[img_r]http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/includes/news_items/40/4847/atlantaaaron.jpg[/img_r]ATLANTA The shower inside the visitors locker room at the Georgia Dome probably wasnt the ideal spot for a heart-to-heart conversation, but Greg Jennings had something to say to Aaron Rodgers, and it couldnt wait.
The Green Bay Packers had just lost yet another close game on Rodgers watch a 20-17 defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons that ran Rodgers career record in games decided by four points or fewer to 2-12 since taking over as the starter in 2008 -- and Jennings, Rodgers go-to receiver, wanted to remind his quarterback that this one wasnt on him.
I told him in the shower, We did what we were called upon to do. But its a team game, Jennings said after Falcons kicker Matt Bryant made a 47-yard field goal with 9 seconds left to send Rodgers and the Packers to defeat. When you have a letdown in other categories, you put pressure on the defense. (Special teams) put them in a bad position against a very good offense. We just cant hurt ourselves like that.
Rodgers certainly wasnt perfect Sunday. His first-half fumble on a third-and-goal quarterback keeper from the 1-yard line cost the Packers points they desperately could have used in a game in which they never held the lead, rallying from 3-0, 10-3 and 17-10 deficits.
I thought Aaron Rodgers played huge today, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. He had the one play he wishes he had back. But just the way he played with his feet, extended plays, handled the big pressure, the operation of the no-huddle he did an outstanding job. You want to walk away with victories, but that was probably one of his better individual performances.
And when the game was on the line trailing 17-10 with 5 minutes, 59 seconds to play and starting from his own 10-yard line, Rodgers delivered, capping a 16-play, 90-yard drive with a 10-yard pinpoint touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson on fourth-and-goal.
Of the 16 plays on the drive, only two a 5-yard run by Brandon Jackson to start the drive and an 8-yard run by Jackson later didnt involve Rodgers. He completed eight of 12 passes for 83 yards and the touchdown and also ran for a 7-yard gain.
I feel bad for the offense and Aaron and Jordy. That whole drive was awesome, Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk said. I mean, thats how youre supposed to do it. Those are career-defining drives for a guy like Aaron. You still have to give him a ton of credit. We let them get back in there and get in field-goal range, and the kicker did a good job to make the kicks.
After the defense forced a punt and Tramon Williams fair-caught it at the 10-yard line, Rodgers went right to work out of the no-huddle offense. hitting rookie tight end Andrew Quarless for big completions of 11 and 19 yards. After narrowly avoiding an interception, Rodgers hit Greg Jennings for 15 yards on second-and-10 from the Falcons 45, then dumped off to Jackson for a 9-yard gain. Back-to-back incompletions then set up fourth-and-1 from the Atlanta 21.
Spread out in the Big Five five-receiver set and operating from the shotgun in an empty backfield, Rodgers escaped pressure, tried to run, then spotted James Jones and backhanded the ball to him for an 18-yard gain, keeping the drive alive and giving the Packers first-and-goal at the Atlanta 3.
The first-down play began with Rodgers having plenty of time and ended with him being sacked for a 5-yard loss he was also stripped by John Abraham but recovered the ball following by an incompletion to Jones and a 1-yard checkdown to Jackson.
Then, after a Bryan Bulaga false start, the Packers faced fourth-and-goal from the 10. Again with Big Five personnel on the field, Rodgers took the shotgun snap and waited and waited and waited before rolling left and raring back with a fastball to Nelson, who made the catch in the back corner of the end zone.
Just an extended play, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin explained. Wednesday, when we got together (as coaches), we had studied our game against them in 08 and we noticed that a lot of times they had dropped eight people off in coverage. We had made an emphasis all week that weve got to extend some plays we call that a zeke coverage. Aaron did a great job extending the play. And Jordy, he may have been coming from the other side and weaved his way around.
But the ensuing kickoff set up the Falcons for the game-winner, handing the Packers their fourth loss of the season, all on field goals in the final 10 seconds of regulation or in overtime.
If you look at the (close) games, Aarons doing an outstanding job, veteran center Scott Wells said. We all make mistakes in games. Everybody as a whole has to pick it up to win games like this. Its never one guys fault. Its unfair on any game to point the finger at him. He leads us, he commands that huddle, hes our leader on the field, and he marched us down the field and got the touchdown.
I dont know what else youd want him to do at that time.
In the end, though, it wasnt enough.
It's disappointing. You go down and score and tie it up and you're thinking overtime. We enjoyed the heck out of that drive. It was nice, Rodgers said. Mike gave me some freedom in that drive and we made some good plays. We were all tired. I think every person on the field was tired, both sides of the ball. But to get that in for a touchdown and have that high of tying it up was pretty special. But we lost the game.