Favre and co. can prove they're NFC power, also gain some revenge this Sunday.
Packers quarterback Brett Favre wants to atone for last year's playoff loss to the Eagles.
Brett Favre was less than 5 minutes into enjoying last Monday night's victory over the St. Louis Rams when he was asked about the Green Bay Packers' next challenge six days later against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
<TABLE style="PADDING-LEFT: 15px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=textSmallGrey vAlign=top align=middle>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Packers would like to show the NFL that the Eagles aren't the only team in the beleaguered NFC.
"The road doesn't get any easier, no doubt about that," Favre said after his 200th straight regular season start. "Philly's playing as good if not the best in football right now. They beat us twice last year, here and at their place, and we played pretty good and still got beat, so it's going to be a very difficult game."
The Packers buried some demons against the Rams for their last two lopsided losses in St. Louis, including erasing their 45-17 playoff loss in 2001 by the exact score. Favre threw six interceptions in that humiliation. But nothing compares to the payback due the Eagles for those two three-point losses last season that cost the Packers their Super Bowl dreams.
They return to the scene of their fourth-and-26 crime. They return to the scene of Favre's last pass of 2003, an interception that ruined a storybook ending.
Nursing a 17-14 lead, the Packers defense allowed Donovan McNabb to complete a first-down pass to Freddie Mitchell on fourth down and 26. The Eagles tied the game with 5 seconds left and win in overtime 20-17.
The game-winning field goal came after Favre heaved what looked like a desperation pass to Javon Walker in overtime. Brian Dawkins picked it off. Favre had been blitzed on the play.
Coach Mike Sherman fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell and promoted Bob Slowik to the post with the understanding that Slowik would offer a more aggressive style, not unlike the Eagles' defense under coordinator Jim Johnson.
Favre left Philadelphia that day in uncharacteristic fashion. He declined to talk to the media, weary from the strain of a season in which the Packers won seven of their final eight, including Favre's memorable Monday night performance on Dec. 22, the day after his father died.
The Packers believed they could have beaten the Carolina Panthers in the NFC title game had they got past the Eagles. Had they won the first encounter with the Eagles in Lambeau, when McNabb threw the winning touchdown pass to Todd Pinkston with 27 seconds left, the playoff game would have been in Lambeau.
After a 1-4 start including three losses in Lambeau, this year's Packers were left for dead. But Sherman and Favre have collaborated for a six-game winning streak, longest in the NFC. They remain deadlocked with the Minnesota Vikings for first place in the NFC North, so this is more than a revenge trip to Philadelphia.
The Eagles are widely considered the only NFC team worthy of a Super Bowl trip, even though the Atlanta Falcons have a 9-2 record. The Eagles wrapped up the NFC East last week and their only loss was in Pittsburgh, same as the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. All three teams are 10-1 and everybody expects two of them to end up in Jacksonville on Feb. 6.
The Eagles already beat the Vikings and the defending NFC champion Panthers. They don't play NFC division leaders Seattle and Atlanta, so the Packers represent their last test against a team with a winning record.
What is the difference between the 1-4 Packers and the 7-4 Packers?
There are two, mainly. Slowik's defense has benefitted from the return of giant nose tackle Grady Jackson, injured in the season-opening win against Carolina. And Favre has flourished since Sherman resumed calling plays after the 1-4 start.
Jackson's return coincides with the development of rookie cornerbacks Ahmed Carroll and Joey Thomas, who must make up for the trade of disgruntled holdout Mike McKenzie. Carroll and Thomas, who fought during a training camp meeting over playing time, teamed up for the Packers' first score last Monday night, a fumble by Isaac Bruce forced by Thomas and returned for a touchdown by Carroll.
Slowik's defense gave up a record 448 yards passing to the Rams' Marc Bulger, but holding them to 17 points was a triumph.
"They worry me a little bit, but they always come up with a play," Favre said.
McNabb and Terrell Owens will provide the biggest hurdle for the Pack since Peyton Manning and his Indianapolis Colts put up 45 points Sept. 26. The Packers were fortunate enough to face Minnesota without Randy Moss during their six-game streak.
Favre, meanwhile, has been Favre. Rumor had it the Packers recently became running back Ahman Green's team. Sherman does like balance, but if a defense wants to gang up against the run and give Favre openings, he'll be happy to find Javon Walker and Donald Driver with an arm that still looks more like 25 than 35.
Green and every other tailback on the roster got hurt against Houston two weeks ago, so Favre threw 50 times and single-handedly brought his team back. Green was again unable to play last Monday because of sore ribs, so Sherman told Najeh Davenport he would have to ignore two sore hamstrings.
Sherman told Davenport: "You've got to get well. You've got to get ready. You've got to play." And he did.
Davenport rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown against the Rams while Favre tossed three touchdown passes.
That kind of balance will be important against the Eagles, just as Brian Westbrook's presence makes the Eagles more balanced. Sherman thinks Green might be ready. Everybody knows Favre will be.
