News now! Aaron Rodgers does it again
Posted by on October 12, 2014 – 3:20 pmMIAMI–Aaron Rodgers rallied the Packers to a 27-24 win over the Dolphins on Sunday with a last-ditch drive that will live in Packers lore.
A 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive by the Dolphins tied the game at 17-17 early in the fourth quarter. That’s when the heat and humidity might’ve started taking its toll on the Packers.
After a failed Packers possession, the Dolphins drove for the go-ahead score, a 5-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill to Mike Wallace that capped a 6-play, 79-yard drive and gave the home team a 24-17 lead with 9:13 to play in regulation.
Rodgers rallied with a 22-yard pass to Jordy Nelson. A 14-yard pass to Nelson moved the ball to the Miami 43. Rodgers was on fire now and he pitched a strike to Randall Cobb for 8 yards. James Starks pounded out a first down at the Miami 27. Starks gained 10 more and the Dolphins defense was showing fatigue.
On third-and-6, Rodgers’ pass glanced off Nelson’s fingertips in the end zone. Mason Crosby came on to kick a short field goal that cut the Miami lead to 24-20 with 4:09 to play in regulation.
Tannehill hit Jarvis Landry for a first down and the clock ticked toward three minutes to play. Tannehill was sacked but Brad Jones was penalized for illegal hands to the face and the Dolphins had a first down. The Packers spent their final time out at 3:05.
The game appeared to be riding on a third-and-9 play, but the Dolphins played it conservatively by running the ball and putting the game in the hands of their defense. It would be Rodgers vs. the Miami defense.
A 17-yard return by Micah Hyde put the Packers at their 40-yard line with 2:04 to play. Starks ripped off a gain across midfield just before the 2-minute warning.
The game came down to a fourth-and-10 and Rodgers hit Nelson — who else? — for a first down at the 30.
Six seconds remained with the ball at the Miami 4.
Rodgers hit Andrew Quarless for the game winner.
Posted in Packers.com Blog