Aaron Rodgers' message after his performance against the Lions: 'I'm still the reigning, defending two-time MVP'

Aaron Rodgers threw three red-zone interceptions in the 15-9 loss to the Detroit Lions, he had his worst passer rating of the season and he and the offense failed to complete a scoring drive in the final two minutes of the game with an opportunity to end the Packers' lengthy losing streak.

Despite all that, the Packers' 38-year-old quarterback's confidence in himself is still as high as ever as the 3-6 Packers get ready to welcome the Dallas Cowboys to Lambeau Field on Sunday.

"I always believe in myself first and I bet on myself first to go out there and to impact the game and to be great," Rodgers said during his Tuesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show." "I still know I have that within me. I’m still the reigning, defending two-time MVP. Regardless who's out there with me, guys want to come battle they know where to find me. I’ll be in the center of that huddle, expecting greatness, trying to inspire the best I can and lay it out on the line."

Rodgers' performance Sunday against the Lions was a far cry from his MVP seasons as the Packers lost for the fifth straight game. Two of his interceptions were in the end zone with the first bouncing off a helmet at the line of scrimmage and the other an underthrown ball to offensive lineman David Bakhtiari. The other interception came after Jaire Alexander picked off Lions quarterback Jared Goff early in the third quarter with the Packers trailing 8-0.

But Rodgers has a message for any of his critics following his interception-filled game.

"Look, I’ve thrown touchdown passes many times I don’t give a (expletive) what any of these experts on TV have to say," Rodgers said. "There’s a lot that goes into all these things and for someone to play armchair quarterback who doesn’t know what the hell play we’re running or what’s going on, that’s fine. I don’t give a (expletive) to be honest with you."

So why couldn't the Packers finish the job when they moved the ball on a Lions defense that allowed an average of over 32 points per game?

Like when the Packers lost to Washington two weeks ago, Rodgers said it wasn't about the opponent. He again said it came down to "mental mistakes," including his own struggles. And although the team scored just nine points, Rodgers said he thought it was one of the team's better offensive games moving the ball, saying the Packers just "beat ourselves."

"I don’t think they really stopped us," said Rodgers, who finished 23 for 43 with one touchdown and the three interceptions. "We had three possessions in the first half we went up and down the field. It was more about us than them."

Rodgers, who on Tuesday was wearing a shirt that read "Attitude of Gratitude," isn't losing faith in this team.

"Sometimes when you’re in the ceremony of life you have to go through some serious (expletive), some serious adversity to get to the other side," Rodgers said. "Hopefully this is the bottom of that adversity."

Rodgers added that moving forward he hopes his "competitive greatness" will inspire his teammates.

"No matter what happens, I'm going to go out and compete," Rodgers said. "That's all I know how to do and maybe that will be inspiration to raise their level of game."

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Aaron Rodgers calls out critics on Pat McAfee Show after Packers loss