Wow! What a day in sports!
The Packers moved to 4-0 with a 23-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Brett Favre threw his 421st career touchdown pass to Greg Jennings with five minutes left in the first quarter to give the Packers a 7-0 lead over the Vikings. Favre celebrated the record by running over to Jennings and picking him up, looking like a kid playing a man's game. Then, with six minutes left in the game, Favre threw his 422nd career touchdown pass to James Jones, giving the Pack a 23-16 lead. The game came down to the final minute, as Atari Bigby intercepted Kelly Holcomb after a costly Ryan Grant fumble to seal the game.
However, even with the win, the Packers weakness, their running game, was exposed more than ever. DeShawn Wynn had ten rushes for twenty yards. Grant had three rushes for seventeen yards. Jon Ryan, the punter(!) was third on the team with seven rushing yards. In his first game back, Vernand Morency had one rush for two yards. Brandon Jackson missed the game due to injury. However, the way Favre threw the ball (32/45, 344 yards, 2 TDs, 108.0 QB Rating), the running game is fine how it is. Some would say the Packers D struggles, giving up their first 100-yard rusher of the season in Adrian Peterson, who had twelve rushes for 112 yards. On the other hand, 55 of those yards came on one run, and Peterson only had two carries for four yards in the second half.
No receiver for the Packers had a very good game, as nine receivers had two or more catches. Tight end Donald Lee led the team with four catches for 66 yards. Donald Driver followed with seven catches for fifty-eight yards. Jennings had three receptions for 43 yards, catching number 421 after catching number 420 last week against San Diego. Jones had four receptions for 49 yards as his first career touchdown was Favre's 422nd. The future looks bright for these two wide receivers and the Packers have two of the rising star wide receivers.
Defensively, Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk led the team with eight total tackles. Charles Woodson followed with seven tackles and one pass defense. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila continued his return to his former self as he tallied three tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble. Also recording sacks were defensive tackle Ryan Pickett and defensive end Aaron Kampman.
Next week, the Packers take on the Chicago Bears who suffered one of the worst debacles in NFL history at the hands of the Detroit Lions. Leading 13-3 going into the fourth quarter, the Lions outscored the Bears 34-14 for a 37-27 victory. Brian Griese does not seem to be the answer over Rex Grossman right now either. Did you know Grossman finished second in the Heisman voting to Eric Crouch in 2001? I didn't. The Bears listed eight defensive players on the injury report for the game against the Lions, including both starting cornerbacks, Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman. If both are still hurt when the Packers come to town, look out! Jon Kitna had a field day, completing 20 of 24 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, earning a 137.3 QB Rating. The Bears have been one of the biggest disappointments of the season, much to the delight of Packers fans.
What a day! Favre throws numbers 421 and 422 while the Packers move to 4-0 for the first time since 1998.
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