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With less than two minutes left in the game, facing a fourth and seven, it looked like the Green Bay Packers were about to drop their second preseason game in a row. That’s when Sean Clifford, who was fourth in the Packers’ quarterback rotation on Saturday, took the game over.
Clifford not only scrambled for nine yards on fourth down to convert that series of downs, but he also ran for an 11-yard touchdown scramble two plays after. That gave Green Bay a 23-19 lead over the Indianapolis Colts with 1:31 left on the clock, their first lead of the entire game. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Clifford hit 19 miles per hour on the touchdown.
The Packers’ reserve defense held strong on the final drive, which ended in four straight incompletions. The final throw from the Colts was a bang-bang play that would have given Indianapolis the ball inside the five-yard line with seconds left to play, had the receiver come down with the ball in bounds.
Green Bay should feel good coming out of this game, considering that the Colts played their starters and the Packers didn’t. The following starters were held out of action as healthy scratches: RB Josh Jacobs, TE Tucker Kraft, TE Luke Musgrave, OL Rasheed Walker, OL Aaron Banks, OL Elgton Jenkins, OL Zach Tom, DE Rashan Gary, DE Lukas Van Ness, DT Kenny Clark, DT Devonte Wyatt, LB Quay Walker, LB Edgerrin Cooper, LB ISaiah McDuffie, CB Keisean Nixon, CB Carrington Valentine, S Evan Williams and S Javon Bullard. Notably, McDuffie was given rest with the starters, even though he was competing for the third-linebacker job with Isaiah Simmons up until around last week. Offensive linemen Jordan Morgan and Sean Rhyan, who are competing for the right guard opening on the team, were also left to play today.
Injured players held out were QB Jordan Love (thumb), WR Jayden Reed (foot), WR Christian Watson (knee), WR Romeo Doubs (back), WR Dontayvion Wicks (calf), WR Savion Williams (undisclosed), OL John Williams (back), defensive end Collin Oliver (hamstring), cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee), safety Xavier McKinney (calf) and safety Zayne Anderson (foot). The Packers also lost safety Omar Brown during the game, who was carted off the field with a reported chest injury that required an oxygen mask.
Overall, Green Bay’s backups looked much improved in this game. While drops weren’t as much of an issue as the Packers’ loss against the New York Jets in Week 1 of the preseason, penalties did continue this week. In total, Green Bay recorded 12 penalties for 95 yards, while the Colts posted 11 for 103. It’s still preseason for everyone, right?
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was pretty upset with rookie second-round pick Anthony Belton on the sideline, who had five flags thrown on him in the first half. 11 of the team’s penalties were called in the first half, so it looks like the team adjusted on the fly.
On the Packers Radio Network, LaFleur stated, “We...
