Name: BigE
Email: BigE@idatasports.com
Date: Tue Nov 12 14:52:20 2002

Headline: Packers Pound the Lions

The Green Bay Packers absolutely dominated the Detroit Lions by a score of 40-14 before a packed house at Lambeau field, giving the Packers a one-game lead for home field advantage in the NFC. The Packers, who now own the best record in the NFL at 8-1, were hitting on all cylinders as the offense produced 503 total yards. With all the injuries the Packers have faced, they have continued to plug the holes and get better every week. The only problem I see with this is that the Packers are peaking too early. It is important in the NFL to be peaking at the right time, and that's in the final weeks of the regular season. But if the Packers can continue to win and gain home-field advantage, they're going to be tough to beat in the playoffs.

On the Packers first drive they marched down field on a 13 play drive before stalling, and settling for a field goal to make it 3-0. Then, the Packers only weakness showed as the Lions returned the kickoff 36 yards to give them great field position. It took only one play for the Lions to take the lead, as Mike McKenzie jumped on a quick hitch and go and Az Hakim caught a beautiful pass from rookie Joey Harrington right in stride for a 64-yard touchdown to make it 7-3.

The Packers responded with a 9 play 64-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Brett Favre to Bubba Franks to make it 10-7. Favre was spectacular on this drive as he was all day, spreading the ball to several receivers so the defense couldn't focus on any one Packer receiver.

The Packers tacked on a couple field goals to give them a comfortable 16-7 lead, but that's when the defense produced one of their league leading turnovers. With the Packers finally getting good coverage on a kickoff, Harrington and the Lions started at their own 12-yard line. Harrington then dropped back and threw to former Packer Bill Schroeder who ran a curl route, only to have the ball skip through his hands and into rookie Marques Anderson's. Anderson returned it 14 yards for the score to make it 23-7, and the Packers were on their way to a rout.

The Packers defense stopped the Lions next drive, and that gave the ball back to Packers at their own 32-yard line with 1:19 on the clock. That was more than enough time for the master of the two-minute drill, as Favre hit Terry Glenn on a slant, and the gifted receiver scampered past Lion defenders for what looked to be a 46-yard touchdown. Officials overruled the call after using instant replay, and ruled that Glenn was down at the one. From there Najeh Davenport plunged in to make it 30-7 at the half. What should not be overlooked is the way Glenn dove for the pylon. The kid showed plenty of heart and a thirst for the goal line as he laid his body on the line to get that score. And Favre ran all the way down field to bear hug the receiver with the troubled past. That is why Favre is the great leader that he is, because he wanted to let Glenn know that he is now a Packer.

Donald Driver also deserves major credit for the Packers offensive production this year. This was a guy who was hardly on the field for anything more than special teams in his first few years in the league. Is there any question this superior athlete would start for any team in the NFL? Driver was unbelievable again on Sunday, catching 11 passes for 130 yards. The guy is having a pro-bowl type season, and the Packers will have to pony up at the end of the season because Driver will be a free agent.

But let's not dwell on any negatives because the Packers are playing too good. Now they face a tough two-game road stretch that will be very difficult to survive. I don't care how bad the Vikings are playing, that place is the house of horrors. And then the Packers face the same old Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are still offensively challenged but still pack a punch on defense.

The Packers keep adding new pieces without missing a beat, and now they are gaining confidence with every victory. If they continue to protect the ball and play steady defense, they should be able to down the Vikings to go to 9-1.

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