The Green Bay Packers won only one Super Bowl in the Aaron Rodgers era, and many fans wonder if they should have won more than just the one against the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Twitter, fans were asked what was the toughest Packers playoff loss not named the 2014 NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks.
There were a lot of different opinions as a trip down memory lane began. With that being said, what were some of the toughest losses in the postseason during the Aaron Rodgers era?
The Worst Packers Playoff Losses of the Aaron Rodgers Era
2014 NFC Championship Game
Let’s start here because this is the one that has to sting the most for the Green Bay Packers fanbase. Green Bay had a 16-0 lead over the Seattle Seahawks, and they were completely cruising throughout the football game until they gave up that fake field goal for a touchdown on special teams that changed the game.
Their special teams let them down later that game as well. With 2:09 remaining in regulation with a five-point lead, Brandon Bostick dropped the onside kick, which was directed for Jordy Nelson to catch. Seattle then took its first lead of the game, and Green Bay kicked a field goal as time expired for the game to be tied at 22.
Russell Wilson threw a 35-yard touchdown on the opening drive of overtime to Jermaine Kearse, and Aaron Rodgers never touched the ball again. That was a failure on so many parties that day for the Green Bay Packers. They would have faced Tom Brady and the New England Patriots that season in the Super Bowl.
2020 NFC Championship Game
This is another NFC Championship Game that has to sting for Green Bay Packers fans. They were trailing 31-23 in the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They picked off Tom Brady three times in the second half, but the Packers committed a bunch of turnovers, as well. Aaron Jones had fumbling issues that day.
On Green Bay’s final drive, they decided to kick a short field goal with Mason Crosby, instead of going for it on fourth down with Aaron Rodgers. The Packers’ defense, even after getting turnovers, found a way to give up a crucial first down on the next drive. They lost 31-26, and many media members the next day were crucifying the Green Bay Packers. They could have very well taken down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl because of Kansas City’s two offensive tackles being out.
2011 NFC Divisional Round
The Green Bay Packers were 15-1 and much better than the team that just won the Super Bowl the previous season. It felt like no one was going to stop them en route to a second consecutive Super Bowl until the red-hot New York Giants, led by Eli Manning, came into town. The Giants did give them a battle during the regular season before the Green Bay Packers beat them 38-35. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was unreal that game, but he was completely different in the playoff game.
The play that seemed to suck the gravity right out of the building was the Eli Manning Hail Mary to Hakeem Nicks right before halftime. The New York Giants took down the Green Bay Packers 37-20, and the Giants went on to win the Super Bowl that season against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
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