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Did former Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers play his last game at Lambeau Field on Sunday night? Did he play his last game?
He appeared in Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions in hopes of earning a playoff spot. Because he knew that despite his 4-8 start with the team, he could advance to the postseason for the 4th straight season if he beat the Lions. But it was another former Cal his quarterback, Jared his Goff, who helped dash the Packers’ postseason hopes.
After the game, Rodgers said he hasn’t decided whether to return next season.
“It’s a little raw now,” he said. “We’re just a little bit out of the game. I want to take the emotion out of it. Have a conversation, see where the organization is, and see how I feel after spending some time here.”
He said the decision was not entirely his and the Packers would have a say. He said the outcome of Sunday’s game would not affect his decision.
“It doesn’t always end with a rainbow for everyone,” Rogers said.
And while Rodgers’ future is in question, Goff may have cemented his position as the Lions starting quarterback in the long term, something that was in doubt a few months ago.
Both quarterbacks started the day thinking a playoff spot could be theirs. But neither are heading into the postseason.
The Lions (9-8) earned the NFC’s seventh and final playoff spot with a draw with the Seattle Seahawks (9-8), but the Seahawks beat the Lions in their regular-season meeting earlier this season. The Seahawks face the second-seeded San Francisco 49ers at home next weekend. The Niners entered the postseason with a 10-game winning streak.
The Lions were ruled out of playoff contention when Seattle beat the Rams 19-16 in overtime on Sunday, so the Lions’ sole motivation for participating in a game against the Packers is to record a win for the first time since 2017. It was my chance.
They achieved that by taking their eighth victory in their last ten games, following a 1-6 start.
Before the season started, it was believed that the Lions could be on the move from Goff after this season.
Goff didn’t have his best game on Sunday, starting slowly, going 2-for-7 for 18 yards in the first quarter. He wore gloves on his hands to combat the chilly temperatures of his bay on the green, which seemed to affect his accuracy.
However, he got better as the game went on, finishing 23/34 for 224 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
In his final nine games, he threw 15 touchdown passes without an interception. He led the Lions to his 8-2 record in his final 10 games and within a playoff berth for the first time since 2016. Goff must believe he will retain the starting quarterback role for his 2023 season as well. It may generate noise.
He made two big throws on Sunday.
The first was this completion (below) that put Detroit in touchdown position leading Detroit 13-9.
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The second was a 6-yard completion to DJ Chark on 4 and 1 plays from the Green Bay 15-yard line with 1:14 left in the game. This caused the Lions to run out of time, robbing Rodgers of his chances of making the postseason and possibly forcing him to retire.
Rodgers, 39, has hinted at retiring in the last two offseasons and said this week he would consider it again this offseason.
He’s won the last two of his four MVPs in the last two seasons, but this season hasn’t been as efficient as he was in 2020 and 2021. Also, Rodgers didn’t look like MVP in Sunday’s game.
His numbers weren’t terrible. He finished 17-27 with 205 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception, and an 83.1 passer rating. Rodgers finished his NFL career in his 15 seasons as a starter with his rating as the worst passer in a single season.
Rodgers is second all-time in career passer ratings, behind Patrick Mahomes, who is just in his fifth season as a starter.
This disappointing season may be the reason he cut it. But he nearly returned the Packers to the top of the postseason after a 4-8 start. and only needed to beat the Lions with Rambo to reach the postseason.
Rodgers led the Packers in the third quarter after the Packers tied 13-9.
Rodgers’ deep pass to Christian Watson put Green Bay in position for a touchdown.
After that completion to Watson, a touchdown pass from Rodgers to Allen Lazard ended that drive and gave Green Bay a 16-13 lead in the third quarter.
However, the Lions marched 75 yards to regain the lead, and Rodgers threw an interception on the Packers’ ensuing possession, giving the Lions a chance to run out the clock.
That interception was Rodgers’ final throw of the game and potentially the final throw of his career. He finished the season with 12 interceptions. This was his most in a season since he threw 13 picks in 2008 in his first season as an NFL starter.
Rodgers’ ability to avoid turnovers was one of his strengths. He hasn’t thrown more than his five interceptions in any of his past four seasons, so his 12 picks stand out and might be reason to call his career.
He said he could even walk away because of the huge amount of money left on the contract for that matter.
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Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb cover photo courtesy of Wm Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK – Wisconsin, USA TODAY NETWORK.
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