Pack regains swagger with 34-14 win over Colts
Photo
Green Bay Packers tight end Donald Lee (86) catches a pass in front of Indianapolis Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson (28) and safety Tim Jennings during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday in Green Bay .
GREEN BAY — An undermanned defense returned two Peyton Manning passes for touchdowns and the Green Bay Packers rediscovered their swagger in a 34-14 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Aaron Rodgers gutted out his third straight game with a sprained right shoulder, going 21-for-28 for 186 yards and a touchdown despite 30-mph wind gusts at Lambeau Field.
Ryan Grant had his first 100-yard game of the season, carrying 31 times for 105 yards and a touchdown as the Packers (4-3) have won two straight after snapping a three-game losing streak at Seattle last Sunday.
Green Bay has a bye next week then plays at Tennessee Nov. 2.
"This one was very sweet for us," Rodgers said.
And they're going into the break with plenty of momentum, thanks in large part to a defense that held Manning to 21-of-42 for 229 yards and two interceptions.
Both interceptions were returned for touchdowns, as safety Nick Collins ran one back 62 yards in the third quarter and Aaron Rouse returned one 99 yards to put the game out of Manning's reach in the fourth quarter.
It's the worst start to a season for Indianapolis (3-3) since 2001 — the last time the Colts didn't make the playoffs. It's also their first loss in the month of October since a 2004 game at Kansas City.
Colts coach Tony Dungy said he couldn't remember a sloppier performance during his time with the team.
"It's a very, very disappointing game, obviously," Dungy said. "It's the way we've been all year. We've been up and down, not consistent, and we showed more of that today. They played smarter and sharper than we did."
It was a particularly disheartening performance by the Colts' defense, which seemed to be on its way to proving it could win without injured safety Bob Sanders in Indianapolis' victory over Baltimore last week.
Sanders sat out again with a knee injury, as did cornerback Kelvin Hayden — and it showed. The Colts committed 12 penalties, many of them on defense.
The Colts' defense spent so much time on the field that Manning didn't have many chances to answer the Packers' sustained scoring drives. And when he did have the ball, he didn't look particularly sharp against a Packers defense also playing without two starters in its secondary.
And unlike earlier games against Minnesota and Houston, Manning couldn't orchestrate a comeback. Instead, Manning was victimized by the Packers' undermanned secondary just after halftime.
Facing third-and-6 at the Packers 48 on the first drive of the second half, Manning's pass skimmed off Reggie Wayne's fingertips and landed in the hands of safety Collins, who rambled 62 yards for a touchdown to put the Packers ahead 24-7 with 12:28 left in the second quarter.
Collins made another big play on the Colts' next possession, breaking up a deep pass that could have gone for a touchdown to wide-open wide receiver Marvin Harrison. The Colts had to settle for a field-goal attempt on the drive, and Packers lineman Johnny Jolly blocked a 45-yard attempt by Adam Vinatieri.
With the Colts driving in the fourth quarter, Rouse stepped in front of wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez to grab the ball, returning it 99 yards for a touchdown to put the Packers ahead 34-7.
The Packers' strong secondary performance came without cornerback Al Harris and safety Atari Bibgy, who continued to sit out because of injuries.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said his defensive backs did a better job of being physical with Indianapolis' receivers than they did during their losing streak.
"That's the way we play," McCarthy said. "That's who we are."
The Colts were without running back Joseph Addai because of a hamstring injury. Backup Dominic Rhodes carried 20 times for 73 yards for the Colts.
Rhodes gave the Colts an early 7-3 lead with a 3-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Rodgers answered with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Donald Lee, finishing a drive that was helped along by a pass interference penalty on Colts cornerback Tim Jennings.
Rodgers led an 11-play drive just before halftime, handing off to Grant for an 11-yard touchdown to give Green Bay a 17-7 lead.
Oct 23, 2008 at 12:44 a.m.
