Another late collapse; another Packer loss
Photo 
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Reggie Hayward, right, sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, causing a fumble in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Jacksonville, Fla. Green Bay recovered the fumble. Jacksonville won 20-16.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — David Garrard squeezed through a hole, sliced left and found an open lane to the end zone. He was closing in on the goal line when Will Blackmon caught him from behind and slapped the ball away.
It bounced right into Garrard’s arms as he fell to the ground, giving Jacksonville a much-needed break and leaving Green Bay with another familiar-feeling loss.
Garrard threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 31 yards and the Jaguars snapped a four-game losing streak with a 20-16 victory over the Packers on Sunday.
“It’s been awhile," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. “It was a happy locker room.”
The Jaguars (5-9) won at home for the first time since September, ended Green Bay’s slim playoff chances and left the Packers (5-9) arguing, pointing fingers and searching for answers after another fourth-quarter collapse.
“We shouldn’t be having this miscommunication in Week 15 of the season,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “Disappointing. You get an opportunity to win the game down the stretch and can’t do it.”
The Packers might have had reason to bicker. After all, they lost on a late drive for the third consecutive week. Carolina beat Green Bay 35-31 two weeks ago with a 55-yard drive in the final two minutes. Houston kicked a field goal as time expired in last week’s 24-21 victory.
The latest one came courtesy of Garrard, Dennis Northcutt, Maurice Jones-Drew and several missed opportunities.
The Packers entered the final quarter with a 13-7 lead, poised to snap a three-game slide, but Garrard directed two scoring drives that gave Jacksonville its second win in eight games.
The turnaround started with the first play of the fourth. On fourth-and-1 at the Jacksonville 44, the Jaguars stuffed fullback John Kuhn up the middle. It was one of many problems the Packers had in short-yardage situations.
“That was the turning point in the game,” Jaguars defensive end Paul Spicer said. “The momentum could have gone either way.”
Garrard took over from there. He converted a fourth-down play with a 4-yard run, completed a couple of short passes to Reggie Williams and then beat an all-out blitz by finding Jones-Drew over the middle for a 14-yard touchdown.
The Packers went back in front, 16-14, on Mason Crosby’s third field goal. But Garrard and the Jaguars answered against Green Bay’s porous defense.
The second drive was even more efficient that the first, with Garrard hooking up with Northcutt for a 41-yard gain—the Jaguars had been the only NFL team without a pass play of at least 40 yards—and later scrambling for 16 yards on third down.
His fortuitous fumble at the end of the run was key, though.
“Luckily some angels kept the ball close enough, and I was able to corral it and not give up a terrible play,” Garrard said.
Jones-Drew scored on the next play, putting Jacksonville ahead for good. Jones-Drew, starting in place of Fred Taylor, finished with 48 yards rushing and 22 yards receiving. Northcutt caught five passes for 127 yards and a touchdown, a 31-yarder on the game’s opening drive.
Green Bay had a final chance to win, but Reggie Nelson intercepted Aaron Rodgers’ pass over the middle with 40 seconds remaining.
Rodgers finished 20-of-32 passing for 278 yards and a touchdown. James Jones caught four passes for 132 yards. Ryan Grant ran for 56 yards.
The defense was the Packers’ biggest problem—again. Green Bay failed to generate much pressure on Garrard, and defenders spent much of the fourth quarter squabbling with each other and pointing fingers.
“We had opportunities and didn’t capitalize on those opportunities,” safety Charles Woodson said. “I don’t know what you do. At this point, we’re not good at all. We’re just not very good.”
Dec 16, 2008 at 6:52 a.m.
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You also have to look at the overthrows Rodgers made in this game and in the last game. There were opportunities to make some plays from Rodgers and he over threw wide open receivers. The last overthrow ended in an interception. He has had opportunities to take the team down the field and win games. That is his fault. And to his credit he has taken responsibility for his poor performances down the stretch. Now if Thompson would man up and say that he has made some horrible decisions as GM I would repect him more.
Dec 15, 2008 at 9:09 p.m.
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Titans/Giants Super Bowl....
Dec 15, 2008 at 6:36 p.m.
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2 min left , 2 timr outs , Farve takes the team down the field for the win.( would hve).
Dec 15, 2008 at 4:43 p.m.
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favreres not a packrat anymore?? hmmm. nice
Dec 15, 2008 at 4:21 p.m.
