Green quietly getting job done

By Mark Feldman

Monday, October 25, 2004 2:03 AM CDT

GREEN BAY - Green Bay Packers running back Ahman Green let his feet do the talking Sunday.

Green declined to comment on his performance in the Packers' 41-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field.

But his actions spoke volumes.

The seventh-year back rushed for 163 yards on only 15 carries, had a 90-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and helped Green Bay win its second straight game. In all the Packers rushed for 220 yards, and averaged 7.1 yards per carry.

"I still think we have a ways to go with the running game," said Packers right tackle Mark Tauscher. "We're not running our power plays as well as we could. We're running to the outside well, but if we could our other plays better, we could be at the level where we were last season."

Green showed what a devastating outside runner he can be with 1:38 left in the third period. On first down from the Packer 10, he took a pitch around the left side, got nice blocks from tight end Bubba Franks and fullback Nick Luchey, and broke into the open field. He cut up the left sideline, and wide receiver Robert Ferguson cut down Dallas cornerback Terence Newman to free Green for the touchdown.

It was the longest run ever against the Dallas Cowboys, and Green became the second player in NFL history to have two touchdown runs of 90 or more yards. The other was Bo Jackson. Green had a 98-yard last season against the Denver Broncos.

"That's the best kind of drive you can have as an offensive lineman," Tauscher said on Green's one-play, one-score effort.

Green had a 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter that gave Green Bay the lead for good at 10-6. Coming into Sunday's game, Green has scored two touchdowns - both in the season opener against Carolina.

But he was better than ever Sunday as the Packer offense scored the first seven times it touched the ball.

"The bottom line is that our offense is executing the way it's supposed to," fullback William Henderson said. "We know that with us, any play can be a huge play."

Green also set a team record by rushing for 100 yards for the 27th time. Fullback Jim Taylor held the record with 26 games.

ROPE THEM DOGGIES: Call it the Curse of the Ice Bowl.

The Dallas Cowboys still have never won a game in Lambeau Field. The Cowboys record at the Frozen Tundra fell to 0-5 Sunday with a 41-20 loss to the Packers.

Green Bay came into Sunday's game 4-0 against the Cowboys at Lambeau. Green Bay beat them 21-17 in the famed Ice Bowl for the NFL championship Dec. 31, 1967. In the last game between the two in Green Bay, the Packers scored five touchdowns in the second half and won 45-17.

FANCY PASSING: Running back Tony Fisher's first NFL pass was a winner Sunday.

Fisher became the fourth Packer - and second running back - to throw a touchdown pass this season.

Fisher's 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Bubba Franks early in the third quarter was Fisher's first career pass attempt. The score gave Green Bay a 27-6 lead on its way to a 41-20 win.

On the play, Fisher took a hand-off from quarterback Brett Favre and ran right. He slowed, wound up and tossed a wobbly pass to a wide-open Franks, who tiptoed the end line for a touchdown.

Last week against the Detroit Lions, running back Ahman Green threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Donald Driver.

Aside from Favre's 12 touchdown passes this season, backup quarterback Craig Nall threw one against the Tennessee Titans two weeks ago.

FAVRE FILE: Quarterback Brett Favre, who played in his 200th NFL game Sunday, apparently hasn't lost his enthusiasm for blocking.

The 13-year veteran made one of his trademark cut blocks in the second quarter, much to the delight of the fans at Lambeau Field.

With 5:30 left in the first half, the Packers faced second-and-6 from the Dallas 45. Running back Ahman Green took a hand-off and headed to the left side, but found his way clogged with defenders. He reversed his field, headed to the right side. Favre circled back and cut down Dallas defensive end Kenyon Coleman - all 6-foot-5, 284 pounds of him. Green dashed 6 yards for a first down at the Dallas 39.

"It happened so quick that I really didn't have any time to think about it," said Favre, who has made his share of similar blocks in his career. "Actually, no real thinking goes into it. Maybe that's the block we need to score or get a first down. I'm out to win. I would hate to watch film on that and see I could have helped, only to see someone fumble or something."

Sunday also marked Favre's 100th home game, counting one game in 1991 he played in Atlanta with the Falcons. He also started his 196th straight game at quarterback, extending his own NFL record.

His 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Javon Walker in the second quarter gave him his 32nd straight game with a scoring pass. That's the second-most in NFL history, behind Johnny Unitas's 47 straight games from 1956 to 1960.

RETURN TO FORM: The middle of the Green Bay defense got more stout Sunday with the return of defensive tackles Grady Jackson and James Lee.

Jackson, who dislocated his kneecap in the season opener against Carolina, practiced all week and said Friday that he thought he could participate in 30 plays.

The 340-pounder started the game and guessed he was in between 30 or 40 plays.

"It felt really good to be out there," Jackson said. "I was having a lot fun. I probably should have been in on about 30 plays, but I just stayed out there and played."

On the third play of the game, Jackson showed his explosive run-stuffing explosiveness that the Packers have been missing. He shot through the Dallas offensive line and dragged down running back Richie Anderson for a 1-yard loss.

"I thought Grady had a great game," said Lee, who injured his knee in week two. "He was out there making plays. I think I did an OK job. We had some fresh legs, but with these kind of injuries you have to be careful."

Jackson finished with three tackles. Lee did not have any.

KICKOFF COVERAGE: The Packers kickoff coverage unit found its legs Sunday after a horrific outing last week against Detroit.

Against the Lions, kick returner Eddie Drum-mond had a field day, returning six kicks for 182 yards and two punts for 48 yards.

Against the Cowboys Sunday at Lambeau Field, the coverage team limited Dallas returners to 68 yards on six kickoffs, an average of 11.3 yards. In the first half, the Cowboys started their possessions at their 20, 20, 13 and 23-yard lines. It didn't get any better in the second half, when they got the ball at their 25, 28, 22 and 1-yard lines. The Cowboys average starting position was their 22.

"I take kickoff coverage and kickoff returns as a personal thing," said fullback Najeh Davenport. "When I'm running down to tackle a guy, I'm doing it with a purpose. When I've got the ball, I'm running with a purpose."

Davenport, who missed three games this season with a sore hamstring, returned two kickoffs for 51 yards and made one special teams tackle. He also gained 37 yards on 12 carries in relief of Ahman Green, and caught two passes for 20 yards.

MISSING THE PUNT: With the Green Bay offense operating at peak efficiency Sunday, the Packers punted only twice.

Bryan Barker's two kicks totaled 78 yards for a 39-yard average. But penalties negated two excellent efforts.

His first kick came with 9:50 left in the game. His 60-yard boomer was erased by an illegal use of hands penalty on wide receiver Robert Ferguson. His next effort went 40 yards.

His second effort landed on the Dallas 1, but that was wiped out by a false start on cornerback Jason Horton. Undeterred, Barker's next kick went 38 yards and was downed at the Cowboys 1.

INJURY REPORT: Safety Darren Sharper sprained his left knee in the second quarter and missed the rest of the game. He went to the locker room for tests in the middle of the second quarter. X-rays were negative and an MRI test was scheduled for today.

Tight end Bubba Franks suffered a stinger in the second quarter, missed several plays, but returned before the half ended.

Right guard Marco Rivera left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. He was held out as a precautionary measure. Quarterback Brett Favre said he banged his right hand on someone's helmet in the first half, jamming his wrist. "It doesn't feel too good right now," he said. "It hurt most when I took the snap."

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