Monday, December 10, 2007
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Packers Beat Raiders to Clinch Division

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[December 10, 2007]  GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- The Green Bay Packers didn't need Brett Favre to throw the ball all over the field to clinch the NFC North on Sunday, relying on the running of Ryan Grant and a pair of special teams touchdowns from Will Blackmon in a 38-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders.

The Packers (11-2) assured an end to their two-year absence from the postseason with three games left to play.

Blackmon, a backup cornerback who has missed most of the season because of a broken foot, returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and recovered a muffed punt by Raiders returner Tim Dwight in the end zone late in the third quarter.

Grant, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Giants just before the season and took over as the starter last month, rushed for a career-high 156 yards and a touchdown, his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season.

Grant's hard running and sharp cutbacks took pressure off the sore left shoulder and right elbow of Favre, who extended his quarterback-record consecutive starts streak to 250 regular-season games despite leaving last week's loss at Dallas because of the injuries.

Favre had a relatively quiet game after easing his way back into practice this week, but still completed 15-of-23 passes for 266 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

His biggest play went to Greg Jennings, who came down with a deep jump ball as Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt fell to the ground then ran for an 80-yard touchdown to put the Packers ahead 24-7 midway through the third quarter.

The Raiders (4-9) trailed only 14-7 at halftime despite struggling on offense, only to unravel in the second half.

Raiders quarterback Josh McCown, starting in place of the injured Daunte Culpepper, was 7-of-15 for 110 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before he was replaced by Andrew Walter early in the fourth quarter. It was unclear whether McCown was replaced because of an injury, although he did appear to be favoring his left hand after a pair of hard hits.

Raiders running back Justin Fargas also left the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent rib injury. He had only 57 yards rushing on 15 carries.

Oakland held Green Bay's offense scoreless through the first quarter, halting a pair of deep drives with a fourth-down stop and an interception by safety Stuart Schweigert.

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But a short punt by Shane Lechler gave the Packers the ball near midfield early in the second quarter, and Favre directed an 11-play drive that ended with Grant's 6-yard touchdown.

Oakland went backward on its next possession, as two long completions by McCown were undone by penalties, and the Raiders had to punt. Blackmon fielded the ball and immediately squirted through a gap to run for a touchdown, putting the Packers ahead 14-0.

It was the first-ever punt returned for a touchdown against Lechler in his career.

Oakland's Chris Carr thought he had a touchdown return of his own on the ensuing kickoff, but he was ruled down by contact. Green Bay's Al Harris intercepted McCown on the next play.

The Raiders scored just before halftime on a 25-yard pass from McCown that slipped out of Harris' hands in the end zone and was caught by Jerry Porter, cutting the Packers' lead to 14-7.

The Packers scored on their first two possessions of the second half, as Mason Crosby hit a 44-yard field goal and Favre heaved the deep pass to Jennings to put Green Bay ahead 24-7. The Packers finally punted late in the third quarter -- and even managed to score on that play.

Dwight fielded the ball inside the 10-yard line and lost it after he was wrapped up by Green Bay's Jason Hunter. The ball bounced into the end zone, where Blackmon pounced on it.

Dwight originally was ruled down by contact, but a replay review awarded the touchdown to the Packers. It was the first time the Packers have scored twice on special teams in a game since 1986.

[Associated Press; By CHRIS JENKINS]

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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