The Green Bay Packers (4-2) survived the sweltering sun and a fiery comeback attempt, outlasting the Miami Dolphins (2-3) 27-24 thanks to a late stop from the defense and a game-winning drive orchestrated by an unflappable Aaron Rodgers Sunday at Sun Life Stadium.  

It was over when…

…Rodgers identified a mismatch, called a quick audible and then fired a bullet into the arms of tight end Andrew Quarless, who made the back-shoulder catch with three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Packers a thrilling 27-24 win. 

Game Balls

• Aaron Rodgers: He started the game 5-for-5 for 69 yards and a score on Green Bay's first drive. He later eluded pressure to his right and threw a laser across his body to Randall Cobb for six. His game ball was cemented on the final drive, when he somehow took a hit to his chest and still delivered a rope to Jordy Nelson on fourth down, faked a spike to set up the final play and calmly worked over the linebacker on the game-winner. All in a day's work for No. 12. 
• Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: The rookie safety was the most active and physical of the Packers defenders Sunday, delivering a game-high seven tackles. He also dropped Lamar Miller for a big loss and defensed a pass intended for Mike Wallace, who failed to beat the Packers deep. He's been more productive early in his first year than Nick Collins was back in 2005. 
• Mason Crosby: The Packers kicker nailed both of his attempts, including a 30-yarder in the fourth quarter that pulled Green Bay within four. He also made an important tackle on the Miami's first kick return. A 54-yard return could have very easily been a 103-yarder had Crosby not made the stop. 

Stat of the Game 

129.6: That's Rodgers' passer rating over the last three weeks. He's thrown 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions while completing almost 67 percent of his passes. He was especially brilliant on Green Bay's first and final drives Sunday, connecting on 11-of-14 for 118 yards and two scores (141.4 passer rating). 

Other Notes

-- Let's put this notion that Aaron Rodgers isn't clutch to bed. He's already led the Packers back from 21-3 down to win and delivered a game-clinching touchdown in 2014. His game-winner to Quarless will be replayed over and over, but it was his fourth down completion to Jordy Nelson that was the most impressive. Backpedaling, while getting struck in the chest, Rodgers still put a difficult throw right on the money. Not many quarterbacks in the history of the game could have made that play. The guy is clutch. 

-- What a late assist Dolphins offensive coordinator Bill Lazor gave the Packers on Miami's final drive. After Jarvis Landry's first-down catch and Brad Jones' penalty, Lazor decided to throw on second down and run on third-and-long. The play selections both preserved time and gave the Packers the ball back. Had Miami run on all three downs, it's possible Rodgers wouldn't have had enough time to complete the comeback. 

-- The Packers have long stretches where they are completely predictable on offense. It's not a first-time problem, either. Far too often, Mike McCarthy can't stop calling first-down runs and shotgun passes on second and third. It was especially detrimental Sunday. The last thing you want is predictability in play selection when you're getting beat silly up front like the Packers were for most of the contest. When a talented defensive line can guess what's coming, it's easy pickings.  

-- I still can't decide if the Packers (when healthy) are good on defense, or if they've lucked out against sloppy quarterbacks. Geno Smith is a turnover machine, Matthew Stafford and the Lions offense hasn't played well since Week 1, Jay Cutler is always liable to morph into Bad Jay, Christian Ponder is, well, Christian Ponder and Tannehill came into Sunday with a sub-80.0 career passer rating. There's something to be said about a defense making a bad quarterback look bad. Once Tramon Williams and Sam Shields left the contest, the defense wilted and Tannehill went to work. We'll see. The Packers can't afford either player to be hurt long-term. Cam Newton and Drew Brees loom next on the schedule. Hopefully, the Packers are healthy so we can find out what kind of defense this really is. 

-- The Packers have rebounded from a 1-2 start to win three straight. Wasn't 4-2 always going to be a solid record after the first six games of this season? A visit from the Carolina Panthers, who tied the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6, is up next. Far from a walk in the park, but it'll still be a game the Packers are expected to win. 

Zach Kruse contributes to Cheesehead TV. He is also the Lead Writer for the NFC North at Bleacher Report. You can reach him on Twitter @zachkruse2 or by email at [email protected].