45 Points: Packers Overwhelm Patriots with Four Turnovers
Jordan Love's 372 passing yards and Green Bay's defensive pressure resulted in a lopsided 45-27 victory in Foxborough.
By Nia Foster ·
The New England Patriots hosted the Green Bay Packers at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, November 9, seeking to maintain their 5-4 record against a visiting team that had been struggling on the ground.
Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns while also scoring a rushing touchdown. The Packers finished with 478 total yards of offense. This total marked the first time Green Bay had recorded 450 or more yards and scored 45 or more points since a game against Philadelphia on November 11, 1962.
The Packers defense intercepted New England quarterback Drake Maye three times in the first half. Safety Xavier McKinney recorded two interceptions, and Evan Williams secured one. These turnovers allowed Green Bay to score 21 points directly from the plays that followed. Maye completed 21 of 38 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns, but the three interceptions represented a drop from his previous four games, during which he had thrown only one pick.
Christian Watson and Matthew Golden led the Packers' receiving corps. Watson caught seven passes for 171 yards and a touchdown, while Golden had 10 receptions for 164 yards and a score. This pairing became the first set of Packers teammates to both register 150 or more receiving yards and a touchdown catch since Don Hutson and Andy Uram achieved the feat in 1942. Kaleb Johnson and Savion Williams also contributed rushing and receiving scores for Green Bay.
The Patriots had not allowed 45 points in a regular season game at Gillette Stadium until Sunday. The last time the team conceded that many points on their home field was a 45-7 loss to the New York Jets on September 26, 1993. The stadium opened in 2002. The 45 points allowed set a franchise record for the venue.
Before the game, the Patriots celebrated the 10th anniversary of their Super Bowl 51 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Tom Brady appeared in the Fox broadcast booth for the ceremony. The celebration ended early when the Patriots committed a penalty on the opening drive. On the next play, Maye threw an interception to McKinney at the New England 14. Love followed with a rushing touchdown to give Green Bay a 7-0 lead. The Packers led 24-14 at halftime and 24-7 early in the second half.
Injuries affected both rosters during the contest. For the Packers, linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper left in the first quarter with a chest injury, and running back Josh Jacobs exited later in the quarter with a hand injury. Wide receiver Bo Melton was evaluated for a concussion. For the Patriots, left guard Ben Brown limped off with a knee injury late in the second quarter. Special teamer Brenden Schooler left with a hamstring injury, and left tackle Will Campbell walked off with a knee injury in the fourth quarter.
The Packers improve to 6-3 after their fifth win in six games. They host the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday. The Patriots, now 5-4, travel to Germany to play the Detroit Lions in Munich next Sunday.
