Sports

From staff and wire reports

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers shrugged off a shaky beginning as Brett Favre's replacement.

In his first start for the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers delivered a pair of scoring drives and a handful of highlights in a 20-17 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.

In a night of firsts, Tyler's Matt Flynn -- of Robert E. Lee High School and LSU Tigers fame -- saw his first action at quarterback for the Packers. The seventh-round draft choice is presently listed as the team's third-string quarterback.

This recap of his night appeared in today's Green Bay Press Gazette:

---

The best drive led by either of the Green Bay Packers’ rookie quarterbacks in Monday night’s preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals came with seventh-round draft pick Matt Flynn calling the shots in the hurry-up offense.

Twelve plays and 62 yards later, the Packers had their first touchdown since starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers left the game — and Flynn had what has to be considered his finest showing in any setting since joining the team.

“We made some good plays, receivers ran good routes and I had good protection,” said Flynn, who capped the drive with an 11-yard strike to rookie running back Kregg Lumpkin. “One thing I’ve always learned through college (at LSU) and from all my quarterback coaches is that 2-minute and no-huddle, it’s kind of like controlled chaos out there. You’ve got to be under control, but you’ve got to be going.”

Granted, the success came against the Bengals’ third string, but Flynn’s numbers — 12-for-21 for 97 yards and a touchdown — reflected the efficiency with which he led the offense. He also had a chance to lead a potential game-winning drive in the final minute, but Lumpkin fumbled after a catch 48 seconds to play.

By taking a sack on his first play from scrimmage, Flynn got off to only a slightly less ominous start than second-round draft pick Brian Brohm, who airmailed a throw for James Jones and was intercepted by linebacker Corey Mays.

---

The Packers definitively handed Rodgers the keys to one of the NFL's best offenses after trading Favre to the New York Jets last week — ending an ugly, monthlong divorce with one of the most beloved players in franchise history.

And despite spending most of the past three seasons holding a clipboard, Rodgers didn't show many signs of nerves in his first step out of Favre's shadow. The Bengals tagged Rodgers for an early interception off of a deflected pass, but he recovered to complete 9 of 15 throws for 117 yards and a touchdown.

Rodgers was greeted warmly by fans before the game, with a significant portion giving him a standing ovation.

"I've always felt like we have the best fans in the NFL, and that they would support our team, regardless of how they feel about myself, or Brett, or management or whatever," Rodgers said. "But it was a great reception when we took the field."

Rodgers could have had a second scoring strike, but couldn't connect on a deep ball to wide open receiver James Jones on the Packers' third drive. On the next play, Rodgers threw a crisp 30-yard pass to Ruvell Martin on third-and-2 that helped set up a 37-yard field goal by Mason Crosby.

On the Packers' next possession, Jones caught a dart from Rodgers and ran for a 30-yard touchdown — despite bouncing off a jarring hit from Bengals safety Marvin White that knocked off his helmet. As Jones completed a "Lambeau Leap" into the grandstands, Rodgers ran down the field to congratulate him.

"I understand the attention around him, his performance tonight and him playing tonight." Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "But I saw Aaron just like he is every day. I thought he went out there, he played with excellent energy, which I always recall him playing with. I think he's done a really good job being consistent, and understanding that the microscope is on him, with all the attention. But those are really outside, external forces that we can't really pay attention to."

Rodgers left the game after the first quarter, with the Packers leading 10-0 after a sluggish performance by the Bengals' No. 1 offense.

Playing without running back Rudi Johnson and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati didn't gain a first down until early in the second quarter.

Carson Palmer finished the game 5-for-9 for 33 yards with a touchdown, connecting with tight end Ben Utecht for a 14-yard score early in the second quarter.

Backup Ryan Fitzpatrick took over and led the Bengals on a drive, handing off to Chris Perry for a 6-yard touchdown that put Cincinnati ahead 14-10. Fitzpatrick led the Bengals into Packers territory again later in the quarter, and Shayne Graham's 43-yard field goal put the Bengals ahead 17-10 going into halftime.

"Offensively, we got off to a slow start, but we picked up the pace as the half went on," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said.

Graham added a 32-yarder in the fourth quarter. Flynn connected with running back Lumpkin for an 11-yard touchdown with just over three minutes left in the game, and the Pack got the ball back with less than two minutes left, but a fumble stopped what the Packers and Flynn hoped would be at least a game-tying-field-goal drive.

Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson played into the second quarter, catching one pass for 10 yards.

Martin, one of Rodgers' favorite targets in practice, left the game with a head injury in the second quarter. He walked off the field unassisted but didn't return.

Green Bay Packers quarterbacks Matt Flynn, left, and Aaron Rodgers, right, throw passes during football training camp practice in Green Bay, Wis.
((AP Photo/Shawano Leader, Cory Dellenbach))