The Packers' Corner

Rodgers throws late TD, Packers beat Saints
28-27

October 1, 2012

Green Bay Packers' James Jones makes a touchdown catch during the first half.

GREEN BAY, Wis. - As if bearing the brunt of the call that ultimately led to the end of the NFL's replacement officials wasn't enough, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers nearly had a big comeback win undone with a blunder by the regular refs.

Rodgers threw a go-ahead touchdown to Jordy Nelson in the fourth quarter, and the Packers shook off a week's worth of controversy with a rally to beat the New Orleans Saints 28-27 on Sunday.

With Packers fans howling about what appeared to be yet another bad call — this time by the regular officials, not the replacements — Garrett Hartley missed a 48-yard field goal attempt with just under three minutes remaining, costing the Saints a shot at the lead.

Rodgers threw for 319 yards with four touchdowns and an interception for the Packers (2-2).

"I'm very proud of our football team, especially the week we've endured," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "We talk a lot about integrity and character, and I thought today's game had plenty of those types of situations where it showed up big."

Drew Brees threw for 446 yards with three touchdowns for the winless Saints (0-4). Brees has thrown at least one touchdown in 47 straight regular-season games, tying the NFL's all-time mark set by Johnny Unitas.

With the win, the Packers were able to put Monday night's controversial replacement official-driven loss at Seattle behind them. But even with the regular refs back this week, the Packers and their fans still nearly were dealt a crushing blow on a blown call.

After Rodgers' touchdown to Nelson, Darren Sproles appeared to fumble the ensuing kickoff but officials ruled that he was down by contact. Replays showed that the ball clearly came out but the Packers were out of replay challenges, leaving Packers fans screaming at the officials for the second week in a row.

McCarthy said he was frustrated because video replays "clearly illustrated" that it was a fumble.

Green Bay Packers' Randall Cobb reacts after New Orleans Saints' Garrett Hartley missed a field goal during the fourth quarter.

Brees then led the Saints into field goal range, and Hartley hit a 43-yard attempt — but the Saints were called for holding, forcing Hartley to line up a 53-yarder. The Packers then were called for encroachment, leaving Hartley to try a 48-yarder and he missed it wide left.

It was a sigh of relief for the Packers, who spent most of the week in the middle of a nationwide firestorm after a last-second decision by replacement officials cost them a game at Seattle on Monday night. The play was a burden for the Packers to bear, but likely played a significant role in the NFL agreeing to a deal with its regular officials during the week.

Referee Jeff Triplette struck a triumphant tone during the pregame coin toss Sunday, announcing that "it's great to be back, gentlemen!" A handful of Packers fans came to the game dressed as officials, and some brought signs showing support for the regular refs.

The honeymoon didn't last long, though. Fans howled for an offensive pass interference call after Brees threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Marques Colston late in the first quarter, but no flag was forthcoming. The boos intensified as a replay was shown on the stadium video boards.

With the Packers leading 21-14 in the third quarter, fans — and McCarthy — were on the officials again when McCarthy challenged a catch by Jimmy Graham but it wasn't overturned.

The Packers had too many men on the field for a Saints field attempt later in the drive, giving New Orleans first-and-goal on the 1. But the defense held, forcing a 20-yard field goal by Hartley to cut the lead to 21-17 with 9:41 left in the third quarter.

Rodgers marched the Packers down the field again but needed attention from the team's training staff after a face mask by New Orleans' Malcolm Jenkins. Rodgers came out of the game for one play and backup quarterback Graham Harrell came in — then tripped and fumbled as he tried to hand it off, allowing the Saints to get the ball back in the middle of a scrum.

Green Bay Packers' C.J. Wilson, front, celebrates a sack of New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees during the second half.

Brees then found Joseph Morgan wide open behind the defense, and Morgan shed tackling attempts from the Packers' Sam Shields and Tramon Williams on his way to an 80-yard touchdown and a 24-21 lead with 3:49 left in the third quarter.

Things then got even worse for the Packers, as Rodgers then threw an interception to Patrick Robinson on a deep throw intended for Jordy Nelson. Brees then completed a pair of third-and-long situations, and the Saints drove for a 27-yard field goal by Hartley to take a 27-21 lead with 13:04 remaining.

With the Packers trailing by 6, Rodgers threw an 11-yard strike to Nelson as the Saints' Corey White tried to wrap his arms around the ball at the same time as Nelson — briefly re-creating a scene eerily similar to the controversial game-ender in Seattle on Monday. This time, though, Nelson clearly came away with the ball and spiked it emphatically.

Sunday's NFL Capsules

ATLANTA - Matt Bryant kicked a 40-yard field goal with 5 seconds remaining and the Atlanta Falcons remained unbeaten, rallying past the Carolina Panthers 30-28 on Sunday.

The Falcons (4-0) are off to their best start since 2004, when they reached the NFC championship game. Despite taking a career-high seven sacks, Matt Ryan threw three touchdown passes for Atlanta. Bryant added three field goals.

