Aaron Rodgers helped put the ghosts of Brett Favre behind the Green Bay faithful, at least for another week, by leading the Packers over Minnesota, 24-19, in the season-opener for both teams at Lambeau Field.
Rodgers was a hearty 18-of-22 for 178 yards and a touchdown while also running for 35 yards and a score in his first NFL start for the Packers (1-0), who had a quarterback other than Favre start a game for the first time since Don Majkowski on September 20, 1992. Ryan Grant gained 92 yards on 12 carries while Greg Jennings was the recipient of five Rodgers' passes for 91 yards.
In the biggest story of the 2008 offseason, Favre retired, but then opted for a comeback, putting the Packers in a situation where they would have to deal the most prolific passer in NFL history or put Rodgers on the bench for a fourth straight year. Favre was dealt to the New York Jets on August 7 and the reins were handed to the first-round pick in 2005 out of the University of California.
Green Bay has high expectations as Favre was able to lead the team to within three points of a conference championship last season. The Packers fell to the eventual Super Bowl-champion New York Giants 23-20.
Tarvaris Jackson, who sat out the final two preseason games with a sprained knee, looked rusty at times but engineered two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, finishing the contest 16-of-35 for 178 yards with a touchdown and an interception for Minnesota. Adrian Peterson, the 2007 Rookie of the Year, ran for 103 yards and a score on 19 attempts while Sidney Rice made two grabs for 31 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown reception for the Vikings (0-1), who finished 8-8 last season and out of the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
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