Aaron Rodgers revenge on the Vikings will have to wait

An injured Aaron Rodgers put forth a great effort against the Minnesota Vikings, but the end result was not what he hopded for.

We all had a good feeling Aaron Rodgers would suit up against the Minnesota Vikings, but the Green Bay Packers waited until the last possible second to confirm his availability in week two. As expected, Rodgers played from the shotgun and pistol to keep his mobility in check and limit the number of hits he took. Rodgers brought some late game magic, but it wasn’t enough to get the win. The Packers tied the Vikings at 29 marking their first tie since 2013, also against Minnesota. Rodgers wanted revenge against the division rival that knocked him out for nine games in 2017, but he will have to wait a little longer.

Green Bay remained in control for most of the game. The Packers offense took the lead early in the second quarter and wouldn’t surrender it until 30 seconds were left in the game.

If we’re being honest the game shouldn’t have ever been this close but questionable calls led to the overall outcome. First, a controversial offensive pass interference call negated a 24-yard reception for wide receiver Davante Adams ending a drive just before halftime.

Then, to start the second half, the Packers offense drove the ball 67 yards, however, the drive ended in a field goal. A touchdown to tight end Jimmy Graham was nullified thanks to a holding call on what looked like a clean block by guard Lane Taylor.

Green Bay was never quite able to put the game out of reach as kicker Mason Crosby had a busy day making five total field goals.

“We didn’t execute well in the red zone,” Rodgers said postgame. “I’d feel better if we were 2-0. You know, I think the offense we got some things going, got Jimmy (Graham) involved a little bit better, but we didn’t catch the ball as well as we did last week and I didn’t throw it as well I as did last week.”

The game-changing play occurred with under two minutes left in the fourth. Quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Vikings needed a touchdown and two-point conversion to get the game to overtime. On the first play of the drive, Cousins went deep looking for receiver Stacy Coley, but the ball was overthrown into the hands of rookie corner Jaire Alexander. Alexander, who thought he had his first career interception, turned around to see a roughing the passer penalty called on Clay Matthews. Last week, Matthews made the same mistake on Bears’ quarterback Mitchell Trusbisky to extend the final drive, however, it was far more obvious. This week’s call resulted in controversy.

Cousins and the Vikings went on to convert the drive into a touchdown and also the two-point conversion.

Rodgers tried to spark a little mojo before the end of regulation by getting the Packers into field goal range in less than 30 seconds despite having no timeouts. A 27-yard pass to Graham allowed Crosby a shot to win the game with four seconds remaining. His first attempt was good, but a timeout forced him to re-kick. His second attempt was wide left sending the game to OT.

In overtime, both teams had a shot to win, but neither could capitalize. Green Bay’s offense drove into Minnesota territory yet a self-recovered fumble by Rodgers halted all progress.

“We found a lot of ways to give that one away,” Rodgers said while also owning up to the fumble on a run-pass option. “I’m disappointed by my last two plays. You know if I pull that one without fumbling it, Jamaal (Williams) didn’t know I was pulling it, he was trying to grab for it a little bit, but if I had just been a little stronger in pulling it both the end and Harrison (Smith) were flying over the top. It’s a second (down) and a couple I’m definitely getting a first down and we are inside 50-yard field goal range.”

Vikings’ kicker Daniel Carlson had a chance to win the game with a 35-yard field goal but pushed it right for the third time of the day as time ran out.

A game that should have been way over was given new life thanks to the refs and now Rodgers has to wait until week 12 for his redemption.

Sporting a bulky knee brace, he finished with 281 passing yards and a touchdown while completing over 71 percent of his passes. Rodgers would have liked the game to end in his favor, especially given the circumstances.

Yes, ties are ugly, but the Packers will take it over a loss.