2008 Green Bay Packers season

]

Most of the team participated with exception to recently re-signed running back Ryan Grant, corner back Al Harris and corner back Charles Woodson. All three were healthy but did not participate. Brett Favre also was not in attendance due to the fact that he was just reinstated back into the NFL earlier in the day.

Six other players did not participate due to injury. This list included defensive tackles Justin Harrell (knee) and Ryan Pickett (back), running back DeShawn Wynn (concussion), corner back Condrew Allen (knee), center Scott Wells (trunk) and defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee).]
*On Sept 30, The Packers signed former Jacksonville Jaguars DE Kenny Pettway to their active roster.
*On Oct 7, The Packers released LB Tracy White and signed practice squad LB Danny Lansanah to their active roster.
*On Oct 8, The Packers signed DE Rudolph Hardie to their practice squad.
*On Oct 11, The Packers signed RB DeShawn Wynn to their active roster.

Schedule

Preseason

Regular season

Note: Game times in weeks 13-15 & 17 are subject to change pursuant to the NFL's flexible scheduling policy. Weeks 12 and 16 are both Monday Night Football games and are exempt to this rule.

Division standings

Regular season

Week 1: vs. Minnesota Vikings

"at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

* Game time: 8:15 p.m. EDT/7:15 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 64°F (17.8° C) (Mostly Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 71,113
* Referee: Mike Carey
* TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels (play-by-play), John Madden (color commentator), & Andrea Kremer (sideline reporter)

The Packers returned home week three for a Sunday night clash against the Dallas Cowboys.

In the first quarter, Green Bay's first possession, RB Ryan Grant fumbled the football and it was recovered by Dallas. Green Bay's defense responded by keeping Dallas out of the end zone and they had to settle for a 25 yard Nick Folk field goal. Green Bay moved the ball quite effectively the next drive, starting it off with a 26 yard completion to Greg Jennings. The drive ended when Aaron Rodgers was sacked for an 11 yard loss on 3rd down. The Packers settled for a Mason Crosby 36 yard field goal. The Cowboys next drive was fueled by a couple of long runs by RB Marion Barber. Dallas moved all the way down to Green Bay's 14, but on 3rd down Cowboy's QB Tony Romo threw a pass intended for TE Jason Witten and it was intercepted in the end zone by FS Nick Collins and returned to the Cowboy's 43 yard line.

In the second quarter, Green Bay started off the quarter with some quick and effective short throws. The Packers managed to move the ball to the Dallas 20 without running the ball once on the drive. An Aaron Rodgers incomplete pass to WR James Jones on 3rd down set up a 38 yard Mason Crosby field goal. The Cowboys managed to get one first down on the next drive, but were stopped on 3rd down the next drive after Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins teamed up for the sack on Tony Romo. Dallas punted and Green Bay went three and out with a couple of minimal runs by Ryan Grant and an incomplete pass to Greg Jennings forcing the Packers to punt. The Cowboys closed out the half with a RB Felix Jones 60 yard touchdown and a 39 yard Nick Folk field goal. The Packers were down 13-6 at the half.

In the third quarter, Dallas received the ball first but were forced to punt 6 plays later. Green Bay's first drive of the second half started off with some solid runs by RB Brandon Jackson, but the higlight of the drive was 50 yard pass to Donald Driver on 3rd and 5 that set the Packers up with a 1st and goal at the Dallas 8. Aaron Rodgers was then sacked on 2nd and 3rd down and the Packers yet again were held to another Mason Crosby field goal. This field goal marked the 3rd time the Packers were shut down in the red zone and had to settle for a field goal in the game. On the Cowboy's next drive, Tony Romo completed a 63 yard pass to Miles Austin which set the Cowboy's up for a 2 yard Marion Barber touchdown extending their lead to 11 points going into the 4th quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Dallas extended their lead to 18 points with a 52 yard Miles Austin catch and touchdown. Later in the 4th, RB Marion Barber fumbled the ball and it was recovered by CB Will Blackmon at the Green Bay 12 yard line. With Dallas playing a prevent style defense, Rodgers completed 8 of 10 passes down to the Dallas 1 yard line. Rodgers sneeked the ball into the end zone for the touchdown bringing the Dallas lead back down to 11 points. After the touchdown the Packers attempted an onside kick which was recovered by Tramon Williams but he was flagged for illegal touching and possession was awarded to Dallas along with a 5 yard penalty from the spot of the foul. Dallas moved the ball into field goal range but Romo threw an incomplete pass to Terrell Owens on 3rd down and followed it up with another incomplete pass to Jason Witten on 4th down giving the Packers the ball back. The Packers moved the ball slightly, but the drive ended when Brandon Jackson caught a pass on 4th down and ran out of bounds before the 1st down marker. Dallas took over and ran out the clock with a Romo kneel down.

