Packers stumble in Rodgers’ first game back from injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. » Aaron Rodgers couldn’t save the Green Bay Packers — but he sure gave it a heck of a try.

For a moment it looked as if the two-time league MVP was about to spin his magic to lead the Packers back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

But in the end it was a fourth Green Bay turnover — this time a fumble by wide receiver Geronimo Allison with 1:48 left in the game — that spelled doom for the Packers in a 31-24 loss, and one that may ultimately keep them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Rodgers said it has not exactly been the fairytale season he was hoping for.

“As I lay in that surgery bed eight weeks ago thinking about this moment, I was hoping it would go a little differently,” Rodgers said of the Packers season.

“I’m proud of our guys for the way they have played the last few weeks. Today was disappointing. I didn’t play well. I hold myself to a high standard and I expected to play well, but I made too many mistakes.”

Rodgers had good velocity on his passes at times, throwing for 290 yards and three touchdowns. He even ran for a few first downs in his first game back from a broken collarbone, sliding before being hit.

But he had a few mistakes as well.

That included overthrowing Randall Cobb for an interception.

It included another interception when he was trying to throw a pass away, but didn’t get enough on the ball.

And it included throwing a pass in the dirt to Allison in the red zone.

“I felt pretty good, but I just missed some throws,” said Rodgers, who threw three interceptions for the first time since 2009.

“I missed some that I’m used to hitting. I’m disappointed in my performance today. Obviously, I didn’t play well.”

The Packers ran the ball for 120 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry, but the score dictated that Rodgers throw the ball more in the second half after the Packers surrendered a 14-10 halftime lead. He attempted 45 passes.

Carolina didn’t sack Rodgers in the first three quarters, but had three in the fourth.

“We started to figure out where he wanted to escape,” Panthers defensive end Wes Horton said.