{image1}The Packers blitzed everybody but the water boy Monday night to stifle the defending NFC champs, the Carolina Panthers, on offense.
After the defense did its job, Ahman Green, behind a great performance by the offensive line, ran the ball down the Panthers throats for a 24-14 win in the regular season opener at Charlotte.
Bob Slowik, the Packers' new defensive coordinator, promised an aggressive defense when he took over. The Packers definitely demonstrated that, sending as many as five or six players on about two-thirds of the Carolina plays.
The result was that Panthers' quarterback Jake Delhomme came under pressure most of the night and never could get his team into any kind of offensive rhythm. Delhomme completed 23 of 39 passes for 284 yards, but really never got the Panthers into a sustained drive until it was too late.
Carolina's fine running back Stephen Davis also never got untracked. Davis finished with a mere 26 yards on nine carries. The Panthers as a team had only 38 yards rushing.
This defensive effort came despite the fact Green Bay nose tackle Grady Jackson left the game in the first quarter with an injured left knee.
With the Carolina offense stymied, the Packers forced two big turnovers early in the third quarter. Green just kept pummeling the Carolina offense and ended up with 119 yards on 33 carries.
The Green Bay line of Chad Clifton, Marco Rivera, Mike Flanagan, Mike Wahle and Mark Tauscher handled a defensive front who often are rated among the tops in the NFL.
Making the running performance even more impressive is the fact that Najeh Davenport, who usually backs Green up and gets quite a few reps, went out of the contest with a hamstring injury in the first half.
Brett Favre passed just enough to keep the Panthers honest on defense. Favre ended up with 15 of 22 for 143 yards and a touchdown.
The win, especially since it came at Carolina, is a great start to the season. After a mediocre pre-season record, in which the Packers kept much of their new defense under wraps, the performance in Carolina could not have been finer.
Players of the Game
On offense, Green gets the honor, with three touchdowns to go with his 119 yards. Give honorable mentions to each of the offensive linemen for their great blocking.
Guard Mike Wahle had a particularly tough matchup against Carolina's All Pro defensive lineman Kris Jenkins and more than held his own.
Linebacker Nick Barnett gets the defensive honor. Barnett led the blitz, especially early in the game, and came up with a key interception.
Give honorable mentions to linebacker Na'il Diggs, who was all over the field, and defensive end Aaron Kampman for a big fumble recovery.
Plays of the Game
Kampman's fumble recovery came on the second play of the second half. It gave the Packers the ball on the Carolina 31 yard line. The Packers drove for a touchdown that made the score 17-7.
Barnett got his interception on a tipped ball on the very next Panthers' series. Again, the Packers followed it by driving for a touchdown and a 24-7 lead.
Goats of the Game
Each of the offensive linemen of the Panthers deserves a set of horns. They just never figured out how to handle the blitz.
Carolina fullback Brad Hoover also gets a set. Hoover also was responsible for picking up the blitz and failed. He also was the player who fumbled early in the second half.
Next Week
The Packers open their home season next Sunday against their arch-rivals, the Chicago Bears.
The Bears lost 20-16 Sunday to the Lions, who broke a 24-game road losing streak with the win. Chicago has a new coach named Lovie Smith. But, don't expect the Packers or their fans to show the Bears much love at Lambeau Field.
Read more about Sunday's matchup in Thursday's Weekend Sports Buzz.
