Aaron Rodgers is Magical Again in Dallas
Aaron Rodgers is a magician. And Sunday in Dallas, he reminded us why he is the best player in the NFL.
When Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense took the field, down 31-28, with 1:13 left to go, Green Bay fans had to be wondering, can he do it again?
The last time we watched Rodgers play at Jerry’s World, he threw that dagger pass to Jared Cook. Green Bay won by three and the two-time MVP added to his legend. Sunday, Rodgers pulled another rabbit out of his hat, something he seemingly does every week.
But facing a third-and-eight just beyond his own 30 yard line, Rodgers and the Packers were playing with fire. With 29 seconds left and no timeouts, a sack or a negative play, would have forced the Packers to rush on their field-goal unit in an attempt to tie the game.
Instead, Rodgers escaped the grasp of two Dallas defenders and ran for 18 yards for a first down. He also got out of bounds to stop the clock. Then, he completed another legendary drive, with a pin-point touchdown pass to Davante Adams.
Adams, who had football fans everywhere scared after he went to the hospital last week, did the unthinkable. He found a way to play and when he was on the field, he wasn’t just a guy, he was a difference maker. And his second touchdown catch of the day, a back-corner fade over rookie Jourdan Lewis, was a thing of beauty.
LIVE: Hear from @AaronRodgers12 after the win. #GBvsDAL #GoPackGo https://t.co/8aK4auY8Di
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 9, 2017
Rodgers, who threw incomplete on the same play the down prior to the game-winning touchdown, arched the second attempt with more loft. That allowed Adams to go up and get it. Then, he tapped his feet and with 11 seconds left, he and Rodgers delivered another dagger. One that was the difference between 4-1 and 3-2.
For the game, Rodgers was 19-of-29 for 221 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also ran four times for 32 yards, including the 18-yard run with around 20 seconds that put Green Bay in position to win.
While the defense struggled to stop Dak Prescott and the Cowboys, Rodgers and the offense possessed the ball four times in the second half and scored each time. Three touchdowns and one field goal. 23 points on the road, in the second half, to complete a 15-point comeback, against a team many view as a Super Bowl contender.
Doesn't get much better than that. Check that, it doesn't get much better that Rodgers.
At this point, I don’t know what the Cowboys are. But I know this, the Packers have a shot of beating anyone, anywhere, anytime and why? Well that’s easy, they have Aaron Rodgers, the magic man.
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Chris is a sports journalist from Montana and has been blogging about the Packers since 2011. Chris has been a staff writer for CheeseheadTV since 2017 and looks forward to the day when Aaron Rodgers wins his second Super Bowl. Follow him @thepackersguru
Comments (46)
jeremyjjbrown
October 08, 2017 at 08:02 pm
One more week the Packers offense made adjustments and went back to running the ball, passing short and then the other stuff opened up. Great comeback by Rodgers.
That said I really wish McCarthy would stop defering. It has to mean that the defense spends more time on the field. You can really see the difference when they get worn down.
Don Hutson
October 09, 2017 at 04:59 am
I like the Defering. our defence should be a strength. Dallas is one hell of an offense. We need to start faster on offense too!
dobber
October 09, 2017 at 07:34 am
I think deferring is less about the defense and more about being able to come out hot in the second half after having seen what the opposition is going to throw at you. If you can get the ball at the end of the first half and put up points, all the better.
Bearmeat
October 08, 2017 at 08:07 pm
Gonna enjoy this one. We have the best QB in the history of the game at the peak of his powers, and as a result, we are who no one wants to play. Ever. Anytime you send Dallas home with an L, it's a good day. And the Kitties lost too. NOICE!
That said, our pass defense is still very, very concerning. Randall made two heads up plays in this game, but still had a slew of terrible coverages. Rollins was awful. We need King, House, and Hawkins to be our CB 1-3's, Burnett to stay healthy, and HHCD to pick it up. I do not want to be hoping Randall and Rollins somehow play well in crunch time anymore.
But, in the end, it's nice to be 4-1. Lotta season left. GPG!
EdsLaces
October 08, 2017 at 08:09 pm
Man if we are able to lean on 33 as much as we were today...watch out.
TKWorldWide
October 08, 2017 at 08:14 pm
Yeah, he looks like he just "knows how to run", and great quickness too.
Point-Packer
October 08, 2017 at 08:17 pm
Aaron Rodgers is a bad bad man. Jesus it's a pleasure watching him play. How lucky are we?
HankScorpio
October 08, 2017 at 09:45 pm
The Packers have had HoF QB play for an entire generation now. 25 years and counting. That's amazing.
