Sometimes there are just days when things do not end up falling the right way, no matter how much you outplay your opponent. This was another one of those days for the Green Bay Packers against the Buffalo Bills. The Packers passed for more yards and rushed for more yards, had more first downs, but still lost the game.
That is because the Packers lost the turnover battle. Aaron Rodgers threw more interceptions than Kyle Orton, something this writer is certain no one would predicted before the start of the contest. It got started early though when the Buffalo Bills would return a punt 75 yards for a touchdown courtesy of Marcus Thigpen. That would put the Bills on the board and gave them their first lead of the game because Mason Crosby had already kicked a field goal. But the Bills special teams blocked another Mason Crosby field goal attempt in the second half and were just consistently better throughout the day as Dan Carpenter was able to connect on 4 field goals, including those from 48 and 51 yards.
The Green Bay Packers had a chance up until the final two minutes of the game. But then Mario Williams would make it around J.C. Tretter, who was filling in for the injured Bryan Bulaga from earlier in the game, and Williams would knock the ball out of Rodgers hands and into the end zone, where Eddie Lacy would pick it up but is not able to advance the ball in the final two minutes of the half. That was ruled a safety to put the Packers down 8, and they couldn't recover the onside punt attempt on the next play. Kyle Orton was the man in the victory formation to end the game as the Buffalo Bills surprisingly swept the NFC North this season and breathed some additional life into their playoff hopes.
The Green Bay Packers (10-4) could fall to second in the division if the Detroit Lions (9-4) are able to defeat the Minnesota Vikings. They will be on the road again next Sunday as they will visit Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buffalo Bills (8-6) are still on the outside looking in for a wild card spot in the AFC, but they will travel to Oakland to take on the Raiders next week.