Name: J.D. Gold
Email: jdgold@idatasports.com
Date: Wed Nov 15 0:12:48 2006

Headline: Packers Pass By and Over Vikings for a 23-17 Win in Dome
Game MVP: Donald Driver
Offensive Player of the Game: Brett Favre
Defensive Player of the Game: AJ Hawk

With the Packers 23-17 victory they passed the Minnesota Vikings in the standings into second place in the NFC North with a 4-5 record. Brett Favre passed for 347 yards and two td's. He also didn't pass up on the opportunity to hook up for a scintillating 82 yard touch down to Donald Driver who passed right by Viking safety Darren Sharper on his way to the end zone.

Players of the Game Recap; GAME MVP: Donald Driver had a career high 191 yards on six catches for a td. Driver just might be the NFL's best kept secret and most under-rated player. OFFENSIVE MVP: Brett Favre. Just another day at the office for #4 as he threw for 347 yds no pic's and 2 td's. DEFENSIVE MVP: AJ HAWK Had 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Are there any doubters left out there about Hawks ability? SUSAN B ANTHONY GOLD COIN PLAYER OF THE GAME: Whomever is supposed to be covering the wide open receivers in zone coverage. Since no one really says who's fault it is I'll blame Nick Collins. Isn't the safety not supposed to get burnt deep all the time?

QB: 4 GOLD BARS-- This game was clearly on Favre's shoulders from the get go. Early on things didn't look good as Favre started out 1-6 and was facing a 3rd and ten in the raucous Metrodome. Yet as he converted to Driver for the first down it was from here out his mastery was on display for all to see. He continually looked off 1st and 2nd reads and took what was given on underneath routes or went back to his 1st look because he had already frozen the safety by scanning the field. He hit seven different receivers keeping the Minnesota Viking secondary off balance all day. Another game with no interceptions.

RB: 2-1/2 GOLD BARS-- Ahman Greens 22 carries for 55 yards at first glance doesn't seem that impressive. But Green can not be taken lightly because he always is a threat to run you over then take it to the house. This keeps even top run defenses on there toes making the play action more effective just as it did Sunday against the Vikings league leading run defense. William Henderson had his best game of the year .The shot he took that propelled his helmet off his head was nasty. Two plays later the vet was back out there catching a pass. How could he even know where he was? Kudos to Henderson on showing the young Packers how to strap it on.

WR/TE:4 GOLD BARS-- Donald Driver again showed why he may be the most under-rated receiver in the NFL. Driver had 6 catches for 191 yds and TD. His 82 yd touchdown right up the middle was a thing of beauty as he ran right by Darren Sharper. I never was sure if being burned for td's was part of the "Sharper Shake"? One player with shake who has the propensity for making the big play even when he can not is Greg "Shake n' Bake " Jennings. Gutting it out on a bad ankle still; Jennings still had the presence to lateral to Driver, just before going down on his 12 yd reception, resulting an in additional 30 yard pick-up. Ruvell Martin made a super catch for a first down in the 4th quarter to put the game away. Bubba Franks made a couple of nice catches and was light on his feet in pass protection. More of this type of play from Bubba is what the Packers need.

OFFENSIVE LINE:3 GOLD BARS-- For as little of a push and room as this unit left for Ahman Green to run through it was a good job by Green to get 55 yds. Both Colledge and Spitz looked as if they were standing still or going backwards in the run game. Yet as deficient as this unit was in the run game they were equally as proficient in pass protection. Limiting the times Favre got hit and giving up no sacks in 42 pass attempts at the Metro dome. Mark Tauscher went down in the 3rd quarter with a groin injury and was replaced by Tony Moll. The Packers won at Miami without Chad Clifton. Now can they win one with out Tauscher?

DEFENSIVE LINE:3 GOLD BARS-- The interior play of the d-line is improving each week due to Jenkins and Pickett get healthier, along with more consistent play from back-ups Corey Williams and Colin Cole. This improved play leaves more space for the LB's to weave there magic behind the line of scrimmage or make a big sack. Again Kabeer Gbaja-Biamilia was ran at and again he held up his end of the deal not getting buried at the point of attack. KGB Will never be know as a run stuffer but is holding his own. If the interior can keep improving look for KGB to come up with a few more sacks. If not KGB, look for 2nd year man Mike Montgomery and his array of pass rushing moves to keep coming on the rest of the season as he spells KGB through out the game.

LINEBACKERS: 4 GOLD BARS-- Brady Poppinga may have gotten the early bad press because of his inability to cover the TE but now gets some love because of his unselfish sacrifice in taking on lead blockers in the run game weather it is a guard, fullback, or tight end leaving Hawk and Barnett to clean up. And clean up they do. Between the three starting LB's they had 21 tackles and 3 sacks. Poppingas accordion like fumble causing sack of Brad Johnson in the first quarter showed all three line backers are capable of making big plays. AJ Hawk continues to impress with his explosiveness in the pass rush game. At times leaving would be blockers or QB's frozen in there tracks as Hawk finishes off his prey. His and Nick Barnett's sack was a glimpse of what is to come for opposing qb's as they have to keep an eye out for the Packer linebackers in future games.

DEFENSIVE BACKS:2 GOLD BARS-- Corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson played great. Safeties Nick Collins and Marquand Manuel didn't. Until the safeties figure it out the Packers will be unable to close teams out when they get a lead because teams will be able to pass on them to catch up. Collins has to step up. Stop biting on everything. He has to remember he is the last line of defense. When is the last time you've seen the safeties jack somebody up? Patrick Dendy really only gave up one big play which didn't lead to any points for Minnesota.

SPECIAL TEAMS: 2-1/2 GOLD BARS-- Coverage was decent in the punt return game. So was the punting again as Ryan cranked 7 punts for a 51.3 average and only two were returned. Dave Rayner continues to nail his field goals. All's good as long as the clankers go through. The return game is still weak. The blocking looks awful . Who ever the returner is he has no room to work. The Pack seemed to see something in the Vikes blocking scheme as they went after there punter on three different occasions.

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