Doubs catches 2 TD passes in his return from a suspension to help Packers rout Cardinals 34-13

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Romeo Doubs wanted to make amends after serving a one-game suspension for what the Green Bay Packers described as conduct detrimental to the team.

Doubs responded by catching two of Jordan Love's four touchdown passes in the Packers' 34-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Doubs' first two touchdowns of the season included a 10-yard score to open the second quarter and a 20-yard reception in the third quarter.

“I was able to get back to my regular self, you know?” Doubs said.

Doubs was suspended from the Packers’ 24-19 win over the Los Angeles Rams last week after missing two practices. A regretful Doubs didn’t go into specifics Friday about the reasons for his absences, but acknowledged he had to communicate better.

“I’m just ready to be a ballplayer, try to move past whatever has happened and just get back to our winning culture like Green Bay has always been,” said Doubs, who had three receptions for 49 yards.

How much Doubs' return meant to the Packers (4-2) was obvious as soon as he scored his first touchdown.

On a third-and-5 pass from the 10, Doubs caught a pass near the right sideline at about the 3. As Arizona cornerback Garrett Williams tried grabbing his jersey, Doubs dived into the end zone with his arms outstretched.

Doubs then was hugged first by wideout Christian Watson, who was closest to the play, and later by multiple other receivers as well as Love.

“We're a family,” Love said. “We're in this thing all together. So just staying together, keeping that brotherhood is definitely very important to us.”

Love also threw touchdown passes of 5 yards to Jayden Reed and 44 yards to Watson while going 22 of 32 — completing throws to nine players — for 258 yards with one interception. His four touchdown passes matched a career high.

“We talked about coming into this game just playing four quarters of complementary football, and thought that was about as good as we could’ve done it,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “There’s always stuff that we can clean up, but I thought all in all, just the effort from start to finish, the focus from start to finish, was exactly what is a great formula for winning football.”

Arizona (2-4) played losing football while showing an uncharacteristic lack of discipline. The Cardinals had been averaging a league-low 3.8 penalties per game, but they were penalized 13 times for 100 yards Sunday. They also committed three turnovers.

“We play like that, we won’t beat anybody,” Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray said. "We can’t shoot ourselves in the foot against a good team.”

Arizona also lost several players to injuries, the most notable coming when rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. left with a concussion in the second quarter after his head hit the thigh of Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie on an incompletion.

Love threw three touchdown passes in the first 25½ minutes as the Packers took a 24-0 lead. The Cardinals got back into it by scoring 13 straight points – 10 in the final two minutes of the first half and a field goal on the opening drive of the second half.

But the Cardinals wouldn’t score again.

“We can’t play in a hole like that versus really good teams," Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “It’s just too hard to overcome.”

Murray went 22 of 32 yards for 214 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown to Michael Wilson. Arizona's James Conner gained just 24 yards on seven carries as the Packers outrushed the Cardinals 179-89.

After the teams exchanged punts to start the game, the Packers scored three touchdowns and a field goal on their next four series to take command.

Even when it appeared the Cardinals were finally gaining some momentum in the second quarter, a turn of events enabled Green Bay to extend its lead.

Offsetting penalties wiped out a fumbled punt return by Reed that would have given Arizona the ball at Green Bay’s 23-yard line with the Cardinals trailing 17-0. Arizona punted again, and this time Keisean Nixon returned it 39 yards.

On the next play, Love's deep ball to Watson made it 24-0 with 4½ minutes left in the first half. Watson was back after missing the Rams game with an ankle injury.

Arizona started its comeback attempt when Murray found Wilson in the end zone with 1:56 left in the first half. After intended receiver Bo Melton fell on a route and Sean Murphy-Bunting picked off Love at Green Bay’s 44, Arizona’s Chad Ryland made a 38-yard field goal just before halftime.

Ryland added a 40-yarder to make it 24-13 early in the third quarter. Ryland was kicking in place of Matt Prater, who missed a second straight game with a knee injury.

Green Bay extended the lead on its ensuing series as Love threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Doubs to cap a drive that included two holding penalties on Murphy-Bunting. The Cardinals then lost fumbles on their next three series.

Cardinals: LB Kyzir White (knee), DT Bilal Nichols (stinger), S Joey Blount (hamstring), LG Evan Brown (ankle) and Murphy-Bunting (neck) all were injured, along with Harrison.

Packers: WR Dontayvion Wicks left with a shoulder injury in the first half. C Josh Myers left in the second half.

Cardinals: Host the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 21.

Packers: Host the Houston Texans next Sunday.

