Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers completed 33-of-48 passes for 346 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the NFC Championship Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. RB Aaron Jones, who left the game early due to injury, left the team with 27 yards on six rushes. RB Jamaal Williams ran seven times for 23 yards and added four receptions for 22 yards. WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the way with a game-high 115 yards on four receptions and a score, while WR Davante Adams had nine grabs for 67 yards and a score on 15 targets. WR Allen Lazard checked in with three receptions for 62 yards, while TE Marcedes Lewis had three grabs for 28 yards. TE Robert Tonyan also checked in with four grabs, 22 yards and a score. CB Jaire Alexander led the way with two interceptions, while totaling three total tackles and three passes defensed.
Footballguys View: Rodgers had a lot of chances to take control of this game in the second half after his team fell behind 18 points, but the Packers offense wasn’t good enough in the red zone and Matt LaFleur chose to kick a field goal instead of going for it on fourth and goal at the 8, down 8 with about two minutes left. Jones has probably played his last down as a Packer, and Williams is also a free agent. Valdes-Scantling had a big game after playing only one snap the NFC title game last year. Adams impact on the game was not as big as expected and if anything Rodgers overreliance on him in the red zone hurt the team. The Packers will go back to the drawing board after getting one game from the Super Bowl two years in a row.