SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 6, 2011
Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdowns passes and the Green Bay Packers withstood a furious rally to extend their franchise-record winning streak to 14 games with a 45-38 road victory over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.
Playing in his home state for the first time, Rodgers threw touchdowns to Jordy Nelson, Jermichael Finley, James Jones and Greg Jennings.
Green Bay’s defense was instrumental as well, as Charlie Peprah and Tramon Williams each added to Philip Rivers’ woes by returning an interception for a touchdown on consecutive first-quarter series.
The Packers are the third defending Super Bowl champions to start 8-0, joining the 1990 San Francisco 49ers and the 1998 Denver Broncos. But they had to sweat out their latest win after Rivers nearly helped the Chargers (4-4) overcome a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit.
The Chargers had one final shot to tie the game after getting the ball back with just over a minute left, but Peprah ended the comeback by intercepting Rivers at the Packers’ 41-yard line.
Rivers threw four touchdowns – three to Vincent Jackson – but leads the NFL with 14 interceptions.
Green Bay never trailed after Peprah and Williams returned interceptions for touchdowns less than three minutes apart in the first quarter. Rodgers' 4-yard touchdown pass to Jennings gave the Packers a 45-24 lead with just under 10 minutes left in the fourth.
That’s when things got interesting. Rivers hit Jackson for a 5-yard touchdown less than three minutes later. San Diego recovered the ensuing onside kick and, two plays later, Rivers hit Jackson for a 29-yard touchdown.
San Diego, however, couldn't get in position to tie it down the stretch.
The game started well for Rivers, who was determined to make amends for botching a snap at the end of regulation in an overtime loss to Kansas City last Monday night. He threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jackson on the game's opening drive. But it quickly went south after Rodgers tied the game with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Finley.
Peprah intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 40 yards for a score. Five plays later, Williams stepped in front of a pass and raced 43 yards for a 21-7 lead.