Rodgers rebounds with strong performance
DENVER — Aaron Rodgers went from pathetic one week to just about perfect the next.
Brett Favre’s replacement as Green Bay quarterback bounced back from a bad game at San Francisco to complete 18 of 22 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown in the Packers’ 27-24 win over Denver on Friday night.
Rodgers led four scoring drives in his five possessions and was 16-for-19 for 178 yards against the Broncos’ starters, including a 10-yard touchdown to Donald Driver on the game’s opening drive.
He added a 1-yard sneak for a score against the Broncos’ reserves to open the second half before giving way to rookie Brian Brohm.
The Packers (1-2) sorely needed this kind of night from Rodgers in the last true tuneup for the regular season. He was 9-for-18 for 58 yards last week against San Francisco and failed to get the Packers into the end zone in one half of action.
Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler was effective if not as accurate, leading Denver (1-2) to scores on all three of its first-half possessions. One was a 99-yard touchdown march that chewed up most of the second quarter, and another was an 80-yard drive in all of 16 seconds.
After completing his first dozen passes against Dallas a week ago, Cutler was wild against the Packers, misfiring on six of his first seven throws and finishing just 6-of-13 for 115 yards. But he was precise when it mattered most.
Cutler split defensive backs Al Harris and Aaron Rouse with a rope to tight end Nate Jackson that gave Denver a 10-7 lead and capped a 16-play drive that covered 99 yards and 8½ minutes.
Later in the quarter, Brandon Marshall drew a 31-yard pass interference penalty on cornerback Tramon Williams, then beat Williams for a juggling, 49-yard TD catch from Cutler, who called it a night after that toss.
The Broncos outgained the Packers 91-31 in rushing yards in the first half.
Mason Crosby, an All-America from the University of Colorado, kicked field goals of 44 and 46 yards for Green Bay, the latter pulling the Packers to 17-13 as the first half expired. He missed from 53 yards in the third quarter.
Michael Pittman gave Denver a 24-20 lead with a 10-yard touchdown catch from Patrick Ramsey midway through the fourth quarter.
Linebacker Tracy White picked off a pass from Ramsey deep in Denver territory with five minutes left, giving Green Bay possession at the Broncos’ 10-yard line and setting up Kregg Lumpkin’s game-winning TD run on fourth-and-1.
Notes:The Packers lost RG Josh Sitton to a knee injury on their second drive and WR James Jones to a knee injury in the third quarter. Sitton was starting in place of Jason Spitz, who slid to center with Scott Wells sidelined. ... The Broncos lost DE Elvis Dumervil to a finger injury, S Marquand Manuel to a thumb injury and DE Paul Carrington to a strained left calf. ... CB Champ Bailey made his preseason debut for Denver, recording one solo tackle in the first half.
Aug 24, 2008 at 8:24 p.m.
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Favre will always be a packer!
Aug 24, 2008 at 12:36 p.m.
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Deserter. LOL. That's cute. Sarah, NFL Network is broadcasting the Jets game at 3 today. I couldn't wait, so I listened to the game on an internet radio station I found. They carry all the Jets games. Lots of commercials it seemed like, but at least I could hear some of the action. If you want the link, let me know.
And, by the way, I'm tired of hearing/reading that if you root for Brett, you're not a true Packer fan. I can root for two teams. I can also chew bubble gum and walk at the same time. Yeah, I'm talented like that. A true Packer fan would cheer on the guy that gave us the best 16 years in franchise history, not disown him cuz management was stupid enough to dump him. GO PACK!! GO JETS!! See how easy that is?? ;)
Aug 24, 2008 at 11:27 a.m.
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Good grief, grandpa from NV: Favre did not desert the Packers! The Three Stooges threw him away. And, yes, I and others can be both a fan of the Packers and of Favre. When your children married into another family did you quit loving them?
Aug 24, 2008 at 11:03 a.m.
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12-4
Aug 23, 2008 at 3:23 p.m.
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Anyone who watches the Jets game just to see their hero, deserter Favre, is not a Packer fan. The Packers are and will be a far better team than the Jets. Personally, I hope the world champs kick the snot out of the Jets.
Aug 23, 2008 at 10:06 a.m.
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One good game doesn't mean he will have a great season. 12-4 are you high? The Jets game I will be watching it thanks to the NFL network.
Aug 23, 2008 at 9:58 a.m.
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Last week all of the Favre-haters were pleading: It's only a preseason game! ... This week they will be chanting SUPER BOWL, SUPER BOWL while ignoring that this is still just a preseason game. The rest of us (Favre-backers while also being Packer-backers) will just shake our heads in wonder and wish we could see the Jets-Giants game tonight.
Aug 23, 2008 at 9:20 a.m.
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All of those "Packer fans" who ripped the team after last week's performance are probably chanting "Super Bowl..Super Bowl" this morning. Remember - - - 12-4
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