TimesFour

I will be recapping the entire season starting with game #1. Are you ready? Enjoy the journey, one more time!

Everything the Green Bay Packers would be in 2010, they would introduce in the first rugged game of the season. That first contest against the Philadelphia Eagles was, in a very real sense, a microcosm of the entire season.

The opener of a wild 16-game campaign revealed the Packers’ tough defense, led by a flowing-haired madman linebacker named Clay Matthews. They debuted an offense that could be breathtaking one minute and stunningly inert the next. They made plays one minute and no plays the next.

They suffered shattering, debilitating, injuries to key players that were seemingly impossible to recover from.

But at Philly’s Lincoln Financial Field, the Packers hopped on board their Super Bowl express and took the first in many winding, twisting turns. It would not be easy, but what else was new?!?!

Already the pre-season favorite of many to reach the Super Bowl, the Packers had to start their quest in a city in which they hadn’t won in more than 4 decades. Nearly 50 years! They made an early statement when Matthews, the 2nd year LB’er from U$C, with an impeccable NFL pedigree, knocked out the eagles starting QB Kevin Kolb with a first-half concussion.

The Packers led the Eagles 13-3 at halftime when coach Andy Reid replaced the ailing Kolb with backup, the speedy, mercurial Vick. it altered the game and forced the Packers defense into a role it hadn’t anticipated.

Mobile and dangerous, Vick, who had missed 2 full seasons because of a federal dog abuse conviction, and sat for most of the ’09 season behind Donovan McNabb, used his legs and his arm to cause Green Bay fits.

The Eagles trailed 27-10 at the end of 3 quarters but clawed their way back to within 27-20, with 5 minutes to play thanks mostly to Vicks remakrable play.

Finally, the Packers found an answer, stopping Vick on the pivotal 4th & 1 at the Green Bay 42.

Vick was the NFL’s national story of the day, throwing for 175 yards and a touchdown and rushing for another 103 yards. He was back and the Eagles apparently had a QB controversy.

Green Bay won the game despite a poor effort from QB Aaron Rodgers who completed 19 of 31 for 188 yards with 2 TD’s and 2 INT’s.

“I played terrible.” a disgusted Rodgers said afterward. “It was as bad as I can play. I missed a lot of throws. I personally made too many dumb mistakes.”

But some early trends were starting to develop for the Packers. Matthews, whose rookie season the year before had been disrupted by injuries, proved to be a terror coming off the edge of DC Dom Capers 3-4 defense. He finished with a team high 7 tackles, 3 sacks and a forced fumble. It was obvious the Packers had perhaps their most dynamic and versatile defensive presence since safety Leroy Butler nearly a decade earlier.

Of major concern though, was the loss in the 2nd quarter of starting tailback Ryan Grant with what at the time was considered a simple sprained ankle. The Packers perennial 1,000-yard rusher would be later diagnosed with ligament damage that would end his season almost before it had begun. It would set a disturbing trend for the Packers.

Still, they had beaten a quality opponent on the road in a place they hadn’t won in over 4 decades.

Coach Mike McCarthy had seen his defense rise to the occasion and it was a pleasant sight–especially after watching that same defense dramatically collapse during key games the season before.

The defense surrendered 320 yards and most of that came in the 2nd half when it was still trying to figure out how to stop Vick. Offensively the Packers churned out 299 yards but McCarthy was not concerned about his offense. It would make plenty of plays.

“It was a gutty performance by our team,” McCarthy said, “We are fortunate and pleased to win.”

After only one game the Packers already found themselves with major questions they needed to answer. If Grant was hurt that badly, who would replace him? How could they compete in the tough NFC North with just the rumor of a running game? Was Rodgers subpar performance an indication of bigger issues or simply a slow start?

All those questions, and many others, would be answered soon enough. The journey had begun.