The Lions shutout the Packers offense in the first half, holding Green Bay to just 78 yards at the break. I felt good about throwing it in the end zone from the 40….
Advertisement
First, you have the connection: Rodgers-to-Rodgers-QB Aaron to tight end Richard, who both attended Cal, although not at the same time. The controversial infraction came after Taylor grazed the lower part of Aaron Rodgers’ facemask as he tackled the quarterback deep in Green Bay territory at the end of a sequence of lateral passes on what would have been the final play of the game with Detroit ahead 23-21. QB Rodgers hutted the play, scrambled around the pocket, avoiding a sack, and threw a 61-yard Hail Mary pass into the endzone.
“‘That’s what I’m talking about!'” he said.
The penalty gave Rodgers a chance for one more untimed play and a Hail Mary to the end zone, and the Lions defended it poorly. “Therefore, it is, and we just got to find a way to make a play”.
In a tweet issued immediately after the game, National Football League vice president of officiating Dean Blandino defended the face-mask foul by saying an official “is going to make that call nearly every time”. Second, the Packers were down 20-0 at one point in this game. “The initiative was more for special teams, but as we got going in the game and the things that were happening in the game and with his running style, I chose to stick him in there and he gave us a big spark”. Or was there? They tried the old hook and ladder, and then proceeded to continually lateral the ball looking for a miracle, the ball ended back in the hands of Aaron Rodgers.
Prater’s 42-yard field goal restored a two-score lead for the Lions with 7:06 left but te Packers responded with Rodgers’ rushing touchdown with 3:04 remaining.
“I got a nice run up to throw it. I didn’t see Richard until the last second. I knew we were around the 40”, Aaron Rodgers said.
“I’m sure there’s some people out there who would think it’s just a Hail Mary, but the Doug Flutie play was just a Hail Mary play, too”. After a weird touchdown where Randall Cobb recovered a James Starks fumble, the Packers found some life.
Advertisement
However, a closer look showed that Taylor may not really have gotten that much of Rodgers’ facemask to be whistled for a penalty. Lost in the loss will be Johnson’s 17-yard TD catch in the first quarter in which he leaped the catch it with two hands, squeezed the ball with only his right hand as he planted his right foot and dragged his left on the side of the end zone.
