The Green Bay Packers opened the 2007 campaign by defeating perennial NFC East winner Philadelphia 16-13 at Lambeau Field on rookie Mason Crosby’s 42-yard field goal with two seconds remaining. Here are some observations I made from my usual seat in section 135 in the south end zone of Lambeau.

RAVE: The defense has heads turning around the National Football League. Constantly in the second half, the Packer offense put the defense in a tough spot, but the defense only allowed three in the final two quarters.

One specific example comes to mind. The game was tied at 13 with fewer than five minutes to go when a fumble gave the Eagles the ball at the Green Bay 37, just yards outside of field goal range. If things had turned out differently, the Eagles might have threatened the Packers’ win; however, three plays later, the Packers had pushed Philadelphia back to the 50.

Nick Barnett had 13 tackles and Atari Bigby proved he belonged by flying around the football and making eight stops. Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was held to just 15 of 33 passing with an interception and a rating of 60.7

RANT: The Packers are not suddenly going to become a great running team. Coach Mike McCarthy has come close to conceding that this team will rely heavy on the passing game.

However, the pass protection must play better, and it starts with their mainstay tackles, Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, who gave up a combined 2.5 sacks.

Interior lineman Daryn Colledge, Scott Wells and Jason Spitz failed to get a rhythm in both areas, highlighted by the poor 46 rushing yards on 17 carries.

RANT: That doesn’t let the skilled players off the hook. Favre had some open shots, including Donald Driver on a deep cross and James Jones on a deep go route, but overshot both of them.

Brandon Jackson dropped a short pass that had a chance to go for long yardage. However, Favre does deserve credit for making some unbelievable plays eluding pressure, including the flip pass to DeShawnn Wynn that kept a field goal drive alive.

Still, the offense will have to perform much better if the Pack has intentions of beating the Chicago Bears in the NFC North.

RAVE: General manager Ted Thompson and coach McCarthy put an emphasis on improving the special teams this past offseason. That unit put on a clinic Sunday.

Tracy White recovered a first quarter muffed punt in the end zone for the team’s only touchdown and Jarrett Bush recovered another Philly muff that set up the Crosby game-winner. And speaking of Crosby, Thompson chose him in round six of this past NFL Draft despite having an adequate incumbent in Dave Rayner.

Crosby was three for three on the day, including the game-winner and a 53-yarder in the first half. His kickoffs gave the Eagles a sad starting point at their own 22 yard line.

RAVE: Just step back and enjoy the Wisconsin sports scene. The University of Wisconsin Badgers are the seventh-ranked team in the nation, the Milwaukee Brewers are in first place in September, and the Packers already are a game up on the Bears despite playing a game that wasn’t close to their best.

But thanks to a strong defense and opportunistic special teams, it was good enough. All in all, it’s shaping up to be a fun autumn in the dairy state.

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