Packers Make It Right, Win 30-23

I don't know what happened to the Packers once in the locker room at half, but the team that emerged in the 3rd quarter was much more confident and poised than the team that went in. Notably, Green Bay seemed to switch from RB Ryan Grant to James Starks after the half. QB Aaron Rodgers seemed to scramble more decisively, and quickly found his comfort zone, hitting WR Greg Jennings 49 yards deep for the go-ahead TD (14-13)

The defense's sobering of QB Cam Newton continued, as CB Charles Woodson immediately picked him off on the next possession. That lead to a Mason Crosby field goal, making it 17-13. Two plays later, Packers S Morgan Burnett forced a fumble from veteran receiver Steve Smith, which Woodson subsequently scooped up. That set up another field goal to make it 20-13. And from sobering to slobbering, Newton again tossed a duck, which Burnett happily picked out of the sky, setting up -you guessed it- another field goal (23-13)

"The Dagger" was pronounced with just over 2 minutes remaining in the game, as Rodgers found WR Jordy Nelson for an 89 yard score. The final score was 30-13.

Noteworthy:

• WR Donal Driver passed James Lofton as the Packers all-time leader in receiver yards with 9,656.
• S Nick Collins was KO'd by what appeared to be a foot to the head. After several minutes of inactivity, he was carted off the field. It was truly a scary scene. After the game, head coach Mike McCarthy said Colins had feeling and full movement in all extremities, and that they were simply following protocol to the letter. Collins will spend the night in the hospital, and return to the facility tomorrow to undergo further testing.

Next up, the Packers are off to Chicago to face da Bears, who were handled by the Saints today, losing 30-13.