The Panthers (1-3) nearly clinched it on Cam Newton's run with just over a minute remaining, but he fumbled the ball while trying to dive for the necessary yardage. Carolina recovered and wound up punting, downing the ball at the Atlanta 1. But Ryan immediately got the Falcons out of the hole, throwing a 59-yard pass to Roddy White.

Four plays later, Bryant won it.

TEXANS 38, TITANS 14

HOUSTON - Danieal Manning and Kareem Jackson returned interceptions for touchdowns and Matt Schaub threw two TD passes.

Arian Foster had a touchdown run for the Texans (4-0), who are off to the best start in club history.

Titans quarterback Jake Locker left in the first quarter and did not return after hurting his left, non-throwing shoulder on a hit by Glover Quin.

Matt Hasselbeck threw two touchdown passes in relief of Locker for the Titans (1-3). Chris Johnson carried 25 times for 141 yards, more than tripling his rushing total through the first three games.

CARDINALS 24, DOLPHINS 21, OT

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Jay Feely kicked a 46-yard field goal 6:31 into overtime to keep Arizona unbeaten.

The Cardinals (4-0) forced overtime when Kevin Kolb threw a 15-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to Andre Roberts with 22 seconds to play in regulation.

Two big defensive plays set up the final two Arizona scores. First, Daryl Washington sacked rookie Ryan Tannehill, whose fumble was recovered by Vonnie Holliday at the Arizona 49 and the Cardinals moved downfield to score.

The winning field goal came after Tannehill was hit by Paris Lenon as he threw and Kerry Rhodes came up with an interception.

Tannehill threw for 431 yards. Brian Hartline set a Dolphins record with 253 yards receiving on 12 catches.

49ERS 34, JETS 0

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Carlos Rogers returned a fumble 51 yards for a touchdown, and San Francisco ran for more than 200 yards.

Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter and backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick — on a wildcat-style option — all ran for scores as the 49ers (3-1) bounced back from a loss at Minnesota. Rather than head back to the West Coast, coach Jim Harbaugh chose to have his team stay in eastern Ohio — and it apparently helped.

The Jets (2-2) lost top wide receiver Santonio Holmes to what appeared to be a serious foot injury. It was the first time New York was shut out since losing 9-0 to Green Bay in 2010, and the Jets' biggest shutout home loss since falling 37-0 to Buffalo in 1989.

BRONCOS 37, RAIDERS 6

DENVER - Peyton Manning finished with 338 yards and three touchdown passes.

Manning opened the game by leading the Broncos on an 80-yard touchdown drive — their first opening-quarter touchdown of the season — and Denver never trailed.

The Broncos (2-2) beat the Raiders (1-3) at home for the first time since 2007.

Willis McGahee ran for 112 yards for his 32nd-career 100-yard game.

The Broncos held Darren McFadden to 34 yards on 13 carries and Carson Palmer, who led Oakland to a comeback win last week over Pittsburgh, never got on track. He finished 19 for 34 for 202 yards.

VIKINGS 20, LIONS 13

DETROIT - Percy Harvin returned the opening kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown and Marcus Sherels scored on a punt return early in the third for Minnesota.

Minnesota (3-1), in first place in the NFC North, matched the number of wins it had last season. The Vikings also snapped an 11-game losing streak in the division.

The Lions (1-3) have lost three straight.

They are the first team since at least 1940 to give up a kickoff and a punt return for TDs in consecutive games, according to STATS LLC. They gave up scores on a kickoff and punt in last week's 44-41 loss in overtime at Tennessee.

RAMS 19, SEAHAWKS

ST. LOUIS - Rookie Greg Zuerlein kicked four field goals, including a 58-yarder and a club record 60-yarder, and the Rams also used a fake field goal to score their only TD of the game.

The Rams 2-2) went ahead 10-7 late in the first half when a fake field goal attempt turned into a 2-yard touchdown pass from punter Johnny Hekker to Danny Amendola.

The Seahawks (2-2) lost six days after beating Green Bay when a botched call by replacement officials on the final play gave them the winning touchdown. Regular officials were back this weekend.

Marshawn Lynch led Seattle with 118 yards on 20 carries, including an 18-yard score on the game's first possession.

The Rams intercepted Russell Wilson three times, with Bradley Fletcher clinching it with a pick at the Rams 25 with a minute to go.

PATRIOTS 52, BILLS 28

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Tom Brady led New England on six consecutive second-half touchdown drives.

Brady finished 22 of 36 for 340 yards and three scores, and also scored on a 4-yard run in helping the Patriots (2-2) avoid their first three-game losing streak in 10 years. Stevan Ridley scored two touchdowns rushing. New England scored 35 straight points and finished with 580 total yards in overcoming a 21-7 third-quarter deficit.

The Patriots forced six turnovers, including four interceptions of Ryan Fitzpatrick passes, and three sacks.

Fitzpatrick finished 22 of 39 for 350 yards and four touchdowns, including two to tight end Scott Chandler.

