Fourth-down conversion opens door for Packers’ blowout of Giants

Aaron Rodgers’ fourth-down completion to Geronimo Allison was the Packers’ play of the game against the Giants.

Aaron Rodgers called it the “play of the game,” and given the events both before and after, it’d be difficult to argue the assertion with the Green Bay Packers quarterback.

Rodgers’ completion to Geronimo Allison on 4th-and-10 with the Packers leading the Giants 17-13 in the third quarter opened the door for a blowout at MetLife Stadium.

“That was the play of the game,” Rodgers said Sunday. “We needed a drive there. I love the aggressiveness from Matt (LaFleur). I held it, held it, and saw G-Mo put his hand up. Fortunate to get it in a good spot there.”

The Packers’ offense had punted on the previous two drives and needed a spark, especially after the Giants had just kicked a field goal to cut the lead to four points. So when Rodgers threw incomplete on 3rd-and-10 from the Giants’ 35-yard-line, LaFleur kept the offense on the field and trusted Rodgers to make a play.

The quarterback made the coach look smart.

While right tackle Bryan Bulaga got beat off the edge and left guard Elgton Jenkins was holding on for dear life on the inside, Rodgers bought just enough time and found just enough room in the pocket to deliver the ball to Allison, who won inside on an in-breaking route against slot cornerback Grant Haley. Rodgers was falling away but still put the ball right where it needed to be.

They were the 15 biggest yards of the contest.

A sack would have given the Giants the ball around midfield. Instead, the Packers had a first down at the 20-yard line.

A few plays after the conversion, Rodgers found Davante Adams for a 17-yard touchdown that put the Packers back up by 11 points. They intercepted Daniel Jones on the ensuing possession and scored again on a touchdown pass from Rodgers to Marcedes Lewis to finish off the decisive, 18-point victory.

The Packers scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to improve to 9-3.

“To go out and finish off that game in the second half like we did was important,” Rodgers said.