Packers Defense Leads the Way in Win Over Panthers at Lambeau Field

Lambeau Field witnessed its first-ever “Sausage Race” on Thursday as the Green Bay Packers saluted the Milwaukee Brewers for winning the World Series one night earlier.

The meatier rite of the latest Wisconsin professional sports team to capture a championship since the Packers did shares a moral with Green Bay’s 27-19 victory against the Carolina Panthers.

Delight and frustration sometimes resonate simultaneously.

Among the good: Green Bay won for the fourth time in five games as Jordan Love passed for three touchdowns, running back Josh Jacobs accounted for two scores and wideout Christian Watson had 113 receiving yards around a trip to the hospital for a chest injury. A drone flying overhead triggered a stoppage in play – but hey, it was spectacle – and Brewers’ revelry permeated Lambeau.

Did you see those specially decorated Cheeseheads Milwaukee players sported?

The bad included a Packers fumble of the opening kickoff return, rookie Trey Smack’s eighth missed kick of the season and potential controversy surrounding Jacobs’ celebration of his first TD.

Although cameras showed him making a hands-behind-back gesture, Jacobs, who earlier this year was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery of a woman and destruction of property, noted the footage didn’t capture everything.

Jacobs explained his actions as a reference to a gospel song called “Break Every Chain,” not a commentary on previous legal woes.

As for his first game at Lambeau this season, Jacobs felt positive about the fan response.

"It was good, man," he said. "I think it was good. I think it was good for the team. It was good to be out there: Thursday night, electric, stadium packed. As an offense, we had our little lull moments, but the defense held it down in this game."

Sure as Hot Dog edged Brat in the spectacle of Famous Racing Sausages (their official name), Green Bay sacked Panthers quarterback Bryce Young six times. Dani Dennis-Sutton and Devonte Wyatt each registered a sack and two tackles for loss.

Meanwhile, the Packers held a foe to 20 points or fewer for the fifth straight game.

“I said at the beginning of the year, and I still feel this way: I think the sky is the limit for this defense,” Green Bay linebacker Isaiah McDuffie said.

Added safety Javon Bullard: “This defense is really special.”

For his part, Love realizes an attack responsible for two turnovers Thursday -- his interception and a Watson fumble -- must deliver better down the stretch.

Green Bay couldn’t ice the clock after the defense forced a turnover on downs at midfield with 2:41 to go. Carolina got a final chance in the waning seconds before Dennis-Sutton’s sack sealed the result.

With that, the Packers left Lambeau at 5-3, the fourth-best record in the NFC North but still enough to earn a playoff spot if the season ended today.

Green Bay gets the post-Thursday night “mini bye” ahead of a Week 9 visit to AFC playoff contender New England, then hosts division- and NFC-leading Minnesota before its actual one.

As with a plate of sausage grease, there are things to tidy up. But there’s still satisfaction about what came before and could again, especially if the Green Bay ‘D’ keeps grilling.