National Football League

Rodgers, Packers drop 4th in row, routed 42-24 by Redskins

Published Nov. 21, 2016 1:10 a.m. ET

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LANDOVER, Md. (AP) Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the Green Bay Packers' offense began the game with a trio of three-and-outs.

Later, once Rodgers & Co. got going, tight end Jared Cook fumbled away the ball after a catch.

The Packers' defense gave up passes of 70, 53 and 44 yards and allowed three TD runs to an undrafted rookie. Its special teams had problematic moments, too, including a missed field-goal attempt and a botched kickoff return that resulted in a drive starting at Green Bay's own 2.

Add it all up, and Green Bay flailed its way to a fourth consecutive loss, this one by a 42-24 score against the Washington Redskins on Sunday night.

''We see ourselves as a much better football team than this. It's just not panning out,'' Packers safety Micah Hyde said. ''We have way too much talent in this locker room to be performing like that. But week in, week out, we're doing it. I'm speechless.''

In each game of Green Bay's current losing skid, the team has allowed at least 30 points.

''Coming in here, we knew we needed this game,'' coach Mike McCarthy said. ''Our back's up against it.''

His Packers beat the Redskins in the playoffs last season and are perennially seen as a title contender, but are now 4-6 and in third place in the NFC North, two games behind both the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.

''They're probably not playing like we normally see the Packers play,'' said Robert Kelley, the rookie running back who carried 24 times for 137 yards and scores from 1, 4 and 10 yards out.

The Packers' secondary never seemed to be in the right place at the right time Sunday, allowing Washington's Kirk Cousins to go 21 of 30 for 375 yards, three TDs and zero interceptions.

''We didn't stop `em. Our pass defense, we didn't get off the field. It was touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, field goal in the second half,'' McCarthy said. ''That tells the story.''

The Packers actually led 10-7 late in the second quarter and, after falling behind 29-17 early in the fourth quarter on Cousins' 70-yard TD to Pierre Garcon, pulled to 29-24 on Rodgers' 6-yard connection with Cook. Anyone's game at that point, right? Nope. The Redskins converted a risky fourth-and-1 at their own 41 on a sneak by Cousins and were on their way.

Green Bay's next drive ended with Cook's turnover.

''We put ourselves in a tough spot,'' said Rodgers, who was 26 of 41 for 351 yards, three TDs and zero interceptions. ''So we've got find a way to get a win next week and approach it one week at a time. That's all we've got right now.''

He was hardly at his best on a wind-whipped evening, putting throws at receivers' feet or over their heads, even from short range.

But the porous defense is Green Bay's biggest issue at the moment - as it has been while dropping five of their past six games.

''You can't win ballgames giving up that many points,'' Hyde said, ''no matter who's on offense.''

Now comes another prime-time game next week, this time on a Monday at the Philadelphia Eagles.

McCarthy was asked whether he has the right players to succeed on defense.

''This is not the time for personnel evaluations, coaching evaluations and those type of things,'' he replied. ''We're in a rough stretch right now.''

INJURIES

CB Demetri Goodson (knee), OL Don Barclay (shoulder), LB Blake Martinez (knee) and S Kentrell Brice (back) were all hurt during the game.

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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

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