A decision-making mistake by veteran running back Aaron Jones cost the Green Bay Packers precious seconds on the final drive and eventually left time for just one throw into the end zone on the game’s final play on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The time-killing play came on the snap following a 46-yard completion from Jordan Love to Jayden Reed. On 1st-and-10 from the 35-yard line with 51 seconds left, Jones caught a pass from Love in the right flat and attempted to create extra yards after the catch instead of going out of bounds to stop the clock. Jones’ attempt gained no yards and the Packers — lacking a timeout — didn’t get the clock stopped again until Love scrambled out of bounds with 28 seconds to go.
“When we checked the ball down to Aaron Jones, I thought there was a chance to get out of bounds right there, but we didn’t. That was critical because that wasted a ton of time,” coach Matt LaFleur said post-game. “We would have had a couple of opportunities at the end of the game. That was like 20 seconds or so, it felt like forever.”
LaFleur said “the whole operation wasn’t good enough” on the fateful play.
The Steelers blitzed, the timing off the play was off and Love’s hurried throw brought Jones back a few yards. He caught the ball at the 39-yard line, cut immediately up field, attempted to dodge a tackler and was tackled at the 35-yard line. A clear path to the sideline was available.
“The play that really hurt us was wasting so much time when we checked down to Aaron Jones,” LaFleur said.
The mistake changed the entire sequence to end the game.
With 17 seconds to go, Love converted fourth down with a completion to A.J. Dillon and spiked the ball at the 16-yard line with only three seconds left. With an extra 15-20 seconds of game time, the Packers could have easily taken 3-4 legitimate shots into the end zone from 16 yards out. Instead, the Packers had to attempt a throw against a seven-man coverage standing on the goal line.
Love’s final throw — intended for Christian Watson on an in-breaker — was easily intercepted by Damontae Kazee, ending the game.
Jones is the Packers’ top playmaker on offense, but his mistake was a big one. The veteran running back also dropped two passes — both on third down — and averaged only 2.7 yards per rush over 13 carries.