New Year’s Shootout

The Detroit Lions were at Lambeau on New Year’s Day to take on the Packers in what many assumed would be a glorified pre-season game.  What the fans received however was one of the most entertaining games of the season.

GREEN BAY – January 2012: Jermichael Finley (88) of the Green Bay Packers signals touchdown during a game on January 1, 2012 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The game was a back and forth contest as the teams went toe to toe trading scores and racking up yardage at a record setting pace.  Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford would throw for 520 yards and 5 touchdowns on the day.  Not to be outdone, Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn tossed for 480 yards and a team record 6 touchdowns.

GREEN BAY – January 2012: Titus Young (16) of the Detroit Lions catches a touchdown pass against Sam Shields (37) of the Green Bay Packers during a game on January 1, 2012 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

Everytime Detroit scored, the Packers answered.  Flynn hooked up three times with Jordy Nelson for touchdowns and his four yard touchdown pass late in the 4th quarter to Jermichael Finley proved to be the difference as the Packers won 45-41.

GREEN BAY – January 2012: Jordy Nelson (87) and James Jones (89) of the Green Bay Packers celebrate a third quarter touchdown during a game on January 1, 2012 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The Packers closed out the season with a 15-1record, the best in franchise history.  They now get a week to rest before hosting either the Giants, Falcons or these same Detroit Lions in what is sure to be an exciting Divisional Playoff game.  The rest of my photos from Sunday’s contest are here.

Christmas at Lambeau

Two of my favorite things; Christmas and the Green Bay Packers.  On Sunday night I got to combine the two as the Packers took on the Chicago Bears.

GREEN BAY – DECEMBER 2011: Earl Bennett (80) of the Chicago Bears during a game on December 25, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

Any fear of a hangover from the team’s first loss, last week in Kansas City was quickly put to rest.  The Packers came in focused and went in to halftime with a 14-3 lead.

GREEN BAY – DECEMBER 2011: Tramon Williams (38) of the Green Bay Packers during a game on December 25, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The Bears closed the score to 14-10 in the third quarter, but the Pack responded with 21 unanswered points and cruised to a victory over their rivals from the south. 

GREEN BAY – DECEMBER 2011: Aaron Rodgers (12) of the Green Bay Packers during a game on December 25, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

Aaron Rodgers five touchdown performance was a nice little Christmas present to the fans at Lambeau and helped the Packers secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  The rest of my images from Sunday’s game can be found here.

13-0

The Packers improved to 13-0 over the weekend with a dominating 46-16 win over the Oakland Raiders.

GREEN BAY – DECEMBER 2011: Bryan McCann (32) of the Oakland Raiders during a game on December 11, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The Packers handled Oakland easily from the start, scoring 31 first half points and tacking on another 3rd quarter field goal, for a 34-0 lead before Oakland finally got on the scoreboard. 

GREEN BAY – DECEMBER 2011: James Jones (89) of the Green Bay Packers waits for a pass during a game on December 11, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The Packers tacked on two Mason Crosby field goals, and a defensive score by Eric Walden before Oakland got a couple of late game scores to result in the 46-16 final.

GREEN BAY – DECEMBER 2011: Clay Matthews (52) of the Green Bay Packers during a game on December 11, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

Green Bay heads to Kansas City next week as they look to go 14-0 against the Chiefs, before returning home to Lambeau Field to close out the regular season with games against the Bears and Lions.  The rest of my images from Sunday’s game can be found here.

Monday Night Football

As the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Green Bay Packers 2011 schedule is full of primetime games.  They had another one on Monday night against their division rival Minnesota Vikings. 

GREEN BAY – NOVEMBER 2011: Members of the Green Bay Packers huddle up prior to a game on November 14, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The Packers and Vikings are on two different paths this season, with Green Bay winning their first eight games, while Minnesota entered the game just 2-6. Nonetheless divisional games are usually hard fought contests, regardless of records.  However, Mike McCarthy would not allow a letdown on national television.

