Green Bay, WI – The Green Bay Packers may have walked away with a nail-biting 23-19 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, but it wasn’t franchise quarterback Jordan Love who captured the headlines. Instead, it was an unknown rookie running back, Amar Johnson, who electrified the crowd at Lambeau Field with a thunderous touchdown run that left fans chanting his name and wondering if the Packers may have uncovered their next hidden gem.

A Game That Nearly Slipped Away

The Packers appeared to be in control late in the fourth quarter, holding onto a slim lead after Christian Watson’s jaw-dropping deep touchdown grab earlier in the game. But as has been the story of Green Bay’s season, closing the door on an opponent proved anything but simple.

The Colts stormed back with a quick drive, setting up a potential game-winning moment with just seconds left on the clock. A late touchdown pulled Indianapolis within four points, 23-19, leaving everything riding on a two-point conversion attempt.

The stadium fell silent as Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson lined up to deliver. But Green Bay’s defense, bending all night, refused to break. A perfectly timed blitz forced Richardson into a hurried throw that fell incomplete, sealing the dramatic win.

Amar Johnson’s Breakout Moment

As the final whistle blew, however, it wasn’t the defensive stand or Watson’s highlight-reel touchdown that had Lambeau buzzing — it was the powerful, almost angry running style of Amar Johnson, a rookie most fans hadn’t even heard of before Sunday.

Late in the second quarter, Johnson took a handoff up the middle, broke through an arm tackle, and then exploded into the open field. With a burst of speed rarely seen in Green Bay’s backfield since the early days of Aaron Jones, Johnson plowed through two defenders at the goal line, crashing into the end zone for a 35-yard touchdown.

The Lambeau crowd erupted, and Johnson’s teammates mobbed him on the sideline. It was the kind of run that makes coaches sit up, replay the tape twice, and wonder if they’ve stumbled onto something special.

Christian Watson’s Redemption Arc

While Johnson may have stolen the spotlight, Christian Watson deserves his share of the headlines. After struggling with injuries and inconsistent play last season, Watson reminded everyone why the Packers drafted him so high.

In the third quarter, he torched the Colts’ secondary, sprinting past double coverage to haul in a perfectly placed 52-yard bomb from Jordan Love. It was the kind of play that shifts momentum instantly, reminding fans of the deep threat potential that can change a game in seconds.

For a Packers offense that has looked inconsistent this year, Watson’s big-play ability could prove critical down the stretch.

Defense Wins the Day

The Packers’ defense may not have been perfect, but when it mattered most, they delivered. The final two-point stop was the play of the game, a statement moment for a unit that has been criticized for not closing out opponents.

Defensive captain Jaire Alexander summed it up after the game:

“We bend, we scrap, we fight. Tonight, we proved we can finish. That’s what matters.”

Still, the defense knows it has work to do. Allowing the Colts to drive down the field late nearly cost Green Bay the game. If the Packers want to contend in the NFC, they’ll need to clean up late-game execution.

Jordan Love’s Quiet Night

While Jordan Love wasn’t the story this time, he did enough to keep Green Bay in the game. He finished with a steady, if unspectacular, line: 18-of-29 for 220 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

The interception, a poorly timed throw into double coverage, gave the Colts life early. But Love settled in, leaning on Watson’s speed and Johnson’s surprise spark to keep the chains moving.

Love’s performance may not have stolen the headlines, but as head coach Matt LaFleur noted, “He played smart football when we needed him to. That’s growth.”

The Big Question: Is Johnson for Real?

Every NFL season delivers surprise stories, but what makes them memorable is whether the magic lasts. For now, Amar Johnson is just a rookie with one big run and a moment in the spotlight. But the way he carried himself on the field — powerful legs, fearless cuts, and a refusal to go down on first contact — suggests he might not be a one-hit wonder.

Packers fans are already buzzing about whether Johnson could become a regular part of the rotation, especially with Green Bay’s backfield struggling to stay healthy.

LaFleur, while cautious, didn’t hold back his excitement:

“You saw what he can do. He runs hard, he runs angry, and he runs with heart. We’ll see where it goes, but he definitely earned more opportunities tonight.”

A Win That Raises More Questions Than Answers

The Packers may have survived a scare against the Colts, but the victory revealed both strengths and weaknesses. The offense showed flashes of explosiveness, the defense proved it could deliver under pressure, and most importantly — a rookie running back might have just changed the trajectory of the season.

For now, the Packers sit a little taller after a 23-19 escape at Lambeau, and fans have a new name to chant: Amar Johnson.