| Post-Game Report Packers vs. Redskins 30-9 by Mike Joerndt Neenah, WI |
| Few things are more gut-wrenching than seeing your team's starting quarterback limping off the field in obvious pain. For fans of the Green Bay Packers, the sight had to scare the living daylights out of them. Brett Favre sprained his left knee Sunday and left the game early in the third quarter. Fortunately, the rest of the Packers rose to the occasion, recording their fifth straight victory and pounding the Washington Redskins, 30-9. Most of the credit for the victory goes to the defense for forcing four turnovers - all on fumbles - and keeping the Redskins from capitalizing on the opportunities they had in the red zone. Starting in just his second game, Washington rookie quarterback Patrick Ramsey looked harassed, frustrated and completely ineffective. This was part of the Packers' defensive plan - overwhelm the rookie and force him to make rookie mistakes. Ramsey found himself lying on the ground after many plays as Green Bay came after him all day and sacked him five times. Packers defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila seemed to be in Ramsey's face on every other play, recording two sacks and a forced fumble. Credit also goes to the offense for making the best out of what is obviously a bad situation. Packers backup quarterback Doug Pederson was far from remarkable. But nobody expected him to be remarkable. As Green Bay head coach Mike Sherman noted after the game, the backup quarterback doesn't get much time to run the offense in practice. Pederson was competent, and that was enough. He avoided sacks on several occasions and did not throw any interceptions. He completed 60 percent of his (mostly short) passes. Most importantly, Pederson made the most of the gifts the defense gave him. He led the Packers to 13 second-half points, ten of which came as a result of Washington turnovers in Redskins' territory. If the defense saved the day, Pederson's job was also made easier by the events of the first half. Green Bay already had a 17-6 lead when Favre left the game in the third quarter. Ahman Green had 71 of his 88 rushing yards in the first half, and the defense had probably already gotten under Patrick Ramsey's helmet by sacking him twice before halftime. In reality, however, it should have been easier, even with Brett Favre's injury. Green Bay recorded an inexcusable nine penalties for 75 yards in the first two quarters. And those are just the penalties Washington didn't decline. If the Packers had played a cleaner game in the first half, especially on defense, the Redskins might have been in an even deeper hole when Favre went down. Penalties gave Washington five first downs in the first half, and one penalty even negated an interception. The sloppy play also contributed to a lopsided time of possession in the first half, as the Redskins held onto the ball for 18 and a half of the first 30 minutes. The turning point in the game came late in the second quarter. Already leading 14-6, Green Bay's defense played a clean, stingy series, preventing the Redskins from earning a first down. Facing fourth-and-inches, the Packer defense stuffed Patrick Ramsey on the quarterback sneak. On the next series, Ryan Longwell kicked a 36-yard field goal to extend the Green Bay lead. After that fourth-down stand, the Green Bay defense cleaned up its act. The second half saw just one defensive penalty. Though the Redskins did move the ball, the Packers defense made two goal-line stands and only allowed three points in the second half. And without penalties to keep their offense alive, the sacks and forced fumbles killed any chances Washington had to mount a comeback. By the end of the game, Green Bay and Washington had an almost equal time of possession. Favre's knee is obviously the big story out of Titletown this week. But it doesn't appear to be serious. He'll be back against the Dolphins on November 4. Green Bay's injury report will finally shrink on defense as well as the team enters a much-needed bye week. Green Bay is 6-1 and has scored a large margin of victory for the third week in a row. Mike Sherman, who obviously found an effective means to address the costly first-half penalties, can give his team more time to refocus before facing a team that will be much tougher than the Redskins. Best of all, we discovered the Packers can survive without Brett Favre. I just hope they don't have to prove it again for the rest of his career. |
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