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Why they lost: The Green Bay Packers drop the NFC North crown to Minnesota

By Kenn Korb

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) breaks up the pass intended for Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones (89) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) breaks up the pass intended for Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones (89) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) celebrates with cornerback Josh Robinson (21) after intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) celebrates with cornerback Josh Robinson (21) after intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

The interception

To refresh your memory…

Green Bay was down 20-13 with 2:18 left. They had been showing some offensive life, getting themselves into scoring range to hopefully tie things up late.

It ended up being fourth down. Rodgers dropped back, and as usual ended up having to buy time and move around. He saw something finally, with James Jones having some space on the left side of the end zone.

Rodgers ended up tossing the ball to the inside, expecting Jones to come back to the ball.

As with most stuff this season with the offense, there was a failure to be on the same page here by Rodgers and Jones.

This obviously wasn’t a scripted route for James Jones to run; we had yet another example of the “schoolyard ball” that Rodgers and the offense have been mostly great at in the past.

Instead of heading to where Rodgers threw it, Jones had continued going toward the outside.

Interception.

While I’m usually quick to defend Rodgers on things like this, this one was on him.

It happens; guys make mistakes, especially when they have such small margins for error over such a long period of time as Rodgers and this offense have had the majority of this season.

You just hope it wouldn’t be in a situation as crucial as this.

Green Bay eventually got a final chance with their next drive, but this was their last reasonable chance to tie things up (without any Hail Mary magic), and the Packers’ quarterback was unable to come through.

Next: Failure To Convert

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