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Talking about ignorant & calis,dude you are!! Talk about a mans mother,you are definitely off sides,15 yards for you.Man kick a man when he's down,dude chill! He wouldn't be m&m's puppet,so now he's got a kid that says yes sir all the time,dude!
Oct 22, 2008 at 1:21 p.m.
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If the jets had the team,that brett trained,you wouldn't be talking so ignorant!! "DUDE BACK AT YA"!!!
Oct 21, 2008 at 7:20 p.m.
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Maybe "IF" were lucky,(never happen) but if we are,i would love to see the pack & jets,S.B. Then favre can kick the franchises A--. GO JETS!!!!!
Oct 21, 2008 at 3:41 p.m.
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The winning streak may continue until the Pack is swept by the Bears... A G A I N ! ! !
GO BEARS!!!
Oct 21, 2008 at 11:07 a.m.
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I myself don't care,even if he did this. The franchise screwed him,rogers should've walked,when they didn't give him the one to two years he had left,period!! I myself wish the gazette would run something,weekly about the JETS & Favre,he "IS" just as much WISCONSIN as anyone else!! BESIDES,ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE & WAR AAAAAANNNDDDDD, FOOTBALLLL!!
Oct 21, 2008 at 9:54 a.m.
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"Why when a team wins does the QB get the credit when if it wasnt for defense doing the game. A.R. had 1 TD the defense is the pack this season"
21-28 with a QB rating of 104.2 while playing in obvious pain. I think the guy desrves just a little credit.
Oct 21, 2008 at 9:52 a.m.
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Favre is and always has been about what makes Favre look good. That does not mean he was not one of the greatest QB's of all time but anyone who thinks that the man is about "team" is at best naive.
This is the guy who laid down in front of Michael Strahan to give him the sack record after his teammates had busted their behinds all day denying the Giants a sack. Sold out his teammates but got great publicity
Talk to any of the QB's who backed up Favre in Green Bay many of whom went on to play well in the NFL and they will tell you that Favre wanted nothing to do with helping them become better. This includes Rodgers who some now want to claim was tutored by Brett.
Oct 21, 2008 at 8:39 a.m.
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I hope he didn't do this but, where this came out of the source is pretty credible. If he did do this than he is a very selfish person. To do this to your former teammates is just lower than low. It isn't against NFL rules but, it's about character. I wonder if the Jets will be like "what did you do" thinking he may do it to them. It's sleazy.
Oct 21, 2008 at 8:31 a.m.
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Judgement of someone without knowing the truth is what this country has become.It is sad that people believe everything they read. If we all went by that we read on people and believed it as truth we would not need a justice system to find the truth with evidence.I would not vote for either prez candidate if I believed what has been said or written about them.Think about it!!! And again GREAT GAME PACKERS TEAM.....
Oct 21, 2008 at 8:21 a.m.
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Why when a team wins does the QB get the credit when if it wasnt for defense doing the game. A.R. had 1 TD the defense is the pack this season. i just read an article on B.F. and it is like politics they try to dig up dirt or make it up. show me the proof an B.F. I cant see him doing that and anyone can say he made the call and who is their source with this info? He made most of his records with the pack and should go into the hall of fame with them. Great game Packers Love ya.
Oct 20, 2008 at 8:46 a.m.
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As far as Brett calling anyone. What would he have told them.. Clearly not much of anything as the Lions still suck.. much to our benefit.
Apparently even if he did it does not break league rules.
Oct 20, 2008 at 8:44 a.m.
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I hope they keep the 'swagger'. Part of winning is confidence and after their bye they play the unbeaten Titans? We should have Al Harris back then.
Oct 20, 2008 at 8:25 a.m.
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I wonder if Brett called the Colts last week? Rumor is Flynn will be wearing # 4 next week.
Oct 20, 2008 at 8:11 a.m.
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Ya think? I hope the winning streak continues.
Oct 20, 2008 at 7:51 a.m.
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12-4
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