Packers 27, Browns 21: Green Bay wins in OT again after Brett Hundley’s late heroics

It was another drama-filled afternoon for the Green Bay Packers, as they went to overtime for the second straight game.

For the second straight game, the Packers broke off a huge touchdown in the extra session to finish off a victory. Brett Hundley threw two touchdowns to Davante Adams at the end of the game — a one-yarder to tie the game at the end of regulation and then a 25-yarder on a quick screen for the winning points in overtime. That came after erasing a two-touchdown deficit to start the fourth quarter.

All in all, Hundley completed 35 of 46 passes, racking up 265 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Jamaal Williams had another big day, with 49 yards rushing, 69 yards receiving, and two touchdowns.

Here’s how it all went down.

First Half

The Packers picked up their first first down of the game on the contest’s first play, a run-pass option to Jordy Nelson that went for 12 yards. On a fourth and two just three plays later, Jermaine Whitehead converted a fake punt with a beautiful stiff-arm to move sticks once again. The Packers converted another fourth and short four plays after that, with Brett Hundley hitting Randall Cobb for an eight-yard gain. On a second down from the 30-yard line, the Packers split Jamaal Williams out wide, and Brett Hundley retreated from the line of scrimmage. Hundley bought a bit of time on the run, then lofted a perfect throw to a wide-open Williams just in front of the right pylon. The rookie back caught the pass and nimbly kept his feet in bounds to score the game’s first touchdown for a 7-0 lead.

The Browns’ first drive got off to a great start, with DeShone Kizer hitting Josh Gordon for a 38-yard gain on a deep cross on the first play. The Packers kept Cleveland’s ground game in check early, but allowed a free release to Gordon once again with the defense in zone coverage, and Kizer delivered an 18-yard strike to Gordon in the end zone to tie the game.

The Packers’ second series was a disaster, with an unblocked Nate Orchard recording a nine-yard sack of Hundley on first down. Green Bay went three-and-out, but the Packers defense followed that up by forcing a three-and-out of their own with a coverage sack by Kyler Fackrell.

Green Bay got out of the shadow of their own end zone thanks to a personal foul penalty on Browns safety Kai Nacua, who head-butted Davante Adams after a failed third down attempt, but they eventually punted anyway and Cleveland began to move the ball again. It started with a 20-yard pass up the hashes to Corey Coleman, and then Isaiah Crowell broke off a pair of nine-yard runs on back-to-back plays. Following another nice pass to Coleman, Kizer hit Duke Johnson on a quick shovel pass for a touchdown and a 14-7 Browns lead.

Following another Packers punt, the Browns took over just before the two-minute warning. A tackle for loss by Damarious Randall and a one-yard gain by Duke Johnson set up a third and 11, but Ahmad Brooks jumped offside to give Cleveland a third and six instead. On the ensuing play, Brooks was lined up on Johnson, a brutal mismatch for the defense, and Kizer hit the running back for an easy first down. Another first down to Coleman went for 18 yards to get Cleveland into Packers territory. Thankfully, Kizer was picked off by Ha Ha Clinton-Dix just before the half, as the Packers safety made a good break on the football and easily picked it off up the left sideline, keeping it a one-touchdown lead.

Second Half

The Packers managed to force a Browns three-and-out on the first series of the third quarter, getting the football turned back over to the offense quickly after a punt. Brett Hundley threw for the team’s first third-down conversion on the first set of downs, a short completion to Jordy Nelson on third-and-four, before Jamaal Williams broke off a 12-yard run to move the chains again. Hundley later escaped heavy pressure on a third-and-five, picking up 19 yards to get the Packers into the red zone. The Packers were stoned on third-and-one from the ten, then decided to go for it on fourth-and-one; Aaron Jones appeared to run a toss play, while Hundley looked to be ready for a run up the middle and was tackled for a loss on the broken play.

Regardless of who was at fault, that was a turnover on downs and Cleveland was at midfield within four plays, including an 18-yard run by Crowell and a 15-yard gain by Johnson on a screen. Crowell then broke a 37-yard run, setting up a two-yard touchdown to Corey Coleman that put Cleveland up 21-7.

Hundley and company finally started to move the ball on the next series, with a methodical, dink-and-dunk approach. Hundley completed eight of nine pass attempts on the series, and Jamaal Williams punched the football in on his third attempt from the one-yard line to pull the Packers back within a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

The Browns picked up just a single first down on their next series, coming up short on a third-and-two. However, Dustin Colquitt pinned the Packers inside their own five-yard line on the ensuing punt.

The Packers drove to near midfield on the next drive, though, and had an open receiver on a third-and-two, but Hundley’s pass was knocked down at the line of scrimmage. Unfortunately, Justin Vogel booted the football into the end zone for a touchback.

However, after a quick first down on the ground, the Browns failed to convert again, as the Packers challenged what would have been a first-down reception by David Njoku. The ball clearly was knocked out by Josh Jones, negating the gain and forcing a Browns punt with just under three minutes to go.

Trevor Davis made the biggest play of his season on the punt. He caught the ball at the ten, ran to the right for about five yards, then reversed his field up the left sideline for a huge 65-yard return down to the Browns’ 25-yard line.

The Packers got runs of five yards from Hundley and four yards from Williams to start the drive, leading up to the two-minute warning. Hundley converted the first down on a sneak, then hit Adams for a four-yard gain on a slant and Williams for four more in the flat before taking their final timeout with 36 seconds to go.

Hundley ran up the middle on a quarterback draw and made it to the goal line. He was initially ruled to have scored, but upon a scoring review it was ruled that he was down just short. That left just 23 seconds after a ten-second runoff, but a first-and goal from the half-yard line.

Hundley delivered. He lofted a picture-perfect pass to Davante Adams in the left side of the end zone, tying the game with just 17 seconds left on the clock. Mason Crosby delivered the point after to ensure the tie, and the Browns kneeled to take it into overtime.

Overtime

The Browns won the toss to start overtime and received the opening kickoff, which went for a touchback. Then they went full Browns.

On third and two, Damarious Randall had marvelous press coverage on Josh Gordon. Kizer dropped back to throw, staring down Gordon. When he realized his receiver was covered, Kizer retreated into the pocket and got hit by Clay Matthews as he released the football. It floated into a large group of Packers, and rookie safety Josh Jones came down with the football at the Browns’ 42-yard line.

A short pass to Williams was followed by a two-yard run, setting up a third-and-two from the 34. Hundley found Adams on a slant over the middle for the first down at the 30.

Three plays later, the Packers faced another third down, a third-and-six from the 25. Hundley hit Adams on a quick screen, and he broke off a tackle and found some open space. From there, he accelerated past a pair of Browns defenders and sped into the end zone for a walk-off touchdown.

Have a look at the play:

It was another dramatic victory for the Packers, who now can turn their attention over to evaluating Aaron Rodgers’ collarbone this week with a date against the Carolina Panthers on deck next Sunday.

Injuries

Lance Kendricks injured his jaw in the third quarter but returned to the game.

Davon House injured his back early in the fourth quarter and left the game on a cart. He did not return.