The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Packers 27-16.

Week 4: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

"at Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington
* Game time: 4:15 p.m. EDT/3:15 p.m. CDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance:
* Referee:
* TV announcers (FOX): Chris Rose, J.C. Pearson, & Nischelle Turner
* Notes:
**

Week 7: vs. Indianapolis Colts

"at HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

* Game time: 1 p.m. EDT/12 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Indoors
* Game attendance:
* Referee:
* TV announcers (FOX):
* Notes:
**

Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears

"at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

* Game time: 1 p.m. EDT/12 p.m. CDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance:
* Referee:
* TV announcers (FOX):
* Notes:
**

Week 14: vs. Houston Texans

"at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

* Game time: 8:30 p.m. EDT/7:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance:
* Referee:
* TV TV announcers:"' (ESPN): Mike Tirico (play-by-play) & Tony Kornheiser, Ron Jaworski (color commentators)

* Notes:
**

Week 17: vs. Detroit Lions

"at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

* Game time: 1 p.m. EDT/12 p.m. CDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance:
* Referee:
* TV announcers (FOX):
* Notes:
**

eason Statistical Leaders

* Passing Yards: Aaron Rodgers, 1274 Yards
* Passing Touchdowns: Aaron Rodgers, 9 TDs
* Rushing Yards: Ryan Grant, 269 Yards
* Rushing Touchdowns: Aaron Rodgers, 2 TDs
* Receiving Yards: Greg Jennings, 569 Yards
* Receiving Touchdowns: Greg Jennings, 3 TDs
* Points: Mason Crosby, 37 points
* Kickoff Return Yards: Will Blackmon, 380 Yards
* Punt Return Yards: Will Blackmon, 203 Yards
* Tackles: A. J. Hawk, 29 Tackles
* Sacks: Aaron Kampman, 4 Sacks
* Interceptions: Nick Collins & Charles Woodson, (TIED) 3 Interceptions

BOLD = Current league leader.

Note: Statistics are totals through week 5.

Awards and Records

Awards

Players of the Week

*PR/KR Will Blackmon was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for games played on September 4-8. [http://www.packers.com/news/releases/2008/09/10/2/ Will Blackmon Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week]
*QB Aaron Rodgers was named FedEx Air Player of the Week for games played on September 14-15. [http://www.nfl.com/partner/story;jsessionid=4A6E45B9739DA2763D326026E489C219?id=09000d5d80ad6ccb&partnerType=players-air-and-ground Rodgers, McFadden named Week 2 FedEx Air & Ground winners]

Players of the Month

*CB Charles Woodson was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for the month of September. [http://www.packers.com/news/releases/2008/10/02/2/]

Records

Injuries

Training Camp and Pre Season

*On July 28, wide receiver Shaun Bodiford was placed on Injured Reserve with a back injury.
*On August 19, tight end Evan Moore was placed on Injured Reserve with a knee injury.
*On August 25, defensive tackle Justin Harrell was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list with a back injury.
*On August 30, long snapper J. J. Jansen was placed on Injured Reserve with a LCL injury.
*On August 30, offensive lineman Orrin Thompson was placed on Injured Reserve.
*On August 30, defensive tackle Rodney Allen was placed on Injured Reserve.

Regular Season

*On October 1, Defensive end/Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins was placed on Injured Reserve with a torn pectoral muscle.
*On October 11 Running back Kregg Lumpkin was placed on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury.

Notes and references