The Green Bay Packers won their first game in the newly renovated Lambeau field with a 31-6 victory over division rivals the Detroit Lions. Looking back at the first week of the season where the Lions defeated the Cardinals 42-24, I thought this game was not going to be a cake walk for the Packers especially with injuries in the wide receiver position and the fact that Favre did not seem to be sharp.

When many football fans think of the Packers, they think of Brett Favre. The Packers are supposed to win games with the arm of Brett Favre. Though Favre’s effort on Sunday moved him to the NFL fourth all-time career completions list with 3692 passing Fran Tarkenton(3686), the game was won on the wheels of Ahman Green and the Packer Defense.

Green started the Packer scoring with his first carry from scrimmage with a 65 yarder for a touchdown. The Packers never looked back from there. Ahman Green finished the games with 160 yards in 23 carries. He was on a roll. Three inches of rain in 48 hours made the frozen tundra just right for the Packers rushing attack. The Packers are 16-0 when Green rushes for 100 yards or more. Giving Green touches was Mike Sherman’s game plan.

Also, the Packer defense looked better than a week ago. At the season outset, I was concerned about the Packers starting rookie Nick Barnett at middle linebacker. I feel he is undersized for the middle linebacker position. This guy was all over the field making solid tackles and intercepting a pass in the third quarter off the finger tips of Detroit Lions wide receiver Charles Rogers. This interception lead to a Robert Ferguson TD reception from Favre to put the Packers up 24-6. I was surprised that Ferguson was in the game after his strained knee injury in last week’s loss to the Vikings. Shortly after this TD catch, Ferguson aggravated the knee and left the game.

Packers newly acquired cornerback Al Harris’s 56 yard interception return in the fourth quarter capped the Packers scoring.

I was also impressed with the play of defensive line against the run. The Packers held the Lions to 56 yards rushing. Granted the Packers were not playing against Priest Holmes but the rush defense forced the Marucci led Lions to stick to the air. We will have to wait and see whether the rush defense success stays alive through out the season.

I thought the Packers tackled much better and was impressed with the play of outside linebacker Na’il Diggs. The defense looked fired in contrast to last year’s playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons where they were at their all-time low.

I was curious about the reception that the returning wide receiver Antonio Freeman would receive in his first game back as a Packer. Antonio led the Packers receivers with 4 catches for 32 yards. He received a huge ovation from the 70,000 plus fans and a hug from Brett Favre in the second quarter with a first down 13 yard catch. I hope the Packers see the Freeman of old where he was the go-to-guy for Favre and was a key to the Packers winning the Super Bowl against the Patroits in mid 90s. This remains to be seen.