FLASH RECAP:
Despite an aching right elbow, Brett Favre throws for 266 yards and two touchdowns to lead Green Bay (11-2) to a dominating victory over Oakland (4-9) before an announced crowd of 70,828 at Lambeau Field on Dec. 9, 2007.
Ryan Grant rushes for 156 yards and a touchdown and Will Blackmon contributes two special teams scores as the Packers win the NFC North Division and clinch a playoff berth for the first time in three seasons.
Playing in 18-degree conditions, Green Bay blows open the game with 17 third-quarter points after the Raiders narrow the deficit to 14-7 late in the first half on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Josh McCown to Jerry Porter.
Blackmon gives the Packers a 14-0 lead on a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown. It's the first return for a touchdown in Oakland punter Shane Lechler's eight-year NFL career.
Oakland has only 85 net rushing yards. The Raiders enter the game ranked fourth in the league in rushing, averaging 135.0 yards per game.
With the loss, the Raiders are eliminated from playoff contention for the seventh straight season.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Brett Favre — Is 15-of-23 passing, including touchdown throws to Greg Jennings (80 yards) and Donald Lee (46 yards).
RB Ryan Grant — Rushes for 156 yards an a touchdown.
CB Will Blackmon — Returns a Shane Lechler punt 57 yards for a second-quarter touchdown and recovers a Tim Dwight fumble in the end zone for a third-quarter score.
WR Jerry Porter — His leaping 25-yard catch with 26 seconds left in the first half accounts for the Raiders' only touchdown.
QB Andrew Walter — Is 5-of-8 passing for 38 yards in fourth-quarter mop-up work for an ineffective Josh McCown. It's Walter's first action of the 2007 season after starting eight games in 2006.
SS Stuart Schweigert — Contributes an interception near the end of the first quarter.
GOAT:
Raiders QB Josh McCown. After reportedly waking up with a stomach virus the morning of the game, McCown is 7-of-15 passing for 110 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Oakland falls to 1-4 in McCown starts this season.
KEY STATS:
The Packers out-gain the Raiders, 445 to 233, in total yards.
Raiders RB Justin Fargas rushes for 57 yards on 15 carries. He rushed for 285 yards the previous two games.
TURNING POINT:
Leading 14-7 entering the second half, Green Bay scores 17 third-quarter points to build a 31-7 lead.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders RB Justin Fargas
"You expect to win every game. But we didn't play well today as a team and they were the better team today."
It feels good to put away a team that we should have put away. It’s a win, but it’s not where our train stops. We’ve got much bigger aspirations."
Packers CB Charles Woodson
"I don't know if too many people gave us a shot to be at this position. It says a lot about this team. I'm feeling good about my decision to come back, obviously."
Packers QB Brett Favre
BY THE NUMBERS:
15-2: Packers record the past 17 regular-season games.
179: Green Bay rushing yards. The Packers enter their game against the Raiders ranked 30th in NFL rushing, averaging 85.3 yards per game.
250: Consecutive regular-season starts for Packers QB Brett Favre.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Raiders are 3-3 in regular-season games against the Packers at Lambeau Field. Green Bay has won the past three meetings (1993, 1999 & 2007) after Oakland/Los Angeles won the first three (1972, 1978 & 1987).
The Raiders' Isaiah Ekejiuba (50) can't catch Will Blackmon (27) of
the Packers on Blackmon's 57-yard punt return for a touchdown.
