SCORING

Team		1	2	3	4	OT	Total
VISITOR:	Green Bay Packers	0	3	0	0	0	3
HOME:	Detroit Lions	7	0	3	7	0	17

Scoring Plays
Team	Qtr	Time	Play Description (Extra Point) (Drive Info)	Visitor	Home
Lions	1	4:56	M.Pollard 9 yd. pass from J.Harrington (J.Hanson kick) (8-68, 3:54)	0	7
Packers	2	2:59	R.Longwell 50 yd. Field Goal (11-37, 4:51)	3	7
Lions	3	8:34	J.Hanson 21 yd. Field Goal (10-31, 4:44)	3	10
Lions	4	4:13	M.Williams 3 yd. pass from J.Harrington (J.Hanson kick) (7-58, 3:22)	3	17

Paid Attendance: 61,877

Game Length: 3:03

Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions 9/11/2005 at Ford Field

Final Individual Statistics

Green Bay Packers		Detroit Lions

RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD A.Green 12 58 4.8 12 0 N.Davenport 3 0 0.0 1 0 B.Favre 1 -1 -1.0 -1 0 B.Sander 1 -11 -11.0 -11 0   Total 17 46 2.7 12 0		RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD K.Jones 25 87 3.5 7 0 J.Harrington 3 14 4.7 15 0 S.Bryson 3 1 0.3 2 0   Total 31 102 3.3 15 0

PASSING ATT CMP YDS SK/YD TD LG IN RT B.Favre 44 27 201 4/31 0 20 2 53.3   Total 44 27 201 4/31 0 20 2 53.3		PASSING ATT CMP YDS SK/YD TD LG IN RT J.Harrington 28 15 167 2/15 2 31 0 95.4   Total 28 15 167 2/15 2 31 0 95.4

PASS RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD A.Green 5 34 6.8 20 0 D.Driver 4 48 12.0 17 0 J.Walker 4 27 6.8 9 0 B.Franks 4 27 6.8 8 0 T.Fisher 4 24 6.0 8 0 W.Henderson 3 20 6.7 10 0 A.Chatman 1 11 11.0 11 0 D.Martin 1 6 6.0 6 0 R.Ferguson 1 4 4.0 4 0   Total 27 201 7.4 20 0		PASS RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD M.Pollard 5 58 11.6 18 1 K.Johnson 2 38 19.0 25 0 R.Williams 2 13 6.5 11 0 K.Jones 2 9 4.5 14 0 C.Rogers 1 31 31.0 31 0 P.Smith 1 8 8.0 8 0 S.Bryson 1 7 7.0 7 0 M.Williams 1 3 3.0 3 1   Total 15 167 11.1 31 2

INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD   Total 0 0 0.0 0 0		INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD K.Kennedy 1 0 0.0 0 0 T.Holt 1 0 0.0 0 0   Total 2 0 0.0 0 0

PUNTING NO YDS AVG TB IN20 LG B.Sander 6 248 41.3 0 0 49   Total 6 248 41.3 0 0 49		PUNTING NO YDS AVG TB IN20 LG N.Harris 7 293 41.9 0 4 48   Total 7 293 41.9 0 4 48

PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD A.Chatman 3 19 6.3 4 16 0   Returns 3 19 6.3 4 16 0		PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD E.Drummond 6 12 2.0 0 5 0   Returns 6 12 2.0 0 5 0

KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD R.Ferguson 2 44 22.0 0 22 0 A.Chatman 1 22 22.0 0 22 0 N.Davenport 1 17 17.0 0 17 0   Returns 4 83 20.8 0 22 0		KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD E.Drummond 2 29 14.5 0 15 0   Returns 2 29 14.5 0 15 0

