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GREEN BAY, WES (AP) - A pass by Douglas Messenger and the Green Bay Packers for the Cleveland Browns didn't let the Cleveland Browns spoil Aaron Rodgers' historic day.
Rodgers overtook Brett Favre to become Green Bay's all-time leader in touchdown passes, and Packers intercepted Baker Mayfield four times in a 24-22 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. Cleveland nearly came back all the way from a 12-point deficit in the second half before Douglas' second interception of the day ended the game with 43 seconds left.
"We have to do a better job closing matches," Rodgers said. "Our defense has finished a lot of games, the last two weeks has stopped that two-point conversion (in a 31-30 victory in Baltimore) and Rasul came out with such a big choice. It's nerve-wracking, but winning is tough in this league."
Rodgers went 24 of 34 for 202 yards with three touchdown passes to increase his career total to 445. Favre threw 508 touchdown passes during his Hall of Fame career, 442 of them with Green Bay.
But it was the Green Bay defense that snatched that victory by sacking Mayfield five times and forcing him into his first performance of his career with four interceptions. All three of the Packers' attacks (12-3) came after Mayfield's interceptions.
We missed throws,” Mayfield said. "Uncharacteristic, and I've hurt this team. That's the most frustrating thing for me, because I thought our defense played really well against a really good attack. But when you run the ball in your area, in the red and around midfield and you give them extra chances, they'll take advantage of it" .
Mayfield was 21 of 36 for 222 yards with two touchdowns plus those four picks in his return from the Reserve/COVID-19 roster, which saw him miss a 16-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday.
Nick Chubb ran for 126 yards and a touchdown to lead the Browns' 219-yard dash effort that kept them in the game.
Brown (7-8) was trailing 24-22 and was third and 10th on 50 when Douglas picked Mayfield's custom card Donovan Peoples-Jones at 40.
Since being signed from the Arizona Cardinals coaching staff in early October, Douglas has had five high interceptions on the team. He got a game-ending interception in the last minute of a victory over Arizona earlier this season.
“The coaches told me, as long as they keep catching up, they will keep coming,” Douglas said. "I just try to catch them when they come."
Darnell Savage and Chandon Sullivan also had objections. Rashaan Gary had two of the five bags the Packers used against Brown, whose offensive line was destroyed by left tackle Jedrick Wills and JC Tretter are on the COVID-19 roster.
Until Brown made their second-half threat, the day belonged to Rodgers, who broke Favre's record by throwing an 11-yard TD pass to Allen Lazard in the first quarter.
"Aaron broke a lot of records," Lazard said. “Almost every week it's like me on Instagram Monday morning and someone always posts some new records that Aaron has broken. For us, it's another day in the office. Obviously, that's a bigger milestone in that sense."
Rodgers spent his first three seasons in the NFL supporting Favre before taking charge in 2008. Favre sent Rodgers a message in a video broadcast on the Lambeau Field scoreboard after his record-breaking touchdown pass.
“Hey, 12, congratulations, man, on passing my touchdown record,” Favre said. "I have one request. Go get us another Super Bowl. Congratulations."
"It certainly made me tear up on the bench," said Rodgers, who gave a standing ovation to the Lambeau Field fans who gave him a standing ovation. "A moment I will never forget, for sure. I am grateful for Favre's message, the response from the players and the fans has been really special."
Rodgers later threw two touchdown passes to Davante Adams, who had 10 catches for 114 yards. Adams has had at least 10 assists for 100 yards and two touchdowns in eight career games, the most by anyone in NFL history.
Adams has 67 touchdown passes from Rodgers, giving them the franchise record for combinations of touchdown passes. Rodgers threw 65 touchdown passes to former Packers receiver Jordi Nelson.
"When you start piecing together the numbers for Davante, it's mind-blowing," Rodgers said. "I really feel like he's the best player I've played with."
The Packers have already won the NFC North and are seeking the top seed in the conference as they chase their first Super Bowl berth since their 2010 championship season. They have lost in an NFC Championship game each of the past two seasons.
Injured
Rodgers went to the locker room late in the first half after aggravating his toe injury but he made no mistake. Rodgers was playing with a broken left pinky toe. ...the Packers left DL Tyler Lancaster in the fourth quarter.
next one
Browns: Visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 3.
Packers: The Minnesota Vikings hosted the January 2 home regular season finale.
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