Aaron Rodgers 1, Technology 0.
That was the score after the Green Bay Packers quarterback was seen flinging his Microsoft Surface tablet skyward during Sunday's 37-29 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
"They caught that?" Rodgers said after the game, per ESPN.com's Jason Wilde. "It's a frustrating game (at times). It's exhilarating, but also frustrating when you make a mistake like that."
Rodgers was referring to an unusual lapse in judgment that saw him miss a wide-open Randall Cobb with a chance to tie up the game. Down eight to the Panthers on fourth-and-goal from the Carolina 4-yard line with 2:00 left on the clock, Rodgers lined up for the deciding play.
Seeing Panthers cornerback Charles Tillman stationed across from receiver James Jones and Carolina's Bene Benwikere matched up on Cobb, Rodgers took the snap and looked first to wideout Davante Adams before eyeing tight end Richard Rodgers. Within a flash, Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short was in his grill, forcing Rodgers to unfurl an ill-fated pass that landed in the arms of linebacker Thomas Davis. Game over.
Afterward, the tablet revealed the painful truth: Cobb was wide open for what would have been an easy touchdown.
"It was a great call. I looked out to (Tillman) to see if he had eyes in the backfield, because I was worried about him sloughing off and tackling Randall short of the goal line," Rodgers explained. "Turns out (Jones) ran (Tillman) into (Benwikere) and Randall's wide open for the touchdown. So it's disappointing."
Said Rodgers: "I had an easy opportunity for a pitch-and-catch touchdown, and I got scared by something. I can't explain it. It was a mistake by myself. I'll definitely be thinking about that one on the ride home."
In the meantime, let's pour one out for the poor tablet sent spinning into oblivion as the scapegoat for another crushing Green Bay defeat.
