TimesFour

2005: The Packers used up a month’s worth of big plays in one afternoon.

After losing their first four games of the season — the last three by a total of six points — Green Bay finally found someone to beat up on. The New Orleans Saints had been ousted from the Superdome thanks to Hurricane Katrina, and the forlorn Crescent City squad was demolished by the Packers, 52-3.

After being held to a three-and-out on their opening drive and giving up a Saints field goal, the Packers exploded for five first-half touchdowns, two coming from Najeh Davenport before he broke his ankle in the second quarter.

On defense, Al Harris intercepted two passes (returning one for a score), broke up three more and recorded a sack, while Nick Barnett capped the scoring with an interception return of his own.

The demoralized Saints were as bad as the Packers were good, stumbling through 13 penalties, five turnovers, and two missed field goals. The turnovers led to 31 of the Packers’ 52 points.

Missing injured WR Joe Horn, and with the Packers shutting down RB Deuce McAllister, the Saints had to depend on erratic QB Aaron Brooks for offensive production. After throwing his second interception and completing only 9 of 22 passes, Brooks was benched in favor of backup Todd Bouman. The second-stringer didn’t fare much better, going 5-for-13 and serving up the Barnett interception.

New Orleans couldn’t stop the Packer offense, either, despite the fact that it was missing starters Javon Walker, Ahman Green, Mike Flanagan and Bubba Franks. With his two starting guards playing on injured legs, Brett Favre gave his battered line a break by frequently rolling out, and completing three crucial passes off bootlegs for 39 yards, including a pinpoint 25-yard TD to Robert Ferguson in the back of the end zone.

Alas, the dominant performance — their greatest margin of victory in 39 years — was not a sign of things to come. The Packers went on to lose their next three and six of their next seven, leading to the eventual firing of head coach Mike Sherman.

Al Harris celebrates his scoring interception return.

Oct. 9, 2005
Lambeau Field, Green Bay
Attendance: 70,580

		1	2	3	4	Final
Saints		3	0	0	0	3
Packers		14	21	10	7	52

NO: John Carney 33 field goal
GB: Najeh Davenport 1 run (Ryan Longwell kick)
GB: Al Harris 22 interception return (Longwell)
GB: Davenport 4 run (Longwell)
GB: Robert Ferguson 25 pass from Brett Favre (Longwell)
GB: David Martin 1 pass from Favre (Longwell)
GB: Donald Lee 26 pass from Favre (Longwell)
GB: Longwell 26 field goal
GB: Nick Barnett 95 interception return (Longwell)

Trivia: Nick Barnett’s 95-yard interception return was the second-longest in Packers history. Who holds the team record for the longest run with a pick? The answer will appear in the Comments section tomorrow.