5 Stars of the Game From Green Bay Packers’ 27-19 Win Over Carolina Panthers

It wasn't always pretty, but you always take a win on a short week on Thursday Night Football.

The Green Bay Packers defeated the Carolina Panthers, 27-29, to walk away with a 5-3 record.

They're still in the basement of the NFC North, but getting back on the winning track was integral for the Packers after last weekend's loss to the Detroit Lions.

The Packers also fought through some adversity to get this win, which was nice to see. They fumbled the opening kickoff return, Trey Smack missed another extra point and Jordan Love threw an interception near the red zone in the fourth quarter.

Green Bay found a way to overcome its mistakes thanks to an otherwise great night for Love and a stellar night from Jonathan Gannon's defense.

Oh, and Christian Watson left the stadium in an ambulance with a chest injury, went to the hospital, returned via ambulance, and resumed playing.

You can't make that up. That's Thursday Night Football, baby.

Here are the five stars of this win for Green Bay.

Honorable Mentions: Lukas Van Ness, Josh Jacobs, Chris McClellan, Dani Dennis-Sutton

Star #5: Matthew Golden got another touchdown

It was somewhat of an up and down night for Matthew Golden, but true to the theme of the evening, he bounced back from adversity.

Golden dropped another touchdown pass with 1:56 to go in the first half, but on the very next play, a 3rd-and-13, Love went back to him in the end zone. This time, Golden delivered.

He finished this game with seven receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. He now has 619 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Star #4: Tucker Kraft seems to be heating up for the Packers

Tucker Kraft is still coming back from a torn ACL he suffered against the Panthers last season. He's played in every game this season, but it's clear he's needed more time to get back into full football shape.

Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit mentioned on the Thursday Night broadcast that Kraft seems to be getting better with every game back, though, and that certainly seems to be the case.

He played a big role in this win for the Packers, catching six passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. 

If he can once again become an elite redzone threat, the Packers' offense could end up being unstoppable.

Star #3: Christian Watson provided an emotional lift in a gritty game

When Watson went down with an apparent chest injury that required a trip to the hospital via an ambulance, many likely thought that this was "it" for the star receiver.

When he's healthy, Watson is a top five wideout in the NFL. The problem for him in his career is that he's struggled staying healthy, and this seemed like the latest in a long line of injuries that were going to take him out.

And then, like Willis Reed walking out of the tunnel for the New York Knicks back in the 1970 NBA Finals, Watson made his return to Lambeau Field via ambulance.

Not only did he come back, but he came back into the game and actually provided the game-sealing catch on 3rd-and-2 with 2:33 to go and the Packers needing to burn clock.

Watson finished the game with eight catches for 113 yards. It was his third 100-plus yard performance so far this season.

Star #2: Jordan Love played an elite game outside of one mistake 

Love has been carrying the Packers' offense all season, and Thursday Night's game was no different.

He's in complete command of this offense and he's playing great football. In fact, if it wasn't for the fourth quarter interception, in which he didn't see Carolina's safety coming over the top, Love would have had a nearly perfect game.

He finished this one having completed 30-of-41 passes for 288 yards, three touchdowns and the aforementioned interceptions. His passer rating was 106.6 and his QBR was 80, both of which are numbers that represent a high-level performance.

Love has now thrown for 2,246 yards and 16 touchdowns with six interceptions this season. He's second in the league in passing yards at the time of this writing.

Star #1: Ty'Ron Hopper had a breakout game

Let's give Ty'Ron Hopper some credit. The Packers selected Hopper with the 91st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Missouri but he's been a special teams player and a backup for most of his career.

He has great athleticism and seems to have a high level of untapped potential, but he's been behind players like Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin, and Isaiah McDuffie since he was drafted.

With Cooper and Franklin injured, Hopper has had a chance to step up into a starting role, and he took advantage of his opportunity on Thursday Night.

Hopper was all over the field for Green Bay's defense. He had a career night, with eight tackles, one sack, three passes defended and one interception.

There's no way he can replace Cooper, a future All-Pro if he can stay healthy, but the Packers had to have been extremely encouraged by Hopper's performance against the Panthers.