Aaron Rodgers blazes the comeback trail
It is only fitting that we take time on Friday the 13th to look back at how Aaron Rodgers haunts the opposition.
This happened again on Sunday.
No Packers-Cowboys game is complete without some Jason Garrett clock mismanagement. Thank goodness he doesn’t work for Timex.
Once again Garrett’s charges were running through the Green Bay defense with the greatest of ease. Thus Garrett decides to throw a pass during the closing minutes. That failed miserably and left time on the clock for Rodgers. He didn’t learn his lesson from last year. Maybe Packers fans should send him a gourmet gift cheese grate for Christmas.
Rodgers accepted his gift of time.
It was another comeback victory by Rodgers, who was once accused of not being capable of doing this sort of thing. Inquiring minds want to know if the naysayers are now smothering their crow with Open Pit BBQ Sauce.
Rodgers seems to have this comeback thing down now. In fact, pro-football-reference.com credits him with 12 fourth-quarter comebacks.
That total is somehow, someway ten fewer than Jay Cutler of all people. Huh? Do they include electric football comebacks?
Nonetheless, it is time to sit back and reflect on some of these comebacks. Let’s take a trip down Memory Lane, shall we?
Sept. 14, 2008: Packers 45, Lions 28. This was comeback Numero Uno for Rodgers. OK, the Pack sealed the victory with two pick-sixes in the final 3:09. But 22 seconds before the defensive haymakers, Rodgers did hand off to Brandon Jackson and he ran it in for a TD. That counts. You have to walk before you can run.
Sept. 13, 2009: Packers 21, Bears 15. Rodgers hits Greg Jennings with a 50-yard scoring strike and ensuing two-point conversion with 1:11 to go to win this Sunday night game. There was no wind chill at the Frozen Tundra during this Sunday night tilt. There’s a first time for everything.
Dec. 4, 2011: Packers 38, the New York Football Giants 35. The host Giants tied it up with 58 seconds left. Rodgers then marched the Packers down the field like he was John Phillip Souza. Mason Crosby booted a 30-yard field goal at the buzzer to win it. As a side note, some Giants fans are still stuck in traffic.
Dec. 29, 2013: Packers 33, Bears 28. Rodgers fires a 48-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb with 38 seconds remaining. There are no Bears near Cobb, who probably showers on a regular basis. The victory puts the Pack in the playoffs, or the tournament as Mike McCarthy likes to call it. The Bears missed the playoffs. Nothing new here. As Frank Gifford used to say, “We’ve seen it so many times before.”
Dec. 3, 2015: Packers 27, Lions 23. It’s the Hail Mary game. Or the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep game for the Detroit defense. Richard Rodgers sets a personal-best in the 61-yard dash to catch Aaron’s heave, which almost scrapped the roof. Bitter Lions fans call for the stadium’s ceiling to be lowered. They do take some solace in the fact that their team’s defense did the first Mannequin Challenge.
Oct. 14, 2012: Packers 42, Texans 24. This is the greatest comeback ever. "What do you think you told the critics tonight?" NBC’s Michele Tafoya asked Rodgers after the big game. Said Rodgers, “Shhhh."