The Eagles were starting a new quarterback, Kevin Kolb, as he was replacing long-time starter Donovan McNabb, who was traded to the Washington Redskins in the offseason. Kolb actually led Philadelphia to a field goal drive following an interception by Joselio Hanson to give the home team a 3-0 lead. It would remain that way at the end of the first.
Green Bay would respond with a big second quarter, starting with a 49-yard field goal by Mason Crosby to give tie the game up at 3.
With the score still tied at 3, many Packers fans thought the season was over already. On a run by Ryan Grant of 18 yards, he suffered a season-ending ankle injury. He had more than 1,200 yards rushing in each of the previous two seasons, so it would be tough to replace that kind of production. Green Bay would score a touchdown on the drive on an Aaron Rodgers pass to Donald Driver to give the Packers a 10-3 lead. The play would be reviewed, but upheld.
After Kolb and the Eagles went three and out, Rodgers led his troops down the field and set up for a long Crosby field goal attempt, which was good, and the Packers took a 13-3 lead at halftime.
In the second quarter, Kolb was injured and was pulled at halftime and was replaced by former Atlanta Falcons great Michael Vick. On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Vick did what he does best. He found a seam and ran for 23 yards and a first down. After a run by LeSean McCoy on first down, Vick found Eldra Buckley for a first down and Philadelphia would have been in business in Green Bay territory. But Buckley fumbled on the play and Green Bay recovered. However, Vick proved that he was still as much of a playmaker as he was in Atlanta and that the Packers would have their hands full trying to contain him and Philadelphia’s offense in the second half.
Rodgers and Co. would take the ball after the turnover and turn it into points. Green Bay faced a third down from the Eagles 47. The next four plays would total 44 yards, with the longest being a 20-yard reception by Jermichael Finley. Then, fan favorite John Kuhn would plow into the end zone from three yards out and the Packers had a 20-3 lead.
I told you Vick and his bunch would be a handful for the Packers in the second half. Well, Philadelphia came right back and made this a 20-10 game. Vick would hurt Green Bay on the ground once again on this drive. He would rush two times for 34 yards, including a 31-yard run that would put Philadelphia inside the 5. After a penalty pushed them back, McCoy scored from 12 yards out and it was 20-10.
After a great kick return by Jordy Nelson, the Green and Gold were in business, knocking on the Eagles territorial door, as Wayne Larrivee would say. After an 18-yard run by Grant’s replacement, Brandon Jackson, Rodgers went for the jugular. He threw a perfect pass to Greg Jennings in the end zone from 32 yards and Green Bay once again had a 17-point lead.
But once again, the Eagles fought back. They scored 10 consecutive points in their first two drives of the fourth quarter to cut the score to 27-20. After a sack by Frank Zombo, Philadelphia faced a 3rd-and-Goal from the 17. No problem. Vick found the second year wide receiver Jeremy Maclin for the score. That was followed up by an interception of Rodgers, which would turn into three more points.
Philadelphia used all of its timeouts on Green Bay’s next possession, which ended in a punt. The Eagles had one final opportunity to tie the game up. The red-hot offense was able to move into Packers territory. Vick ran for 25 yards and had a 12-yard pass to Jason Avant and the Eagles were faced with a 4th-and-1 on the Green Bay 42 at the two minute warning. Vick lined up out of the shotgun and took the snap and tried to blast ahead for the first down. He was denied by a host of Packers, led by Clay Matthews, who would have a terrific game. The linebacker would have three sacks and a forced fumble to go along with the final game-clinching stop. Rodgers would take a knee three times and Green Bay would start out 1-0.
Despite the loss of Grant, it would be the start of an incredible journey that would lead them to a Super Bowl win.
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