 7-yardEmanuel Wilsonrun on second-and-5.Tucker Kraftcaught a 10-yard pass on a crossing route beforeJosh Jacobsbusted an 18-yard gain up the middle to the Carolina 16.
On the next play,Savion Williamsfumbled on a screen pass. It was forced and recovered by Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom.
A pair of 16-yard pass to Tet McMillian helped push Carolina into Packers' territory. The quarter ended with the Panthers facing second-and-7 at the Green Bay 15.
It was announced at the end of the first quarter that left guardAaron Bankshas a stinger and is questionable to return.
Panthers lead Packers 7-6 at halftime
SafetyXavier McKinneygot a strip sack of Young after coming on a blitz, but Panthers running back Chubb Hubbard corralled the loose ball and gained eight yards.
Micah Parsonstackled Dowdle for a 2-yard loss on the next play. On third-and-6, Young threw a wayward ball the back of the end zone that McKinney picked off for a touchback.
Green Bay was facing a third-and-11 whenJordan Loveconnected withChristian Watsonfor 51 yards. Love surpassed 10,000 passing yards for his career on the pass. Achieving the feat on his 1,308th pass attempt, Love became the second fastest in team history to hit 10,000 passing yards behind Aaron Rodgers (1,299).
After two false starts and a sack, Green Bay settled for a 49-yardBrandon McManusfield goal to put the Packers up 3-0 with 7 minutes, 53 seconds left in the first half.
Dowdle broke a 29-yard run on the first play of the next drive. Young converted on third-and-5 with a 22-yard pass to Xavier Legette. Dowdle gained the necessary yard on a fourth-and-1 carry up the middle at the Green Bay 6.
The Panthers pulled ahead 7-3 with a 5-yard Dowdle touchdown run with 2:22 left in the first half, completing the 10-play, 76-yard scoring drive.
The Packers started their next series at the 42 after a 33-yard Williams return. Green Bay reached the two-minute warning after Jacobs gained eight yards. The Packers were called for two holding penalties, leading to Matt LaFleur using his first timeout with 56 seconds left and Green Bay facing second-and-20 at its own 42.
Love got out of it, though, with a 30-yard pass to Doubs across the middle.Chris Brooks, who was in pass pro on the pass toRomeo Doubs, then leaked out for a 16-yard check down to the Carolina 12.
The Packers used their second timeout with 10 seconds remaining after a 4-yard pass to Jacobs. Love and Doubs couldn't connect on third-and-6 and McManus made a 27-yard field goal to cut Carolina's lead to 7-6 at halftime.
