Aaron Rodgers threw for three touchdowns, giving him 442 for his career in Green Bay as the Packers survived for a 31-30 win after the Ravens' inexplicable two-point conversion try for the win failed. Rodgers tied Brett Favre’s team record, needing just 203 games to reach that mark, compared to Favre reaching that number in 253 games. Rodgers already has the team record for touchdown passes in the playoffs, 45 to Favre’s 39. Nevertheless, Favre has played in two Super Bowls, to Rodgers’ one.
Despite the absence of Lamar Jackson to injury, Ravens’ backup Tyler Huntley put up Jackson-like numbers, throwing for 215 yards and a game-high 73 yards rushing as the Ravens jumped out to early leads. But as they did last week against the Bears, the Packers went on a 24-point spurt that could have been 28 points after the Packers failed to convert on a first-and-goal opportunity in the fourth quarter.
But this time the defense went to sleep late in game as the Ravens easily drove down the field to score what should have been the tying touchdowns and possibly forcing overtime, but Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who had earlier called for a failed fourth down play in Raven territory that led to a Packer field goal, decided to go for the lead and possible win; but instead of running it in, Huntley’s pass wasn’t anywhere close.
At 11-3, the Packers clinched their third straight division title with Matt LaFleur as coach, and for the moment have the first seed in the playoffs. Next week it is against the up-and-down Browns, whose quarterback, Baker Mayfield, at least talks a “good” game, although one wonders if he is just a couple of rocks in the head away from Ryan Leaf territory.
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