Packers QB Aaron Rodgers gives a wonderfully good excuse for his first interception in opposition to the Saints

A single play would not have swung the sport within the Inexperienced Bay Packers‘ path on Sunday. The New Orleans Saints, enjoying a house recreation in Jacksonville due to the harm from Hurricane Ida, gave them a 38-3 drubbing within the season opener, the worst lack of the Aaron Rodgers period. Rodgers nonetheless defined why one went awry on Monday, and — if true — it is utterly comprehensible why.

In an interview on “The Pat McAfee Present,” Rodgers advised the previous All-Professional punter the primary of his two interceptions resulted from a pair of photographs to his groin. 

“I do not wish to make numerous excuses for interceptions,” Rodgers stated simply earlier than making one. “…That [first interception] was totally as a result of double nut shot I took.”

Saints defensive linemen Christian Ringo and Cameron Jordan converged on Rodgers instantly after the snap, forcing the reigning MVP to step up within the pocket and throw an errant go towards Davante Adams. Rookie Paulson Adebo then picked the ball off and returned it to his workforce’s 40-yard line for certainly one of three New Orleans takeaways on the day. 

With or with out that interception — and its trigger — the Packers put collectively a dreadful efficiency in opposition to the Saints in Jacksonville. Inexperienced Bay rushed for a mere 43 yards as a workforce whereas Rodgers accomplished solely 15 of his 28 passes for a scoreless 138 yards, producing a quarterback score decrease than if he threw each ball into the filth each play.  

The Packers’ protection underneath first-year coordinator Joe Barry was equally as unhealthy. It gave up 5 passing touchdowns to Jameis Winston and a mixed 171 dashing yards, together with 83 to Alvin Kamara. 

“We acquired our asses beat and we acquired 16 extra to go,” Rodgers advised McAfee.

First on that listing of 16 is a Monday Night time Soccer recreation with one other 0-1 workforce, the Detroit Lions, at Lambeau Discipline. Rodgers shall be on the lookout for extra touchdowns than groin photographs in that one.