sicem74
08-11-2005, 11:39 PM
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Brett Favre's offseason work paid immediate dividends Thursday night in the Green Bay Packers' 10-7 preseason victory over the San Diego Chargers.
Favre, who trained with a strength and conditioning coach in the offseason for the first time, completed 9 of 10 passes for 91 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions in 1½ quarters of work.
He guided Green Bay on an 80-yard scoring drive in the second quarter in which he completed 7 of 8 passes for 64 yards, capping the series with a 23-yard strike to Donald Driver and then jumping into the arms of his center, Mike Flanagan, who missed most of last season following a knee operation.
"We accomplished one goal: we went down the field and scored," Favre said at halftime of the game that was played in a steady drizzle. "For the first preseason game, we played well and we should do well in certain areas. But we don't want to get too excited as we still have a lot of work to do."
Favre's revamped offensive line that lost stalwarts Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle to free agency, protected him well but didn't open many holes for Ahman Green, who carried eight times for 16 yards and had two of his team's six fumbles in the rain. Three were recovered by San Diego.
The Chargers didn't fumble at all.
Philip Rivers' 34-yard touchdown pass to Willie Quinnie early in the third quarter tied it at 7. Rivers completed 12 of 19 passes for 97 yards and no interceptions after replacing starter Drew Brees (2-for-5, 27 yards) to start the second quarter.
Nate Kaeding, who missed a 40-yard field goal attempt in overtime of the Chargers' playoff loss to the New York Jets last season, blew three chances to put the Chargers ahead in the fourth quarter. He was wide left from 45 yards and then wide right from 44 and 46 in the closing minutes.
J.T. O'Sullivan then drove the Packers to the Chargers 35, and Ryan Longwell kicked a 53-yard field goal that barely cleared the crossbar with 33 seconds left.Favre's only incompletion came on a quick crossing route to Robert Ferguson in which defensive end DeQuincy Scott injured a thigh and had to be carted off.
Rookie Aaron Rodgers replaced Favre and had a horrible debut with the second-teamers, completing 2 of 6 passes for 7 yards and getting sacked twice.
On San Diego's first possession, wide receiver Eric Parker bit on his own quarterback's fake and cut off his route, allowing rookie Nick Collins to easily intercept Brees' long pass in the end zone.
Favre had to play into the second quarter because Green's second fumble was recovered by linebacker Matt Wilhelm, ending the Packers' second series after just two plays. Green also fumbled his first carry in slippery conditions but recovered it himself.
Green's propensity for fumbling loomed large in the Packers' 4-5 run -- including playoffs -- at Lambeau Field last season, their first losing record at home since 1991.
Among the Packers who missed the game were cornerback Joey Thomas, linebacker Na'il Diggs and nose tackle Cletidus Hunt, preventing the Packers from getting a good look at their rebuilt defense under new coordinator Jim Bates.
San Diego played without injured linebackers Donnie Edwards and Shawne Merriman, its top draft pick.
Green Bay's B.J. Sander averaged 46 yards on seven punts, a far cry from his disastrous preseason a year ago that included a 5-yard punt. He also held perfectly on Longwell's winner.
Favre, who trained with a strength and conditioning coach in the offseason for the first time, completed 9 of 10 passes for 91 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions in 1½ quarters of work.
He guided Green Bay on an 80-yard scoring drive in the second quarter in which he completed 7 of 8 passes for 64 yards, capping the series with a 23-yard strike to Donald Driver and then jumping into the arms of his center, Mike Flanagan, who missed most of last season following a knee operation.
"We accomplished one goal: we went down the field and scored," Favre said at halftime of the game that was played in a steady drizzle. "For the first preseason game, we played well and we should do well in certain areas. But we don't want to get too excited as we still have a lot of work to do."
Favre's revamped offensive line that lost stalwarts Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle to free agency, protected him well but didn't open many holes for Ahman Green, who carried eight times for 16 yards and had two of his team's six fumbles in the rain. Three were recovered by San Diego.
The Chargers didn't fumble at all.
Philip Rivers' 34-yard touchdown pass to Willie Quinnie early in the third quarter tied it at 7. Rivers completed 12 of 19 passes for 97 yards and no interceptions after replacing starter Drew Brees (2-for-5, 27 yards) to start the second quarter.
Nate Kaeding, who missed a 40-yard field goal attempt in overtime of the Chargers' playoff loss to the New York Jets last season, blew three chances to put the Chargers ahead in the fourth quarter. He was wide left from 45 yards and then wide right from 44 and 46 in the closing minutes.
J.T. O'Sullivan then drove the Packers to the Chargers 35, and Ryan Longwell kicked a 53-yard field goal that barely cleared the crossbar with 33 seconds left.Favre's only incompletion came on a quick crossing route to Robert Ferguson in which defensive end DeQuincy Scott injured a thigh and had to be carted off.
Rookie Aaron Rodgers replaced Favre and had a horrible debut with the second-teamers, completing 2 of 6 passes for 7 yards and getting sacked twice.
On San Diego's first possession, wide receiver Eric Parker bit on his own quarterback's fake and cut off his route, allowing rookie Nick Collins to easily intercept Brees' long pass in the end zone.
Favre had to play into the second quarter because Green's second fumble was recovered by linebacker Matt Wilhelm, ending the Packers' second series after just two plays. Green also fumbled his first carry in slippery conditions but recovered it himself.
Green's propensity for fumbling loomed large in the Packers' 4-5 run -- including playoffs -- at Lambeau Field last season, their first losing record at home since 1991.
Among the Packers who missed the game were cornerback Joey Thomas, linebacker Na'il Diggs and nose tackle Cletidus Hunt, preventing the Packers from getting a good look at their rebuilt defense under new coordinator Jim Bates.
San Diego played without injured linebackers Donnie Edwards and Shawne Merriman, its top draft pick.
Green Bay's B.J. Sander averaged 46 yards on seven punts, a far cry from his disastrous preseason a year ago that included a 5-yard punt. He also held perfectly on Longwell's winner.