Pack is Back (in the Playoffs)

The Green Bay Packers charged back into the playoffs with a 30-7 win over the Cleveland Browns at Lambeau Field Sunday. The Packers secured at least a wild card berth in improving to 10-4. Green Bay remained a game behind the Chicago Bears in the Central Division race. Chicago edged host Washington 17-14 to stay on top of the Central.

The Packers, who last went to the playoffs in 1998, never trailed in their first regular-season game against the Browns since 1995. Green Bay was able to spoil the Browns (6-8) first regular-season visit to Lambeau with a punishing ground game and an opportunistic defense that came up with four turnovers.

Ahman Green ran for 150 yards while Dorsey Levens ran for 72 and caught a touchdown pass in perhaps the ground game’s best all-around outing of the year.

Quarterback Brett Favre was his usual spectacular self in the wintry conditions of Lambeau Field. Favre improved to 28-0 at home when the game time temperature was 34 degrees or below. With the three scoring throws, Favre reached 30 touchdown passes for the sixth time in his career. Dan Marino is second overall with four and no other player has three.

Favre finished 18 of 28 for 139 yards before giving way to Doug Pederson late in the game.

Defensively, a secondary led by Tyrone Williams’ two interceptions prevented the Browns from mounting any kind of a comeback.

Green Bay took control with two first quarter touchdowns by tight end Bubba Franks.

Favre hit Franks with a one-yard pass TD on the Packers’ first drive just 3 minutes and 53 seconds into the contest. A 27-yard run by Green and a 12-yard Favre-to-Franks aerial put the Packers at the Cleveland 1. The Packers were only able to take a 6-0 lead because Ryan Longwell’s PAT was blocked.

About six minutes later, the Packers made it 13-0 when Favre found Franks on a 4-yard scoring pass. An interception return of 35-yards by rookie Bhawoh Jue, a 19-yard run by Green and passes by Favre to Green and Franks got the Packers within in scoring range.

Cleveland pulled to within 13-7 midway through the second quarter on Jamel White’s 3-yard TD catch but the Packers closed the half with 10 straight points to put the game out of reach.

Longwell hit a 39-yard field goal with 1:52 left in the half to give the Packers a 16-7 lead. With the clock winding down and the Browns driving, Williams stepped in front of a receiver and took his first interception of the game 69 yards for a game-breaking touchdown.

Levens closed the scoring with a diving 16-yard TD catch from Favre early in the fourth quarter.

The Packers host Minnesota next Sunday.

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