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GREEN BAY — As it turned out Aaron Rodgers’ shoulder wasn’t the difference on Sunday. Instead, it was one poor decision that turned out to be the game’s biggest play, as a fourth-quarter interception in Green Bay territory and the ensuing touchdown led to the Packers’ dropping a decision to the upstart Atlanta Falcons 27-24 at Lambeau Field.

“I definitely feel like I played pretty well minus the once critical error that cost us seven points and cost us the game,” said Rodgers, who added that while his shoulder was in pain he didn’t feel like it was any worse.

Taking the field at the 20-yard line with just over seven minutes remaining and trailing 20-17, the Packers had the opportunity to either tie the game again or pull ahead with a touchdown.

But Rodgers then made back-to-back mental errors. First, he committed an intentional grounding penalty on second down that led to a third-and-19 at the Green Bay 21, clearly throwing the ball away illegally while in the grasp of Falcons defensive end John Abraham.

On next play, Rodgers made an ill-advised pass that was intercepted by linebacker Michael Boley, who returned the ball to the 19-yard line. That led to a 2-yard touchdown run by Michael Turner two plays later, making the score 27-17 and effectively sealing the game, though the Packers did make a valiant rally.

“They dropped eight guys pretty deep,” Rodgers said. “I was trying to make a play in a situation where I probably should have check it off to the back. Boley made a great play.”

Rodgers and the Packers started their drive with 3:35 left and were able to drive down the field efficiently to score with 1:56 left in the half, capped by a 4-yard pass from Rodgers to Donald Lee. But Mason Crosby’s onside kick was a weak effort and was easily collected by Erik Coleman unharassed. After a first down, the game was over.

And while Rodgers’ key interception was the game’s pivotal moment, the loss was once again highlighted by a bevy of Packers errors that have become all too common in this three-game losing streak that leaves Green Bay at 2-3 on the season.

“We’re making common mistakes, things you’re stressing in practice, and we need to clean it up,” Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said. “Our house is messy right now and nobody is happy about it. We’ll continue to work. We’re 2-3 and we’ll get it cleaned up tomorrow as we head to Seattle.”

Rodgers finished the game 25-of-37 for 313 yards and three touchdowns to go along with the interception, while Ryan Grant rushed for 83 yards on 18 carries in his most impressive performance this season.

Perhaps the most impressive player of the game, however, was Atlanta rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, who was calm and collected all day and completed 16-of-26 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Turner burned the Packers’ defense for 121 yards on 26 carries, scoring once and helping lift the surprising Falcons to 3-2 on the year.

“When a team comes out and runs the ball at you like that, it really puts your whole team at a disadvantage,” Packers linebacker Brady Poppinga said. “We have to improve that, or we’re going to have a lot of uphill battles.”

Green Bay was penalized nine times for 97 yards and once again was plagued by either drive-killing penalties on offense, or defensive errors that led to points for the opposition. Besides Rodgers’ grounding penalty, the Packers errors included:

- An earlier second-half drive being killed by a holding penalty on Tory Humphrey.

- Three points being taken off the board by a holding penalty on a Crosby 43-yard field goal. The subsequent retry from 53 yards was wide right and those points were sorely missed.

- Green Bay allowing a Falcons’ fumbled snap on third-and-1 at the 1-yard line to be retaken on an encroachment penalty by Ryan Pickett. Atlanta scored, making it a four-point mistake.

- A 20-yard pass interference penalty called on rookie Patrick Lee on third-and-1 that led to an eventual 22-yard touchdown pass from Ryan to Roddy White, who enjoyed a wonderful first half with 132 yards on eight catches, but was held without a catch in the second half.

“We’re all aware that right now we are not performing at the level that we need to be,” Grant said. “We aren’t getting better and we need to be.”

With Atlanta on the verge of putting the game away early, leading 17-10 with a first-and-10 at the Green Bay 12, Tramon Williams awoke the Lambeau faithful by intercepting a sure touchdown pass from Ryan to Ben Hartsock in the end zone.

On the first play from scrimmage after that, Rodgers –– who had left the field favoring his shoulder on the previous drive –– hit Troy Humphrey for a 37-yard gain. Three plays later, Rodgers hooked up with Jennings on a 25-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone to knot the score at 17.

On the ensuing kickoff, however, Jerrious Norwood received the kick in the end zone and brought it back out to the 48-yard line for a 54-yard return.

The Packers’ defense stiffened after a first down and limited the Falcons to just a 40-yard field goal by Jason Elam to give Atlanta a lead they would not relinquish from then on.

The loss now leaves the Packers in a very unexpected position of being 2-3 and now grasping for answers as to how to turn the losing streak around.

“If I knew, I swear I would tell you,” Packers cornerback Charles Woodson said. “We’re just not getting it done right now . … We just have to find a way to win a football game at this point.”

Green Bay will look to rebound in what promises to be a tough road game in a hostile environment against an equally frustrated Seattle team.

“We’re definitely not going to continue losing, I’ll tell you that much,” Jennings said. “There is too much pride in this locker room to let that happen.”

Tell us what you think...

Comments »

Lee Crook wrote on Oct 6, 2008 7:13 PM:

" As most Packer fans I have been one all my life 62 years. As most can see the Packers have now hired inept management all the way around. It is typical of modern management. No loyalty. Look around your state many good companies ruined because of egotistical management and no loyalty to the people who made them.
No matter what anyone may say Brett Farve wanted to be a Packer and the only thing he cared about is winning. Fans welcome to the real world of piss poor management
Lee Crook "

voice of reason wrote on Oct 6, 2008 5:59 PM:

" Rodgers actually played pretty well. If your take off your rose colored glasses, Favre used to make a bunch of bone-headed mistakes too. By the end of the season, we'll see which quarterback you really want. "

Jim F. wrote on Oct 6, 2008 3:18 PM:

" Thompson & McCarthy dug their own graves by allowing #4 to leave. Now let them lie in their graves & rot. Hey McCarthy the train has left the station with #4 on it, nice move. Talk about classless behavior. "

Rookie wrote on Oct 6, 2008 12:27 PM:

" Lets face it Rodgers by all accounts is still a first year starter. Yes, he looks to be able to throw the ball accurately but his decision making skills are still lacking. And to top it off his bones may be made of glass. Good luck making it through a full season if one sack separates a shoulder. "

Frank wrote on Oct 6, 2008 12:07 PM:

" I think the Packers should have never traded Farve! They deserve what they get... Farve brought more than stats and championships... He brought LEADERSHIP! Players believed in him. Now the longest starting game streak for a QB will be set in a Jets uniform. "

Reeling wrote on Oct 6, 2008 11:58 AM:

" The pressure mounts on the "System" in place.

McCarthy and Thompson are drowning in their foolish arrogance and taking the Packers with them! "

The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.