Green Bay Packers edge out New Orleans Saints with 28-27 win - NFL Recap
The Green Bay Packers returned to winning ways after an intense encounter with the New Orleans Saints winning by 28-27 with just a single point separating the two teams on Sunday, September 30, 2012.
After a 14-12 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in week 3 thanks to a poor refereeing decision by the replacement referees, Lambeau Field welcomed back the regular officials with huge cheers at the start of the game.
However, this time too the officials made a poor call late in the fourth quarter that almost cost Green Bay another game but thankfully for Packers the Saints missed their late opportunity for a first win of the season.
Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers once again played a pivotal role in giving Green Bay a much needed win as he passed for 319 yards and four touchdowns while being intercepted just once.
His brilliant performance won the game for Green Bay which was an intense affair with both teams delivering brilliant performances in offence.
Speaking to reporters after the game Rodgers praised his team’s mental strength to churn out a victory.
He said:
"We've probably had to deal with more adversity than most of the teams I've played with, especially early on we've had some interesting games already. We're four games in. So, I think the character of this team is very strong. Winning games like this says
a lot about the kind of men that we have."
This was a fourth straight defeat for the New Orleans Saints in a season that seems to be going from bad to worse for them.
Another big performance by quarterback Drew Brees was not enough to bring the Saints their first win of the game.
Brees passed for a mammoth 446 yards and three touchdowns during the game and took the Saints to a 27-21 lead early in the fourth quarter.
However, defensive failings once again played a huge role in their defeat as Rodgers sent an 11-yard pass to Jordy Nelson at the seven-minute mark to give Green Bay the win.
Brees though is not letting another defeat bring him down and he said after the game:
"Yeah, it's disappointing. It stinks. But despite where we're at, right now I think this team's going to do something."
The result could have been completely different.
Darren Sproles fumbled the ball in the kickoff after the Packers had scored the go-ahead touchdown. However, officials ruled that he was down by contact leading to boos from the Lambeau Field faithful.
Green Bay were out of replay reviews which led the Saints to regain possession and Brees passed the Saints forward into field goal range.
Saints kicker Garrett Hartley lined up to attempt a 43-yard field goal but the officials penalised the Saints for holding forcing Hartley to attempt from 53 yards.
The Packers then were penalised for encroaching and Hartley moved forward to attempt a 48-yarder.
However, his kick missed the posts and the Packers fans and players sighed with relief as the game ended.
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