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

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9), defended by Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3), has a 44-yard reception for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) signals a first down after a reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) throws over the defense of Arizona Cardinals defensive end L.J. Collier (91) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson celebrates his 44-yard reception for a touchdown with fans during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson celebrates with fans after his 44-yard reception for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) and quarterback Jordan Love (10) run to the bench after Watson's 44-yard reception for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14), defended by Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23), catches an 18-yard pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner rushes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) pulls away form Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers safety Evan Williams (33) stops Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Arizona Cardinals punter Blake Gillikin stops Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) on a punt return during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (87) celebrates his 20-yard reception for a touchdown with teammate wide receiver Christian Watson during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid is trying to believe in the good that can come from asking for help. Embiid’s career has yielded an MVP — and so many more DNPs — with a biography littered by the kind of devastating injuries that can, in time, heal.

Ask even the most casual 76ers fan, and they can rattle off a CliffsNotes version of Embiid’s injury timeline: The broken bones in his feet, the grotesque dislocated finger that made it resemble a used bendy drinking straw, the torn meniscus in his right knee, the torn ligament in a thumb, a bout with Bell’s palsy, and even his latest ailment — a busted sinus that compelled him to ask a media horde to cut the camera lights because of his sensitivity to the brightness beaming in his face.

Embiid played Friday night wearing a carbon graphite mask straight out of the “Phantom of the Opera” prop department. He needed the protection to save his face from another errant elbow, another sudden strike, that could thrust him into the kind of prolonged absence that has defined his star-crossed career.

With the 7-footer boasting a wingspan that could stretch a couple of Liberty Bells, his knack for knocking down spot-up 3s, Embiid's presence in the lineup is all that separates the Philadelphia 76ers from a playoff team and title contender to one drowning in the NBA standings.

He feels the burden. He understands the hardships.

Selected by the 76ers with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, Embiid carries the weight of expectations of Philly — and beyond — with him, and the injuries that sidelined the 2023 MVP and have denied him a real shot at being heralded as one of the NBA's greats have led him to admit the cracks they formed in his mental health was something he could no longer ignore.

So the native of Cameroon who once never believed in seeking help from others had decided over time — much like elite athletes Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and retired swimmer Michael Phelps — to shake the once-taboo stigma of therapy and go all-in on the process to steer him through turbulent times in his professional career.

“It's kind of hard when you get in those moments where it's kind of hard not to feel bad about yourself, especially when you know who you are and what you can accomplish but it's not the way it is,” Embiid said. “One lesson that I learned is to try and stop feeling bad about myself and just live day-by-day. Enjoy good people around me, positivity and not focus on the negativity.”

Embiid has openly talked at times over the last year of feeling depressed from time on the shelf — he was sidelined for two full NBA seasons, and had chunks of so many others recovering, rehabbing, even resting — and this season was no different.

Embiid had his homegrown sidekick in All-Star Tyrese Maxey and nine-time All-Star Paul George along for the ride to form a kind of Big Three expected to challenge Boston, New York and Cleveland for Eastern Conference supremacy.

With all three walloped by injuries, they have played start-to-finish in all of two games this season.

Embiid slogged through headaches and dizziness to drop 34 points and led the 76ers past Charlotte on Friday night in a win that completed a 4-0 season sweep against the Hornets and propped the 76ers' record to a meager 9-16 overall.

“He does make the game so easy,” George said. “A lot of stuff was just plays we weren't in sync on. We'll get that as we're on the court more.”

The question again is raised around the NBA — what could the 76ers have accomplished had Embiid been healthy enough to always play 80 games a season?

As is the norm with Embiid, the two-time scoring champion will sit out the second game of a back-to-back Saturday at Cleveland.

“As long as it gets better every day,” Embiid said, “that'll be good.”

It's a modest goal as Embiid tries to make the days — using his word “manageable” — until perhaps it feels close to 100% in time for the playoffs.

His frankness in admitting he needed therapy belies a public persona of a 30-year-old who has delighted in playing the role of troll to needle rivals both in the locker room and on social media. Embiid — who signed a $193 million contract extension ahead of the season — has leaned on his wife and young son to push him through the hard days.

Embiid's a big brother to 20-somethings on the team like Maxey and rookie Jared McCain and he finally has a relatable peer this season in a fellow Olympic gold medalist George, who has had his own career interrupted by catastrophic injuries.

“You can never get enough of the support,” Embiid said. “If I'm being honest, when you've got the support from your family, people close to you, teammates, guys like (George), that's the reason why you want to keep doing it and you want to keep figuring it out. That's who you play for. The people who care about you, people that support you, people that push you. I have a hard time disappointing people, which I'm working on. When you've got that type of support, it's kind of hard to feel bad about yourself. I like to please people. You've just got to keep going.”

Keep going.

It's all Embiid can do now to find happiness on the court and in his personal life — and find some peace through treatment along the way.

He can at least improve his state of mind, even if the state of his body takes longer to heal.

“It's a work in progress. We'll see if it works," Embiid said. "You get to a point where nothing is working, I'm always willing to try anything and see if it works.”

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

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid left, tries to go up for a shot against Charlotte Hornets' Vasilije Micic during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid walks the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, goes up for a shot against Charlotte Hornets' Moussa Diabate during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid holds the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid reacts after being fouled during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)