The Packers just didn’t have enough firepower to deal with the Cowboys last night.  Brett Favre completed 5 of 14 passes for 56 yards with 2 interceptions before he left the game with a bruised right forearm and a separated left shoulder.  Hopefully he’ll be able to start the next Packers game.  Aaron Rodgers relieved him and he was outstanding as he completed 18 of 26 passes for 201 yards with 1 TD pass.  He also carried the football 5 times for 30 yards (6.0 ypc).  Ryan Grant also had a outstanding game for the Packers as he carried the ball 14 times for 94 yards (6.7 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Greg Jennings (5 rec, 87 yards, TD) and Donald Driver (7 rec, 66 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Packers.  The Packers finished up with 124 yards rushing on 19 carries (6.5 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 40 passes for 233 yards.

The “defense” was led by A.J. Hawk who had 8 tackles.  The Cowboys finished up with 105 yards rushing on 28 carries (3.8 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 30 passes for 309 yards.

Sure, the Packers defense has tightened up this season.  But, make no mistake Brett Favre is by far the best player on this football team.  He refuses to age as he’s playing his best football in years and that’s why the Packers are sitting at 10-1 on the season right now.  Favre has completed 291 of 425 passes (68.5%) for 3,356 yards with 22 TD passes and 8 interceptions (101.5 QB Rating).  It appears that Favre will be allowed to leave the game on his own terms and that has to be bad news for backup Aaron Rodgers.

The Packers showed the Lions that they aren’t quite ready for Prime Time yet.  Brett Favre dazzled the Lions as he completed 31 of 41 passes for 381 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 interceptions.  Ryan Grant also had an outstanding game as he carried the ball 15 times for 101 yards (6.7 ypc) with a TD and he also caught 5 passes for 31 yards (6.2 avg).  Donald Driver was the leading receiver for the Packers as he caught 10 passes for 147 yards.  James Jones (5 rec, 75 yards), Greg Jennings (5 rec, 60 yards, 2 TDs) and Koren Robinson (2 rec, 50 yards) all pitched in for the Packers in the passing game.  The Packers finished up with 100 yards rushing on 17 carries (5.9 ypc) and they also completed 31 of 41 passes for 381 yards.

The Packers defense was all over the field as they kept hitting Jon Kitna all game long.  Nick Barnett led the Packers with 8 tackles, but Aaron Kampman and Aaron Rouse were the stars of the game on the defensive side of the ball.  Kampman had 6 tackles and 2 sacks while Rouse made 6 tackles and had an interception that he returned 34 yards.  The Lions finished with 134 yards rushing on 30 carries (4.5 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 40 passes for 197 yards.

If the Packers win this football game they will clinch the NFC North with 5 weeks to go.  The Lions need to win this game if they want to make the playoffs as they have played very poorly the last two weeks.

Look for the Packers to start throwing the ball when they get off of the bus.  The Packers have only allowed 14 sacks this season so Favre should have time to throw the ball.  That could mean big trouble for the Lions who are allowing 257.9 yards passing per game.  Look for Favre (2,985 yards passing, 19 TDs and 8 INTs) to shred the Lions defense in this game.

The Lions would smart to run a more balanced offense to try to control the clock in this game.  But, Mike Martz won’t likely have any of that as he prefers the Lions to air it out.  The Lions offensive line better be able to block DEs Aaron Kampman (9 sacks) and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (8.5 sacks) or Jon Kitna will make mistakes with the football that will turn this game in the Packers favor. 

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 31, LIONS 21

The Packers played well in all three phases of this football game.  Reserve CB Tramon Williams got the scoring started for the Packers with a 94 yards punt return for a TD.  Brett Favre had another great game as he completed 22 of 30 passes for 218 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 interceptions.  Ryan Grant gave the Packers a solid running game with 88 yards on 20 carries (4.4 ypc).  Donald Driver led all Packers receivers in yards with 83 yards on 5 catches (16.6 avg).  TE Donald Lee was outstanding with 5 catches for 49 yards (9.8 avg) with 2 TD grabs and WR Greg Jennings was also busy with 7 grabs for 48 yards (6.9 avg) with a TD grab.  The Packers finished up with 103 yards rushing on 27 carries (3.8 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 30 passes for 214 yards.