Green Bay Packers FUMBLES FUM OWN-REC YDS TD FORCED OPP-REC YDS TD OUT-BDS B.Favre 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 B.Sander 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T.Fisher 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 W.Whitticker 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Detroit Lions FUMBLES FUM OWN-REC YDS TD FORCED OPP-REC YDS TD OUT-BDS K.Kennedy 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J.Harrington 1 0 -3 0 0 0 0 0 0 K.Butler 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T.Holt 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D.Bly 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 F.Bryant 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 J.Hall 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 K.Edwards 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 0 0 Total 2 2 -3 0 3 1 10 0 0

Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions 9/11/2005 at Ford Field

Final Team Statistics

	Visitor Packers	Home Lions
TOTAL FIRST DOWNS	13	18
By Rushing	1	2
By Passing	10	10
By Penalty	2	6
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY	5-16-31%	6-15-40%
FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY	1-3-33%	0-1-0%
TOTAL NET YARDS	216	254
Total Offensive Plays (inc. times thrown passing)	65	61
Average gain per offensive play	3.3	4.2
NET YARDS RUSHING	46	102
Total Rushing Plays	17	31
Average gain per rushing play	2.7	3.3
Tackles for a loss-number and yards	3-13	3-5
NET YARDS PASSING	170	152
Times thrown - yards lost attempting to pass	4-31	2-15
Gross yards passing	201	167
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED	44-27-2	28-15-0
Avg gain per pass play (inc.# thrown passing)	3.5	5.1
KICKOFFS Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks	2-0-0	4-0-0
PUNTS Number and Average	6-41.3	7-41.9
Had Blocked	0	0
FGs - PATs Had Blocked	0-0	0-0
Net Punting Average	39.3	39.1
TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not Including Kickoffs)	19	12
No. and Yards Punt Returns	3-19	6-12
No. and Yards Kickoff Returns	4-83	2-29
No. and Yards Interception Returns	0-0	2-0
PENALTIES Number and Yards	14-100	4-38
FUMBLES Number and Lost	4-1	2-0
TOUCHDOWNS	0	2
Rushing	0	0
Passing	0	2
EXTRA POINTS Made-Attempts	0-0	2-2
Kicking Made-Attempts	0-0	2-2
FIELD GOALS Made-Attempts	1-1	1-1
RED ZONE EFFICIENCY	0-2-0%	2-3-67%
GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY	0-0-0%	2-3-67%
SAFETIES	0	0
FINAL SCORE	3	17
TIME OF POSSESSION	31:04	28:56

Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions 9/11/2005 at Ford Field

Ball Possession And Drive Chart

Green Bay Packers

#	Time Recd	Time Lost	Time Poss	How Ball Obtained	Drive Began	# Play	Yds Gain	Yds Pen	Net Yds	1st Down	Last Scrm	How Given Up
1	11:23	8:50	2:33	Punt	GB 10	5	24	0	24	1	GB 34	Punt
2	4:56	11:34	8:22	Kickoff	GB 26	14	62	-3	59	4	*DET 4	Downs
3	7:50	2:59	4:51	Downs	GB 31	11	47	-10	37	2	DET 32	Field Goal
4	1:52	1:14	0:38	Punt	GB 19	3	5	0	5	0	GB 24	Punt
5	0:14	0:00	0:14	Punt	GB 12	1	-1	0	-1	0	GB 12	End of Half
6	15:00	13:18	1:42	Kickoff	GB 39	3	5	0	5	0	GB 45	Fumble
7	8:34	6:55	1:39	Kickoff	GB 37	3	10	-10	0	0	GB 37	Punt
8	5:49	3:57	1:52	Punt	GB 10	3	11	-8	3	0	GB 13	Punt
9	2:23	1:05	1:18	Punt	GB 28	3	-4	-5	-9	0	GB 19	Punt
10	12:43	11:03	1:40	Punt	GB 16	3	4	0	4	0	GB 20	Punt
11	10:00	7:35	2:25	Punt	GB 27	4	12	-5	7	1	GB 34	Interception
12	4:13	0:23	3:50	Kickoff	GB 37	13	25	6	31	5	*DET 32	Interception
				(292) Average GB 24

