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Late interception dooms Packers as Falcons pull off upset

Oct 5, 2008 - 9:56 PM GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Falcons had just reclaimed the lead. Michael Boley wasn't about to let them give it back.

The fourth-year linebacker intercepted an errant pass by Aaron Rodgers pass late in the fourth quarter to help the Falcons pull off a 27-24 upset of the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

With the Packers (2-3) trailing, 20-17, with just under five minutes remaining, Rodgers escaped a collapsing pocket, rolled out and launched a misguided pass off his back foot and right into Boley's arms.

"We were sitting back in a zone coverage and I was reading the QB and saw him going through his progression, reading his eyes," Boley said. "His progression pretty much took me to the ball and he threw it in my zone. I was sitting back trying to get a break on the ball and I did."

"They dropped eight guys pretty deep. I tried to make a play," Rodgers said. "It was a situation where I should have checked it down. Boley made a nice play. But being third-and-15 right then, under five minutes and still down by three. ... Still I should have checked it down."

Falcons running back Michael Turner did the rest, taking three straight carries and punching it in from 2 yards out to make it a 27-17 game.

Turner posted his third 100-yard game of the season, finishing with 23 carries for 110 yards.

Rodgers, who was a game-time decision with a sprained right shoulder, tried to bring the Packers from behind for the second time this year, connecting with Donald Lee for a 4-yard score to cut the deficit to three with just under two minutes left. But the ensuing onside kick attempt wasn't close and the Falcons (3-2) escaped with their first road victory.

"Wins are tough to come by in this league, especially on the road," Atlanta head coach Mike Smith said. "I think this is one of the toughest road environments in the NFL and I think that our guys fought to the end and that is what it took."

Boley's pick helped preserve a win that nearly slipped away. The Falcons took control early, scoring the first 10 points of the game and en route to a 17-7 halftime advantage.

Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan finally did the road what seemingly came so easy at home, leading three impressive scoring drives in the first half and throwing a pair of touchdown passes.

"You have some ups and downs during the games, but we kept fighting," Turner said. "We were able to score on them early, which is key."

In his first two road games - both losses - he was a combined 34-for-74 with no touchdowns and two interceptions. By contrast, he was 21-for-31 (67.8 percent) in two home wins with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

"Today we kind of put it together and we did a good job in a tough environment, a tough place to come in and win," Ryan said. "They played well and hard, but we just made enough plays to get a tough win in a tough place. In that sense it is very satisfying."

Ryan did make a big mistake early in the fourth quarter to get the Packers back into the game. After finding Michael Jenkins for a 31-yard completion get the Falcons into scoring position, he was intercepted in the end zone on the next play on a lazy lob pass that was snagged one-handed by Packers cornerback Tramon Williams.

It took Rodgers just two minutes to make Ryan pay. He exploited the soft middle of the Falcons' defense with a 37-yard strike to tight end Tory Humphrey, then went right back over the middle three plays later with a 25-yard laser to Greg Jennings in double coverage for the game-tying touchdown.

"I think it was a matter of opportunities and that we didn't convert some things early on," Jennings said. "We got off to a slow start, we weren't able to move the chains, and in the second half we were actually able to get some things going for us."

Jason Elam's 42-yard field goal gave the Falcons back the lead a few minutes later, but Rodgers had more than enough time to drive down the field. However, Rodgers' fourth interception over his last two games proved to be the Packers' undoing as they dropped their third straight game.

Ryan completed 16-of-26 passes for 194 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His favorite target was Roddy White, who hauled in eight passes for 132 yards and a score.

"Coming here on the road and winning is big," White said. "Matt Ryan is a winner . He has a great attitude, even after a mistake. Michael Turner is a grinder, so we can spread you out and grind you."

The speedy wideout took advantage of Packers rookie cornerback Pat Lee - filling in for injured starter Al Harris, who has a ruptured spleen - on a 22-yard fade route midway through the second quarter. Ryan hit him in perfect stride to make it a 17-7 game.

Rodgers - who was a game-time decision due to his ailing shoulder - finished 25-of-37 for 313 yards and three touchdowns.

"I was told today that I couldn't re-injure (the shoulder) by playing, so we felt confident after I threw this morning that I was going to be able to play," Rodgers said. "I felt confident that I was going to be able to deal with the pain, and I think I did that pretty well."