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OnWisconsin---
You are a true Packer fan. I agree with 100% of what you say. Guess what you are also a smart football fan. No just someone that looks at the record and says ITS BECAUSE OF FAVRE!
This football season has shown Packer fans and Badger football fans are just as terrible as the rest of the teams fan basis.
Dec 15, 2008 at 4:18 p.m.
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All you people bashing Aaron Rodgers can just stop, or else go cheer on your beloved Brett and his Jets and turn in the green and gold! To think this year is Aaron Rodgers fault is a joke! What else do you want from the guy? The Packers have lost 6 games by 4 points or less. Look at last years defense compared to this year. This years defense is giving up 6.3 points per game more than last year. But for all you football experts on here thats not that many. So I'll do the math, thats almost a TD a game which is HUGE! Rodgers has taken the team down against Minnesota to fieldgoal range, and fieldgoal was missed (not his fault), Carolina go ahead score in the 4th, punt and pinned them inside the 5, then a 90+ yard drive for a TD with under 2 min to go (not his fault). Again you experts would say well he had time left. You can't make every play, especially a 1st year starter. Lets continue...Houston took them down 4th quarter go ahead drive. Defense again can't hang on (not his fault)......Finally yesterday just a flat 4th quarter collapse by the defense, but again scoring drive in the 4th quarter to take the lead.
Look I loved Brett Favre as much as the next person. But it is what it is. He's gone, to think with this team if just Brett were back things would be fine is wrong. Defense is the issue, and possibly the lack of a running game. I would argue with anyone that the lose of Corey Williams was greater than the lose of Brett Favre. Its the truth just look at the production we still get at quarterback, its still pretty high.
To blame Rodgers is wrong. Thompson ok thats different. But did anyone have a issue with him last year? When 41 of the 53 man roster was acquired by him? Didn't think so. After last year into this year his moves have not been the best. Let hope with off-season with all the cap room he makes some good moves.
Just get off Rodgers!
GO PACK, and GO RODGERS 2009 will be better!
Dec 15, 2008 at 4:12 p.m.
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Boy, this comment section really shows the true Packer fans you all are. I am so sick of reading week in and week out how you people think it is Thompsons, McCarthy's or Rodgers fault. Face it, when you lose six games by four points or less and they were all because the defense could not stop even a blind school, how can you blame anybody else?? The Pack could easily be in the 10 win category. Favre is gone. If it weren't for the defense in New York, the Jets record would not be any better than the Packers. I was a huge Favre fan, but when you change your mind like a kindergartner, how can you expect the team to move forward. Sheeesh people, Rodgers is in his FIRST YEAR as a starter, give him a break! How many years was Favre here and we only won one Super Bowl??? Everybody supported him even when he made the idiotic passes (and there were many of them). Nobody will ever play the game with as much intensity and heart as Favre, but his era is over. Either be a TRUE Packer fan and support them win or lose, or stop complaining and cheer for some other team.
Dec 15, 2008 at 3:31 p.m.
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I'll bet the packers wish they never treated favre the way they did and let him go. Rodgers Sucks
Dec 15, 2008 at 3:03 p.m.
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Sad sad season from the dissing of Farve to the week to week less than stellar performance of the Packers. Hey but Rogers has a good passer rating! But it means nothing if you can't WIN!
Dec 15, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
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If the Packers want to improve, Thompson needs to stop looking to the draft and start looking into free agency and trades. Drafting good players without support around them is NOT going to work.
Dec 15, 2008 at 12:59 p.m.
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Dump the Three Stooges: Thompson, McCarthy and Murphy.
Dec 15, 2008 at 10:02 a.m.
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I am just waiting for the explanation coming from "our" coach how that pick that Rodgers threw on the final drive wasn't his fault. Part of McCarthy's job was to heal the damage done by himself and Thompson (perhaps by finally admitting they lied on many occasions) and to get the team united and motivated. Of course, that's not possible anymore. It will takes years to "get the stink off" from them getting rid of Favre-or it could happen overnight for me if they were both fired. I admit that I was a huge fan my whole life. Now I can't even tell you who they play next week.
Dec 15, 2008 at 9:50 a.m.
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Ya, if this doesn't make the decisions the Packers made look beyond stupid, I don't know what will. How about those Jets.
Dec 15, 2008 at 7:46 a.m.
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From one play away from going to the superbowl last year to not making the playoffs this year. Thank-you Ted Thompson. I can't believe Justin Harrell is hurt. Another steller draft pick by Mr. Thompson. Can't wait to how he screws up the draft pick we get for Favre.
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