{image1}Brett Favre idolized Archie Manning while growing up in Mississippi, but he likely would have preferred if the football talent in the Manning family had stopped with old dad.
On Sunday afternoon, Favre had a great game, but all he could do was watch Archie's son, Peyton, pick the Packers' secondary apart in the Colts' 45-31 win at Indianapolis.
Manning finished with 28 of 40 passes for 393 yards and five touchdowns. Favre completed 30 of 44 for 358 yards and four touchdowns.
Favre and Manning staged a shootout of quarterbacks in the early going, with two touchdown passes each. But, Manning and the Colts just kept going and led 35-17 at halftime.
The Packers made some adjustments and managed to keep the ball out of Manning's hands in the third quarter. They came back within a touchdown, at 38-31, on a Favre touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter.
But, a costly fumble by Javon Walker, who otherwise had a career game, gave the ball to Manning late in the game. Archie's kid led the Colts for the clincher.
"We knew we'd have to score points against the Green Bay Packers," Manning said. "We had an aggressive game plan of throwing the football to set up the run."
Favre said he expected a shootout: "From their standpoint, I'm sure they thought they could score every time and so did we. Nothing surprised me. I felt it would be that type of game, maybe a little more extreme than we thought."
The loss raises three questions about the Packers, who are 1-2:
Just how weak is the secondary, and do they want to trade Mike McKenzie when they lack depth and strength in that area?
Why was new defensive coordinator Bob Slowik so slow to adjust to the Colts' passing attack?
Will the Packers open up their offense more now that Favre has demonstrated he can still strike from long distance?
The secondary was weakened by injuries, but Al Harris, Michael Hawthorne, Mark Roman and Darren Sharper obviously were not quick enough to keep up with the likes of Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokley and Marvin Harrison. Rookie Jason Horton was in over his head.
One of the injuries was to McKenzie, although some reports said the disgruntled cornerback did not suit up because he is about to be traded. Can the Packers really afford to do that when it's obvious they need help in the secondary? If they do deal McKenzie, they had better get another cornerback in return.
Green Bay did better when Slowik finally went to a dime defense, with six defensive backs. Why did he wait until the second half to do that? Are the Packers too dependent on blitzes because their front four don't put on enough of a pass rush? If so, doesn't that open up things for a quarterback like Manning, who gets rid of the ball before the blitzing rushers can get to him.
Finally, the Packers had become so dependent on the run that they really were minimizing the skills that Favre still has. He showed he is still capable of throwing long with accuracy. So, shouldn't coach Mike Sherman and offensive coordinator Tom Rossley now open up the offense a little, and do what Peyton Manning mentioned -- use the pass to set up the run when necessary?
Players of the Game
On offense, Manning gets the honor for the Colts. He looks a little like his father, but in a Colts' uniform, with somewhat sloping shoulders and a tight arm motion in his delivery, he also looks a little like Johnny Unitas.
When asked about Manning's performance, Favre joked, "You mean aside from throwing for four touchdowns in the first quarter? I thought he was average."
Give receivers Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley honorable mentions for the Colts. Wayne had 11 catches for 184 yards and a touchdown. Stokley had eight catches for 110 yards and two TDs.
Favre gets the honor on offense for the Packers. Manning paid a big compliment to Favre: "I think he is the guy we all look up to. He's still one of the best in the league, and he has been for a long time."
Walker gets an honorable mention after 11 catches for 198 yards and three touchdowns, but his fumble was a killer.
It's tough to give any defensive honors since little defense was played by either team. But, give the honors to the Colts' Jason David, who stripped the ball from Walker on that fumble, and Nick Harper, who recovered the ball.
Plays of the Game
There were numerous great offensive plays for both teams, but two plays late in the fourth quarter deserve designation as the key plays. Walker's fumble, with the score 38-31 and the Packers driving, was crucial. Favre had just completed three straight passes and was clicking.
Al Harris also committed a big holding penalty when the Packers looked like they might hold the Colts in the waning minutes. Instead, the Colts got a first and goal, and went on to put it out of reach.
Goats of the Game
Give a full set of horns to the starting secondary. They just could not handle the Colts' receivers. Al Harris should get the biggest set because he also committed the afore-mentioned holding penalty late in the game.
Jason Horton gets one horn for basically serving as toast most of the game, but as a raw rookie he was overmatched.
Also, you have to give one to Walker for his fumble. He gets a rare combo of mention for player of the game and one goat horn.
Next Week
The New York Giants, who are 2-1, come to Lambeau Field next week. Kurt Warner, who used to carve up the Packers when he was with the Rams, starts at quarterback for the Giants. He's backed up by Eli Manning, Peyton's little brother.
So, the Packers' secondary has to improve. They should be helped by playing on a slower track on the Lambeau grass than the turf indoors at Indianapolis. Warner and the younger Manning are good, but are not Peyton, who has become one of the best.
Favre seemed to tweak a hamstring or suffer a bruise to his thigh late in Sunday's game. If he is healthy next Sunday, the Packers need to give him a chance to air it out early in the game. They shouldn't abandon the running game, but Brett Favre remains their biggest playmaker. He should get a chance to make those plays from the opening whistle on.