Detroit Lions

#	Time Recd	Time Lost	Time Poss	How Ball Obtained	Drive Began	# Play	Yds Gain	Yds Pen	Net Yds	1st Down	Last Scrm	How Given Up
1	15:00	11:23	3:37	Kickoff	DET 27	5	23	0	23	1	50	Punt
2	8:50	4:56	3:54	Punt	DET 32	8	63	5	68	4	*GB 9	Touchdown
3	11:34	7:50	3:44	Downs	DET 15	7	29	25	54	4	GB 33	Downs
4	2:59	1:52	1:07	Kickoff	DET 24	3	9	0	9	0	DET 33	Punt
5	1:14	0:14	1:00	Punt	DET 31	6	15	0	15	1	DET 46	Punt
6	13:18	8:34	4:44	Fumble	GB 34	10	26	5	31	3	*GB 3	Field Goal
7	6:55	5:49	1:06	Punt	DET 27	3	6	0	6	0	DET 33	Punt
8	3:57	2:23	1:34	Punt	DET 28	3	7	0	7	0	DET 35	Punt
9	1:05	12:43	3:22	Punt	DET 37	6	15	2	17	2	GB 46	Punt
10	11:03	10:00	1:03	Punt	DET 42	3	1	0	1	0	DET 43	Punt
11	7:35	4:13	3:22	Interception	DET 42	7	58	0	58	3	*GB 3	Touchdown
12	0:23	0:00	0:23	Interception	DET 20	1	-1	0	-1	0	DET 20	End of Game
				(391) Average DET 33

* inside opponent's 20

Time of Possession by Quarter	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Total
Visitor  Green Bay Packers	7:29	9:09	6:31	7:55		31:04
Home  Detroit Lions	7:31	5:51	8:29	7:05		28:56

Kickoff Drive No. - Start Average

Packers: 4 - GB 35

Lions: 2 - DET 26

Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions 9/11/2005 at Ford Field

Final Defensive Statistics

Green Bay Packers	Regular Defensive Plays									Special Teams						Misc
	TKL	AST	COMB	SACK /	YRDS	IN	PD	FF	FR		TKL	AST	FF	FR	BL		TKL	AST	FF	FR
M.Roman	8	2	10	0	0	0	1	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
N.Barnett	6	3	9	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
A.Kampman	4	1	5	1	7	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
C.Cole	2	3	5	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
R.Thomas	3	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
K.Gbaja-Biamila	2	2	4	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
A.Harris	3	0	3	0	0	0	2	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
P.Lenon	1	2	3	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
C.Jenkins	1	2	3	1	8	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
J.Thomas	1	1	2	0	0	0	2	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
C.Williams	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
K.Peterson	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
M.Montgomery	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
G.Jackson	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
R.Manning	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
A.Carroll	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
N.Collins	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
E.Little	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
R.Ferguson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		2	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0
B.Poppinga	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		2	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
R.Davis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
W.Whitticker	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	1
B.Sander	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	1
Total	36	23	59	2	15	0	6	0	0		8	0	0	0	0		2	0	0	2

	TKL / TK = Tackle	AST / AS = Assist	COMB = Combined	IN = Interception
	PD = Pass Defense	FF = Forced Fumble	FR = Fumble Recovery	BL = Blocked

