3 picks in 4th give Packers key triumph
Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander knew the secondary needed to start playing better against the Miami Dolphins after defensive backs coach Jerry Gray surprisingly yelled at them at halftime.
“That woke us up for sure,” Alexander said. “He doesn't really yell, but he was yelling at us then. And you see the results. He probably needed to yell at us at the beginning of the game.”
Gray's motivational effort worked: Green Bay intercepted three Tua Tagovailoa passes in the fourth quarter to complete a comeback and defeat the host Dolphins 26-20 to keep its playoff hopes alive.
The Packers had a season-high four takeaways in the game — three interceptions, one fumble recovery. Alexander caught one of Green Bay's three interceptions early in the fourth.
“That's how it is. You get one pick, more are going to come," said cornerback Rasul Douglas, who caught the game-sealing pick. "Keep catching those, and you keep getting them. I'm just glad we caught them.”
Aaron Rodgers threw for 238 yards and a touchdown with one interception, helping the Packers (7-8) to their third straight win. The team is looking to make a playoff push after starting the season 4-8.
After losing four consecutive games, Miami (8-7) needs two wins or a win at New England and a New York Jets loss to Seattle in Week 17 to make the postseason.
“I did not foresee that happening,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said of the end result. “I felt strong going into halftime and where our guys were at. I didn't foresee standing up here in this situation. I know the team feels the same way. It's another gut check.”
After leading by 10, the Dolphins trailed by six points with a chance to take the lead in the final two minutes, but Tagovailoa threw his third interception in three possessions to end Miami's comeback bid. He threw a pick with about six minutes left that set up a Packers field goal.
Packers kicker Mason Crosby made the go-ahead field goal early in the fourth after back-to-back turnovers by both offenses.
Undrafted Miami rookie Kader Kohou intercepted a pass by Rodgers intended for Allen Lazard, but the Dolphins gave it right back when Alexander intercepted Tagovailoa's pass on the next play.
Miami's defense held the Packers to six points off turnovers in the second half, and also held Green Bay to two TDs and three field goals in five trips to the red zone.
“It wasn't pretty, certainly," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. "I think a lot of times, when you kick a bunch of field goals, that's usually just enough to get you beat.”
A.J. Dillon led the Packers with 36 yards rushing on 11 carries, and Lazard had 61 yards receiving on five catches.
Tyreek Hill had four catches for Miami to give him 113 for the season, setting a Dolphins' singleseason receptions record previously held by Jarvis Landry. Jaylen Waddle added five receptions for 143 yards.
But Miami spoiled those big receiving days with turnovers. Raheem Mostert fumbled in the first half, and Tagovailoa's three interceptions were the most he has thrown all season.
“It's tough," Tagovailoa said. "You get an opportunity to play on Christmas Day against a really good team. I go out there and don't put my best foot forward for our team.” Rams 51, Broncos 14: Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes to Tyler Higbee, Cam Akers ran for 118 yards and three more scores, and host Los Angeles routed Denver for its second victory since midOctober.
Mayfield went 24-for- 28 passing for 230 yards in another standout performance for his second win in three starts with the Rams (5-10), who produced the best game of their dismal season.
Rookie Cobie Durant returned his second interception 85 yards for a touchdown with 4:08 left to cap the Rams' first 50point performance under Sean McVay since their 5451 victory over Kansas City in 2018.
For at least one more week, Los Angeles avoided becoming the first defending Super Bowl champion to lose 11 games. Even with the NFL's 32nd-ranked offense coming in, Los Angeles became just the second team to score 50 points in the NFL this season.