Rodgers and Packers miss playoffs
Aaron Rodgers was intercepted by Kerby Joseph on the final pass of what might be his last game, and the Green Bay Packers lost 20-16 to the Detroit Lions on Sunday night to miss the playoffs.
After winning four straight games and receiving plenty of help from other teams, the Packers had control of their postseason hope heading into the final game of the regular season. But they fell short against the Lions, who had been eliminated from the playoffs earlier Sunday when the Seattle Seahawks beat the Rams 19-16 in overtime.
Seattle instead earned the NFC’s last playoff spot and will play at San Francisco in the opening round.
Rodgers went 17 for 27 for 205 yards with one touchdown in what might be the final appearance at Lambeau Field for the four-time most valuable player. Although he is under contract for next season, the 39-year-old Rodgers has said he doesn’t know whether he will continue playing.
“It’s a little raw right now. It’s just a little bit after the game, so I want to take the emotion out of it and have the conversation and see where the organization’s at and see how I feel after some time has passed,” Rodgers said.
After the final seconds ticked off, Rodgers walked off the field, gazing into the stands, side by side with Randall Cobb, perhaps soaking up the sights and sounds
“At some point the carousel comes to a stop and it’s time to get off, and I think you kind of know when that is,” Rodgers said. “And that’s what needs to be contemplated. It is time? Also, what’s the organization doing? That’s part of it as well. But the competitive fire is always going to be there. I don’t think that ever goes away.”
Packers linebacker Quay Walker was ejected after pushing Lions team physician Sean Lynch, who was attending to an injured Detroit player. Green Bay’s Rasul Douglas also committed a personal foul on a Detroit field-goal attempt.
“I’ve got a much higher standard for our players than to do silly things like that,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said.