The Green Bay Packers (1-2) won their first game of the 2012 preseason as they beat the Bengals (0-3) in Cincinnati Thursday night, 27-13. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers ran for two touchdowns as the Packers built a 14-0 first quarter lead. Mason Crosby added a pair of field goals (46 and 36 yards) and linebacker Jamari Lattimore returned an interception 27 yards for the final score of the contest.
Rodgers played the entire first half and completed 12 of 22 passes for 154 yards and an interception. He added six carries for 54 yards, including TD runs of twelve and five yards. Cedric Benson made his Packers debut against his old team. The running back had six carries for 38 yards and caught one pass for ten yards. Receiver Greg Jennings had two receptions for 37 yards in his first preseason game in 2012. Defensively, corner Sam Shields, like Lattimore, had a second half interception and safety Sean Richardson recovered a fumble forced by rookie corner, Casey Hayward.
Backup quarterback Graham Harrell and the second team offense struggled for a second week in a row. Harrell hit on 5 of 12 passes for 26 yards and he lost a fumble. Harrell was sacked once but he was under pressure for most of his time under center.
The Packers will play their fourth and final preseason game next Thursday night when they host the Kansas City Chiefs. That game begins at 6 PM at Lambeau Field.
Notes:
Kewaunee native Colin Cochart caught his first pass of the preseason. The Bengals tightend gained five yards on a third quarter reception.
Packers tightend Jermichael Finley did not play against the Bengals. He returned to Green Bay after his wife gave birth to the couple’s second son. Finley has yet to play in a preseason game.
