LONDON (AP) — Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley spoiled the Green Bay Packers’ international debut.
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers set the stage by jumping out to an early lead over the New York Giants.
But Jones and Barkley made the key plays in a 27-22 comeback victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday to spoil Green Bay’s first regular-season game outside the United States.
“We were aware that we were underdogs in the game — you realize that but I think we’re a motivated group,” Jones said. “We’re motivated to play for each other.”
Barkley took a direct snap and ran for a 2-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap New York’s comeback.
Rodgers then drove the Packers to the 6-yard line, but his pass on fourth-and-goal was swatted down at the line of scrimmage by safety Xavier McKinney with just over a minute left.
After Giants punter Jamie Gillan — the “ Scottish Hammer ” — ran out of the end zone for a safety, the Packers (3-2) got the ball back and set up a desperation pass, but Rodgers was sacked by Oshane Ximines at the Green Bay 29, fumbling as the clock ran out.
The Giants (4-1) scored 17 unanswered points in the second half as Jones, playing on a sprained ankle, led three scoring drives to erase a 20-10 deficit. It’s the Giants’ best start since 5-0 in 2009 and matches their win total from last season (4-13).
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) breaks away from Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage (26) for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
