Packers hold off pass-happy Chargers for 27-20 win

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had two touchdown passes and running back James Starks rushed for 110 yards including a 65-yard run that gave Green Bay a 14-3 lead in the first quarter. He had 444 yards going into Week 6, putting him over 600 for the season when factoring in the Packers game.

Starks was in on the Packers’ first play from scrimmage and burst through the line for a 25-yard run.

Rivers led his charges back to a first and goal from just inside the ten. “I just made a comment, ‘Hey, you’ve got to laugh to keep from crying, ‘” he said.

Green Bay maintains an undefeated winning record (5-0) and remains 1st in the NFC Northern Division. Green Bay, which resides second in the league in both interceptions (eight) and sacks (20), can pad those numbers when it faces San Diego’s patchwork offensive line. The Chargers are picking up the pieces after watching Le’Veon Bell scamper into the end zone with no time remaining in Monday’s 24-20 setback to Pittsburgh. Hoyer was at his best on the game’s most important down, connecting with Arian Foster on third-and-goal from the 7 and then hooking up with Hopkins for two more third-down TDs. He wound up with 14 receptions for 157 yards.

And as San Diego players continue to get hurt and sidelined, the Irregulars nearly helped pull off what would have been an unbelievable upset Sunday, maybe their most improbable in years. “Another one, another one that’s tough”.

Vick started in place of Ben Roethlisberger, who missed a third consecutive game with an injured knee. This bye week is well-needed. Le’Veon Bell ran for 88 yards and rookie Chris Boswell kicked three long field goals for the Steelers. Ty Montgomery would go down with a leg injury when he converted a first down.

The Chargers outgained the Packers and had a huge advantage in time of possession.

However, they weren’t able to punch it in after an incomplete pass to Antonio Gates, two draw plays to Danny Woodhead that netted only a yard and an incomplete pass to Woodhead on fourth down.

“I’m ready at all times”, Starks said. The Broncos only rallied thanks to their top-ranked defense, which came up big in overtime.

Rodgers reached the milestone in 3,652 attempts, topping the record previously held by Johnny Unitas.

For the Packers, it was another relatively choppy outing for the offense. “We’d like to”, Rodgers said.

“We don’t need to win pretty every week”. You certainly expected a proud franchise and its fiery leader to compete, but not to win. “They all count the same”. He started for Eddie Lacy, who had 3 yards on four attempts. The Chargers brought Jones in primarily as a return specialist, but a nagging ankle injury has prevented him from being an option on the field. That puts him way behind the pace set by LaDainian Tomlinson as a rookie in 2001, and even behind Ryan Mathews, the back Gordon replaced.

Sunday’s highly-anticipated game will be broadcasted live on local sports channel CBS.

Rivers threw for a career-high 503 yards in the loss, including 77 on the final drive. The 12-year veteran tied Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger (2009) for second on the list for most passing yards against the Packers.