*In the interest of re-living some of the great moments from a memorable 2007 season, Packers.com has compiled a series of "Favorite Fives," various Top 5 lists of big plays from the regular season and playoffs.
Each list will be accompanied by a brief description of the context, plus video clips of the plays. The Packers Fan Poll on the left side of the page will allow fans to vote for their favorite. A new "Favorite Five" will appear each week for the next several weeks, with a new corresponding poll.
After all the lists have appeared, votes will be tabulated to compile a final "Favorite Five," and Packers.com visitors can then vote for their favorite play of the year for 2007.*
The first installment is the Top 5 running plays in home games. In chronological order, they are:
DeShawn Wynn, 44 yards, vs. Chicago (Oct. 7)
In a prime-time contest against their NFC North arch-rivals, the Packers got off to a rousing start when Wynn, a rookie seventh-round draft pick, broke free up the middle on the fourth snap of the game and dodged tacklers on the second level for a 44-yard gain to the Chicago 8-yard line. It set up his own 2-yard TD run three plays later as the Packers took an early 10-point lead, only to lose in the closing minutes. It was Wynn's longest rush of the season before landing on injured reserve a few weeks later.
Ryan Grant, 30-yard TD, vs. Minnesota (Nov. 11)
After the defense recorded a three-and-out to open the game, the Packers marched the length of the field on their first series for a score that propelled them to a 34-0 blowout. On Grant's TD run, the 12th play of the drive, fullback Korey Hall threw a great block, taking out the legs of blitzing linebacker E.J. Henderson at the line of scrimmage to spring Grant through the hole. Receiver Koren Robinson also threw a good downfield block near the goal line. The play was so well-executed that center Scott Wells led Grant through the hole and didn't have to block anybody, running with him all the way to the end zone.
Brett Favre, 21-yard scramble, vs. Detroit (Dec. 30)
In a game he played barely more than a quarter, Favre was going all-out. On his second snap of the game, Favre rolled to his right and saw loads of open space, so he signaled for rookie receiver James Jones to throw a block downfield. Favre scrambled 21 yards down the sideline for his longest rush since 1998. It set up a Grant TD run two plays later as Favre led the Packers to a 21-3 lead before exiting to rest up for the playoffs.
{sportsad300}Brandon Jackson, 46 yards, vs. Detroit (Dec. 30)
With Grant taking a breather, the rookie Jackson took over and the offense kept rolling. On the first snap of the third quarter, Jackson took off around left end and showed both balance and a burst of speed in going 46 yards down the sideline. It was the longest run of Jackson's young career and helped him eclipse 100 yards in a game for the first time. He finished with 113 yards on 20 carries in the 34-13 win.
Grant, 43 yards, vs. Seattle, NFC Divisional playoff (Jan. 12)
An unexpected heavy snowstorm had blanketed Lambeau Field and made visibility difficult when Grant rumbled around left end on the second-to-last play of the third quarter. The run took the Packers to the Seattle 15-yard line, and Grant went over 200 yards on the day and scored his Green Bay postseason record third touchdown a few plays later, the final points in the 42-20 triumph. The image of Grant's long scamper atop the snow-covered turf and through the falling snowflakes could go down as the signature play of one of the most memorable postseason games in the stadium's history.
So there you have it, the first "Favorite Five," with more to come. Don't forget to watch the video of all five plays, and to vote in the fan poll on the left side of the page.