Don Pierson NBC Sports
Packers quarterback Brett Favre wants to atone for last year's playoff loss to the Eagles.
Brett Favre was less than 5 minutes into enjoying last Monday night's victory over the St. Louis Rams when he was asked about the Green Bay Packers' next challenge six days later against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
<TABLE style="PADDING-LEFT: 15px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=textSmallGrey vAlign=top align=middle>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Packers would like to show the NFL that the Eagles aren't the only team in the beleaguered NFC.
"The road doesn't get any easier, no doubt about that," Favre said after his 200th straight regular season start. "Philly's playing as good if not the best in football right now. They beat us twice last year, here and at their place, and we played pretty good and still got beat, so it's going to be a very difficult game."
The Packers buried some demons against the Rams for their last two lopsided losses in St. Louis, including erasing their 45-17 playoff loss in 2001 by the exact score. Favre threw six interceptions in that humiliation. But nothing compares to the payback due the Eagles for those two three-point losses last season that cost the Packers their Super Bowl dreams.
They return to the scene of their fourth-and-26 crime. They return to the scene of Favre's last pass of 2003, an interception that ruined a storybook ending.
Nursing a 17-14 lead, the Packers defense allowed Donovan McNabb to complete a first-down pass to Freddie Mitchell on fourth down and 26. The Eagles tied the game with 5 seconds left and win in overtime 20-17.
The game-winning field goal came after Favre heaved what looked like a desperation pass to Javon Walker in overtime. Brian Dawkins picked it off. Favre had been blitzed on the play.
Coach Mike Sherman fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell and promoted Bob Slowik to the post with the understanding that Slowik would offer a more aggressive style, not unlike the Eagles' defense under coordinator Jim Johnson.
Favre left Philadelphia that day in uncharacteristic fashion. He declined to talk to the media, weary from the strain of a season in which the Packers won seven of their final eight, including Favre's memorable Monday night performance on Dec. 22, the day after his father died.
The Packers believed they could have beaten the Carolina Panthers in the NFC title game had they got past the Eagles. Had they won the first encounter with the Eagles in Lambeau, when McNabb threw the winning touchdown pass to Todd Pinkston with 27 seconds left, the playoff game would have been in Lambeau.
After a 1-4 start including three losses in Lambeau, this year's Packers were left for dead. But Sherman and Favre have collaborated for a six-game winning streak, longest in the NFC. They remain deadlocked with the Minnesota Vikings for first place in the NFC North, so this is more than a revenge trip to Philadelphia.
The Eagles are widely considered the only NFC team worthy of a Super Bowl trip, even though the Atlanta Falcons have a 9-2 record. The Eagles wrapped up the NFC East last week and their only loss was in Pittsburgh, same as the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. All three teams are 10-1 and everybody expects two of them to end up in Jacksonville on Feb. 6.
The Eagles already beat the Vikings and the defending NFC champion Panthers. They don't play NFC division leaders Seattle and Atlanta, so the Packers represent their last test against a team with a winning record.
What is the difference between the 1-4 Packers and the 7-4 Packers?
There are two, mainly. Slowik's defense has benefitted from the return of giant nose tackle Grady Jackson, injured in the season-opening win against Carolina. And Favre has flourished since Sherman resumed calling plays after the 1-4 start.
Jackson's return coincides with the development of rookie cornerbacks Ahmed Carroll and Joey Thomas, who must make up for the trade of disgruntled holdout Mike McKenzie. Carroll and Thomas, who fought during a training camp meeting over playing time, teamed up for the Packers' first score last Monday night, a fumble by Isaac Bruce forced by Thomas and returned for a touchdown by Carroll.
Slowik's defense gave up a record 448 yards passing to the Rams' Marc Bulger, but holding them to 17 points was a triumph.
"They worry me a little bit, but they always come up with a play," Favre said.
McNabb and Terrell Owens will provide the biggest hurdle for the Pack since Peyton Manning and his Indianapolis Colts put up 45 points Sept. 26. The Packers were fortunate enough to face Minnesota without Randy Moss during their six-game streak.
Favre, meanwhile, has been Favre. Rumor had it the Packers recently became running back Ahman Green's team. Sherman does like balance, but if a defense wants to gang up against the run and give Favre openings, he'll be happy to find Javon Walker and Donald Driver with an arm that still looks more like 25 than 35.
Green and every other tailback on the roster got hurt against Houston two weeks ago, so Favre threw 50 times and single-handedly brought his team back. Green was again unable to play last Monday because of sore ribs, so Sherman told Najeh Davenport he would have to ignore two sore hamstrings.
Sherman told Davenport: "You've got to get well. You've got to get ready. You've got to play." And he did.
Davenport rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown against the Rams while Favre tossed three touchdown passes.
That kind of balance will be important against the Eagles, just as Brian Westbrook's presence makes the Eagles more balanced. Sherman thinks Green might be ready. Everybody knows Favre will be.
Don Pierson NBC Sports