Detroit Lions	Regular Defensive Plays									Special Teams						Misc
	TKL	AST	COMB	SACK /	YRDS	IN	PD	FF	FR		TKL	AST	FF	FR	BL		TKL	AST	FF	FR
E.Holmes	5	3	8	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
F.Bryant	6	1	7	0	0	0	1	1	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
A.Goodman	5	1	6	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
B.Bailey	4	2	6	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
J.Davis	3	3	6	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
R.McQuarters	4	1	5	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
S.Rogers	3	2	5	1	12	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
J.Hall	2	3	5	1	9	0	0	1	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
D.Bly	2	0	2	0	0	0	2	1	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
K.Kennedy	1	1	2	0	0	1	2	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
C.Redding	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
D.Wilkinson	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
K.Edwards	1	0	1	1	9	0	0	0	1		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
S.Cody	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
D.Curry	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
T.Holt	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	1		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
W.Rainer	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		3	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
A.Pinner	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
V.Fox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
K.Butler	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	1
Team Sacks	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
Total	40	19	59	4	31	2	7	3	2		7	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	1

News: 9/12/05

The Kool-Aid should taste pretty good this morning, sliding freely down some overly parched throats.

The Lions clinched a playoff berth at 1-0, right?

After all, this was THE MOST CRITICAL SEASON OPENER IN TEAM HISTORY, if you bought into the premature, bloated panic and irrational fear leaking through the ever-expanding cracks of unfulfilled summer expectations.

Lose this one and forget about the 15 remaining games. Just save yourself from the inevitable landslide into the abyss.

But, in some ways, delusion can be your best friend.

The Lions preached the merits of their resolve and resiliency in their aesthetically challenged 17-3 win over Green Bay. You can't blame them. Victories in this league never come with apologies, especially for a team stamped with the simple edict this season of "win or stop wasting everybody's time."

They did just enough, and Sunday that was all that was required. In their minds, this was justice. They proudly thumped their chests over a defensive effort that rendered the High Sheriff, Brett Favre, bullet-less. That Green Bay pretty much emptied its offensive revolver in its own foot was branded inconsequential to the broader picture.

The Lions won when it mattered. That's fine. Pop the champagne.

But the effervescence of Steve Mariucci's third straight 1-0 start as Lions coach was diluted by the team's inexcusable willingness, particularly offensively, to keep the bumbling and stumbling Packers within a touchdown of a tie or the lead for 56 minutes.

It certainly didn't hurt the Lions that the other guy wore the clown suit with the squirting flower -- for a change.

The Packers were the punch line for one long-running joke Sunday -- flagged 14 times for virtually every offense imaginable. If they could have gotten a flag thrown at them for running out of the tunnel, they would have gotten it. It wasn't long before the Packers assisted their hosts with a botched hold on a field-goal attempt, an illegal use of the hands on a Lions receiver and an offensive pass interference call that negated a 55-yard play. It would have placed the ball inside the Detroit 5.

The Packers' offense lost four first downs to penalties.

The Lions happily accepted Green Bay's generosity, but they can't count on continued benevolence from opponents.

"We knew about the importance of coming out and having a good start to the season," said linebacker Boss Bailey, who was thrilled about being back on the field after missing all of the 2004 season with knee problems. "We didn't back down when the game stayed tight. The defense took the challenge and we stepped it up, making the plays when we had to make them."

The reality is that the Lions remain a work in progress, and those demanding immediate answers to long-standing questions must wait and endure the roller coaster of a 16-game NFL season.

The offense still crawls, lacking the necessary killer instinct. It stagnates too easily.

The Lions needed a road map to find the Packers' jugular. Every failure to capitalize on yet another Green Bay screwup through the third quarter ratcheted up the apprehension that the Lions could still find a way to give away another game.

But it's early. And it's still a win. So you cut the Lions a little slack for now.

It's not as though they have no experience in good starts. They won four of their first six games last season. But this game assumed an illogical weightiness in the obsessed minds of those still suffering the effects of the Monday night exhibition hangover two weeks ago.

"I've never talked so much about a preseason game in my whole life, to be quite honest with you," Mariucci said. "I don't talk about it. I just seem to have to answer questions regarding it. We worked hard. That was the message after that game. It's not like we weren't working hard prior to it."

Mariucci accurately defined this game as merely the first round of a title fight.

The Lions wore their black, but the color of the day was caution yellow.

