Brandon McManus booted a game-winning field goal as time expired for the second straight week, and the Green Bay Packers survived an injury to quarterback Jordan Love in a 30-27 victory over the host Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon.
Playing in his second game since signing with the Packers, McManus made a 24-yard field goal to lift Green Bay (6-2) to its fourth consecutive victory. He also kicked a game-winner in his team debut last week against Houston.
Josh Jacobs ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries for the Packers. That performance was crucial after Love appeared to aggravate the left knee injury that forced him to miss two games earlier this season, and was visibly limping throughout the second quarter of Sunday’s game.
The Packers later said Love suffered a groin injury.
Malik Willis replaced Love to open the second half and finished the game.
Before exiting, Love completed 14 of 22 passes for 196 yards and an interception.
Willis threw only five passes in the second half, but completed four of them for 56 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tucker Kraft that gave the Packers a 27-17 lead with 14:06 left in the fourth quarter.
But Trevor Lawrence nearly led the Jaguars (2-6) to what would have been their third win in four games following an 0-4 start.
Lawrence completed 21 of 32 passes for 308 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for a touchdown.
With 1:48 left in the fourth, Lawrence found tight end Evan Engram for a 14-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 27.
But although the Packers leaned heavily on the running game in the second half, Willis made the one big throw he needed to when he found Jayden Reed deep downfield for a 51-yard gain to the Jaguars’ 15-yard line.
Green Bay picked up one more first down on the ground, setting up McManus’ winner.
Tank Bigsby led Jacksonville’s running game with 78 yards on 18 carries. Brian Thomas Jr. caught three passes for 60 yards and a touchdown that gave Jacksonville a brief 17-13 lead in the third quarter.
–Field Level Media