2007 Green Bay Packers season

This article documents a current sports-related event. Information may change as the event progresses.

The 2007 Green Bay Packers season is the franchise's 87th season. They will look to improve on their 8-8 record from 2006. This season also marks the Packers 50th Season at Lambeau Field.

Offseason

On February 2, 2007, Brett Favre announced that he will return for the 2007 season. "I am so excited about coming back," the 37-year-old quarterback said on the website of The Sun Herald in Biloxi, Mississippi. He also commented, "We have a good nucleus of young players. We were 8-8 last year, and that's encouraging."^[1][2][3]

Ted Thompson, Green Bay's general manager, confirmed the news, saying, "The Packers are excited by his decision and look forward to a successful 2007 campaign."^[4]

2007 NFL draft

The 2007 NFL Draft occurred on April 28-29. The Packers picked 16th overall, selecting defensive tackle Justin Harrell in the first round.^[5]

Reportedly, the Packers were in talks with Oakland Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss at the behest of Brett Favre.^[6] If the Packers had made the move to acquire the 30 year-old wide receiver, the trade would no doubt have been a controversial one, as Moss has a long and storied history with the Green Bay franchise.^[6] While Moss's salary is high, Green Bay has reportedly $24 million of cap space, and could have absorbed his contract easily.^[7] These rumors were put to an end on 29 April 2007, when Oakland dealt Moss to New England for a 4th round draft pick.^[8] In the days following the NFL draft, Favre was upset concerning Green Bay's inability to acquire Moss.^[9] Favre was reportedly so upset that his agent requested that the Packers trade him.^[9] Coach Mike McCarthy was able to calm Favre down over the phone, and Favre eventually admitted that while he wanted to win, he did not want to be traded in order to do so.^[9]

Departures

On March 5, the Texans signed running back Ahman Green to a contract.^[10]

On March 5, the Dolphins signed tight end David Martin to a contract.^[11]

On March 7, the Packers cut fullback William Henderson.^[12]

Free agents heading into the 2007 season

Schedule

Preseason

Regular season

• * Indicates start time may change due to NFL Flex Scheduling

Division standings

Regular season

Week 1: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

The Packers began their season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. In the first quarter, Green Bay's Tracy White recovering the Eagles' Greg Lewis's fumbled punt in the end zone for a touchdown. The contest was tied in the closing minutes but the Eagles again fumbled a punt return, setting up a 42-yard game-winning kick from Packers rookie kicker Mason Crosby. Crosby was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. ^[13]

Week 2: at New York Giants

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Playing a close game until the fourth quarter, the Packers took a commanding lead late in the game (racking up 21 points in the final fifteen minutes) and winning the game 35-13. Early in the 4th quarter, Favre capped off a drive with a pass to the outside of the endzone to Donald Lee, and then followed it up with a 10-yard pass to Donald Driver by the goalpost for a score after the Giants fumbled the ensuing kickoff deep in their own territory. In the victory, Brett Favre threw for 286 yards and 3 touchdowns and gave him his 149th career win as a starter, the most by any quarterback in NFL history, surpassing John Elway. Favre was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for games played September 16-17. ^[14] Mike McCarthy was voted the Motorola NFL Coach of the Week. ^[15]

Week 3: vs. San Diego Chargers

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Quarterback Brett Favre threw three touchdown passes against the Chargers in the victory, bringing his career total to 420 and tying Dan Marino's career touchdown record. With just over two minutes remaining in the game and San Diego leading 21-17, Favre found wide receiver Greg Jennings for a 57-yard catch-and-run across the middle of the field for the go ahead score. On the Chargers ensuing drive, linebacker Nick Barnett intercepted a Phillip Rivers pass and returned it to the San Diego 1-yard line setting up the Packers final score and a 10 point lead. Barnett was voted the GMC Defensive Player of the Week for games played on September 23 - 24. ^[16] This win made the Packers the only team to have ever missed the playoffs the previous season to return to open 3-0 against teams that made the playoffs the year before.^{[citation needed]}

Week 4: at Minnesota Vikings

Brett Favre broke Dan Marino's TD pass record during Week 4 at the HHH Metrodome

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coming off their home win over the Chargers, the Packers flew to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome for an NFC North division game against Minnesota. In the first quarter, QB Brett Favre threw a 16-yard TD pass to WR Greg Jennings surpassing Dan Marino as the league's all-time leader in touchdown passes.

With the win, the Packers stayed undefeated and improved to their first 4-0 start since 1998.^{[citation needed]} Favre was even named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season, having thrown for 344 yards and two touchdowns.^[17]

Not only did Favre become the league leader in touchdown passes, but he even became the league leader in pass attempts (8,393 at game's end).^{[citation needed]}

Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Coming off a record-setting divisional road game against the Vikings, the Packers went home for a Sunday night divisional clash with their arch-nemisis, the Chicago Bears. This would be the 174th meeting between the two teams.

In the first quarter, Green Bay got off to a fast start by capping off the game's opening drive with rookie RB DeShawn Wynn getting a 2-yard TD run for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Bears tied the game with RB Cedric Benson's 10-yard TD run. The Packers would end the first half with QB Brett Favre completing a 41-yard TD pass to WR Greg Jennings, along with rookie kicker Mason Crosby converting a 37-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, Chicago crept closer with kicker Robbie Gould converting a 44-yard field goal. Green Bay responded with Crosby kicking a 37-yard field goal, yet the Bears pulled to within three as QB Brian Griese completed a 19-yard TD pass to TE Greg Olsen. In the fourth quarter, Chicago erased their deficit completely with Gould's 36-yard field goal and Griese's 34-yard TD pass to TE Desmond Clark.

With a turnover-plagued loss (5 turnovers on the night), the Packers fell to 4-1. Also, with two interceptions, Favre tied QB George Blanda at 277 for the most career interceptions.^[18] Also of note, Brady Poppinga intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter, extending the streak of at least one Packer interception per game for the 11th consecutive game. This matched the longest streak in team history, which occurred during an 11 game stretch in 1984-1985. ^[19]

Week 6: vs. Washington Redskins

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
On October 14, 2007 Charles Woodson picked up a Santana Moss fumble and returned it 57 yards for a go ahead touchdown in a 17-14 victory over the Washington Redskins.^[20] He also recorded an interception in the game, his first of the season. In the third quarter Redskins safety Sean Taylor intercepted a Brett Favre pass making Favre the career interception leader in NFL history, eclipsing George Blanda's record of 277 interceptions. Favre threw two interceptions for the game. ^[21]

References

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