Bills hand Rodgers, Packers their fourth straight defeat
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills receiver Stefon Diggs says he’s not the one who started the verbal exchange he and Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander had in the tunnel before and after pregame warmups.
Whatever the case might be, Diggs and the Afc-leading Bills sure got in the last word on Sunday night.
Diggs had a game-high six catches for 108 yards and ran a perfect route in making a 26-yard touchdown catch in a 27-17 win over the Packers, who are off to their worst start eight games into a season under Aaron Rodgers.
“I don’t give a (hoot) who started it. I’ll finish it, you know what I’m saying. I got the win” Diggs said, without going into detail over what sparked the verbal exchange.
“It’s the most talking that’s ever been with another team because I don’t know why. We don’t really do too much talking,” he added. “I’m going to continue to be a leader and I’m going to lead by example. And I’m not going to get pushed around by nobody.”
Alexander disputed Diggs’ claim by saying he didn’t know who started things, which began when Diggs was spotted running sideways and yelling at the cornerback on their way out of the tunnel. Their feud continued as the teams filed back to their locker rooms.
“I always thought he was a decent receiver, but not much I can say about him,”
Alexander said.
In an outing that was chippy — Packers linebacker Quay Walker getting ejected for shoving Bills practice squad tight end Zach Davidson on the sideline — and sloppy, the Bills (6-1) never trailed in winning their fourth straight and matched their best start since 1993.
In the meantime, the showdown between two of the NFL’S top quarterbacks, Rodgers and Buffalo’s Josh Allen, never really materialized.
Allen finished 13 of 25 for 218 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. He added 49 yards rushing, including a powerful 20-yard gain on thirdand-14 to set up his 1-yard TD pass to Dawson Knox that opened the scoring.
Allen was unhappy with the two interceptions he threw in the fourth quarter, which briefly gave the Packers life.
Rodgers, meantime, was unable to will the Packers to victory a week after he called out teammates, cited too many mental errors and shared the blame following a 23-21 loss at Washington.
Rodgers’ message following the latest loss was more understated this time.
“I think the most important thing is to take a beat. After a frustration like this, the last thing you want is to respond in emotion,” the four-time MVP said. “So take a beat, let it sit. There’s not a whole lot to say after the game that is really going to spark the team, I don’t think.”
The three-time defending NFC North champion Packers dropped to 3-5. The four-game skid is the second-longest under Rodgers and the team’s worst since 2016. Green Bay hasn’t been 3-5 since 2006, Brett Favre’s second-to-last season.
Rodgers finished 19 of 30 for 203 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He was limited by an injury-depleted group of receivers, missing veterans Allen Lazard (shoulder) and Randall Cobb (ankle).