Rodgers Throws 3 TD’s as Packers Outlast Saints, Improve to 3-0

NFL: 

Green Bay 37, New Orleans 30

–Aaron Rodgers threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns as the Packers scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to edge the Saints and move to 3-0 on the season. 

The back-and-forth affair started with the Packers taking a 13-7 lead with just over 10 minutes left in the second quarter thanks to Rodgers’ first touchdown pass, which went to Allen Lazard. New Orleans then rallied to score 10 points before halftime, taking a 17-13 lead at the break following a touchdown pass from Drew Brees to Emmanuel Sanders. 

The third quarter continued the see-saw affair, with the Packers taking leads of 20-17 and 27-20, thanks to touchdowns from Aaron Jones and Marcedes Lewis, respectively – only to see the Saints answer back each time. A 52-yard touchdown pass from Brees to Alvin Kamara knotted the game at 27 going into the final quarter. 

The Packers got a Mason Crosby Field Goal with 8:47 left in the game to go up 30-27, then made it a 10-point game with two minutes to play thanks to Rodgers’ third touchdown of the night – a one yard pass to tight end Robert Tonyan. The Saints would get a field goal from their kicker Will Lutz with just over 30 seconds left to make it a one score game again, but his onside kick would go out of bounds and the Packers were able to kneel out the clock. 

With the win, the Packers move to 3-0 for the second straight season. Green Bay hosts Atlanta next Monday night. 

Stat Leaders: 

Green Bay: 

Passing: Aaron Rodgers – 21/32, 283 yards, 3 Touchdowns

Rushing: Aaron Jones – 16 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: Allen Lazard – 6 catches, 146 yards, 1 TD

New Orleans: 

Passing: Drew Brees – 29/36, 288 yards, 3 Touchdowns

Rushing: Alvin Kamara – 6 carries, 58 yards

Receiving: Alvin Kamara – 13 catches, 139 yards, 2 TD

Other NFC North Scores:

Chicago 30, Atlanta 26

–The Bears scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to stun the Falcons and improve to 3-0 on the season. Atlanta led 26-10 after three quarters, but saw Nick Foles throw three touchdown passes in the final quarter to rally the Bears to the win. Foles replaced Mitch Trubisky in the third quarter, after Trubisky was intercepted on the Bears’ first drive of the second half. The loss for the Falcons comes one week after they blew a 15-point fourth quarter lead and lost to Dallas. Chicago hosts Indianapolis on Sunday. 

Tennessee 31, Minnesota 30

–Derrick Henry ran for 119 yards and two scores, but it was Titans’ kicker Stephen Gostkowski who drilled two field goals of 50-plus yards in the fourth quarter to lead the Titans to a win over the Vikings in Minneapolis. Gostkowski’s 55-yard field goal with 1:44 left proved to be the winning points for the Titans. 

The loss spoiled a strong day for the Vikings’ offense, which saw Kirk Cousins throw for three touchdowns in the game. Dalvin Cook had 181 yards rushing and a touchdown, while rookie receiver Justin Jefferson caught seven passes for 175 yards and a score in the loss for Minnesota. The 0-3 Vikings travel to Houston on Sunday. 

Detroit 26, Arizona 23

–Lions kicker Matt Prater made the game-winning field goal from 39 yards out as time expired to give Detroit their first win of the season. Matthew Stafford threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns in the win for the Lions. Detroit is 1-2 and hosts New Orleans on Sunday.