ChrisPeterson
October 08, 2017 at 11:49 pm
Very Lucky! He's unbelievable. He seems to only get better and I don't know how he does it!
dobber
October 09, 2017 at 07:35 am
His running for the first down and then some on that final drive was a thing of beauty...shaking off a tackle or two and still staying inbounds. I don't think I could've done that when I was 23 much less 33.
croatpackfan
October 09, 2017 at 02:29 am
That is the comment on target! And that is why I can accept few loses Packers had. I enjoy in the perfection!
Spock
October 09, 2017 at 04:55 am
I, honest to God, just knew Rodgers would win the game with the little time left on the clock. I don't think my blood pressure even went up at all. Rodgers talent is off the scale. I loved watching Favre play for his boyish enthusiasm, but Rodgers just seems like he's a man among boys. I've been watching the Packers all my life, but Rodgers just blows my mind, he is just ... incredible.
Qoojo
October 08, 2017 at 08:25 pm
Gotta love how the defense shut Dallas down with 11 seconds to go, and did not allow Dallas to score.
dobber
October 08, 2017 at 09:54 pm
Whoops...I think I just stepped in some sarcasm.
4thand1
October 08, 2017 at 10:14 pm
They had me worried with the laterals. I was waiting for a cross field toss with a guy wide open down the sidelines. Cardiac Pack. AR GOAT.
ChrisPeterson
October 08, 2017 at 11:54 pm
Me too. I was freaking out for a second. Scary!
HankScorpio
October 09, 2017 at 02:19 pm
What was Nick Perry thinking after the ball landed in his hands? I shudder to think about the abuse that would be thrown his way on the internet had things gone badly after his recovery and subsequent fumble.
ChrisPeterson
October 09, 2017 at 02:27 pm
The game was actually already over. An offensive lineman already touched it and they are ineligible players. So it was over before Perry touched it. That's why he dropped it like that.
dobber
October 09, 2017 at 02:53 pm
Wait a minute...is that right? A lateral isn't a forward pass, it's the equivalent of a free ball, a fumble. Position and eligibility shouldn't matter, right?
Qoojo
October 09, 2017 at 06:02 pm
Otherwise every fumble recovered by OL would result in a flag.
HankScorpio
October 09, 2017 at 06:36 pm
I confess to not being a NFL rulebook wiz. There is all kinds of stuff in there that I don't know.
Here is the play detail from NFL.com gamebook:
(:05) (Shotgun) D.Prescott pass short left to B.Butler to DAL 35 for 10 yards. Lateral to E.Elliott to GB 45 for 20 yards. Lateral to D.Prescott to
GB 48 for -3 yards. Lateral to B.Butler to 50 for -2 yards. Lateral to D.Prescott to GB 47 for 3 yards. Lateral to J.Witten to GB 47 for no gain.
FUMBLES, RECOVERED by GB-N.Perry at GB 47. N.Perry to GB 48 for 1 yard (T.Frederick). FUMBLES (T.Frederick), RECOVERED by
DAL-T.Frederick at GB 49. T.Frederick to GB 38 for 11 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by GB-Q.Rollins at GB 42.
Each fumble changed possession so the rules against offensive players other than the fumbler advancing the ball would not apply. By that point, I think eligible numbers are out the window because the one allowed forward pass was legally completed, from Dak Prescott to Brice Butler So I think it was all legal right up to the Rollins recovery.
But like I said, I don't really know that for sure.
Had that the mess didn't change the outcome, it would have replaced the Stanford band play in football legend as the most bizarre game ending ever. I think I read somewhere that McCarthy had wandered on to the field before Rollins was touched down.
ChrisPeterson
October 08, 2017 at 08:26 pm
Yea Rodgers was a bad man. But we should all enjoy this one. Each win makes the next one bigger. But to another point, Jones was a stud. Did not expect him to have more yards rushing than Zeke.
Since'61
October 08, 2017 at 08:29 pm
Multiple SBs or not Aaron Rodgers plays QB as well as if not better than any QB that has ever played in the NFL.
Revolving OTs no problem, WRs in and out no sweat, different RBs every week, no worries. Defense that can't make stops, who cares? He adapts, improvises and overcomes all of it.
With Aaron Jones and a healthy Monty he may finally have a run game that could make him even better. Watch out NFL. Thanks, Since '61
dobber
October 08, 2017 at 09:57 pm
If there's one thing that's happened as a result of this rash of injuries, it's that the Packers have discovered young guys who can play on almost a weekly basis: King...Jones...McCray...Jones#2. Now, if they can get healthy enough so that they truly have options rather than shuffling deck chairs...
