Packers not good enough in crunch time to beat NFL’s best

Green Bay had the ball in field goal range, on the cusp of breaking a fourth-quarter tie, when Patriots lineman Lawrence Guy knocked the ball out of Aaron Jones’ grasp. Instead of taking their first lead, the Packers watched the Patriots march to back-to-back scores and put away a 31-17 victory on Sunday. “It was obviously a big play in the game,” Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. “That was a turning point.” One week after fumbling away a late chance to defeat the then-unbeaten Los Angeles Rams, the Packers blew another fourth-quarter opportunity against the defending AFC champions. “Jonesy’s had a really nice year for us, so that one play obviously doesn’t lose the game,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “But it’s plays like that — by all of us, myself included — that have just hindered us from finishing games out.” In just the second matchup ever between Brady, a three-time NFL MVP, and two-time MVP Rodgers, Green Bay (3-4-1) played the Patriots even for 45 minutes before Jones’ fumble stalled their best chance to take the lead. “It’s happening in the worst times,” said Rodgers, who completed 24 of 43 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns. “When we have to play our best in those crunch times, we haven’t been playing our best.” Last week, the Rams kicked a field goal to take a 29-27 lead with 2:05 to play. But Packers kickoff returner Ty Montgomery brought the ball out of the end zone and fumbled, costing Rodgers a chance for a game-winning drive. Against New England, the Packers also settled for a field goal in the first quarter after a penalty. “We’re hurting ourselves with negative yardage plays and missed throws and turnovers at the wrong time,” Rodgers said.