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DETROIT (Ticker) -- The
Green Bay Packers
are 1-4 for the first time in the
Brett Favre
era. His friend Steve Mariucci will try to continue the misery.
Not since opening 1-6 in 1991 have the Packers gotten off to such a poor start. That was when their coach was Lindy Infante and when Favre was a rookie with the
Atlanta Falcons
.
On Sunday, Favre and the Packers try to snap a four-game losing streak when they visit the
Detroit Lions
in a battle of NFC North rivals.
"I didn't expect this," Favre said of Green Bay's plight. "I don't think anyone associated with this team, including the fans, expected this, but this is the way it is at this point and hopefully we turn this thing around."
Mariucci, who is in his second year as Lions coach, maintains a close relationship with Favre after serving as the Packers quarterbacks coach from 1992-95.
A three-time NFL Most Valuable Player, Favre had beaten the Lions six straight times before the Packers were beaten here, 22-14, last Thanksgiving. It was not a pleasant holiday experience for Favre, who was intercepted three times and fumbled once.
Detroit's
Jason Hanson
drilled five field goals, including three in the fourth quarter following turnovers by Green Bay. Cornerback Dre' Bly was the defensive star of the game with two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Favre will find that this Detroit defense is even better. The Lions forced
Michael Vick
into three turnovers in last week's 17-10 victory over the previously unbeaten
Atlanta Falcons
.
The biggest defensive play was by rookie linebacker
Alex Lewis
, who intercepted a pass by Vick and returned it 33 yards to the Atlanta 2 to set up the go-ahead touchdown.
On the Falcons' final drive, defensive linemen
Shaun Rogers
,
Jared DeVries
and
James Hall
all made key plays for the Lions. After Vick drove the Falcons to the Detroit 21, Rogers roared in from his defensive tackle position and sacked the NFL's fastest quarterback for a five-yard loss. On a fourth down play, DeVries hit Vick, who banged his arm off tackle
Todd Weiner
and fumbled. Hall recovered the ball at the Detroit 32 to seal the win.
Meanwhile, the Packers have collapsed on defense, allowing a league-worst 142 points. On Monday night, they gave up the most points to an opponent in the 48-year history of Lambeau Field, falling to Tennessee, 48-27.
The only bright spot was Favre extending his streak of throwing at least one touchdown pass to 30 straight games, tying
Dan Marino
for second all-time. Johnny Unitas holds the record with a TD pass in 47 straight games. However, Favre was intercepted three times.
Matchup to watch: Lions left tackle
Jeff Backus
lines up across right end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.
Series: Green Bay leads, 76-63-7, and has won six of the last seven meetings.
Next week: Green Bay hosts Dallas on October 24 Detroit visits the NY Giants on October 24
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