The Packer Pundit

Packers Roar Back
to Beat Chiefs, 33-22
Associated Press
Add one more rare distinction to Brett Favre's glittering resume. The Green Bay quarterback hit Greg Jennings for a 60-yard touchdown pass with 3:05 to go and the Packers beat Kansas City 33-22 Sunday, giving Favre victories over each of the other 31 teams in the league. It's a career milestone that Peyton Manning and Tom Brady achieved just one week before. The Chiefs (4-4) had taken a 22-16 lead with 5:18 left on Damon Huard's 17-yard pass to Tony Gonzalez and a 2-point conversion run by Priest Holmes, who came in when Larry Johnson injured his foot a few minutes earlier.

Jennings, whose 82-yard touchdown catch on the first play of overtime lifted Green Bay (7-1) past Denver six days earlier, went streaking down the middle of the field. He beat Patrick Surtain and Donnie Edwards for the Packers' sixth straight road win. Mason Crosby added a 45-yard field goal and, with 59 seconds to go, Charles Woodson intercepted Huard's pass and went 46 yards for a touchdown that made the game look more lopsided than it actually was. The Packers scored 17 points in the final 3:05. Favre was 24-of-34 for 360 yards and two touchdowns. He was also intercepted twice and the Packers overcame 13 penalties for 120 yards.

Huard was 19-of-32 for 213 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Gonzalez had 10 receptions for 109 yards and one TD. Johnson was hurt when he was tackled near the Chiefs bench late in the fourth quarter. There was no immediate word on how badly he might be injured or how long he might be out. His backup is the 34-year-old Holmes, who made his second appearance since returning to football after almost two years. The Packers have won 11 of their last 12 altogether and their sixth straight road wins tie for the second-longest away-from-home streak in team history. Jennings gave the Packers a 13-7 lead on the final play of the third quarter when he took Favre's pass on a crossing pattern, cut back across the grain and snaked across the goal line.

Except for Benny Sapp's interception at the end of the half, the Chiefs did not snap the ball in Green Bay territory until midway through the third quarter. Then Huard caught the defense off guard with a fake reverse and connected with Johnson on a screen pass. With a convoy of blockers, he went 30 yards for a touchdown that put Kansas City on top 14-13. Crosby's 32-yard field goal made it 16-14 before Gonzalez' touchdown gave the Chiefs a brief lead. The Chiefs were looking at an almost certain 6-0 halftime deficit when Kansas City benefited from a stunning turn of events in the final seconds of the second quarter.

Favre tried a pass with defensive tackle Alfonso Boone in his face, and Sapp made Kansas City's second interception. He returned it 15 yards to the 30 and the Chiefs, with 25 seconds left, suddenly had their only scoring threat of the first two quarters. On the first play, Huard threw for Samie Parker in the end zone, and the Packers made a second straight mistake when Atari Bigby was flagged for pass interference. From the 1, Johnson vaulted into the end zone, and the Chiefs held a 7-6 lead even though the Packers had 181 total yards to Kansas City's 62. After a scoreless first quarter, the Packers took a 6-0 lead on field goals of 48 and 36 yards by Crosby. [Story]


Game Stats



Additional Game Articles --

Woodson leads way with big plays
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It has become a weekly ritual. The Green Bay Packers win, and Charles Woodson is asked if he knows just how good his team is yet.

Robinson enjoys return / Notes
He didn't cry, like he thought he might. "I got teary-eyed,'' Koren Robinson said. "I can say that.''

More trouble with TE
For everything the Green Bay Packers are doing right on defense — and with the quarterback pressure they're generating, the turnovers they're forcing and the limited rushing yards they're allowing, they're doing plenty of good things — their inability to cover opposing tight ends remains a major issue.

Jennings delivers as go-to guy
It was late in training camp, and Greg Jennings was beginning to wonder, maybe even worry a little. Rookie James Jones was the darling of camp — much as Jennings was a year earlier — and as a result, he wasn't getting the ball thrown his direction much in practice, let alone the preseason games. So Jennings went to wide receivers coach Jimmy Robinson and coach Mike McCarthy and, delicately, apprised them of his concerns.

Another fantastic finish
For awhile, he just stood there, watching his guys' pure, unbridled joy. As they laughed, as they high-fived, as they hugged, Ted Thompson, off to the side, could only smile.

See-Saw Finish Produces Another Win
Another wild ending, another uplifting victory for the Green Bay Packers. And this one might have been the wildest yet.

Woodson Comes Up Big In Clutch
Charles Woodson is never one to let penalties or mistakes bother him, because if he ever gets his hands on the ball, he knows he can make up for it.

D-Line Keeps Pressure On
The Packers sacked Kansas City quarterback Damon Huard a season-high five times in Sunday's 33-22 victory, with all five sacks being recorded by defensive linemen for 40 lost yards. Considering the defensive line was also primarily responsible for holding Larry Johnson to just 53 yards on 19 carries (2.8 avg.) it was a pretty good day for the guys up front.

Playmakers provide difference in second half
Forced by the schedule maker to play at Denver last Monday night and then the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Packers might have done well just to split.

Opponents pay for focusing on short game
There didn't seem to be enough real estate in the entire Kansas plains for the Chiefs' defensive backs to plant themselves on this occasion. They witnessed what quarterback Brett Favre and receiver Greg Jennings could do on Monday night against their division rivals, yet they got caught up worrying about that small stuff and paid a dear price.

Big plays turn corner's foul day
Charles Woodson was standing in front of his locker when he was asked about the pass interference call that went against him in the Green Bay Packers' 33-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Linemen hold up their end
If this game had been played in Denver, the Green Bay Packers' defensive line wouldn't have made it. "They would have had to carry me off the field," nose tackle Ryan Pickett said.

Notes: Injury may sit Collins
The Green Bay Packers played most of the second half of Sunday's 33-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs without starting free safety Nick Collins. And he might be missing for some time.