Charles Rogers made it out of the first game with his clavicle still intact -- that alone is cause for celebration. In the fourth quarter he caught his first pass since the fifth game of his rookie season in 2003, setting up the insurance touchdown. He hit the ground and bounced right back up without needing the trainers' assistance.

Does surviving the first game mean he's finally destined for the Pro Bowl?

The lone certainty of the day was the ease with which one can laugh when the other guy plays the joker.

RECAP

Brett Favre slumped over in the middle of the field after his third turnover of the day.

The three-time MVP, who turns 36 next month, limped to his news conference about an hour later with gray in his hair and a scruffy beard.

''I'll probably feel worse (Monday), but I could play another game now,'' Favre said after two of his three turnovers led to 10 points in a game in which scoring was scarce, helping the Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers 17-3 Sunday. ''Inside, it hurts the most.''

The game marked the fewest points Green Bay scored with Favre as its starting quarterback.

Tampa Bay beat the Packers 31-3 on Sept. 13, 1992, two weeks before Favre began his record streak of starting 227 straight games, including the playoffs.

''We obviously have a ways to go offensively,'' Favre said. ''But if you would've told me we would score three points, I would've said you were crazy.''

After kicking a field goal in the second quarter, Green Bay didn't have a first down in the second half until its sixth drive.

''It wasn't just us,'' Lions linebacker Earl Holmes said. ''The special teams bottled up their return game and the offense kept us off the field so we could catch our breath.''

Detroit won its opener for a third straight year, but the Lions hope this season doesn't wind up like the last two - or the two before that. Since 2001, the Lions have lost an NFL-high 48 games.

Joey Harrington threw two touchdown passes, including one to rookie Mike Williams with 4:13 left.

''We have been in too many of these games in the last couple years, where we had a chance to put a team away and didn't - and too many of them have been against No. 4,'' Harrington said. ''I have one in mind from last year.''

The Lions were leading at Green Bay last season by 13 at halftime before being handed one of their 10 defeats.

Favre fumbled on the opening possession of the second half, leading to Jason Hanson's 21-yard field goal. His interception midway through the fourth quarter, snagged by a diving Kenoy Kennedy, whose fumble was caught by teammate Holt, led to Williams' 3-yard TD catch.

Then Green Bay drove to Detroit's 12 before Favre was sacked twice and threw his second interception. He finished 27-of-44 for 201 yards with two interceptions and one fumble.

The three-time defending division champions had beaten the Lions in eight of the last nine meetings.

''To beat a team of that caliber that has been so tough for us to beat, it's an accomplishment,'' kick returner Eddie Drummond said.

Harrington was 15-of-28 for 167 yards with two TDs, and no turnovers. Kevin Jones ran for 87 yards and Marcus Pollard caught five passes for 58 yards, including a 9-yard TD.

Green Bay's Ahman Green was held to 58 yards and Donald Driver had four catches for 48 yards.

In a game expected to be high-scoring, both teams struggled offensively.

''There was no finesse at all in this game,'' Lions coach Steve Mariucci said. ''This was a Norris Division, Black-and-Blue Division slugfest.''

Green Bay's offense took a hit when Javon Walker, Favre's favorite target, injured his right knee in the third quarter. Walker will have an MRI on Monday.

The Packers hurt their chances with 14 penalties for 100 yards and Favre argued for at least a few calls that were not made against the Lions. Green Bay cornerback Ahmad Carroll was flagged for illegal use of hands three times, including twice on one drive.

''We didn't play real smart,'' Green Bay coach Mike Sherman said.

Detroit's first-string offense didn't score a TD in the preseason, but did on its second drive. Harrington threw a 9-yard TD pass to Pollard after an earlier pass in the end zone was broken up by Mark Roman.

Green Bay got to the Lions 4 on the ensuing drive, but holder B.J. Sander mishandled a good snap on a botched field-goal attempt.

