Rodgers Outduels Brady in Win Over Patriots
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Tom Lynn /Getty Images(GREEN BAY, Wisc.) — The Green Bay Packers went up 13-0 in the first quarter and held on late as Aaron Rodgers outdueled Tom Brady, beating the New England Patriots 26-21 on Sunday afternoon. The matchup was the first ever meeting between two of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.
The Packers (9-3) got a pair of Mason Crosby field goals to open the scoring, before Rodgers found Richard Rodgers for a 32-yard touchdown pass and a 13-0 advantage. New England (9-3) got on the board quickly in the second with a 6-yard run from Brandon Bolden, making it a 13-7 game. After a third Crosby field goal the two teams traded touchdown passes, giving Green Bay a 23-14 lead at halftime.
A scoreless third quarter set up a dramatic final frame with the Patriots closing the gap almost immediately. Just over a minute into the period, Brady connected with Brandon LaFell on a 15-yard scoring play that brough New England within two at 23-21. Crosby would add another field goal, his fourth of the game, to make it a five point lead with less than nine minutes remaining in regulation.
New England looked to drive down the field and had a 3rd-and-nine at the Packers 20-yard line. Brady, who had not been sacked all game, was brought down for a 9-yard loss. That was followed by a missed field goal from Stephen Gostkowski, giving the ball back to Green Bay. With no timeouts, the Patriots could not stop the clock as the Packers improved to 6-0 at home.
Both quarterbacks performed well with each tossing a pair of touchdowns and neither throwing an interception. However, Rodgers was 24-for-38 for 368 yards while Brady was just 22-for-35 for only 245 yards.
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