The Packers wasted little time scoring their first points of 2007. Both teams went three-and-out on their first possession, and Jon Ryan came onto punt after the Packers went three-and-out. He punted it 39 yards, but Greg Lewis muffed it. It bounced around and the ball eventually went back into the end zone. Tracy White pounced on the loose football in the end zone for the touchdown. If you would have bet that White would have been the first Packers player to score in 2007, you’d be rich. After the extra point, Green Bay was in front 7-0.
The great start would continue for the Packers as Nick Barnett would end Philadelphia’s next drive with an interception. Green Bay started on the Philadelphia 34. Unfortunately, the Packers offense lost a yard on the drive and the rookie was sent on to attempt a 53-yard field goal. He nailed it and Green Bay led 10-0 five and a half minutes into the game. Those would be the only points scored by the Packers until the third quarter.
Philadelphia would respond with a field goal early in the second quarter. Donovan McNabb found Kevin Curtis for 37 yards down to the Packers 6. But the Green Bay defense held the Eagles to one yard in the next three plays and David Akers kicked a short field goal to cut it to 10-3.
The Eagles would tie it up on their next drive. The drive of nine plays for 67 yards ended with a McNabb touchdown pass to Jason Avant to tie the game at 10. Philadelphia converted two third downs on the drive, with with the second conversion going to Avant for 14 yards down to the Packers 31. Two plays later, McNabb found Brian Westbrook for 16 yards down to the 9. That set up the McNabb touchdown pass to Avant. It would stay that way the remainder of the half.
The teams traded field goals in the third quarter and the third ended with the score tied at 13. On Philadelphia’s field goal drive, Avant caught a pass for 31 yards on 3rd-and-7 to move it up near midfield. Curtis also caught a third down pass to move into field goal range to set up Akers’ 47-yarder. Green Bay would convert three third downs on its field goal drive. The first one went to Driver for 22 yards on 3rd-and-4 to move them into Eagles territory. The second one was the best one. On 3rd-and-10 at the Eagles 42, Favre was pressured and was nearly sacked, but flipped the ball forward to DeShawn Wynn, who ran it for 18 yards and a first down. That play also put the Packers in field goal range. Seven plays later, Crosby would boot a 37-yard field goal to tie the game back up at 13.
Green Bay would turn the ball over on a Favre fumble with less than five minutes to play. Philadelphia had the ball with great starting field position at the Packers 38. A penalty would push the Eagles back and the Green and Gold defense held.
The Packers had just received the ball with two and a half minutes left and all they needed was a field goal. After one first down, Green Bay had to punt. Philadelphia already had one costly muffed punt in the game. Let’s make it two. Ryan had a really short punt and Philadelphia’s J.R. Reed muffed it and Jarrett Bush fell on it for the Green and Gold at the Eagles 31. Not risking a Favre interception, Mike McCarthy kept the ball on the ground. Brandon Jackson gained eight yards in his two runs before Favre took a knee to center the ball for Crosby to try to win it in his very first game. That he did. His 42-yard field goal was perfect and the Packers won their opener for the first time since 2004 with a 16-13 victory at Lambeau Field.
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