Panthers-Packers live updates: Down big, Carolina rallies, but falls short in Green Bay

Three games left.

That’s all that remains this season for a Carolina Panthers team that once again is looking like it will pick in in the top 10 of next year’s NFL draft. As things stand entering Saturday night’s game at the Green Bay Packers, the Panthers would hold the No. 5 pick, and they could move as high as No. 4.

Last season, it took a goal-line stand at Lambeau Field for the Packers to hold off the Panthers’ upset bid in the snow. Can Carolina get payback tonight?

We have you covered here with live scoring updates, highlights and injury news throughout the Panthers-Packers game (8:15 p.m., NFL Network).

The one thing you can say about the Carolina Panthers, under rookie coach Matt Rhule, is that they don’t give up.

Down 18 points at halftime to Green Bay, on Lambeau Field, the Panthers didn’t fold and get blown out. The defense stepped up and slowed down Rodgers, and until Mason Crosby made a 51-yard field goal with just under four minutes to play, the Panthers had come back and trailed by only one score.

Yes, the Panthers are 4-10 after Saturday’s 24-16 loss, but Carolina may not be that far away from being a playoff contender.

Most of the losses this year are by one score, and if Carolina QB Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t fumble at the Green Bay 1 in the first half, who knows what might’ve happened.

Carolina was down 14-3 when Bridgewater attempted to score on first and goal. Instead of being down 14-10, Green Bay got the ball in Panthers territory after a long fumble return. Not long after that, Green Bay got a touchdown and a 21-3 lead that the Packers took into halftime.

The second half was different. The Panthers defense got stop-after-stop on one of the league’s best offenses and best players. Green Bay converted one third down in the second half.

Meanwhile, Carolina got a Bridgewater scramble for a score and a Joey Slye field goal. Carolina was down 21-13 late in the game.

After that, Rodgers drove the Packers down the field for what he hoped would be a put away touchdown. But he was sacked on third down and Mason Crosby hit a 51-yard field goal that just cleared the upright to make it a two-score game at 24-16.

Carolina kept fighting though, getting a 41-yard completion from Teddy Bridgewater to DJ Moore on third at 1 at the 44. In the red zone, just over two minutes to play, Carolina opted to kick the field goal, hoping the defense could get one more stop.

Joey Slye hit from 33 yards out to trim the lead to 24-16.

On Green Bay’s next possession, Carolina forced a 3rd and 4 at the Green Bay 31, with 1:54 seconds left. Brian Burns sacked Rodgers, while also appearing to turn his ankle.

So with 55 seconds left, Bridgewater and the Panthers got the ball at the 20, down 8 points.

Previously, the Panthers had seven final possessions in one score games. In those they didn’t score. That happened again Saturday.

On first down, Bridgewater was penalized for intentional grounding, which costs Carolina 10 yards and a 10 second runoff. The Panthers ended up with fourth and 4 at their 26 with 18 seconds left. Bridgewater threw wide of Robby Anderson.

▪ Bridgewater finished 21-of-35 for 256 yards. Receiver DJ Moore caught six passes for 131 yards.

▪ Rodgers was 20-of-29 for 143 yards and a touchdown. He ran for a score. Tailback Aaron Jones ran 20 times for 145 yards and a score.

JOEY SLYE FIELD GOAL, PACKERS 24, PANTHERS 16

2:04, Fourth Quarter: Teddy Bridgewater hit DJ Moore on a third and 1 pass at the 44. Moore broke free and ran to the Green Bay 15. Instead of try to score a touchdown, the Panthers sent Slye out, on first down, for a 33-yard field goal.

Green Bay linebacker Za’Darius Smith injured

With just over 2 minutes left, Smith appeared to injure his ankle. He was taken out of the game. Teammate Will Redmond is out of the game being evaluated for a concussion.

MASON CROSBY FIELD GOAL: PACKERS 24, PANTHERS 13

3:44, Fourth Quarter: Mason Crosby got three huge points on a 51-yard field goal after Panthers defensive lineman Efe Obada sacked Aaron Rodgers. That was the Panthers’ fourth sack of the game. Carolina was No. 26 in the league coming in.

JOEY SLYE FIELD GOAL: PACKERS 21, PANTHERS 13

8:54, Fourth Quarter: Joey Slye’s 22-yard field goal brought the Panthers within one score. And the scoring drive had some sparks.

On third and 9, Teddy Bridgewater scrambled for 10 yards to the Green Bay 8 for a crucial first down. On third and goal, Bridgewater tried to scramble for a score. He fumbled at the goal line after being stripped. The Panthers recovered in the end zone for a score, but a holding penalty took away the points.

