This wasn’t New York’s minute.
The Green Bay Packers knocked off the New York Giants, 38-35, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sunday. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers led his team 67 yards in 55 seconds to set up Mason Crosby’s 30-yard field goal as time expired. The win helped improve the Packers to a perfect 12-0 with only four games remaining in the regular season.
“Some teams would be like, ‘we don’t have enough time,” said tight end Jermichael Finley. “That’s almost too much time for us.”
The Giants tied the game at 35 with 58 seconds left on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Hakeem Nicks. Rodgers got the ball back and went 4 of 4 to set up Crosby’s game-winning kick.
“The two minute drive is something we practice every week,” said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. “It was a drive that we needed. It was something that Aaron Rodgers, I think, does an excellent job of.”
Rodgers began the drive with a 24 yard pass play to Finley. A 27-yard grab by Jordy Nelson on the following snap set Green Bay up on the Giants 29, and within Crosby’s range. The Packers were able to get two more plays off though, a short pass to Brandon Saine for a 1-yard loss and an 18-yard haul by Jennings.
“I don’t think there was any hoopla in going out there,” said Nelson. “Everyone got in the huddle, Aaron called the play and we went and ran it.”
“We knew what kind of game it was going to be.” said Rodgers. “The Giants are a very good football team, very well coached, a lot of veteran guys on that team. We knew it was going to be a tough game.”
The Giants (6-6) took the lead on the game’s opening drive when Manning hit reserve tight end Travis Beckum on a 67-yard scoring play. Green Bay countered seven minutes later on a 12 yard Rodgers to Finley connection.
In the second quarter, with the Giants up 10-7, Manning was picked off by Packers linebacker Clay Matthews on a pass intended for running back Ahmad Bradshaw. Matthews ran the ball 38 yards untouched for the score. Matthews also had a sack and forced fumble in the game.
New York took the lead again on a 1-yard touchdown run by Brandon Jacobs at 6:44 in the second quarter. Green Bay headed to the locker room at the half with the lead though when Rodgers found wideout Donald Driver from 13 yards out.
The heavyweight back and forth battling continued in the third quarter with the Packers striking first. Rodgers and Jennings combined on a 20 yard touchdown to give Green Bay the 28-17 lead. New York closed the gap to four on a 4-yard touchdown catch by Nicks on their next drive.
Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes’ 50 yard field goal brought New York within one with just under 11 minutes remaining. Seven minutes later, Rodgers connected with Driver for the second time on the afternoon to put the Packers up 35-27. Nicks’ second touchdown catch came another 2:36 off the clock.
“We were hoping to put them away early in the fourth,” said Rodgers. “But Eli played pretty well and put them in a position to tie the thing up.”
Manning finished 23 of 40 with three touchdowns, an interceptions and 347 yards. His counterpart ended the day 28 of 46 with four touchdowns, an interception and 369 yards. Giants wideout Victor Cruz led all receivers with 119 yards, while Nelson and Jennings each racked up 94 for Green Bay.
Sunday was the first time this season the Packers have had to run a hurry-up offense in the final minute of play. Nelson doesn’t think that lack of in-game, late-game experience could have hurt them.
“I think no difference because we have confidence in what we do,” said Nelson. “We work on it every week. We know what we can do. We expect each other to make plays and we did it.”
“We have a lot of time invested and haven’t had that type of situation come up in some time,” said McCarthy. “We did a great job running the drill and managing the ball. Receivers made the right route adjustments. It was just a classic two minute drive. It was awesome.”
When asked where this game ranks this season, Rodgers called it the toughest.
“Probably right at the top,” the NFL MVP frontrunner said. “I can’t think of another team that played us this well on both sides of the ball. The Chargers game was close. We really had a good rhythm. The Giants defense did a good job of getting us out of some stuff and hitting me a number of times. We just ran enough plays in the end to get the job done.”
The Packers have Oakland, Kansas City, Chicago and Detroit remaining on their schedule before they can write 16-0 into the record books. Jennings, who has suited up for the Packers six seasons, said he isn’t ready to classify where this season stacks up just yet.
“Right now is one of the better seasons we’re having,” Jennings said. “None of this really matters at all. We know that because of what we were able to accomplish last year.”
An undefeated season would only add the icing on top of the cake to back-to-back Super Bowl titles.
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