Even in a game where the Packers did some good things, they also did just enough to lose. Ahman Green's fumble was the killer. Bubba Franks buried his face in a towel in the final seconds of the loss. No doubt he was replaying in his mind painful images like penalties and dropped passes.
Brett Favre threw for over 300 yards and still gives the Packers a better chance to win than Aaron Rodgers. Still, it's an outdated perception to talk about Favre's late-game heroics. It's been awhile since he actually helped the Packers pull one out in dramatic fashion.
Donald Driver was nothing short of magnificent and Greg Jennings and Robert Ferguson caught touchdown passes. But Mike McCarthy's dreams of basing the Packers offense on the running game are going nowhere, doomed by a young offensive line. Favre threw the ball 55 times. So much for pounding it and pounding it on the ground.
Defensively, Aaron Kampman was outstanding and A.J. Hawk showed flashes of what the Packers think he can be. But, there were also several mistakes by the Packers defense that led to big plays for the Saints.
I'm very impressed with Saints coach Sean Payton. He's led his team to two road wins to start the season and that's hard to do. Players look to their coach to see how he handles adversity. Even when the Saints were doing everything wrong in the first quarter and the Packers fans at Lambeau were in a frenzy, Payton kept his poise. New Orleans is a surprising 2-0 under a coach interviewed by Ted Thompson, but passed over.
Meanwhile, Mike McCarthy is still looking for his first victory. He might be looking for awhile. Road games in Detroit and Philadelphia are next.
Dennis Krause joined OnMilwaukee.com as a contributor on June 16, 2006. He is a two-time Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year and a regional Emmy-award winner. Dennis has been the color analyst on home games for the Milwaukee Bucks Radio Network for the last 10 years. He has also been involved with the Green Bay Packers Radio Network for 16 years and is currently the host of the "Packers Game Day" pre-game show.
Dennis started his broadcasting career as a radio air personality in the Fox Valley and Milwaukee.
He spent three years as a sportscaster at WMBD radio and television in Peoria, Illinois before joining WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee in 1987 as a weekend sports anchor. Dennis spent 16 years at Channel 4, serving as its Sports Director and 5 and 6 pm sports anchor from 1994-2003.
Dennis grew up in Hartford, Wisconsin and attended UW-Oshkosh. He lives in Thiensville with his wife and two children. He serves as the Community Resource Director for the Mequon-Thiensville School District.
