Packers hold off Patriots in epic battle

All week long, the talk surrounding Packers-Patriots was that the two best teams in the league were going head-to-head. The teams, and the matchup, did not disappoint.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 368 yards and two touchdowns, and the Packers converted a crucial third down with two minutes to play to hold off the New England Patriots 26-21 Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Richard Rodgers and Jordy Nelson hauled in Rodgers' two touchdown tosses, while Eddie Lacy rumbled for 98 yards against a stout Patriots run defense. The Packers, 30th in the league against the run coming in, held New England to just 84 yards on the ground.

Tom Brady's 15 yard TD pass to Brandon LaFell early in the fourth quarter put the Patriots within two and set up some dramatic fourth quarter drives by the Packers. In one such drive, Davante Adams dropped what would have been a touchdown pass on third down, and the Packers had to settle for a field goal and a five point lead. On the Patriots ensuing drive, Tom Brady was sacked on third down to force the Pats to kick a field goal. Stephen Gostkowski missed wide right, and the Packers ran out the clock thanks to a third down pass from Aaron Rodgers to Randall Cobb with a little more than two minutes to go.

The Packers go to 9-3 with the win. They have not lost a game since the October 26th road defeat at New Orleans. Both Green Bay and New England stand at 9-3, with some experts saying Sunday's game was a Super Bowl preview.