Instead, Carolina had third and goal at 17. Bridgewater hit Samuel with a pass to the Green Bay 3. That led to the field goal, and the Panthers have gotten themselves back in teh game.

Start 4th Quarter: Panthers driving

The Panthers defense had a great third quarter, repeatedly stopping Green Bay and forcing punts. Now down 11, the Panthers are driving as the fourth quarter starts.

TEDDY BRIDGEWATER TD: PACKERS 21, PANTHERS 10

5:15, Third Quarter: After Green Bay extended a drive with a defensive penalty, Carolina QB Teddy Bridgewater scored his fifth rushing touchdown of the season. On second and 7 at the Packers’ 13, Bridgewater went back to pass and was pressured. He stepped up and ran it in.

HALFTIME: Packers 21, Panthers 3

Aaron Jones TD: Packers 21, Panthers 3

Instead of the score being 14-10 in favor of Green Bay, Teddy Bridgewater’s fumble eventually leads to a Packers touchdown, with running back Aaron Jones taking the hand-off on the left side to the end zone from 8 yards out.

Green Bay is in complete control. The Packers have scored three touchdowns on three drives.

Panthers lose big opportunity to score

After converting a fourth and 1, the Panthers got the ball at the Green Bay 1. Teddy Bridgewater tried to dive over the top and stick the football across the goal line. The ball was batted away and Green Bay’s Kevin King picked up the fumble and returned it to the Panthers 46.

AARON RODGERS TOUCHDOWN: PACKERS 14, PANTHERS 3

14:09, Second Quarter: On third and goal from the 6, Rodgers scrambled up the middle of the field, scored his 31st career rushing touchdown and did his famous “put on the belt” celebration. Carolina’s defense has struggled mightily so far. Rodgers has completed 8-of-11 passes for 60 yards and a score. Aaron Jones has rushed seven times for 83 yards, averaging 12 yards per attempt.

Panthers DB Troy Pride injured

With six seconds in the first quarter, Panthers defensive back Troy Pride appeared to be injured. He was on one knee while being attended to by the Carolina medical staff. Green Bay is driving and leads 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.

JOEY SLYE FG: PACKERS 7, PANTHERS 3

5:57, First Quarter: After going 3-and-out on their first possession, Carolina got a 36-yard pass from QB Teddy Bridgewater to DJ Moore and began moving the ball. The drive stalled, however, and Slye got the Panthers on the scoreboard.

WSOC Feed Is Back

After experiencing technical difficulties earlier in the night, WSOC’s simulcast of the Panthers-Packers game is back on. NFL Network is broadcasting the game nationally, though many viewers may not be able to get the network.

ROBERT TONYAN TD: PACKERS 7, PANTHERS 0

9:54, 1st quarter: Aaron Rodgers threw his 40th TD pass of the season, finding tihgt end Robert Tonyan on a short scoring pass after Green Bay’s run game had quickly pushed the ball down the field. Tonyan’s 10 receiving scores is the most for NFL tight ends this season.

Trouble on the TV

WSOC, which is carrying the game locally in Charlotte, is having some technical difficulties at kickoff. We’ll let you know when that changes.

What’s the weather like in Green Bay?

It’ll be cold tonight at Lambeau Field — forecast will be below freezing at kickoff — but don’t expect precipitation. That’s quite the contrast to last year’s Panthers-Packers game in Green Bay where snow pounded the field most of the afternoon and into the evening. It did make for some beautiful photos, though.

Who is announcing the Panthers vs Packers game?

Joe Davis will do the play-by-play with Kurt Warner providing the color commentary; Melissa Stark is on the sideline.

Mike Tirico was supposed to do play-by-play but he was moved to the Sunday night Giants-Browns game on NBC because Al Michaels is following NBC Universal’s COVID-19 protocols.

CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY IS INJURED AND WON’T PLAY VS. PACKERS

For the 11th time this season, Christian McCaffrey will miss the Panthers’ game this week. He’s sidelined yet again as he recovers from a quad/thigh injury he tweaked last week during practice.

McCaffrey has missed six games this season with a high-ankle sprain, three with an injury to his AC joint and two now with this quad ailment.

WHAT CHANNEL IS THE PANTHERS-PACKERS GAME ON AND HOW DO I STREAM IT?

Today’s 8:15 p.m. kickoff between Packers and Panthers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay will be broadcast on NFL Network. You can stream the game on NFL.com by logging in through your cable or satellite provider. It’s also available on YouTube TV with a valid subscription.

In Charlotte, the game will be broadcast locally on WSOC.

If you are unable to view the game, we will provide live updates and video and photo highlights on this page.

This story was originally published December 19, 2020 at 7:36 PM with the headline "Panthers-Packers live updates: Down big, Carolina rallies, but falls short in Green Bay."