Packers' QB jolts awake after hit

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked for a flag after being flattened by Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney in the second quarter.

Instead, he found a kick-start and a little bit of physical therapy.

"It loosened up my shoulder a little bit," joked Rodgers, who hasn't practiced the past two weeks because of an injury to that joint.

Seattle had just taken a 10-3 lead in the second quarter when Rodgers dropped back to pass on first down on the ensuing possession. Seahawks safety Deon Grant was coming on a blitz, but he leaped when Rodgers pump-faked and the Packers quarterback scrambled away. Kerney hit Rodgers just after he released the ball, which fell incomplete, and afterward Rodgers looked toward the official.

"I was thinking he might call a penalty on that one," Rodgers said.

Nope, but it did mark the start of Green Bay's turnaround Sunday. It was Rodgers' only incompletion on the drive, which ended with his 1-yard touchdown run. That touchdown allowed Green Bay to tie the score before halftime, and it started a run of 24 consecutive Packers points that summoned memories of that snowy night last January when the Packers reeled off 42 in a row to bounce the Seahawks from the playoffs.

"The NFL is all about momentum, and it could be one or two plays here and there," Rodgers said.

The difference in Sunday's game was Rodgers and his decisions. While the Seahawks' passing game looked as if it were outfitted with training wheels, Rodgers passed for two touchdowns, ran for another and completed 10 of the 12 passes he attempted on third down.

"He played excellent," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said.

That was especially true on the Packers' third possession in the third quarter. Green Bay had the ball near midfield and faced third-and-six when Seattle sent a blitz that included linebackers Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill and safety Brian Russell.

The result of that play changed the tide of the game, said one of the Seahawks' defensive captains.

"We felt as if we were controlling the game," Tatupu said. "Where we lost it was that pressure."

Tatupu blamed the Seahawks' front seven for not getting to the quarterback. Tatupu and Hill got picked up, and as Russell came crashing toward Rodgers, he heaved a pass toward Greg Jennings, who was defended one-on-one by Marcus Trufant. Jennings scored.

"Aaron threw a perfect ball," Jennings said.

Rodgers didn't throw too many bad passes Sunday, especially not after he was flattened by Kerney with a hit that turned out to be a wake-up call for Green Bay's offense.

"I would agree with the timing of it," McCarthy said. "I don't think we need to get our quarterback whacked before we start playing better."

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com