One kept alive an Atlanta Falcons touchdown drive. Another cost the Green Bay Packers a field goal.
The penalty problems that plagued the Packers through the seasons first month were a significant factor again Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Officials flagged the home team 10 times and walked off nine of them for 97 yards, including two infractions that in essence yielded a 10-point swing in the second quarter of a 27-24 Falcons victory.
Were going to talk about it as a staff, because the approach of how were addressing it and the way were practicing it, its not working, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. Anytime something happens five weeks in a row, thats a problem, and penalties have definitely been a problem throughout these first five games.
The Packers entered as one of the NFLs most penalized teams, having had 35 enforced for 322 yards through four games. They matched their nearly nine-a-game pace on Sunday, and none hurt more directly than two disputed calls in the second quarter.
First, rookie cornerback Pat Lee on the field as a sixth defensive back in the dime defense appeared to halt a Falcons drive by breaking up a Matt Ryan pass over receiver Roddy Whites shoulder on third-and-10. But a flag came out late for pass interference, giving Atlanta 20 yards and an automatic first down. Seven plays later, Ryan hit White for a 22-yard touchdown that made it 17-7 Falcons.
It looked like he was in pretty good shape, Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders said. The referee said (Lee) hit (White) in the shoulder.
It was just a bad call, Lee said. I aint even do nothing. I just went straight for the ball.
The Packers had a chance to cut into the deficit entering halftime on their next drive. Mason Crosby drilled a 43-yard field goal, but rookie tight end Jermichael Finley was called for holding. Backed up 10 yards, Crosby missed wide right from 53.
Finley said he tripped while trying to protect an inside gap and didnt grab a Falcons collar, as the official alleged.
I was off-balance, but I didnt hold, Finley said. I thought it was a poor call.
Others were relatively clear-cut.
Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett was flagged for encroachment on the games opening drive, giving Atlanta an extra play from the Packers 1-yard line on a drive that ended with a fourth-down touchdown pass.
Jarrett Bush was flagged for holding on the second halfs opening kickoff, forcing the Packers to start from their 9-yard line. On that drive, a holding penalty against tight end Tory Humphrey put the Packers in a second-and-20 situation, and they ended up punting.
Safety Nick Collins and cornerback Will Blackmon drew unnecessary roughness penalties on back-to-back Atlanta drives in the second half.
And a Packers drive stunted by a pair of penalties ended with the turnover that set up Atlantas winning touchdown.
Allen Barbre, who was in at left guard because of an injury to starting left tackle Chad Clifton, was flagged for holding, putting the Packers in second-and-20 from their 25. An illegal contact penalty against the Falcons one of only two for 15 yards they drew bailed out the Packers with an automatic first down on the next play. But two plays later, quarterback Aaron Rodgers tried to avoid a John Abraham sack by heaving the ball sideways out of bounds, and referee Carl Cheffers threw a late flag for intentional grounding. That stuck the Packers with third-and-19 from their 21, and Rodgers was intercepted by linebacker Michael Boley on a pass into traffic.
Field position, McCarthy said, for the third week in a row, continues to be a problem,
Once again, penalties were a significant part of it.