Glendale, Ariz. — As the ball was pried from his hands for the second of three times Sunday, quarterback Aaron Rodgers absorbed 607 pounds crashing onto his slender frame.
His legs softened the fall for Josh Walker, a 335-pound offensive lineman thrust into duty at right tackle after Bryan Bulaga left with an ankle injury. His face was the landing zone for Kareem Martin, a 272-pound linebacker whose quickness off the edge embarrassed Walker for a backbreaking strip sack.
When the view finally cleared, Rodgers watched from his back as defensive tackle Cory Redding scooped up the loose ball, stiff-armed Eddie Lacy and jogged nonchalantly toward the end zone.