There will be some who now think the Packers are playoff bound. There are others who will dismiss it because it was "only the Lions." The truth, as so often is the case, lies somewhere between those extremes.
On offense, Brett Favre was terrific. His decision-making was flawless as he surpassed the 400 mark in career touchdown passes. The major breakthrough was the play of the offensive line. Anybody who saw the Lions punish Matt Hasselbeck in the opener knows that Detroit's defensive line is talented. The Packers young line held in there. Give a big assist to Mike McCarthy for helping out the youngsters. Using the shotgun, the no-huddle, double-teaming Shaun Rogers and using Bubba Franks a a blocker from the backfield are several examples of McCarthy making adjustments that worked. Yes, he's still learning and growing, but McCarthy helped put his team in a position to win. That's what a head coach is supposed to do.
Greg Jennings showed early in the game that he is a playmaker. Turning a short pattern into a touchdown lifted not only the offense, but the entire Packers team. Bubba Franks bounced back from a terrible game and the Packers proved that they could win without a big performance from Donald Driver.
The fumbles by Noah Herron and Ahman Green would have killed the Packers against a better team.
The Packers need somebody they can trust late in games to milk the clock and not cough it up.
Defensively, A.J. Hawk is making real strides and Corey Williams provided intense pressure on Jon Kitna. Marquand Manuel made amends for a pathetic tackle attempt early by turning a deflected ball into an interception and a touchdown. Give credit to Ahmad Carroll for creating the deflection. While the defense gave up too many big plays, defensive coordinator Bob Sanders guessed right on that big third-down play late when Mike Martz foolishly went with the wide pitch. Nick Collins played it well, with KGB and Hawk helping to snuff out the play.
So the Packers are not the worst team in the NFL. Turns out, they're not even the worst team in their own division.
We can talk for hours about what this game does or doesn't mean in the long-term "big picture" of the Packers. Sometimes you just have to let the team and their fans enjoy it.
Dennis Krause joined OnMilwaukee.com as a contributor on June 16, 2006. He is a two-time Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year and a regional Emmy-award winner. Dennis has been the color analyst on home games for the Milwaukee Bucks Radio Network for the last 10 years. He has also been involved with the Green Bay Packers Radio Network for 16 years and is currently the host of the "Packers Game Day" pre-game show.
Dennis started his broadcasting career as a radio air personality in the Fox Valley and Milwaukee.
He spent three years as a sportscaster at WMBD radio and television in Peoria, Illinois before joining WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee in 1987 as a weekend sports anchor. Dennis spent 16 years at Channel 4, serving as its Sports Director and 5 and 6 pm sports anchor from 1994-2003.
Dennis grew up in Hartford, Wisconsin and attended UW-Oshkosh. He lives in Thiensville with his wife and two children. He serves as the Community Resource Director for the Mequon-Thiensville School District.