The Bills (2-2) dropped to 1-17 in their last 18 games against New England.

CHARGERS 37, CHIEFS 20

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Philip Rivers threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns, and San Diego capitalized on six turnovers.

Five of the Chiefs' turnovers came in the first half, when San Diego (3-1) raced to a 27-6 lead.

Matt Cassel threw for 251 yards and two touchdowns for Kansas City (1-3), but he also had three first-half interceptions. Jamaal Charles, who followed his big game last week at New Orleans with touchdowns rushing and receiving, fumbled twice.

PACKERS 28, SAINTS 27

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Aaron Rodgers threw a go-ahead touchdown to Jordy Nelson in the fourth quarter, and Green Bay shook off a week's worth of controversy with a rally.

Rodgers threw for 319 yards with four touchdowns and an interception for the Packers (2-2).

REDSKINS 24, BUCCANEERS 22

TAMPA, Fla. - Billy Cundiff redeemed himself for a poor day kicking, booting a 41-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining.

Cundiff missed three earlier attempts, including a 31-yarder that wound have put the Redskins (2-2) up by two scores early in the fourth quarter. He also missed twice in the first half, but was on the money after Robert Griffin III marched his team into position for the winning score.

Tampa Bay (1-3) wiped out an 18-point deficit to go ahead 22-21 on Connor Barth's third field goal, a 47-yarder with 1:42 remaining.

BENGALS 27, JAGUARS 10

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Andy Dalton threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score.

Dalton and A.J. Green burned Jacksonville several times, including once to set up a second-quarter touchdown and again for a fourth-quarter score.

The Bengals (3-1) finished with six sacks, putting constant pressure on Blaine Gabbert and overcoming all those defensive injuries. Cincinnati played without starting cornerbacks Nate Clements and Leon Hall as well as backups Jason Allen and Dre Kirkpatrick.

The Jaguars (1-3) failed to take advantage.

Gabbert completed 23 of 34 passes for 186 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Dalton completed 20 of 31 passes for 244 yards.

Regular refs' return helps Packers pick up pace

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The regular officials' return to the NFL could boost the Green Bay Packers' offense in a small but important way.

The regular refs are able to spot the ball and keep play moving in a more timely fashion than the replacements were, allowing the Packers to use a fast-paced tempo that can get Aaron Rodgers in rhythm and unsettle opposing defenses.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers talks with an official after getting poked in the eye during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy went into the season wanting to use a lot of no-huddle. But it simply wasn't as effective when replacement officials were spending extra time getting things sorted out between plays.

With the regular refs back, the Packers were able to dictate their preferred faster pace in Sunday's 28-27 victory over New Orleans.

"I thought their communication did make a big difference, clearly," McCarthy said. "The professionalism of the officials, the communication, the management of the game — it was definitely a totally different atmosphere.

"I think that was very evident if you paid attention to how fast the offenses were playing, and the management of the game was able to keep up. It was great to have that part back for us and great to have them back."

McCarthy added: "But let's not be foolish here — there's going to be calls every week that not everybody agrees with."

Certainly, the regular officials' return didn't spare the Packers from some controversial calls Sunday — most notably an apparent fumble on a late kickoff return by the Saints' Darren Sproles, who was ruled down by contact.

The Saints kept the ball and were in position to kick a go-ahead field goal. But after a pair of penalties, Garrett Hartley missed a 48-yard attempt and the Packers held on for a win.

"When you start having consecutive losses, you can't help but having that thinking of, 'Here we go again' at times," Rodgers said. "Unfortunately, there was a little bit of that tonight with some of the calls, but we were able to overcome it. I think it says a lot about the character of this team. This was an important win for us."

A fan holds up a sign welcoming back the regular officials, inside Lambeau field.

Refereeing complaints aside, the Packers could be much better off on offense in the long term with the regular officials in place.

The Packers had only four offensive touchdowns in their first three games and hadn't scored in the first quarter all year — some of which was likely a function of playing three tough defenses: San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle.

That all changed against the Saints' struggling defense Sunday.

"The offense (was) playing more the way we're accustomed to playing here the last couple years," Rodgers said. "Felt good to get back on track. Felt good to score in the first half and first quarter. ... It was important for us to start fast."

The Packers scored on their second possession and put up a season-high 28 points. Rodgers had his best game of the season, throwing for 319 yards with four touchdowns and an interception.

"You get back to Week 1, we were in a no-huddle offense the first series — I think the game was stopped three times. ... I'm not making an excuse," McCarthy said, "but my point is I wasn't worried about scoring points in the first quarter."

Packers tight end Jermichael Finley said he saw the Saints' defense getting tired when the Packers went no-huddle.

"If we keep that going, we can run the table here," Finley said.

Finley enjoys the fast-paced offense so much that he suggested the Packers use it all the time.

"With the receiving corps we've got, why not do it?" he said. "With the quarterback we've got, why not do it?"

Associated Press