Stage set for Rodgers’ return
Backup QB Hundley rallies Pack to OT win vs. winless Browns
CLEVELAND — Your turn, Aaron Rodgers.
Brett Hundley threw a 25- yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams in overtime, and the Packers rallied from a two- touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter for a 27- 21 victory Sunday against the winless Browns.
Hundley pulled out his third victory— and second in a rowin overtime — since replacing an injured Rodgers, and now the Packers ( 7- 6) will get Rodgers back after their season appeared doomed when he broke his collarbone in mid- October.
‘‘ My No. 1 thought going into it was to keep our hopes alive to make the playoffs,’’ said Hundley, who threw three touchdown passes. ‘‘ At the end of the day, whatever happens, happens. Whenever I’m called upon, I’ll be ready. In the meantime, we’re still in this.’’
On third- and- six in overtime, Hundley threw a short pass to Adams, who spun out of defensive end Myles Garrett’s arms and went in untouched with 5: 05 left. Rodgers returned to practice this week and is expected to be back on the field when the Packers play the Panthers on Sunday.
‘‘ We kept the playoffs alive,’’ said Packers safety Josh Jones, who intercepted a pass by Browns rookie DeShone Kizer to set up the winning touchdown. ‘‘ We’ve got the best quarterback in the league coming back, so we feel a lot better.’’
It was another devastating loss for the Browns ( 0- 13), who made several critical mistakes late in regulation before Kizer’s poor decision on his final pass. Kizer was rolling to his left and tried to throw across his body to receiver Rashard Higgins when his arm was hit by Packers linebacker Clay Matthews.
‘‘ I thought we had control pretty much the majority of the game,’’ Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey said. ‘‘ It’s definitely frustrating. . . . I don’t know why it keeps happening.’’
Down 21- 7 heading into the fourth quarter, the Packers forced overtime on Hundley’s one- yard touchdown pass to Adams with 17 seconds left in regulation.
A 65- yard punt return by Trevor Davis set up the Packers’ tying touchdown, which came after Hundley was ruled down inside the 1 after an apparent six- yard scoring run. With the Packers out of timeouts, coach Mike McCarthy elected not to risk a run, and Hundley rifled his pass into the corner for Adams, who beat cornerback Jason McCourty on the play.
Hundley finished 35- for- 46 for 265 yards and made the big plays when he had to.
‘‘ He plays his best football when the game’s on the line,’’ McCarthy said of Hundley. ‘‘ You can’t teach that. He’s a winner.’’
The Browns were in position to run out the clock before overtime, but rookie tight end David Njoku dropped a key third- down pass. Then their punt team couldn’t bring down Davis, who weaved his way to the Browns’ 25.
Kizer threw three touchdown passes and went 20- for- 28 for 214 yards. But he’ll be haunted by the late interception.
‘‘ You can’t make that,’’ coach Hue Jackson said. ‘‘ If it does not feel right, it probably is not right.’’