Mason Crosby 'sick' to see playoff streak end

GREEN BAY - Mason Crosby could be excused if he wanted nothing more than to see the Georgia Dome crumble to the ground.

Before Sunday, his last missed field goal in the playoffs came in the 2010 NFC divisional playoff game in the Georgia Dome. He had made 23 straight postseason field goals since then, an NFL record.

So Crosby was due to miss one when he lined up for a 41-yard kick at the end of the Green Bay Packers' opening possession Sunday in the NFC title game at the Atlanta Falcons. Crosby’s kick sailed wide right, and a 44-21 blowout loss was underway.

“I just pushed it to the right,” Crosby said. “I felt good all warmup, obviously, feeling solid. Really disappointed I didn’t hit that one through.”

One play would not have changed Sunday’s game. And Crosby had plenty reason to be happy with his season. A week earlier, his 51-yard, game-winning kick as time expired sent the Packers into the NFC title game with a 34-31 win at the NFC top-seeded Dallas Cowboys.

But the Packers entered Sunday believing they needed to score every possession – or at least close to it – against the NFL’s top-scoring offense. Walking away from their first possession with no points was a significant momentum hit.

“I’m not going to play the would’ve, could’ve, should’ve game,” Crosby said. “The game went how it did. Obviously, my job is to make that kick, and get us points there on the first drive. I feel sick about it. I wish I would’ve put that through.

“I had a great year. This team had such a great run. Obviously, it hurts.”

rwood@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ByRyanWood