The Green Bay Packers have struggled mightily thus far this season, with star quarterback Aaron Rodgers criticizing his young wide receivers numerous times this year. However, rookie receiver Christian Watson made a huge impact for the Packers on Sunday to help Green Bay get a much-needed victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Watson put his footprint on this game early, emphatically recording his first career touchdown catch on a beautiful deep ball from Rodgers.
Christian Watson finally has his first receiving touchdown — and busts out a backflip pic.twitter.com/aHPM1LYuk8
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 13, 2022
The 58-yard touchdown pass was the longest pass completed for the Packers all season, with Watson showing off some game-changing speed.
A key play in the game was a 4th-and-7 early in the fourth quarter where the Packers were down by 14 points. Watson showed off his big-time speed yet again with a massive 39-yard touchdown catch.
A second TD for the rookie!@ChristianW2017 🙌 #DALvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/pqLUltB61H
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 14, 2022
The Packers found themselves trailing by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, and Aaron Rodgers led a vintage game-tying drive down the field, which was capped off by another Watson touchdown catch.
HAVE A GAME, @ChristianW2017!
3️⃣ TDs FOR THE ROOKIE.#DALvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/IavGOnJMfB
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 14, 2022
This score would ultimately send the game to overtime, where the Packers would later go on to win on a game-winning kick from Mason Crosby after forcing a turnover on downs from the Cowboys.
The Packers complete the comeback and take down the Cowboys 31-28 in overtime! 🏈 pic.twitter.com/8CulvrNh6u
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 14, 2022
There were a ton of storylines to this game, but Watson undoubtedly emerged from the game as a potential star in the making for the Packers.
Christian Watson might be a guy.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 14, 2022
Amazing what happens when a quarterback finally has a wide receiver with the speed to get himself open. #Packers #christianwatson
— Tom Oates (@TomOatesWSJ) November 14, 2022
Christian Watson is a raw and talented player. He showed all those things tonight. The Packers need his talent, so they have to handle his rawness.
— Wendell Ferreira (@wendellfp) November 14, 2022
A number of positives from the offense today. Christian Watson’s emergence, sticking with the run game, and overall, just a cleaner performance.
— Paul Bretl (@Paul_Bretl) November 14, 2022
Fantasy writers just gonna do a Find and Replace for all their Romeo Doubs takes from last month and change them to Christian Watson
— Clem (@TheClemReport) November 14, 2022
With this performance, Watson put himself in some extremely rare company. The only other rookie to have three receiving touchdowns against the Cowboys was Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss in 1998.
Christian Watson is the 2nd rookie with 3 receiving touchdowns against the Cowboys.
The other was Hall of Famer Randy Moss on Thanksgiving in 1998.#GoPackGo @packers @ProFootballHOF
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 14, 2022
The Packers desperately needed not only to win on Sunday, but also to show signs of life for the rest of the season.
They certainly did that against Dallas, and they may have a new top-receiving option in Watson for the foreseeable future.
