The Packers continued to pick on Shade. Following a first-down incompletion from the 12, Freeman got a step on Shade on a post pattern. Favre put his throw on target, and Freeman made a nice over-the-shoulder grab for his 52nd career touchdown catch from Favre.
Bates gave the Redskins decent field position with a 41-yard kickoff return after bobbling the ball in the end zone. But it led to nothing, as Westbrook made a six-yard reception on third and eight.
Negotiations to rework Redskins defensive end Marco Coleman's contract aren't going well. "I have to do what's best for me," Coleman, left, said.
(Post File Photo)
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The injuries began late in the first quarter. Arrington and defensive end Bruce Smith dove to hit Favre on a third-down play. Smith landed on top of Arrington, who remained down on the field. He limped to the sideline with the help of the team's trainers. He received treatment and did a bit of jogging but was back on the field for the first two plays of Green Bay's next possession. But then he returned to the sideline and sat on the bench with an ice pack strapped to his knee. His night was over, and undrafted rookie Antonio Pierce took over at his outside linebacker spot.
The offense still couldn't get moving. The Redskins went three plays and out when George was stopped for no gain trying to run for a first down on third and one. But the defense was keeping the Redskins in the game. The Packers got Green and fellow tailback Dorsey Levens going, as they combined for 47 yards on five straight running plays to get Green Bay to the Redskins 13. But the Packers had to settle for Longwell's 28-yard field goal and a 10-0 advantage about three minutes before halftime.
The Packers had a chance to add to the lead in the closing moments of the half. Favre connected with Franks for 16 yards on third and six, and wide receiver Donald Driver beat Bailey for a 24-yard gain.
But on a second-down play from the Redskins 17, Favre had blitzing free safety David Terrell in his face and tried to get the ball to Freeman against double coverage in interception in his two NFL games, and the Redskins were 10 points behind at the break.
Matters got worse quickly in the second half. On the second play of the half, George tried to get the ball to rookie wide receiver Rod Gardner. But his throw went directly to Nate Wayne as the linebacker dropped into coverage. Wayne's 18-yard return put the Packers at the Redskins 16, but they could manage only Longwell's 32-yard field goal. That series was costly to the Redskins, as Coleman was hurt trying to tackle Green on a running play.
The Redskins got a 17-yard dash by Davis to begin their next drive but got pushed back after crossing midfield, and it was a 20-0 soon thereafter. Bailey slipped a bit as Schroeder caught the ball on a slant pattern and breezed past the Pro Bowl cornerback into open territory on his way to the end zone.
Said tight end Stephen Alexander: "I'm at a loss for words. I've never seen anything like it. I've never struggled like this."
