The Packers got off to a very slow start in their "new" Lambeau Field debut, but Darren Sharper and backup quarterback Doug Pederson brought them back for a 27-20 exhibition win over the Browns Monday night.
Sharper recovered a blocked field goal and ran 35 yards for the Packers' first touchdown. Pederson completed five straight passes, including a 35-yard TD to fullback Chris Gall, to lead the Packers to the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter.
Before Sharper's big play, the Packers trailed 14-3. The special teams gave up the first touchdown on the opening kickoff, and the defense did little to stop the Browns on a 77-yard touchdown drive later in the first quarter.
The Packers had five penalties for 40 yards in the first half. They had only three first downs in the half. Brett Favre completed 8 of 11 passes, but for only 51 yards.
Yet, thanks to Sharper's touchdown, on a blocked punt by Cletidus Hunt, the Packers only trailed 14-10 at halftime.
"We were in a situation where we really needed to turn the momentum around in this game, so when I went on the field I had my mind set on getting to the kicker," Hunt said. I got a strong push from Hardy (Nickerson), went on the inside, blew my guy up, and when I got to the backfield I just threw my hands up."
Hunt got the ball. It bounced along the ground as several players from both sides tried to recover it. Sharper finally picked it up and took off.
"You could feel the wind go out of the entire stadium when they returned the opening kickoff," Sharper said. "All I kept thinking was 'make a play, make a play.'
"We had a middle push on that kick. The guys in the middle push and the linebackers give them an extra push. He (Hunt) got an excellent push from Hardy Nickerson, and got his big hand up.
"The ball kept spitting out, spitting out. I kept trailing it. I finally decided to not try and fall on it, and to pick it up."
Pederson finished with five completions in seven passes for 63 yards. All five came in a key scoring drive that put the Packers up 20-17.
"Darren has been playing very disciplined football this pre-season," coach Mike Sherman said. "That play was very big. Pederson played well. I thought several of our backups played well tonight."
The new Lambeau
Curly Lambeau would stand in awe of what they have done to the stadium that bears his name.
The new Lambeau, now 70% complete, is an impressive structure. The façade resembles that of Miller Park. It towers above anything else in the area, if not in Green Bay period.
Longtime Packer fans will be happy to know that the bowl is still intact, even though it will seat 4,000 more fans. More luxury boxes have been added on the east and west sides of the stadium.
The press box looms several stories above where the old one sat. It seats 325 people and offers a great view of the surrounding area for miles. It reminded this veteran writer a lot of the view from Camp Randall's press box.
Many fans were seeing the new Lambeau for the first time. "It looks great," said Karla Zwgowicz of Wausau. "I've been here many times over the years, and love sitting in the south end zone. I was glad to see the bowl is pretty much the same. Overall the additions are very impressive."
Players of the Game
Sharper gets the defensive honor for the second straight week. In addition to his big touchdown, the safety once again was all over the field. At one point in the second quarter, he made three straight tackles and broke up a pass on a fourth straight play.
Pederson gets the offensive honor for engineering the winning touchdown. He completed five of seven after taking over for Favre.
{INSERT_RELATED}Plays of the Game
It took 11 seconds for the first Play of the Game to develop, when the Browns' Andre Davis returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for the first touchdown in the new Lambeau.
Sharper's touchdown on the recovered punt was the second big play. It got the Packers back into the game even though they had been badly outplayed in the first half.
The final biggie was Pederson's 35-yard TD to Gall, who scored on his first play for the Packers.
Goats of the Game
The Packers' special teams deserve the dishonor for the way they started the game. "I don't like giving up a touchdown like that from the get-go," Sherman said. "We'll have to do something about that."
Cleveland quarterback Josh Booty should also get the boot for throwing an interception for a touchdown that iced it for the Packers in the fourth quarter.
Gregg Hoffmann will write On The Pack, normally on Mondays, and on Tuesdays after Monday Night Football games.
