Aaron Rodgers started at quarterback despite a sprained right shoulder, but that was the least of the Green Bay Packers problems in a 27-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon.
It was the Packers third consecutive loss after a 2-0 start.
Penalties again dogged the Packers. They were called for nine penalties, costing them 97 yards.
Even though his shoulder became increasingly sore as the game went along, Rodgers was 25-of-37 passing for 313 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception. His passer rating was 109.4
The Packers shorthanded defense struggled for most of the day. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, a rookie, was 16-of-26 passing with two touchdown passes and an interception. His passer rating was 94.1
[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20081005&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=81005022&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=318&Border=0[/img_r]Atlanta jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. After the Packers pulled to 10-7 on a 44-yard TD pass to wide receiver Donald Driver with 9 minutes, 49 seconds left in the second quarter, the Falcons extended their lead to 17-10 on a 22-yard TD pass from Ryan to wide receiver Roddy White with 6:07 left in the half.
Green Bay tried to pull closer in the last 2 minutes of the first half, but Mason Crosbys 43-yard field goal was nullified by a holding penalty on Jermichael Finley. Forced to try a 53-yarder, Crosby missed it wide left.
After the Packers controlled the ball for most of the third quarter, Crosby hit a 50-yard field goal to pull Green Bay to within 17-10.
Packers cornerback Tramon Williams made a spectacular one-handed interception in the end zone to end a Falcons drive early in the fourth quarter. That led to Rodgers second TD pass, a 25-yarder to wide receiver Greg Jennings, which tied the game at 17 with 10:14 left in the game. [url=index.php?name=Pro_News&aid=89]Read More...[/url].