Love, Jacobs lead Packers past Panthers despite Watson's injury scare

Jordan Love threw three touchdown passes and Josh Jacobs rushed for two scores as the Green Bay Packers defeated the Carolina Panthers 27-19 on Thursday night. The victory kept the Packers at 5-3 while dropping Carolina to 3-4, despite a late rally attempt by the visitors.

The game featured a dramatic injury sequence in the second quarter. Packers receiver Christian Watson suffered a chest injury while making a 53-yard catch. He was transported to the hospital and later returned to the field. On the same play, Panthers cornerback Will Lee tore a hamstring while diving for a tackle and was carted off the field.

Love completed 30 of 41 passes for 288 yards. He also threw one interception and rushed for 39 yards on 21 carries. Jacobs carried the ball 21 times for 39 yards against the NFL's lowest-ranked run defense. He added a 4-yard receiving touchdown and a 1-yard rushing score.

Carolina fell behind 27-10 in the third quarter. Bryce Young threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker on a fourth-and-3 play with 5:37 remaining to cut the deficit to 27-19. Young's subsequent 2-point conversion attempt was incomplete.

The Panthers received the ball back at their own 45-yard line. They lost possession on downs at midfield with 2:41 left. With 22 seconds remaining and no timeouts, Dani Dennis-Sutton sacked Young, ending the final drive.

Young finished 23 of 31 for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Chuba Hubbard had 22 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown, along with seven receptions for 38 yards.

The Packers opened the game by fumbling the kickoff, allowing Carolina to score a field goal. Green Bay went three-and-out on their first possession. They scored on three of their next four drives. Love hit Tucker Kraft with a 12-yard pass to take a 6-3 lead. Watson's 53-yard catch set up Jacobs' run to make it 13-10. Matthew Golden caught a 24-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 20-10.

Zakee Wheatley intercepted a pass to Golden in the end zone in the first minute of the fourth quarter. The turnover started the Panthers' scoring drive. The Packers also honored former President and CEO Bob Harlan during halftime. Harlan, who served from 1989 to 2008, died March 5 at age 89. His name was unveiled on the northeast façade of Lambeau Field next to Ted Thompson.

Members of the Milwaukee Brewers, including captain Christian Yelich and Jacob Misiorowski, received a large ovation. They arrived one night after winning their first World Series title. Pitcher Brandon Woodruff held the Commissioner's Trophy during a timeout. Outfielder Sal Frelick successfully performed a Lambeau leap into the crowd.

The Panthers play the Denver Broncos on Nov. 8. The Packers travel to the New England Patriots on Nov. 8.