‘Livin’ on the edge’ isn’t just an Aerosmith song, but also the way the Green Bay Packers have seen their season go.

Time and time again during their 6-1 start, several anxious moments looked as if they would spell defeat for the green and gold.

Week one versus Philadelphia: the Eagles recover a fumble from Packers quarterback Brett Favre with just over three minutes left at the Packers 38-yard line, just outside of field goal range, in a 13-13 game.

Week three versus San Diego: With Green Bay trailing 21-17, with eight minutes left, the Packers had 1st and goal at the Chargers one. A false start penalty pushed Green Bay back. Moments later, Favre threw incomplete on fourth down.

Week four at Minnesota: After not putting away the Vikings due to settling for short field goals instead of touchdowns, the Packers were fortunate to hold a 23-16 lead. On their way to running out the clock, Green Bay running back Ryan Grant fumbled the handoff, giving the Vikings hope at midfield.

Week six versus Washington: Favre throws two interceptions in the second half. Furthermore, after recovering a Redskin fumble at the Washington nine-yard line in the fourth quarter, the Packers failed to score after Mason Crosby missed his second field goal of the day, leaving the Green Bay lead at just 17-14.

Week eight at Denver: By failing to put away the Broncos in the first half by having to twice settle for field goals after reaching the one-yard line, the Packers lead just 13-10 late in the game when Denver had the ball inside the five-yard line with 30 seconds left.

Five of the Packers’ seven games the momentum swung heavily away from the Green Bay sideline.

But all five times, coach Mike McCarthy’s bunch responded thanks to all three phases.

Against Philadelphia, the Packers defense pushed the Eagles further away from field goal range. Minutes later Green Bay recovered a Philadelphia fumble on a punt return, setting up rookie kicker Mason Crosby’s 47-yard game-winning kick in the closing seconds for a 16-13 win.

In week three, the Packer defense eventually stiffened giving the ball back to Favre for one more shot. He and Greg Jennings teamed up for a game-winning 57-yard touchdown pass. Linebacker Nick Barnett’s interception in the closing minute set up an insurance touchdown to seal the deal.

In Minneapolis, Packers safety Atari Bigby made a diving interception off of a tipped pass to give Green Bay the 23-16 win.

Against the Redskins, the Packers defense did not allow points on the final nine drives, including a key fourth down stop by Barnett. Sacks by Aaron Kampman and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila finished off the 17-14 victory.

And finally against Denver, Favre came through once again with a picture-perfect 82-yard touchdown pass to Jennings on the first play of overtime.

The difference between average teams and contenders is that contenders win games that seem like they shouldn’t.

This season, time and time again, Green Bay has won these types of games. Living on the edge; it helped Aerosmith to the top of the charts.

It also may put the Packers to the top of the NFC in 2007.

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