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Rodgers Excels In Debut

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By CHRIS JENKINS

The Associated Press

Published: September 9, 2008

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Aaron Rodgers passed his first test as the Packers' new quarterback, throwing for 178 yards and a touchdown and scoring on a game-clinching sneak in a 24-19 win over the Vikings on Monday.

Rodgers got help from the Packers' special teams, running back Ryan Grant and safety Atari Bigby to beat a bitter division rival in his first regular-season start, which came in the wake of Brett Favre's offseason unretirement saga.

Will Blackmon's 76-yard punt return gave Green Bay a 17-6 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Minnesota's Tarvaris Jackson answered with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Sidney Rice on fourth-and-1 to cut the Packers' lead to five with 14:12 remaining. But a 2-point conversion attempt failed when Jackson threw a pass slightly behind Rice in the back of the end zone.

Grant then broke free for a 57-yard run midway through the fourth quarter, giving the Packers first-and-goal at the 2. After a penalty against the Vikings, Rodgers was stuffed on his first attempt at a QB sneak but plunged into the end zone on the second try.

Jackson then led the Vikings on an 11-play drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown run by Adrian Peterson, cutting the deficit to to 24-19 with 2:39 to go.

An onside kick attempt by Ryan Longwell bounced out of bounds, giving the ball back to the Packers at their own 39. But the Packers had to punt, giving the ball back to Minnesota at its own 31 with 1:51 remaining.

But with the Vikings driving near midfield with under a minute left, Bigby stepped in front of Jackson's pass for an interception to put the game away.

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