Hi Folks,

Hope you enjoyed the Game Recaps we sent yesterday. Here's the recap
from Monday night which will wrap us up for the week.

Talk to you soon.

Joe

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Green Bay Packers 24 at Carolina Panthers 14

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Green Bay Packers

The Packers started the game rushing the ball.  They utilized all
three of their running backs on the opening drive and throughout the
rest of the game.  Najeh Davenport and Tony Fisher were used primarily
to provide relief for Ahman Green so that he would be fresh in the red
zone.  A strategy that worked as Ahman Green scored all 3 Packers'
touchdowns.  It was this rushing attack that gave them the definitive
edge over the Panthers in the game.  Ahman Green was stellar in this
outing rushing for 119 yards on 33 carries.

The first half of the game featured a defensive showdown, Ryan
Longwell scored the first points of the game with his 41-yard field
goal, and Ahman Green contributed a rushing touchdown.  But In the
second half, the Packers capitalized on two Panthers' turnovers to
score two touchdowns and pull ahead in the game.  Ahman Green scored
both, rushing for the first and receiving the second.

Those who were hoping to see one of the Green Bay Packers' wide
receivers distinguish themselves will have to wait another week.
Brett Favre was sharp when he needed to be, but their passing game was
simply not the focus.  Donald Driver was the leading receiver with 3
receptions for 39 yards though he was the leading target with 7.
Javon Walker followed with 2 receptions for 37 yards.  And Robert
Ferguson only made 1 reception for 5 yards.

Carolina Panthers

Jake Delhomme found himself pressured and blitzed by the Packers.  He
remained relatively calm under pressure and finished with 23
completions on 39 attempts for 284 yards.  But the Packers' defense
stifled the Panthers' offense giving them the clear upper hand in the
game.

The second half of the game was completely miserable for the Panthers'
offense.  On their first drive, Delhomme fumbled the ball on a poor
hand off to fullback Brad Hoover, which led to an Ahman Green rushing
touchdown.  On the second drive, Steve Smith bobbled a pass that was
subsequently intercepted by Nick Barnett.  That turnover set up Ahman
Green's receiving touchdown.  The next two drives, the Panthers went 3
and out.  The rushing attack was limited and the passing game was
impressively covered by the Packers' defense.

In a striking contrast to the Packers, the Panthers' rushing game left
much to be desired.  Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster combined for a
total of 12 carries for 38 yards.  After getting behind early in the
second half, the Panthers continued to favor the passing game.

More disappointing than this opening loss for the Panthers has to be
the loss of WR Steve Smith who left the game late in the fourth
quarter with what is now being reported as a broken fibula.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Green Bay Packers

QB:  Brett Favre (15-22-143, 1 TD, 1 for -1 rushing) Brett Favre was
sharp and accurate when he needed to be, primarily in the second half
of the game.  Most of his completions were for short yardage.  He
rolled out of the pocket to complete his longest pass for 24 yards to
Javon Walker in the second quarter.  He had a touchdown pass to Robert
Ferguson nullified by an offensive pass interference call.

RB:  Ahman Green (33-119, 2 TD rushing, 2 for -3 on 3 targets
receiving, 1 TD) was superb in this outing against the Carolina
Panthers.  He was the primary offensive weapon for the Packers.  The
only mar on his game was a fumble in the first quarter, but it was
recovered by Javon Walker.   His longest rush was for 12 yards.  He
made great cuts and gained yards both up the middle and running to the
outside.

Tony Fisher (9-32 rushing, 2-18 on 3 targets receiving) was used
primarily in third down situations and was successful in that role.

Najeh Davenport (4-2 rushing) left the game in the second quarter with
a strained right hamstring.

WR:  Donald Driver (3-39 on 7 targets receiving) made 2 receptions
during the Packers' opening drive of the second half.  The first was a
sharp catch over the middle that converted a third down.  The second
was a 16-yard reception that set up Ahman Green's rushing touchdown.

Javon Walker (2-37 on 2 targets receiving) caught everything that
Brett Favre threw to him.  In the first quarter, he recovered Ahman
Green's fumble and when he was not ruled down by contact got up and
gained an additional 6 yards.  He made a sharp 24-yard reception right
on the sideline in the second quarter.

Robert Ferguson (1-5 on 4 targets receiving) was the first Green Bay
Packer receiver to make a reception in the game, and it ended up being
his last.  In the fourth quarter of the game, Ferguson had what would
have been a touchdown reception nullified by an offensive pass
interference penalty.  Ferguson was also the target of a low pass in
the red zone.

