Jordy Nelson
The Green Bay Packers fell behind by 18-points in the first half on Sunday, then rebounded to knock off the New York Jets 31-24 at Lambeau Field.
Things started slow for the Packers on both sides of the ball. Aaron Rodgers fumbled the first snap from center and the Jets recovered. Geno Smith eventually found the end zone from 1-yard out and the Jets led 7-0.
The Jets defense then went to work on the Packers and forced a punt. Geno Smith responded with a 29 yard touchdown pass to Eric Decker and New York jumped out to a 14-0 lead.
Mason Crosby broke the dry spell for the Packers, booting a shot 31-yard field goal and it was 14-3 Jets.
On the next Jets possession, Chris Ivory capped off a 17 play, 80 yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to make it 21-3 New York.
The Packers managed to get two more Mason Crosby field goals, from 20 yards and 55 yards to make it 21-9 Jets.
What happened next was the turning point in the football game. The Jets looked like they were headed for more first half points when Geno Smith was hit while throwing a pass for the end zone. The pass came up short and Tramon Williams picked it off at the three yard line.
The Packers followed with a 97-yard scoring drive, capped off by a Aaron Rodgers 6-yard scoring pass to Randall Cobb and the Packers would head to the locker room trailing 21-16 and momentum on their side.
Randall Cobb caught his second touchdown pass, from 1-yard out in the second half, then caught the 2-point conversion to put the Packers up 24-21.
Nick Folk tied the game for the Jets late in the third quarter with a 52-yard field goal but the Packers would come right back when Aaron Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson with a 80-yard touchdown pass to close out the scoring and give the Packers the 31-24 win.
The Jets lost their fire-power when wide receiver Eric Decker left with a pulled hamstring. Once Decker left, the Jets had nothing to work with. Yet New York still found a way as Geno Smith hit Jeremy Kerley in the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown. But the play was wiped out when it was ruled that the Jets called a late timeout. The Jets managed to convert the third down but they eventually turned it over on downs.
The Packers evened their record at 1-1 and pulled even in the division with the Bears, Lions and Vikings.
— Jordy Nelson surpassing 200 yards is the first Packers receiver to hit that milestone since Javon Walker turned the trick in 2004.
— Mason Crosby’s three field goals gives him 18-straight makes. That’s the second longest streak in team history. Crosby owns the
original record of 23 straight.
— Aaron Rodgers moved past Bart Starr for No. 2 all-time in career passing yards with 24,732. Rodgers threw for 346 yards and three
touchdowns in the victory.
The Packers will face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit next Sunday.
AUDIO: Jordy Nelson on his 80-yd TD reception :17
AUDIO: Aaron Rodgers says coming back from 18 down was huge :20
AUDIO: Mike McCarthy on what he learned about his team :14