Desperate for a win, the Green Bay Packers finally found a way on Sunday against the Central Division-leading Detroit Lions.
Their 26-17 victory at Lambeau Field marked their first win this month and only their second in five weeks. It was by far the most important of their wins this season.
Improving to 5-5, the Packers dropped the Lions to 6-4 and have forced a three-way tie for first place in the division. Minnesota, which was idle this week, and Tampa Bay, which defeated Atlanta 19-10 Sunday, are now wedged in first place with the Lions.
Green Bay made plenty of mistakes in the game, but none of them game-turning miscues as quarterback Brett Favre threw short, safe passes through the first three quarters before stretching the defense late in the game.
Packer fans found themselves wondering if they were going to be reliving the most recent past as the Lions opened the game with an 11-play, 84-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead.
When the Packers went three plays and out on their first possession, the beginning looked ominous.
It got even worse when Packer punter Louis Aguilar kicked a low, line drive that was returned by the Lions to near midfield.
However, Green Bay head coach Ray Rhodes must have been rubbing his lucky rabbit foot extra hard because as the Lions looked to move the ball again, Gus Frerotte’s pass was intercepted by reserve linebacker Jim Nelson.
Nelson, who filled in on the play when starting middle linebacker Bernardo Harris was being treated for a strained knee, tipped the pass intended for a wide open David Sloan and then caught the ball as he fell to the ground, giving Green Bay a renewed sense of confidence.
Green Bay couldn’t move the ball and punted it back to Detroit, who then returned the favor by kicking it back after being stopped by the Packer defense.
On their next possession, Green Bay began showing signs of life on offense, with of running back Dorsey Levens leading the way.
With about one minute remaining in the first quarter, Favre scrambled out of the pocket and hit Levens with a beautiful touch pass down the right sideline. After eluding one tackler, Levens ran to the Lions 14 yard line.
Green Bay moved the ball to inside the five yard line and were awarded for their efforts with a first and goal. But like the team’s most recent games against Chicago and Dallas, the Packers stalled and had to rely on the foot of kicker Ryan Longwell to get them on the board.
Ahead 7-3, the Lions again were stymied by Green Bay’s defense and punted the ball.
Green Bay continued to mov the ball with ease. Levens gained 11 yards on first down from their own 15, Billy Schroeder caught a 14 yard pass for a first down and then William Henderson caught an eight yard pass for a first down to the Lions 47 yard line.
DeMon’ Parker, rushing for only the second time this season then took a sweep 22 yards to move the ball to the Lions 21 yard line. Levens came back into the game for a rush of six yards, but the Packers stalled at that point and looked to Longwell again for a field goal, this time from 33 yards out.
The Lions came right back on their next series to move 81 yards in six plays, with the biggest play coming on Sedric Irvin’s 51 yard jaunt on a third and four.
Frerotte’s 14 yard pass to a wide open Germain Crowell in the middle of the field gave the Lions a 14-6 lead with 4:04 left in the half.
That left plenty of time for the Packers to score.
Utilizing Levens’ pass receiving and after-the-catch running skills, as well as the speed of receiver Cory Bradford on the drive, Favre moved the team.
The key play of the drive came on a first down pass attempt to wide receiver Antonio Freeman in the end zone. Although the pass went incomplete, Bryant Westbrook interfered on the play and the Packers got the ball at the Lions two yard line. On the next play, Levens easily ran off tackle for the touchdown.
Green Bay went for the two-point conversion, a questionable call so early in the game, and came up empty, keeping the score at 14-12. The Lions moved the ball to the Packer 35 yard line in six plays during their next possession and Jason Hanson converted the 45-yard field goal as time ran out in the half with Detroit ahead 17-12.
Opening the second half with the ball, Green Bay could do nothing and punted to the Lions, who took a short Aguilar punt to their own 45 yard line. But the Packer defense was up to the challenge. They stuffed Irvin for a one yard loss on a third down and one play, forcing them to punt the ball back to the Packers.
Starting at their own seven yard line, the Packers then began one of their more memorable drives of the season. During the possession, the Packers lost their top receiver to a concussion, but gained a rising star in Bradford.
All Bradford did was force the Lions into a pass interference call on a long pass play and then caught the next pass, a 17-yarder, with one hand in the right corner of the end zone.
The spectacular catch was so good, the Lions challenged it and, in the process, lost a much needed time out.
Leading 18-17, the Packers went for the two-point conversion, with Favre hitting Bradford again, this time on the right side of the endzone.
The score put the Packers ahead for good because the defense stopped Detroit again, forcing a punt.
Green Bay’s dominance through the remainder of the third and fourth quarter came through on the Packers next possession.
They got one first down with five minutes left in the third on a Detroit penalty. On the very next play, Favre threw deep to Bradford down the left sideline, but the Lions’ Terry Fair brought out the yellow laundry from the officials when he interfered, giving the Packers the ball at the 27 yard line.
The Lions stiffened and Longwell was brought in yet again, this time to convert a 45 yard field goal.
It was evident at that point when Green Bay took a 23-17 lead that the Lions weren’t going to go away easily, but that the Packers had established the confidence and the momentum.
(continued in Part 2)New Hope in Titletown Part 2