Aaron Rodgers is not having a good 2022. The reigning back-to-back MVP award winner has been unable to claim his past glory amidst the backdrop of a limited receiving corps, shaky blocking and a run defense that perpetually allows opposing tailbacks to gash it up the middle.
In Week 9, Rodgers plumbed new lows. His first two quarters against the Detroit Lions were two of the worst of his career. While he threw for 156 yards on just 18 passes, his Green Bay Packers headed to the locker room trailing 8-0. It was enough to get the future Hall of Famer visibly heated on the bench.
Aaron Rodgers is not happy on the sideline after his last throw was tipped and picked in the end zone.
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/imqwBbvCA3
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 6, 2022
How did we get here? Well, it wasn’t just one thing that failed to go Rodgers’ way. It was pretty much all the things.
Incident 1: An end zone interception donked off a defender's helmet
Rodgers was immediately forced to play shorthanded when Romeo Doubs, who currently leads the team’s wideouts in targets and receptions, limped off the field and was carted to the locker room with an ankle injury following a first quarter catch. That wasn’t too big a problem; Green Bay shuffled Marcedes Lewis and Josiah Deguara up the pass catching wish list and the Packers’ offense chugged along.
Until it got to the the red zone. That’s where things got weird. This is how Rodgers’ first drive of the afternoon ended:
Jumpman, Jumpman, Jumpman!#GBvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/88hvGgWDEd
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 6, 2022
Incident 2: Aidan Hutchinson steals what should have been David Bakhtiari's first NFL touchdown
Fortunately, the Packers’ defense was able to force a three-and-out and get the ball back in plus territory. Rodgers once again led his offense inside the Detroit five-yard line, then dialed up a fourth-and-goal trick play to what was supposed to be a wide-open left tackle David Bakhtiari.
Only Hutchinson, the second overall pick in this year’s draft, had other plans. Rodgers didn’t put quite enough air under the ball and another long drive ended with zero points.
First career pick for the first round pick❗️#GBvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/8lA5YloRIj
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 6, 2022
Two possessions, two end zone interceptions. Ooooof.
Incident 3: Two wide open targets deep downfield and a loss of eight because two guys couldn't block a fourth-round draft pick
The defense forced another punt, allowing Rodgers a chance at redemption. And it looked like he might be able to skip the red zone entirely when both Allen Lazard and Robert Tonyan broke open deep in the middle of the field for what could have been a 55-yard scoring play.
Instead, second-year linebacker Derrick Barnes, a player with zero sacks coming into Week 9, beat his assignment up front — a chip from A.J. Dillon and attention from center Josh Myers — to sack Rodgers.
Aaron Rodgers had 2 different guys open deep down the middle of the field and it didn't matter because the Packers couldn't block Derrick Barnes with two guys pic.twitter.com/A0YgOTK6JZ
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) November 6, 2022
Incident 4: Allen Lazard was inches away from fixing things
A long run-after-catch from Aaron Jones turned third-and-18 into fourth-and-3 in Lions’ territory. With Detroit crashing toward the line of scrimmage, Rodgers identified single coverage on Allen Lazard from the NFL’s 32nd-ranked passing defense. And he delivered a strike right on the money for what was originally ruled a gain of 26.
it's almost certainly gonna be overturned, but tremendous effort from Allen Lazard on 4th down pic.twitter.com/T4l3qmL2R6
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) November 6, 2022
Instead, Lazard’s amazing catch was overturned when replays showed the ball wasn’t secured all the way to the ground. Green Bay turned the ball over on downs. Two minutes of game time later, the Lions led 8-0.
Incident 5: Jared Goff gets to throw the easiest touchdown pass of his career
Meanwhile, for the Lions …
First career touchdown for @ShaneZylstra84!#GBvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/A4FcIIJA6K
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 6, 2022
So, yeah. Frustrating half for the Packers.
Bonus incident: The second half starts with more of the same
They say it’s the hope that kills you. Well, Rodgers and Packers fans everywhere hoped this ball had just enough loft to land in Samori Toure’s hands for an equalizing third-and-11 touchdown on Green Bay’s opening drive of the second half.
oh man, six inches more loft on this ball and it's a Green Bay touchdown pic.twitter.com/TZNHcAIyS3
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) November 6, 2022
Instead, it was a touchdown-saving play from fellow rookie Kerby Joseph. How’d Rodgers take it?
Not great.
Bonus incident 2: ANOTHER INTERCEPTION MAN COME ON
Rodgers was gifted another opportunity with the ball inside Lions territory when Jaire Alexander intercepted Jared Goff and returned the ball all the way to the 23-yard line. The Packers had the ball for all of two plays before giving it back to Detroit.
AARON RODGERS IS PICKED OFF AGAIN!!! pic.twitter.com/iioRMCmUKb
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) November 6, 2022
Yep.
Final incident: Miscommunication seals a loss to the Lions --
After a big defensive stop and a fourth-down conversion, Rodgers had one last chance to lead Green Bay to victory and snap a four-game losing streak. With his WR corps depleted, he had to turn to Sammy Watkins on fourth-and-10 inside the red zone.
It did not go well.
DEEEEEEETROIT!!!! pic.twitter.com/c453zygX6J
— 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 @𝗙𝗧𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱𝟳 (@FTBeard7) November 6, 2022
The Packers have now lost five straight and are 3-6 on the season. On the plus side, that will leave them in excellent position to pass up drafting a wide receiver in 2023.
