The Green Bay Packers escaped the desert with a narrow victory over the Arizona Cardinals, and superstar outside linebacker Micah Parsons was a primary reason why.
Parsons put up at least 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons, a feat accomplished by only one other player in NFL history — defensive end Reggie White, another Green Bay great (although he played those four campaigns with the Philadelphia Eagles).
Despite the longevity of Parsons’ early-career success, he had never notched a three-sack game or an outing comprised of five quarterback hits until he did so on Sunday, October 19 in Arizona. Parsons talked about his career game with Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com and sent a message on his overall play that should terrify anyone across the league who is paying any attention.
“When it’s time to win the game, something just switches,” Parsons explained. “I don’t think it was my best pass-rush game, I just think it’s the first time [a team] allowed me to rush this year. I mean, if you look at the looks I’ve been getting — double tight ends, chips, full slides and then also just other guys stepping up.”
Micah Parsons Sealed Win for Packers Against Cardinals in Week 7
GettyEdge rusher Micah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers claimed the lead via a 1-yard rushing touchdown from running back Josh Jacobs with just one minute and 50 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
After a 10-yard penalty to open the ensuing drive, Cardinals backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett led his team 49 yards to the Packers’ 26-yard-line, snapping the football on a 1st-and-10 play with 32 seconds remaining.
It was then that Parsons made his biggest impact of the game, registering a momentum-shifting sack and of a loss of nine yards, which forced Arizona to take its second timeout. The Cardinals never regained the field position they had before that play, ending the afternoon with an incomplete pass on a 4th-and-11 call from the Packers’ 27-yard-line.
Micah Parsons on Track for Pro Bowl Season, as Packers Can Grab Lead in NFC on Monday Night
Getty Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons.
The third sack of Parsons’ day, coming when it did and producing the impactful swing that it did, is exactly why the Packers gave up two first-round picks and a solid defensive tackle in Kenny Clark to acquire him. It’s also why Green Bay paid Parsons a historic $186 million extension, which represents the largest non-QB contract in league history.
The Packers are now 4-1-1 and remain positioned to compete at the top of the NFC for the conference’s overall No. 1 seed in the 2025-26 playoffs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) face the Detroit Lions (4-2) on “Monday Night Football” on October 20, while the Philadelphia Eagles moved to 5-2 on the year with a victory over the Minnesota Vikings Sunday. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers are also 5-2 through Week 7.
Thus, should the Lions defeat the Bucs Monday night, the Packers will technically have the best winning percentage in the NFC as the season’s halfway point nears.
As for Parsons, he has tallied 13 quarterback hits, 5.5 sacks and five tackles for loss through six games played in Green Bay and is looking on track to earn Pro-Bowl honors for the fifth time in his five-year career.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Packers LB Micah Parsons Sends Scary Message to NFL After Career Game appeared first on Heavy Sports.