The defense of the Packers gave up a lot of yards in this game but they made big plays to stop drives.  LBs Nick Barnett (9 tackles) and A.J. Hawk (8 tackles) were all over the football field for the Packers.  Charles Woodson (5 tackles, interception) and Aaron Kampman (5 tackles, fumble recovery) also gave big efforts on the Pack’s defense.  The Panthers finished up with 131 yards rushing on 29 carries (4.5 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 37 passes for 251 yards.

This is a bad matchup for the Panthers despite the fact that they are a solid 4-1 on the road this season.  The Panthers would like to establish a running game with DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams against a Packers run defense that is only allowing 92.9 yards rushing per game and 3.9 ypc.  If the Panthers can’t run the ball at least a little bit the Packers will bring the house against Vinny Testaverde and that will turn out badly for the Panthers as Aaron Kampman (9 sacks) and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (8.5 sacks) have been living in opposing backfields.  If the Panthers can run the ball a little bit then Vinny Testeverde might be able to get the ball deep to Steve Smith (45 rec, 590 yards, 6 TDs) off of play action.

The Packers will probably try to run a more balanced offense this week against the Panthers like they did last week against the Vikings.  The Panthers give up 113.2 yards rushing per game so Ryan Grant (305 yards, 4.2 ypc) should get his share of carries and yards in this game.  The Panthers only have 9 sacks this season so Brett Favre should have plenty of time to locate receivers and get them the football.  The Packers have 4 different receivers with at least 27 receptions so far this season so the Panthers could be in big trouble on Sunday.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 31, PANTHERS 13

The Packers dominated this football game in every facet as they held the football for an amazing 40:40 of this football game.  Brett Favre was outstanding as he completed 33 of 46 passes for 351 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 interceptions.  Ryan Grant also had an outstanding game on the ground as he carried the ball 25 times for 119 yards (4.8 ypc) with a TD run and he also caught 5 passes for 20 yards (4.0 avg).  Ruvell Martin had a great game as he caught 4 passes for 57 yards (14.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Brett Favre did a great job of spreading the ball around as 10 different receivers caught passes.  The Packers finished up with 120 yards rushing on 32 carries (3.8 ypc) and they also completed 35 of 48 passes for 368 yards.

A.J. Hawk spearheaded a great defensive effort by the Packers with 7 tackles.  The Vikings finished up with 86 yards rushing on 15 carries (5.7 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 26 passes for 161 yards.

The Packers will be without starting safety Nick Collins for a couple of weeks as he has a strained ligament in his left knee.  Collins has 29 tackles this season and he will be missed as rookie Aaron Rouse will replace him.  Rouse has only 4 tackles this season but he’s a gifted player so it will be interesting to see how he plays.

Brett Favre and the defense were the big reasons for a big win at Arrowhead Stadium.  Brett Favre completed 24 of 34 passes for 360 yards with 2 TD passes and 2 interceptions.  Ryan Grant got his first start for the Packers and he carried the ball 19 times for 55 yards (2.9 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 37 yards (9.3 avg).  Brandon Jackson also played for the first game in a little while and he carried the ball 5 times for 18 yards (3.6 ypc).  Donald Driver had a solid game for the Pack with 5 catches for 99 yards (19.8 avg).  Greg Jennings was the game breaker for the Packers in the passing game as he caught 3 passes for 85 yards (28.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  TE Donald Lee also had a solid game with 4 grabs for 78 yards (19.5 avg).  The Packers finished up with 78 yards rushing on 27 carries (2.9 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 34 passes for 354 yards.

DT Corey Williams had one of his better games with the Packers as he led the way with 6 tackles and 2 sacks.  Aaron Kampman had another solid game with 4 tackles and a sack.  CB Charles Woodson made a monster impact in this game as he made 3 tackles and returned an interception 46 yards for a TD.  The Chiefs finished with 61 yards rushing on 22 carries (2.8 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 32 passes for 173 yards.

The Packers have placed running back DeShawn Wynn on the Injured Reserve List with injuries to his shoulder and neck.  Wynn finishes his rookie season with 203 yards rushing on 50 carries (4.1 ypc) with 4 TD runs.  He also has caught 9 passes for 73 yards (8.1 avg).  Ryan Grant will take over as the starting running back for the Packers and he has played well this season.  Grant has rushed for 131 yards on 28 carries (4.7 ypc) this season and he also has caught 8 passes for 33 yards (4.1 avg).