Spock
October 09, 2017 at 05:04 am
Since '61, Better, hands down better. Rodgers is an "once in a life time" talent (and we had Favre before him) and it is just a pleasure to watch him. How incredibly lucky are we to be Packers fans? If this team can ever get even remotely healthy I don't see how we aren't playing in the SB this season.
michaelturi
October 08, 2017 at 08:39 pm
I was at the game. There were a lot of angry Cowboy fans after this was over.
I am still not at all sure why MM went for two points on the previous TD. Just a point after would have put the Packers up by 5 so if the Cowboys scored a TD, all the Packers would have needed to win was a field goal.
This one was a dagger into the heart for the Cowboy fans. Now 2-3 with a tough schedule ahead. Jerry always promises and under delivers. He doesn't care as he counts his money.
LOTS of Packer fans at the game.
ChrisPeterson
October 08, 2017 at 08:44 pm
Love it!
jeremyjjbrown
October 08, 2017 at 08:50 pm
Yep, I hated going for 2. It's always the wrong decision unless you don't have a choice.
ChrisPeterson
October 08, 2017 at 09:21 pm
Yea I didn't really think about it. I guess he was thinking if he gets it, they win with a FG even if Dallas goes for two, which they would have if it was a 5-point game. Also Dallas had to make PAT to take lead. Probably a sure thing with Bailey. But still, make them earn it. That being said, sometimes Mccarhty seems to do things without much rhyme or reason.
Grandfathered
October 08, 2017 at 08:57 pm
Did you see the field goal team?
TKWorldWide
October 08, 2017 at 09:01 pm
I dislike Jerry Jones.
dobber
October 09, 2017 at 10:13 am
Really? I think he's one of your followers on FB... ;)
4thand1
October 08, 2017 at 10:19 pm
That 2 point try made no sense. Is MM worried about the new long snapper? The Pack scored 35, if healthy they would put up 50 on that Dallas D.
NickPerry
October 09, 2017 at 05:58 am
Excellent point, it made no sense at all. Not only that it was the play Jordy Nelson tweaked his hammy because of the way he landed. He got up, winced, and I thought crap!
Troy Aikman was obviously upset the Cowboys lost. He TRIED to cover it up but I could tell...He wanted to cry!
dobber
October 09, 2017 at 07:39 am
I think Aikman really is an ARod fan. He might be a Dallas homer, but he likes #12, if only because of what the guy can do on the field. Romo also seemed to gush all over ARod, but it was easy to do given the Packers were gobsmacking the Bears.
Otto
October 08, 2017 at 10:56 pm
Rodgers is ruthless.
Don Hutson
October 09, 2017 at 04:55 am
Unquestionably Rodgers was great. But without stellar plays from Randall, Adams, Jones, Nelson, Bennet, etc. The opportunity wouldn't have been there. plus the officiating was near criminal. Good to be out of Dallas for a bit!
stockholder
October 09, 2017 at 10:31 am
I've never seen MM so mad on the calls. The holding was outrageous. The officiating must have gotten a call at 1/2. ( Still don't like the martinez call. ) And then Dallas went nuts on A-rods call. Give me a break. A-rods lucky he turned his head. That was leading with the helmet all the way. They should fine him and the officials this game.
Finwiz
October 09, 2017 at 10:45 am
What exactly are you babbling about?
Nonsensical
Don Hutson
October 09, 2017 at 05:08 am
Hopefully Mikey Mac was anticipating Dalas going for 2 if they scored another TD. That is the only rationalle to go for 2. MM is not the sharpest knife at in-hame decisions, but he does cut it at times.
ollie418
October 09, 2017 at 05:54 am
Capers must go!
Lphill
October 09, 2017 at 06:01 am
Imagine a world where Rodgers has a #1 defense . We can only dream .
dobber
October 09, 2017 at 07:39 am
I'd be happy with a top 15 defense at this point.
HankScorpio
October 09, 2017 at 02:11 pm
The Packers are 11th in yards and 20th in points, exactly 1 pt/gm away from 15th---with 2 TDs allowed by the Packer offense.
Seems like they are pretty close to top 15 so far in 2017.
sheppercheeser
October 09, 2017 at 07:18 am
I really thought that the poor clock management (wasted timeouts) were going to bite GB at the end. Thank goodness it didn't.
LASVEGAS-TOM
October 09, 2017 at 01:58 pm
Chris Peterson, I'm glad you used the words Magic Man. Brett Favre was Great!! Arron Rogers is Great!! & maybe better, but could we give a little Love to Majik, the original Majik Man. He's the guy that got us out from under the Rug & helped us turn the corner. I think Don Majikowski was a pretty good QB & deserves some love.
LVT