On the Packers' next possession, Ryan Longwell kicked a 50-yard field goal, then Favre's fumble gave the Lions great field position, but Detroit had to settle for a field goal.

Notes: Favre is 65 yards from joining the 50,000-yard passing club with Dan Marino (61,361) and John Elway (51,475). ... Hanson was limited to extra points and short field goals because of a hamstring injury. ... There was a moment of silence before the game in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and victims of Hurricane Katrina, and the Red Cross collected donations. ... Green Bay WR Robert Ferguson played with calf cramps and Detroit CB Fernando Bryant hurt his jaw.

Scott's Game Commentary:

For once, the honolulu blue and silver were not the team that shot themselves in the foot. Green Bay, which are a shell of the team that won three straight NFC North titles, committed costly penalties and turnovers in score and found themseves without an offensive touchdown for the first time in 77 games! It was also Brett Favre's worst game since he started back in 1992! The Lions offense struggled most of the day but with a chance to put away the Packers, did just that. Joey Harrington had a mediocre day but his touchdown pass to Mike Williams cemented the victory that puts the Lions in sole posession of first place. Kevin Jones had a productive day picking up 3 to 5 yards on most carries. Roy Williams and Charles Rogers had quiet games but TE Marcus Pollard had a big catch to give the Lions a 7-0 lead in the 1st half. The Defense, which had a lot of question marks coming in, forced three turnovers and held Favre and the Packers in check the entire game. All in all it was a dull game, but the Lions were the team that committed less penalties and won a game they were suppose to. They should have a lot of momentum going into their first road game of the year in Chicago - a game they should and better win.

Grades:

Offense: --- C. With the exception of the two touchdowns, the offense looked more like the ones shown in years past. The offensive line had problems protecting Harrington and opening up holes for Kevin Jones. Jeff Backus continues to struggle and is turning out to be a first round bust. On the bright side, Marcus Pollard debut was great as he gave the Lions their first touchdown of the season. Harrington was sharp on both touchdown drives but still continued to throw the ball well short of the 1st down marker on 3rd and 4th down. Still, Harrington did not make any costly mistakes unlike the two games last year where he was just abysmal. If the offensive line can improve, the Offense should be a force to be wrecken with!

Defense: --- A. Hats off to the Defense for turning in one of their best showings in quite some time. After taking a beating in the pre season losses, they shut down Favre and the Packers the entire day. It was quite impressived to hear that the Packers had went 77 straight games with an offensive touchdown until the honolulu blue and silver changed that! It was also the first time in five years the Defense did not yield an offensive touchdown to an opponent. It was also nice seeing pressure on Favre as the Defense racked up four sacks.

Special Teams: --- B. For once, I have to give props to Nick Harris - he pinned the Packers four times inside the 20 and looked much better than usual. Eddie Drummond did not have any exciting runs and there were too many illegal block in the back calls against the special teams. Jason Hanson pulled a hamstring early in the game but managed to kick the PAT's and a chip shot field goal.

Coaching: --- B. Some of the offensive play calling was quite conservative - exactly like last year. Still, Mariucci had his team ready to play in the opening game and is now 3-0 opening up the season. It was good to see the Lions only commit only four penalties the entire game. That is rarely the case.

Overall: --- B+. It was not the prettiest of games, but the honoululu blue and silver took care of business. With the way the NFC North played today, the Lions chances of contending for the NFC North title look very good. The Vikings and Bears both struggled in their games. The Lions now find themselves alone a top the NFC North and now face a big road game next week in Chicago. Last year they broke thier 24 game road losing streak in the windy city and there is no reason for them to not start off the season 2-0. The Bears are starting a rookie QB and were picked to finish last in the NFC North. Beating the Bears would give the Lions two wins in the division heading into the bye week. Like last year, I will be making the trip to Chicago after heading to South Bend to see my Spartans hopefully do something the Wolverines could not do - beat Notre Dame.

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