For all the talk about trap games and not overlooking a wounded, sub-.500 opponent, the Packers did exactly what they were supposed to do on Sunday.
They took care of business.
Looking more and more like a team undaunted by the rising pressure that comes with its status as one of the NFC's top teams, the Packers dispatched the Carolina Panthers in rather matter-of-fact fashion on Sunday, 31-17, in front of 70,805 fans at Lambeau Field.
"I think this team and the coaching staff really does an excellent job of making sure we're focused on each game, not the next one," center Scott Wells said. "You have to worry about the task at hand, short-term success, and the rest will take care of itself."
With the win, Green Bay improved to 9-1, posting the team's best start since 1962 and extending its lead in the NFC North to three games over Detroit, which fell to 6-4 with a loss to the New York Giants. That puts the Packers in a better-than-expected position heading into the two teams' Thanksgiving showdown in Detroit in four days, considering the Lions were just one game back in the division two weeks ago.
The Packers also kept pace with the Dallas Cowboys, their Nov. 29 opponent in the upcoming crucial two-game road stretch, for the best record in the NFC by controlling the game with big plays in all three phases to lead 28-3 early in the second half.
**On offense, it was yet another strong outing by quarterback Brett Favre. His 47-yard bomb to Donald Driver early in the second quarter set up the first of his three touchdown passes on the day.
It marked the 62nd time in his career Favre has thrown for three or more TD passes, tying the NFL record held by Dan Marino. Favre finished 22-of-30 for 218 yards with no interceptions and was sacked once. His 126.8 rating was his seventh of 100-plus this season.
"He's so much more comfortable with the guys around him now, and he's built that trust amongst our receiving corps and the tight ends and even the running backs, to where he knows where we're going to be," said receiver Greg Jennings, who had seven catches for 48 yards. "He trusts us that we'll get there and make the plays for him."
The efficient passing was once again complemented by a productive ground game, with Ryan Grant rushing 20 times for 88 yards. Grant now has 366 rushing yards in the last four games, an average of 91.5 per contest that the young running back feels can improve down the stretch.
"The more balanced we are, the better football we'll play," said Grant, who injured his ankle late in the game but says he'll be fine for Thursday's game. "Brett's been playing great all season, and we're trying to take the heat off of him, make it easier for him. We're building momentum, building confidence and getting there."
**On defense, the Packers got interceptions from rookie safety Aaron Rouse and veteran cornerback Charles Woodson, his fourth of the season. The defense also stood tall at the end of the first half with Carolina on the Green Bay 7-yard line, as Corey Williams sacked Vinny Testaverde and forced a fumble that Aaron Kampman recovered with 9 seconds left in the half.
"This is just a tremendous defense right now," Kampman said. "We're continuing to kind of take those steps. We've talked all season long about making those fine-line plays, and we're making them and obviously it's resulting in some real success for us."
{sportsad300}The Carolina offense was without star receiver Steve Smith, and that was a key weapon for Testaverde (19-of-37, 258 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 69.4 rating) to be missing in the oldest quarterback matchup in league history.
The Panthers (4-6) managed two long touchdown drives in the second half, but they took more than half the third quarter (7 minutes, 41 seconds) on one of them, running the ball 12 times in 14 plays, so the lead was never really in jeopardy.
**On special teams, there were two returns that made big contributions.
With the Panthers in field-goal formation in the first quarter, kicker John Kasay instead pooched a punt that the Packers were ready for. Tramon Williams picked it up and ran it back 94 yards for the game's first touchdown.
The play fired up the team after having a field goal blocked on the first scoring opportunity and watching Carolina pick up two quick first downs.
"It could have really gone either way there for a little bit, and then to get that touchdown, I think that really put an exclamation point on the fact that hey, we're here to play today, we're going to play well," Kampman said. "It got the crowd into it right away."
More from the special teams came on Koren Robinson's 67-yard return of the second-half kickoff. That set up Favre's third TD pass and second of the day to tight end Donald Lee, a 12-yarder for a 28-3 lead early in the third quarter.
One other special teams play was needed after Carolina's two scores pulled the Panthers within 28-17 with 4:22 left. The Panthers tried an onside kick, but Driver made a clean recovery to set up Mason Crosby's 47-yard field goal with 2:41 to go to close out the scoring.
Players afterward insisted the win wasn't easy despite the score and the focus was already shifting to Detroit on the short week. And judging by the team's play the last two weeks during which it has outscored its opponents 65-17, it appears to be sensing what it might be able to accomplish this season, and taking advantage of every opportunity it has.
"If everybody continues to grind, work, continue to prepare themselves for the very next game and not worry about anything else after that," Woodson said, "this team can go as far as we want to go."
