SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 30, 2012
Packers 28, Saints 27: Aaron Rodgers threw for 319 yards four touchdowns, including the go-ahead score to Jordy Nelson, and host Green Bay survived another missed call - this time by the regular officials - to send reeling New Orleans to its first 0-4 start in 16 years.
James Jones caught a pair of touchdowns and also made a sensational one-handed catch while being interfered with late to help the Packers (2-2) run out the clock.
Even with the regular officials back, the Packers were on the short end of another questionable call after being robbed of a win on a botched call by the replacement referees Monday night. It didn't cost them, however, because Garrett Hartley missed a 48-yard field goal after a holding penalty wiped out his go-ahead, 43-yarder.
The questionable call came after Rodgers' go-ahead, 11-touchdown pass to Nelson with seven minutes to play. Replays clearly showed that Darren Sproles fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Green Bay appeared to recover. The officials ruled Sproles was down by contact, but Green Bay was out of challenges.
Drew Brees, who tied Johnny Unitas' NFL record of 47 straight games with a touchdown pass, was 35-of-54 for 446 yards and three touchdowns.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Two Packers collided with each other while trying to intercept a tipped pass early in the fourth quarter. ... The Packers' converted a risky fake punt on fourth-and-inches deep in their own territory midway through the second quarter. The gamble paid off when Rodgers' capped the 13-play, 92-yard drive with his second touchdown pass to Jones - a 14-yard score that made it 21-7 with just under five minutes left in the half.