Aaron’s Pack limps away after tough day
USA TODAY, AP ATLANTA — All afternoon, Aaron Rodgers watched a stream of teammates limp off the field with injuries.
It got so bad toward the end that Green Bay’s star quarterback had Letroy Guion, the starting nose tackle, taking snaps at guard.
Rodgers kept his composure throughout the Packers’ 44-21 loss to the Falcons in the NFC championship game Sunday, but his emotions were raw when asked about Jordy Nelson, who played with broken ribs.
“Yeah, I’m so proud of Jordy,” Rodgers said. “I mean, it was incredible that he was out there.”
Rodgers nearly cried. Standing at the podium, he lowered his head, looked away and paused for 10 seconds. Next question. “I felt like we kind of hurt ourselves in the first half more than they really stopped us,” Rodgers said. “They have a good football team. There’s a reason they’re moving on to the Super Bowl. They’re going to be tough to stop.”
The Packers (12-7) arrived in Atlanta riding an eight-game winning streak. They had gone from 4-6 to winning the NFC North, beating the Giants and then eking out a tense, dramatic victory last week at Dallas.
Rodgers threw 21 touchdowns and just one interception during the winning streak, but everything came crashing down against the upstart Falcons (13-5).
It came unhinged early. Mason Crosby, who was automatic from long distances to beat the Cowboys, was wide right on a 41-yarder on the first possession. The next possession ended with fullback Aaron Ripkowski losing a fumble, stripped and recovered by Jalen Collins, in the red zone.
Rodgers saw 10 points evaporate, and the Falcons quickly scored again to make it 17-0. The rout was on. “It hurt the momentum of the game, obviously not getting points to stay in the game,” Rodgers said. “Their offense is hot right now.”
Ripkowski slammed his fist against the Georgia Dome turf in frustration.
“It’s tough to fight back from,” Ripkowski said. “I just didn’t take care of business today.”
“When you keep giving teams plays on third-and-long,” cornerback Damarious Randall said, “you’re probably not going to win.”