CINCINNATI, Ohio — On a Sunday where the likes of Brian Hoyer, Jake Locker, and Ryan Tannehill all led their teams on fourth quarter game-winning drives, All-Pro Aaron Rodgers and the Packers stumbled, falling 30-34 in a wild, back-and-forth game against the Cincinnati Bengals. After winning the coin toss, the Packers deferred and watched the Andy Dalton lead his offense right down the field for a 7-0 lead. Jeremy Ross muffed the ensuing kickoff, gifting Cincinnati another touchdown and putting the Packers in a quick 14-0 hole. Green Bay responded like a champion, rolling off 30 unanswered points only to see the Bengals score the final 20. Cincinnati became the first team in 14 years to win a game after allowing 30 straight points.
Turnovers were the story of the day at Paul Brown Stadium as each team coughed up the rock four times. Green Bay forced turnovers on four straight possessions, starting with a Sam Shields interception late in the first quarter on a pass intended for A.J. Green. The Packers would go on to force fumbles on Cincinnati’s next three drives. Brad Jones stripped tight end Jermaine Gresham and A.J. Hawk recovered for the Packers. Clay Matthews then channeled his inner Superman – flying through the air, knocking the ball loose from BenJarvus Green Ellis, and flexing while safety M.D. Jennings returned the fumble 24 yards for a TD. Finally, Matthews and rookie Datone Jones combined on a strip-sack of Andy Dalton which was recovered by Brad Jones. However, the Packers’ offense struggled inside the opponent’s 20, scoring touchdowns on just two of four red zone trips. Rodgers and McCarthy got in a verbal spat after the Packers were forced to kick a 19-yard field goal in the second quarter. “He’s competitive, man,” said McCarthy of Rodgers. “That’s what I love about him. I didn’t really think it was that big of a deal, frankly.”
Aaron Rodgers had an uncharacteristically sloppy game, tossing two interceptions for the first time since Week 7 of the 2010 season. For the first time in 36 contests Rodgers recorded more interceptions than touchdowns. James Jones, who caught Rodgers’ only passing TD of the day, stopped short on a slant route which resulted in the first miscue, while Rodgers was caught forcing the ball to Randall Cobb on his fourth quarter INT. The Cincinnati defense held the Packers’ receiving corps in check for the most part, limiting them to just 47 yards after the catch compared to 178 last week versus the Redskins. Jordy Nelson made another jaw-dropping sideline catch on his way to 8 catches and 93 yards. According to Elias, Rodgers fell to 5-17 as a starter in games decided by four points or less (a stat which can be very misleading, considering Rodgers’ career record of 53-28). Rodgers had three passes batted down at the line of scrimmage while mounting a potential game-winning two-minute drill in the fourth quarter; he had only one game in the past five seasons with three passes batted down.
The Packers entered the game with Eddie Lacy and John Kuhn inactive, leaving James Starks and Johnathan Franklin as their only healthy backs. That depth was tested as Starks left with a knee injury after picking up 55 yards on 14 carries. Johnathan Franklin made a statement in his first extended NFL action. The UCLA standout rushed for 103 yards on only 13 totes, scoring his first-career touchdown and tacking on three catches for 23 yards. In an unfortunate turn of events, Cincinnati defensive end Michael Johnson caused Franklin to fumble with 3:47 left in the game on a 4th-and-1 handoff. Bengals safety Reggie Nelson picked up the loose ball only to have it knocked out by Randall Cobb; however, cornerback Terrance Newman scooped up Nelson’s fumble and ran 58 yards for the game-winning score. “It doesn’t matter, we lost,” said Franklin after the game, unaware he had recorded triple-digit rush yards. For the first time since the end of the 2007 season, the Packers had back-to-back games with a 100-yard rusher. Starks (132 yards vs. Washington) and Franklin (103 yards vs. Cincinnati) both came off the bench to deliver 100-yard performances after a streak of 45 regular-season games without a player reaching the century mark in rush yards.
The Packers lost three more starters to injuries. Tight end Jermichael Finley left early in the first quarter with a concussion suffered on a shoulder hit to the helmet. James Starks (knee) and Clay Matthews (hamstring) also exited early, both missing the entire second half. Green Bay’s bye comes at the earliest possible date allowed and is very much a welcomed bit of rest as Morgan Burnett, Casey Hayward, Eddie Lacy, and John Kuhn all look to recover from nagging injuries. Following the same schedule as last year, head coach Mike McCarthy will give his players Tuesday through Sunday off before beginning preparation for a Week 5 home game versus the Detroit Lions.
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