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GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers used to thrive in these circumstances: chilly, snowy and beneath the lights at Lambeau Subject. It is when the Inexperienced Bay Packers quarterback has achieved a few of his finest work.
As a substitute, Rodgers missed open receivers, took a sack at an inopportune time and rendered final week’s season-saving upset of the Dallas Cowboys virtually meaningless Thursday evening in a 27-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau Subject that dropped the Packers to 4-7.
And Rodgers knew it.
“I’ve received to throw the ball higher than I did tonight,” Rodgers mentioned after going 24-for-39 for 227 yards and two touchdowns. “Not plenty of margin for error for us and positively not in opposition to a crew that provides you some alternatives. We have got to have these performs.”
Among the many ones Rodgers meant got here within the fourth quarter, a play the Packers needed to convert to be able to mount any kind of comeback.
Like on third-and-12 with 9:23 left, when he over-led a large open Sammy Watkins throughout the center, resulting in a punt.
And on third-and-3 with 5:32 left, when he sailed a ball over Allen Lazard’s head and the Packers turned it over on downs after the subsequent failed move to Lazard.
And the 12-yard loss on a sack with 2:39 left that every one however ended any hope of a turnaround.
After the win over the Cowboys, which snapped a five-game dropping streak and appeared to energise the locker room, Rodgers mentioned he “felt like I threw the ball nearly precisely the place I wished it.”
He could not clarify why it felt so completely different on Thursday. Was it the circumstances? His injured proper thumb?
“I could not let you know [or] level to 1 factor,” Rodgers mentioned. “I am not going to make excuses about my thumb. It has been the identical since [he hurt it against the] New York [Giants]. I do not know. I’ve received to return and have a look at it.
“I felt like essentially I used to be in a great place. I simply did not have the identical kind of constant grip and ball popping out the identical method. I threw plenty of form of wobblers tonight. There was some wind. Simply missed just a few throws I ought to have had. Undoubtedly the one to Sammy and the one to Allen.”
Lazard tried to place a number of the onus on himself.
“If he is throwing the ball to me, I am anticipating to catch it,” he mentioned.
The Packers have misplaced consecutive primetime video games with Rodgers because the starter after profitable 13 straight beneath the lights. They’ve one other primetime affair subsequent week on the 8-1 Philadelphia Eagles.
Coach Matt LaFleur described Rodgers and a few of his receivers as “a bit off tonight for positive.” As emotional and excited as he was after his crew beat the Cowboys on Sunday, he was equally distraught after this one.
“I do not even know what to say,” LaFleur mentioned. “It was nothing like just a few days in the past.”
But he wasn’t prepared to write down off the season. LaFleur dismissed any thought to turning to younger gamers, akin to Jordan Love, and Rodgers provided a purpose to suppose the playoffs had been nonetheless a risk.
“If we play as much as our potential, we will win our final six video games,” Rodgers mentioned. “I am assured in that. Clearly, I’ve received to play as much as my potential. Tonight wasn’t it.”
That hope maybe got here from the sudden emergence of rookie receiver Christian Watson, who caught two extra landing passes in opposition to the Titans to present him 5 previously two video games; and the return of Randall Cobb, who caught six passes for a team-high 73 yards.
“I believe final week confirmed us rather a lot, the probabilities,” Rodgers mentioned referring to the Cowboys recreation. “This week we simply did not play as complementary in all three phases. You have to be enthusiastic about the way in which Christian’s performed the final two weeks. Cobby coming again in the present day I believe led us in receiving yards. That was an enormous jolt for us.”
At this level, although, the Packers are up to now behind the NFC North main Minnesota Vikings (8-1) that the division looks as if a misplaced trigger. A wild-card path to one of many seven NFC playoffs spots may be their solely hope, however Thursday’s loss dropped them to eleventh place within the convention.
“You lose one other one and also you may as nicely say we’re most likely out,” Cobb mentioned.
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