Headline: Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions
Game MVP: Ahman Green
Offensive Player of the Game: Ahman Green
Defensive Player of the Game: Darren Sharper
The Green Bay Packers started the regular season with a 28-6 romp over
the hapless Detroit Lions, in front of a rowdy crowd of 59,523. Sure the
Detroit organization is in the most of rebuilding. Sure Charlie Batch
is their starting quarterback, although not for long. The Packers however,
beat a team they were supposed to beat, and did beat them on Sunday.
THE OFFENSE
On offense the Packers running game churned out 179 yards in 29 rushes for an astounding 6.2
average, while the Packers air attack struck for 245 yards, on an efficient 22 of 28
performance by three time MVP
Brett Favre. This would not have been possible had it not been for the packers
offensive line. The performance by this young unit was masterful.
Lions defensive end Robert Porcher has had some great games against the pack,
but was handled all day by second year tackle
Mark Tausher. The offensive line executed perfect blocking up front, when
Ahman Green slipped a couple tackles and burst to the endzone for a 31-Yard
touchdown. This gave the Packers a 7-0 lead with 12:27 left in the first quarter.
On the next offensive series the Packers had a 2nd and 13 from the
Lions 43, when
Favre threw a wobbly pass that
Bill Shroeder hauled in for 35 yards. On the next
play Favre threw an unbelievable pass to
Shroeder for a 23-yard score. I'm still
in total shock at how perfect that pass was!
The Packers offense then started on the
Lions 17 yard line, when
Ahman Green took the handoff over right gaurd, cut left, and went un-touched for an
83-Yard touchdown. Is there any question this young man has taken his game to the next
level. It was also nice to see
Antonio Freeman "Giving it Up" in taking out the only player who had a shot at
Green. This kind of running game opens up the field for
Favre to work his magic. All this was created by the young men up-front.
THE DEFENSE
The offense did it's part on this day, but it was the Packers defense that was under
the microscope. With the injuries that had most of the defense on the sidelines during
the pre-season, how was this defense going to play? Well that can be said in one
word: EFFECTIVE! With the Packers jumping out to a 7-0 lead, the defense was facing a
big play on the
Lions first drive. Benardo Harris blew up
Lions running back James Stewart for no gain on a forth and two that was indicative
of the rest of the day for the defense. The Packers got pressure all day whether
t was by blitz or conventional 4 man rush, they sacked Charlie Batch seven times.
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila lead the team with 3 sacks, while Jim Flanigan and Vonnie Holiday
chipped in with 2 each. I will say this again, ED Donatell is a Genius. He certainly knew
something when he talked the Packers management into signing free agent Nate Wayne, who
he had coached in
Denver. Nate Wayne play's the game like he is furious. All he does is track the ball
carriers like a heat seeking missle, and leaves a path oif destruction wherever he goes.
We will learn more about this team as the weeks go by. This was certainly an excellent
start, but a much stiffer test awaits in
New York. A few predictions from my columns in the pre-season, I distinctly remember
saying that the Packers running game was going to roll over people
(See Packers vs Browns).
Also that
Bill Schroeder will be the Packers go-to reciever, and that
Darren Sharper was going to lead the Pick-Parade. All of these things happened on
Sunday and must happen for the Packers to win this week against the
Giants:
Establish the running game, and if it doesn't work right way, stick with it because
Ahman Green will eventually break one!
They have to get to Kerry Collins. Ed Donatell and his blitzing scheme will get
the job done. That's the way I saw it... BigE.
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