Kyle McCord’s late surge lifts Packers to 42-38 comeback win over Cardinals in preseason finale

The Green Bay Packers closed their preseason with a dramatic 42-38 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Friday night at Lambeau Field, erasing an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit in what quickly turned into a chase for the lead. The Packers’ comeback hinged on quarterback Kyle McCord, who delivered a late offensive push capped by a touchdown with 20 seconds remaining, giving Green Bay a memorable finish before roster decisions begin in earnest.

McCord’s impact was visible early in the scoring. According to Yahoo Sports’ instant analysis, he threw four touchdown passes in total, and his connection with Kisean Johnson became one of the evening’s defining elements. The article describes two of those touchdown throws as McCord passes to Johnson, a stretch that helped swing momentum when the Cardinals had managed to build an advantage late.

Both teams leaned into an attack that kept the scoreboard moving, resulting in a high-scoring preseason finale. Yahoo’s recap notes the game produced 80 combined points and featured 14 different scoring plays. In a preseason setting where coaches and evaluators place different priorities on development, the sheer volume of touchdowns reflected a night when explosive plays and quick-strike sequences outweighed sustained control by either side.

The comeback also underscored a familiar preseason theme: late-game execution can separate flashes from lasting impressions. With Green Bay trailing by more than a field goal late in the fourth quarter, McCord’s final scoring drive was not just a dramatic finish. It was a reminder that, even in a game that does not count toward the regular-season standings, the ability to manage time, protect progressions, and convert critical downs can influence how teams think about their quarterback depth and offensive rhythm.

For Arizona, the loss came in the same kind of evaluation environment, where both teams use the final preseason game to test combinations and assess how units respond under pressure. The Cardinals still managed to reach the scoreboard repeatedly, and the late deficit suggests they were hit by the same kind of late-game volatility that often characterizes preseason football.

What to watch next is how Green Bay translates this kind of performance into its early-season planning. McCord’s four-touchdown output and the late-game touchdown described by Yahoo will likely be part of internal and external conversations about the pecking order behind the starter. At the same time, the game’s high total points and the number of scoring plays are a report that the preseason pass-heavy moments may not automatically carry over without sharper run support, consistent protection, and more disciplined defensive positioning.

Arizona’s takeaway will be similar, but framed through a different lens. If the Cardinals see positives in their scoring production, they will also focus on preventing the late-game swings that left them vulnerable to a 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. In the weeks that follow, both franchises will be measuring more than the final margin, but games like this tend to sharpen the debates that matter most: who can deliver under pressure, and who can do it consistently enough to earn expanded roles.