GREEN BAY – The Packers needed an early answer on Thursday night and they got one, setting the tone in the 24-21 victory over the Cardinals.
Arizona took a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter when the Packers, who didn't gain a first down on their opening two possessions, were able to establish an effective ball-control attack.
From their own 25, Green Bay went 75 yards in 14 plays, spanning the quarter break and consuming eight minutes, 23 seconds in all, to tie the score. It's the Chevy Drive of the Week.
RB Aaron Jones started it with a 7-yard run, and fellow RB AJ Dillon followed with a 4-yard gain before QB Aaron Rodgers went back to Jones with a 7-yard pass.
Then Dillon ran twice for 18 yards, sandwiched around an incompletion, before the Cardinals were flagged for a neutral zone infraction on third-and-4, giving the Packers a first down at the Arizona 34-yard line.
After another incomplete pass, Dillon ran for 5 yards and Rodgers connected with WR Juwann Winfree for 4 yards on the final play of the first quarter, setting up fourth-and-1 to begin the second period.
Dillon converted, gaining 2 yards despite getting hit initially in the backfield, and then he ran for 8 yards on the next play to put the ball on the 3. After a 1-yard completion to TE Robert Tonyan, Jones was stood up at the line of scrimmage but kept churning his legs to get the ball to the goal line.
It was Jones' 50th career touchdown (40 rushing, 10 receiving), and the Packers never trailed again.
