The Green Bay Packers ended the NFL’s last remaining unbeaten record as they held on for a 24-21 win at the Arizona Cardinals.
The hosts looked set to snatch victory with 15 seconds left but Kyler Murray’s pass towards AJ Green was intercepted in the end zone by Rasul Douglas.
Green Bay’s seventh straight win sees them join Arizona on a 7-1 record.
Now the teams are set to battle it out for the NFC Championship – and a place in the Super Bowl – in the post-season.
The Packers’ preparations were disrupted after receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard, and defensive coordinator Joe Barry, tested positive for Covid-19, so quarterback Aaron Rodgers leaned on their running game.
They had 151 rushing yards compared to Arizona’s 74 while last season’s MVP Rodgers threw for 184 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Murray threw for 274 yards but also no touchdowns and two interceptions, the second from cornerback Douglas, who was signed from the Cardinals’ practice squad just three weeks ago.
Rodgers praised his team-mates’ resilience, saying: “This is a tough, physical, gritty team. To watch our defence finish off the game like that on the road – it’s going to be a great freaking ride back to Green Bay.”
Running back Chase Edmonds had given Arizona the lead with an early touchdown but the Packers soon hit back when Aaron Jones powered through for a touchdown.
The Packers led 10-7 at the break, but Rodgers found veteran Randall Cobb in the end zone shortly after to make it 17-7.
James Conner responded immediately with a Cardinals touchdown before another from Cobb made it 24-14 to the Packers at the start of the fourth quarter.
Conner’s second score cut the deficit to 24-21 and after the Packers were denied a touchdown with less than five minutes left, they faced a nervy finish.
Starting from their own one-yard line with 3:23 on the clock, Murray led the Cardinals to the edge of Green Bay’s end zone but Douglas’ interception saw the visitors stand firm.
