Over the last several weeks, Packers.com has compiled a series of "Favorite Fives," lists of Top 5 plays from the 2008 season, and from each list, fans have voted for their favorites.
The top vote-getters are here in our final "Favorite Five," the Play of the Year. Video clips and short descriptions of the plays are included, and voting for Play of the Year can be done in the poll on the left side of the page.
Let us know your choice for Play of the Year. The nominees, in chronological order, are:
Will Blackmon, 76-yard punt return TD vs. Minnesota (Sept. 8)
The Packers were clinging to a 10-6 lead midway through the third quarter when the season opener tilted in their favor for good. Blackmon fielded Chris Kluwe's 49-yard punt at his own 24, headed toward the near sideline where two Vikings ran into each other. He then cut back to his right, all the way across the field, got a final block from Jason Hunter on Minnesota LB Chad Greenway, and took it in for a score that electrified the Monday night sellout crowd. It was Blackmon's third career touchdown, and second on a punt return, and it set the tone for a solid season on punt returns for the Packers. Blackmon would add another punt return for a TD against the Vikings two months later.
Greg Jennings, 48-yard TD at Tampa Bay (Sept. 28)
The Packers trailed 20-7 late in the third quarter but got back into the game when QB Aaron Rodgers, one series after injuring his shoulder on a scramble, gritted his teeth and threw a laser down the seam to Jennings that was just out of the reach of Tampa Bay safety Jermaine Phillips. The score, which came on third-and-16, was set up by an acrobatic Nick Collins interception that gave the offense good field position.
Aaron Rouse, 99-yard INT return TD vs. Indianapolis (Oct. 19)
After Collins already had run back a Peyton Manning interception for a TD earlier in the game, Rouse did so in even more dramatic fashion. The Colts put together a long drive from their own 20 to the Green Bay 6-yard line. But on the 13th play of the drive, Manning tried to hit Anthony Gonzalez in the left flat near the goal line and Rouse jumped the route perfectly. The pick and subsequent 99-yard runback tied the franchise record for longest interception return, equaling the 99-yard return of Tim Lewis against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 18, 1984.
DeShawn Wynn, 73-yard TD vs. Detroit (Dec. 28)
Getting an opportunity late in the season because of an injury to Brandon Jackson, Wynn wasted no time before making an impact. On his second carry of the game, a third-and-4, Wynn took a pitch to the right and was untouched around the corner and down the sideline for the Packers' longest play of the 2008 season. Daryn Colledge ran some expert interference downfield, having a hand in blocking as many as four Lions defenders, and Donald Driver got in the way of the last couple of pursuers near the goal line. The score put the Packers ahead 7-0, as Wynn went on to rush for a career-high 106 yards and the Packers piled up a season-best 211 yards on the ground in the 31-21 win.
Donald Driver, 71-yard TD vs. Detroit (Dec. 28)
On the longest pass play of the season, Driver beat Detroit cornerback Leigh Bodden with a stutter-and-go move and Rodgers hit him right in stride. Needing another score to pad a precarious 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter, the Packers wasted no time going for one. On the first play after Detroit's Kevin Smith scored to pull the Lions within three points, Rodgers ran play-action and Driver was open deep, helping to end the Packers' five-game losing streak and send the Lions to the conclusion of their winless season.
So there they are, your nominees for Play of the Year. Remember to watch the video and cast your vote in the poll on the left side of the page.
