Aaron Rodgers came out on top in a memorable opening-night duel with Drew Brees as the Green Bay Packers came up with a goal-line stand on the final play of the game to beat the New Orleans Saints 42-34 on Thursday.
Packers rookie Randall Cobb caught a touchdown from Rodgers and ran a kickoff back 108 yards for a score in the third quarter — tying an NFL record for the longest kickoff return in history.
Rodgers threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Brees threw for 419 yards and three touchdowns, including a late touchdown to Jimmy Graham that cut the lead to 8 with 2 minutes, 15 seconds left.
Photo: EPA
After a Green Bay punt, Brees marched the Saints to the Packers nine-yard line and spiked the ball with three seconds left. Green Bay’s A.J. Hawk was called for pass interference and the ball was placed at the one-yard line.
The Packers defense swarmed rookie Mark Ingram and the game was over.
It was a big night for Donald Driver, who tied James Lofton’s franchise mark for career yards receiving with 9,656.
Cobb’s big return gave the Packers a 35-20 lead, but the game was not over. Darren Sproles answered with a long kickoff return of his own and Brees drove the Saints for a 29-yard touchdown to Devery Henderson.
The Saints forced a punt and marched to the Packers’ seven-yard line, but failed on a fourth-down conversion attempt and gave the ball back to the Packers.
Green Bay drove again and Rodgers handed the ball to John Kuhn on third-and-goal for a one-yard touchdown and a 42-27 lead early in the fourth quarter.
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