|
Woodson, Pack overcome Favre's off day
2007-10-14
Charles Woodson returned a fumble 57 yards for the go-ahead touchdown as the Green Bay Packers rallied to beat the Washington Redskins 17-14 in soggy conditions at Lambeau Field on Sunday. Packers defensive lineman Corey Williams stripped Santana Moss on an end-around late in the third quarter. Woodson picked up the ball and ran to the end zone to put the Packers ahead. Green Bay won despite an off day from the league's top passing offense and Brett Favre, who became the NFL's career interception king with an errant pass picked off by Redskins safety Sean Taylor in the third quarter. The Packers (5-1) recovered from their first loss of the season against Chicago last Sunday, regaining momentum as they head into their bye. The Redskins (3-2) baffled a pass-happy NFC North offense for the second week in a row after beating Detroit, but offensive mistakes cost them Sunday. On the Packers' first possession after halftime, Favre spotted rookie wide receiver James Jones wide open for a sure touchdown. But the ball hung in the air, and Taylor recovered to make a leaping catch near the sideline. It was the 278th interception of Favre's career, breaking a tie with George Blanda for the NFL record. The dubious mark comes two weeks after Favre surpassed Dan Marino's career record for touchdown passes and a month after Favre broke John Elway's record for most career victories for a starting quarterback. Favre's TD pass on the Packers' next possession to Jones, whose confidence was called into question after he fumbled twice last Sunday, was erased by a holding penalty on tackle Mark Tauscher. So Mason Crosby kicked a 37-yard field goal, cutting the Redskins' lead to 14-10. Crosby lost his footing on the ensuing kickoff, allowing Washington's Rock Cartwright to return the ball 40 yards to the Packers 48. But Williams stripped the ball from Moss and Woodson took it to the end zone. Clinton Portis fumbled deep in Washington territory early in the fourth quarter, giving the Packers first-and-goal at the 9. But after Favre was sacked on third down, Crosby bounced a kick off the left upright from 38 yards -- the second miss of the day for a rookie who had missed only one field goal coming in. The Redskins then drove to the Packers 32, where Green Bay linebacker Nick Barnett stopped Ladell Betts on fourth-and-1. But Favre threw his second interception of the day to Taylor, giving the Redskins another chance with 4:14 left. The Packers forced a punt and held on for the victory. Favre was 19-of-37 for 188 yards and two interceptions. Jason Campbell got the Redskins off to a good start, finding tight end Chris Cooley seven times for 97 yards before halftime. Cooley's 14-yard reception gave Washington a 14-7 lead just before halftime. The Packers took a 7-0 lead on a 3-yard run by rookie DeShawn Wynn, the first first-quarter touchdown allowed by the Redskins' defense all season. Washington came back to tie on their next possession on a 6-yard scramble by Campbell. Campbell set it up with a toss under heavy pressure to Cooley, who was wide open for a 28-yard gain. Cooley then played a starring role in the Redskins' go-ahead drive just before halftime. He caught a pair of passes before finding himself wide open in the end zone. (This version CORRECTS SUBS graf 12 to correct interceptions sted touchdowns; Packers 17, Redskins 14.)
| 
