The starters saw early action, and a few of rookies showed out in the Packers’ 36-19 preseason opening against the Bengals on Friday night at Paycor Stadium.
Jordan Love, the offense’s quarterback, led the offence to one touchdown in two series, connecting with WR Romeo Doubs in the first quarter. Love completed with a 7-of-10 for 46-yard total.
The starters’ defence went three-and-out early, highlighted by a sack from nickel CB Keisean Nixon, and then pretty much rested.
Fifth-round QB Sean Clifford and undrafted RB Emanuel Wilson were the rookie standouts.
Sean Clifford came back from two interceptions, one of which was a pick-six, to lead numerous scoring drives. He went 20-of-26 for 208 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. His touchdown throw went to tight end Tyler Davis, who subsequently exited the game due to a knee injury.
Wilson, an undrafted rookie from Fort Valley State, rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which was an 80-yard run. RB Tyler Goodson also scored on a short touchdown run but was forced to leave the game due to a shoulder injury.
Dontayvion Wicks, a rookie fifth-round selection, topped the receivers with 68 yards on three receptions, including a 47-yard touchdown grab late in the first half. WR Samori Toure had three catches for 56 yards.
Carrington Valentine, a seventh-round rookie cornerback, maintained his excellent training camp with an interception and more pass breakups. S Green Bay’s other interception came from Dallin Leavitt, who was deflected by undrafted rookie edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr.
The Packers lead the Bengals 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
The Bengals were awarded the toss and chose to postpone. The Packers’ Jordan Love began as quarterback and completed his first throw in the flat to Aaron Jones for a six-yard gain.
The Packers were forced to punt when Love missed Musgrave on a third-and-7 crossing pattern from the Green Bay 35.
With the Bengals beginning from their own 9, nickel cornerback Keisean Nixon came on a blitz and sacked quarterback Jack Browning for an 8-yard loss. After then, Cincinnati went three-and-out.
Jayden Reed, a rookie wide receiver, returned the punt six yards to the Cincinnati 44. To start the following offensive series, Reed gained five yards on a push-pass off misdirection.
Love got the first down with a 7-yard pass to Christian Watson at the Bengals’ 31-yard line. Green Bay advanced into Cincinnati’s red zone on an 11-yard rush by AJ Dillon and an encroachment penalty.
With a 12-yard throw to Doubs on a play-action rollout to his left, Love transformed it into a goal-to-go scenario. Love and Doubs connected again two plays later, this time for a 9-yard TD throw that put Green Bay up 7-0 with 7 minutes, 19 seconds remaining.
The 7-play, 43-yard touchdown drive took 3:52.
On third-and-7, Cincinnati answered with a 14-yard throw to Andrei Iosivas and a 32-yard pass to Trenton Irwin.
On second-and-7, Carrington Valentine made an excellent open-field tackle for no gain, and Cincinnati had to settle for a 38-yard field goal after Devonte Wyatt almost sacked Browning on third down.
Sean Clifford, a Cincinnati native, took over after Love went 7-of-10 for 46 yards and a score (112.9 passing rating) on two offensive series. Clifford completed a 15-yard throw to Reed on third-and-4 to put Green Bay on the Bengals’ 27.
The Packers lead the Bengals 21-16 at the half.
Clifford forced a 23-yard defensive pass interference call on Allan George, who was in coverage on Reed’s corner route, as the Packers started the second quarter with Jon Runyan at centre.
With 14:05 remained in the first half, Green Bay led 14-3 thanks to a 1-yard TD run by running back Tyler Goodson.
Chris Evans broke a 33-yard run for Cincinnati, putting the Bengals back in Green Bay territory. Valentine broke up Iosivas’ third-and-7 pass. With 11:13 remaining in the half, Evan McPherson hit a 52-yard field goal to trim Cincinnati’s lead to 14-6.
Clifford delivered a 15-yard throw over the middle to Malik Heath to open Green Bay’s fourth series, with Zach Tom now at centre.
With 9:16 remaining in the half, Domenique Davis hit Clifford on third-and-6, leading in a Tycen Anderson interception returned for a 43-yard touchdown to put it 14-13 Green Bay.
Clifford and the Packers’ offence got back across midfield on third-and-9 with a 28-yard throw to Toure, but a fourth-and-4 pass to Heath fell incomplete, and Green Bay was forced to punt.
With 1:37 remaining in the half, the Bengals responded with a nine-play, 38-yard drive that culminated in a 39-yard McPherson field goal to put the Bengals up for the first time, 16-14.
On third-and-7, Clifford connected with Dontayvion Wicks for 19 yards to keep the Packers’ two-minute drive alive. Clifford was intercepted a second time with 1:04 remaining in the half after Anderson stepped in front of a throw intended for Tucker Kraft.
After intercepting Browning’s overthrow, rookie cornerback Carrington Valentine returned the ball to his offence. Clifford capitalised on the fumble by passing past coverage to Wicks for a 47-yard gain.
With 25 seconds remaining, Clifford rushed for 13 yards to make it first-and-goal from the Bengals’ 6. He then connected with Tyler Davis for a 6-yard touchdown to put the Packers up 21-16.
After three quarters, the Packers are up 30-19 over the Bengals.
In the second half, Trevor Siemian took over for Browning after Cincinnati went three-and-out due to an incomplete pass.
Tyler Goodson (shoulder) and Caleb Jones (ankle) both exited the game with injuries. Luke Tenuta, Jones’ substitute, was hurt on the first offensive play and had to be taken to the locker room with an ankle injury.
A holding penalty caused the Packers to punt on second-and-16. Tyler Davis (knee) was hurt on a fourth-and-12 catch. Linebacker Brenton Cox stepped in on a stunt and tipped a Siemian ball at the line of scrimmage, which safety Dallavitt intercepted and returned to the Bengals’ 31.
With 7:59 remaining in the third quarter, the Packers settled for a 45-yard field goal from Anders Carlson, increasing their lead to 24-16. The Bengals carried the ball down the field but were unable to overcome an unlawful hands in the face penalty, which resulted in a second-and-25 from the Pakcers’ 33.
With 3:21 remaining in the third quarter, McPherson hit a 43-yard field goal to trim the Packers’ lead to 24-19. With a 44-yard return to the Cincinnati 47, Samori Toure provided Green Bay with superb field position.
Clifford’s 12-yard throw was intercepted by Heath, who then set a block to set Clifford up for a 7-yard rush. Green Bay led the Bengals 30-19 with 2:14 remaining in the third quarter when Emauel Wilson rushed in an 11-yard touchdown after a late-hit penalty. Carlson failed to make the extra point.
Corey Ballentine was hurt in the third quarter.
The Packers won 36-19 in Cincinnati to kick off the preseason.
Cincinnati punted to start the fourth quarter following a Siemian failed pass. The Packers ran the ball five times behind Nate McCrary and Emanuel Wilson as Clifford remained at the helm.
Wilson gained one first down on third-and-2 with a 14-yard rush, but the Packers punted after a holding penalty. Clifford completed 20-of-26 passes for 208 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions (80.3 passer rating).
With 9:18 remaining, Alex McGough replaced Clifford as quarterback after Cincinnati went three-and-out. After Carlson missed the extra point, Emanuel Wilson scored an 80-yard touchdown run to the right on McGough’s first play, extending the margin to 36-19. Wilson had six carries for 118 yards and a touchdown.
Following a sack by Raymond Johnson, the Bengals forced a fumble. The ball was recovered by Davis at the Cincinnati 45, but the Bengals turned it over on downs.
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