Field Level Media
Dec 25, 2021
Aaron Rodgers set the Green Bay Packers' franchise record for most career touchdown passes Saturday on the way to a 24-22 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Green Bay, Wis.
Rodgers completed 24 of 34 passes for 202 yards and three scores, including an 11-yard strike to Allen Lazard with 5:13 left in the first quarter. That was his 443rd touchdown pass, breaking a tie with Brett Favre atop the franchise's list.
Green Bay (12-3) stayed atop the NFC with the win, sealing the outcome when Rasul Douglas intercepted Baker Mayfield with 43 seconds left at the Packers' 40. It was Douglas' second pick of the day.
Mayfield, who arrived in Green Bay just hours before the game, hit 21 of 36 passes for 222 yards with two touchdowns and a career-high four interceptions. His first three picks were converted into touchdowns.
Browns running back Nick Chubb rushed for 126 yards and a score on 17 carries. Cleveland (7-8) amassed 219 yards on 25 rushing attempts, but its playoff hopes were dealt a devastating blow.
The Browns pulled within two points on Mayfield's 5-yard touchdown toss to Anthony Schwartz with 4:31 left in the game, then got the ball back with 2:05 remaining. They drove to midfield before Mayfield's last interception sealed the outcome.
Cleveland got off to a fast start, taking the opening kickoff and marching 75 yards in just 2:39. Chubb keyed it with a 40-yard gain off a screen pass and capped it with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Green Bay took the lead for good after the first of Mayfield's four interceptions on Rodgers' record-setting scoring strike, then used another Mayfield interception to build a 14-6 second-quarter lead as Rodgers found Davante Adams for a 9-yard touchdown.
The Browns pulled within 14-12 at the 7:03 mark when Mayfield hit Harrison Bryant with a 1-yard scoring strike. But Mayfield's third interception of the half led to Rodgers' 1-yard touchdown flip to Adams 12 seconds before halftime for a 21-12 advantage.
Adams caught 10 passes for 114 yards.
--Field Level Media