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Green Bay Packer Football News and Views

Crosby's Late FG Lifts Pack Over Eagles, 16-13

No doubt all his young teammates sometimes make Brett Favre scratch his head with wonder, but there was at least one rookie who proved he can come through when in the clutch.

Mason Crosby, a rookie placekicker from Colorado, nailed a 42-yard field goal with two seconds left to give the Green Bay Packers a 16-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday making his kick the highlight of a Packer victory that featured strong special teams play and aggressive defense by the Packers.

Even though he tied John Elway's record for career victories by a starting quarterback at 148, Favre and his young offensive teammates struggled to put points on the board.

"He'd better make 'em all, now," said Favre, referring to Crosby and the Packers' lack of offense.

"I kind of got thrown into the fire in the first test," Crosby said. "But that's kind of how I like it. It's exciting."

The Eagles' special teams were exciting, too, but not in the way Philly fans would want. J.R. Reed bobbled a punt with 59 seconds left and Green Bay's Jarrett Bush recovered to give Green Bay the ball at the Philadelphia 31. Reed signaled for a fair catch and then tried to make a shoe-string catch of the punt in heavy traffic.

"I couldn't believe he went for it," Bush said.

Reed was in to take the place of starting returner Greg Lewis, who muffed punt leading to the Packers’ lone touchdown in the first quarter. Neither Lewis nor Reed had ever returned punts in a regular-season game before Sunday.

"Obviously, we can't play like that and expect to win football games," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "I don't want to take anything away from Green Bay because they did a heck of a job staying with it and winning the football game. You can't have the turnovers that we did on special teams and the dropped passes that we had on offense, the penalties we had on offense and the missed tackles we had on defense and the penalties we had on defense."

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb expressed support for the kick returners. "This isn't a time to get down on them or get down on anyone," McNabb said. "We all learn from our mistakes and move on."

It was a so-so return to action for McNabb, who tore a knee ligament last November and finished the regular season on the sidelines for the second straight year. McNabb was 15-of-33 for 184 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but did feel like he got back in rhythm with the offense at times during the game.

"It really doesn't matter, I mean, we lost the game," McNabb said. "I had full command of everything that was going on out there, just like I thought I would. I mean, again, you try to practice hard to try and prepare you for the game, but when you get in game situation, you have to take care of the little things and I think we didn't do that today."

Running back Brian Westbrook had 85 yards rushing and 46 yards receiving. While Favre was happy the Packers won, he figures there won't be many more victories in the near future if the offense can't get in gear, and soon."The competitive side of me is not letting me enjoy it as much as I should," said Favre, who was 23-of-42 for 206 yards.

Rookie running back Brandon Jackson, a second-round pick out of Nebraska, filled in for injured starter Vernand Morency and but gained only 40 yards on 15 carries. He did have a nice nine yard run to set up the winning field goal.

Another rookie starter, fullback Korey Hall, was playing middle linebacker at Boise State this time last year. And rookie wide receiver James Jones also played more than expected after starter Greg Jennings was inactive with a hamstring injury.

Despite the inexperience, Favre expected more. "I expect us to score," Favre said. "I expect to lead this team down and score every time, I really do. That's not just talking. I really believe that. To not score at all is beyond disappointing, and I take that personally, as I should."

Packers starting cornerback Al Harris hyperextended his right elbow blocking on a punt return. "I'm through with special teams, unless coach (McCarthy) tells me, 'Al, you've got to get out there,"' Harris said.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Crosby is the first rookie kicker to win a game with a field goal on opening day since Matt Bahr did it for Pittsburgh on Sept. 3, 1979 in overtime.

While it wasn't the most majestic of Favre's fourth-quarter comebacks, it was the 37th time he had led the Packers from a fourth-quarter tie or deficit to a win.

Some Predictions ------

The Chicago Bears will miss having Thomas Jones.

Tom Brady may set TD records this year.

Rex Grossman will be booed by Bears fans by the halfway point of the season.

Brady Quinn will start for the Browns by their fourth game.