TE:  Bubba Franks (2-27 on 2 targets receiving) was not a real factor
in the game; both of his receptions were in the second half.

David Martin (1-13 on 1 target receiving) made his 13-yard reception
in the second quarter, gaining a first down for the Packers.

K:  Ryan Longwell (3 XP, 1-1 FG) scored the first points of the game
with his 41-yard field goal.  He converted all 3 extra point attempts.

Pass Defense:  The Packers blitzed and pressured Jake Delhomme all
night.  They were able to keep the Panthers' offense out of rhythm,
though they did give up 284 passing yards and 2 touchdowns.  Nick
Barnett sacked Jake Delhomme but in doing so was called for a facemask
personal foul penalty, giving the Panthers a first down.  He made up
for it in the third quarter by intercepting a pass intended for Steve
Smith.

Rush Defense:  In the first quarter Grady Jackson was taken off the
field on a cart with a sprained right knee.  The Panthers have been
known for their solid rushing attack but the Packers held the duo of
Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster to a combined meager 38 rushing
yards.

Carolina Panthers

QB:  Jake Delhomme (23-39-284, 2 TD, 1 Int, 1 fumble lost, 1-0
rushing) Though Jake Delhomme showed presence under pressure, the
blitzing attack of the Packers kept him from getting into any kind of
rhythm with his receivers.  They blitzed him all night.  He opened the
game completing a 19-yard pass to WR Muhsin Muhammad.  He was called
for intentional grounding in the second quarter.  It was the 2
turnovers that Delhomme was a part of that gave the Packers the edge
at the beginning of the second half, causing a deficit that the
Panthers were never able to recover from.

RB:  Stephen Davis (9-26 rushing, 1-22 on 1 target receiving) Stephen
Davis saw most of his rushes early, as the game progressed and the
Panthers fell behind the rushing attack was left by the wayside.  All
but 3 of his rushing yards were in the first half of the game.  In the
first quarter, he did make a nice catch over the middle for a 22-yard
gain.

DeShaun Foster (3-12 rushing, 4-22 on 4 targets receiving) Like his
counterpart Davis, Foster wasn't much of a factor in the game.  Most
of his playing time came when Davis needed a breather.

Brad Hoover (1-1 on 3 targets receiving, 1 TD) Fullback Hoover was the
recipient of Delhomme's 1-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
He was a factor in Delhomme's lost fumble as it was on a poor hand off
intended for him.

Nick Goings (1-13 on 1 target receiving) made a 13-yard screen catch
in the second quarter.  It was his only contribution to the game.

WR:  Steve Smith (6-60 on 9 targets receiving) made his first ever NFL
passing attempt.  But the pass intended for Muhsin Muhammad was thrown
too short.  Smith's first reception came in the second quarter with
the Panthers threatening in the red zone.  It was a sharp catch over
the middle, but he was stopped just shy of the end zone.  Smith left
the game late in the fourth quarter with what is being reported as a
broken fibula.  He was tackled from behind by Hannibal Navies after
making a 9-yard reception.

Muhsin Muhammad (4-65 on 9 targets, 1 TD receiving) Muhammad opened
the game with a 19-yard reception.  Muhammad had a 15-yard catch
nullified by a holding penalty that he committed.  He was also called
for illegal motion.  In the second quarter, he and Delhomme weren't on
the same page as Muhammad broke to the right and Delhomme overthrew
him.  His touchdown reception was in the fourth quarter after Steve
Smith left the game; amazingly he was wide open in the end zone and
easily made the catch.

Ricky Proehl (2-56 on 6 targets receiving) Proehl made a catch near
the sideline and spun to break a tackle to gain more yardage.  Later
in the game he made a great 34-yard wide open reception.

Karl Hankton (2-25 on 2 targets receiving) Both of Hankton's
receptions came on the very last drive of the game.

Rod Smart (1-5 on 1 target receiving) Smart's one reception was during
the last drive of the game after Steve Smith had left.

TE:  Kris Mangum (1-15 on 3 targets receiving) made his reception in
the second quarter gaining a first down for the Panthers.

K:  John Kasay (2 XP) converted both of his extra point attempts.

Pass Defense:  The Panthers' defense tightened up in the fourth
quarter, but it was too little too late.  They did hold Brett Favre to
143 passing yards.

Rush Defense:  They were simply unable to contain Ahman Green and gave
up a 152 total rushing yards to the Packers.  Favre was sacked twice.