Packers suffer heartbreaking loss to Browns after late-game collapse

CLEVELAND (AP) — The usual mention or flashback to something that happened in the Vince Lombardi era brings back fond memories for Green Bay Packers fans.

That wasn't the case after Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

The last time the Packers lost a game where it was up by at least 10 points and had a shutout with four minutes remaining only to lose was Nov. 5, 1967, at Baltimore. In that game, Green Bay led 10-0 only to see Johnny Unitas throw two TD passes in the last three minutes to give the Colts a 13-10 win.

The Packers would still go on to win the Super Bowl later that season. Whether Jordan Love and this Green Bay bunch can rebound from this collapse remains to be seen.

“Very tough. I feel like just the whole fourth quarter the way it went, obviously, it just wasn’t good enough,” said Love, who was 18 of 25 for 183 yards with a touchdown and interception. “That’s why I said it feels like a very tough loss and one of those games that we let them get it at the end. We had it.

"We’ve just got to find ways to finish.”

According to NFL.com, the Packers (2-1) had a 95% win probability even after Cleveland got on the board with Andre Szmyt's first field goal to get within 10-3 with 3:38 remaining. But Love's first interception in 10 regular-season games and then Brandon McManus having a potential go-ahead 43-yard field goal blocked shifted momentum in Cleveland's favor.

The interception came on third-and-3 from the Packers 25 when Love threw it right to Browns safety Grant Delpit at the 29. Delpit returned it to the Green Bay 4 and Cleveland's Quinshon Judkins tied it two plays later on a 1-yard run up the middle.

There appeared to be miscommunication between Love and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, which happened at the worst time.

“We were running a triple-slant concept and they were in man coverage and I’m trying to work Wicks right there,” Love said. “The safety that was guarding Tucker fell off, passed it off and got in the window right there and I didn’t even see him. It’s just one of those plays that I’ve got to feel him falling off.”

Coach Matt LaFleur second-guessed himself for the play call, but also said Love should have made a better decision.

“What hurts is you could argue that we lost the game offensively by making a critical error on a critical play," he said. “I made a bad call. Should have gone with what I thought initially (to call).”

The Packers, though, still had a chance to win on their final possession. In two plays, they drove to the Cleveland 22 and then survived a replay review where Josh Jacobs appeared to fumble the ball.

Jacobs was ruled down by contact. NFL Vice President of Instant Replay Mark Butterworth said in a pool report there was no clear video evidence showing Cleveland recovered the ball.

The drive eventually stalled at the 25. On the 42-yard attempt, McManus didn't have a chance as Cleveland defensive tackles Shelby Harris and Maliek Collins got penetration on the left side, leading to Harris' block.

Green Bay was riding high with a 2-0 start after wins over Detroit and Washington. While some thought the Packers might be overconfident, LaFleur said that wasn't the case.

“It ended up being 13 points, but really, though, there’s no points after three quarters. So like I thought, yeah, I mean, certainly you could look at that’s why it takes all three phases,” he said. “But I don’t think it was a lack of mindset. I really don’t.

"I think it was just, we as coaches got to do a better job of putting our guys in better positions, and then ultimately, we got to go out there and execute whatever it is we’re asking these guys to do.”

The Packers nearly won despite having to rotate offensive linemen due to injuries.

Right offensive tackle Zach Tom aggravated his oblique injury and went out after the first snap. Jordan Morgan came in for Tom, but moved to left guard in the second half following Aaron Banks' groin injury. Anthony Belton was the right tackle for most of the second half and Darian Kinnard saw some action.

Josh Jacobs also had his 11-game streak of having a rushing TD snapped.

Micah Parsons didn't have a sack and only two tackles, but he did have eight quarterback pressures and two quarterback hits.

Parsons and the Packers will generate plenty of attention next week when they go to Dallas for a Sunday Night game. It will take place one month after the All-Pro pass rusher was traded by the Cowboys to the Packers.

He said sometimes even the best teams have bad games.

“We lost a rough one that we should have won," Parsons said, "but this is adversity and character building.”

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

=th0= catches a pass for a first down during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Green Bay Packers' Tucker Kraft runs after a catch during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Green Bay Packers' Josh Jacobs runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thursday was the final day to select an Affordable Care Act health insurance plan across much of the country, as the expiration of federal subsidies drives up health costs and lawmakers remain locked in a debate over how to address the issue.

That's when the open enrollment window ends in most states for plans that start in February. About 10 states that run their own marketplaces have later deadlines, or have extended them to the end of the month to give their residents more time.

The date is a crucial one for millions of small business owners, gig workers, farmers, ranchers and others who don't get their health insurance from a job and therefore rely on marketplace plans. A record 24 million Americans purchased Affordable Care Act health plans last year.

But this year, their decisions over health coverage have been more difficult than usual as clarity over how much it will cost is hard to come by. And so far, enrollment is lagging behind last year's numbers — with about 22.8 million Americans having signed up so far, according to federal data.

Last year, for months, it was unclear whether Congress would allow for the end-of-year expiration of COVID-era expanded subsidies that had offset costs for more than 90% of enrollees. Democrats forced a record-long government shutdown over the issue, but still couldn't get a deal done. So the subsidies expired Jan. 1, leaving the average subsidized enrollee with more than double the monthly premium costs for 2026, according to an analysis from the health care nonprofit KFF.

Still, the question of whether Congress would resurrect the tax credits loomed over Washington. Several enrollees told The Associated Press they have either delayed signing up for coverage or signed up with a plan to cancel as they anxiously watch what's happening on Capitol Hill.

Last week, the House passed a three-year extension of the subsidies after 17 Republicans joined with Democrats against the wishes of Republican leaders. But the Senate rejected a similar bill last year.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, has been leading a bipartisan group of 12 senators trying to devise a compromise and said this week that he expects to have a proposal by the end of the month. The contours of the senators’ bipartisan plan involves a two-year deal that would extend the enhanced subsidies while adding new limits on who can receive them. The proposal would also create the option, in the second year, of a new health savings account that President Donald Trump and Republicans prefer.

Under the deal being discussed, the ACA open enrollment period would be extended to March 1 of this year to allow people more time to figure out their coverage plans after the disruption.

Still, Republicans and Democrats say they have not completed the plan, and the two sides have yet to agree if there should be new limits on whether states can use separate funds for abortion coverage.

President Donald Trump on Thursday announced outlines of a plan he wants Congress to consider that would. It would, among other things, redirect ACA subsidies into health savings accounts that go directly to consumers. Democrats have largely rebuffed this idea as inadequate for offsetting health costs for most people.

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Lisa Mascaro contributed from Washington.

FILE - Pages from the U.S. Affordable Care Act health insurance website healthcare.gov are seen on a computer screen in New York, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)