GREEN BAY – NOVEMBER 2011: Mike McCarthy, Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers during a game on November 14, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The Packers jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead thanks to an 80 yard punt return by Randall Cobb and a 24 yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Greg Jennings.  They pushed the lead to 24-0 in the third quarter when Jordy Nelson hauled in a 17 yard touchdown catch.  The Vikings finally got on the board with a three yard touchdown run by Adrian Peterson, but the Packers added touchdowns from John Kuhn, Nelson, and Matt Flynn to roll over Minnesota 45-7.

GREEN BAY – NOVEMBER 2011: Jordy Nelson (87) of the Green Bay Packers stiff-arms a Vikings defender on his way to the end zone during a game on November 14, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

Green Bay improved to 9-0 on the season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coming to town next week.  The rest of my images from Monday night’s game can be found here.

Throwback Sunday

The winless St. Louis Rams came to Green Bay this past weekend to take on the undefeated Green Bay Packers.  Predictably, it wasn’t much of a game, as the Packers rolled over the Rams 24-3 thanks to 316 yards passing and three touchdowns from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

GREEN BAY – OCTOBER 2011: James Straks (44) of the Green Bay Packers loses the ball as he is tackled out of bounds during a game on October 16, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The Packers broke out their throwback uniforms for the game against the Rams.  The team wore them last year against the 49ers and improved to 2-0 in the alternate attire. 

GREEN BAY – OCTOBER 2011: Desmond Bishop (55) of the Green Bay Packers during a game on October 16, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The game also marked the return of former Packers cornerback and fan favorite, Al Harris to Green Bay.  Harris joined the Packers in 2003 after being traded from the Philadelphia Eagles.  He spent seven seasons in the green and gold, and was greated warmly by Packers players and fans alike when he lined up across the field for the Rams along with other former Packers Brady Poppinga, Josh Gordy and Quinn Porter. 

GREEN BAY – OCTOBER 2011: Al Harris (31) of the St. Louis Rams during a game on October 16, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

Back To Football

The 2011 NFL season kicked off on Thursday night when the New Orleans Saints came to Lambeau Field to take on the defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers. 

GREEN BAY – SEPTEMBER 2011: Alex Green (20) of the Green Bay Packers warms up prior to a game on September 8, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The game was the first regular season action for the Packers rookies and with all eyes on them some of them really stood out.  None more so than wide receiver Randall Cobb.  Cobb had a 32 yard touchdown reception and thrilled the Lambeau Field crowd with a 108 yard kickoff return for a touchdown as well. 

GREEN BAY – SEPTEMBER 2011: Randall Cobb (18) of the Green Bay Packers warms up prior to a game on September 8, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The game was a hard hitting, back and forth contest.  The Packers jumped out to an early lead, but the Saints rallied back and needed just a touchdown and a two point conversion to tie the game.  But on the last play of the game, the Green Bay defense stuffed New Orleans running back Mark Ingram in the backfield and held on for the 34-42 victory.

GREEN BAY – SEPTEMBER 2011: Marques Colston (12) of the New Orleans Saints drops a pass as he is hit by Erik Walden (93), Charles Woodson (21) and Morgan Burnett (42) of the Green Bay Packers during a game on September 8, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

 I’m looking forward to shooting more games at Lambeau this season and hopefully even some home playoff games as the Packers try to repeat.  Here are the rest of my images from Thursday night’s opening game against the Saints.

Packers vs. Chiefs

The Packers welcomed the Kansas City Chiefs to Lambeau Field on Thursday night for their final pre-season tune up before they kick things off for real next Thursday night in a primetime game against the New Orleans Saints.

GREEN BAY – SEPTEMBER 2011: Jon McGraw (47), Kendrick Lewis (23) and Reshard Langford (48) of the Kansas City Chiefs take the field prior to a game on September 1, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The Chiefs chose to play their starters for the majority of the game.  The Packers decided to rest most of theirs.  Quarterback Aaron Rodgers played one series for Green Bay and still managed to lead his team to a touchdown, even with his top five wide receivers and top tight end all inactive.

GREEN BAY – SEPTEMBER 2011: Chastin West (11) and Aaron Rodgers (12) of the Green Bay Packers during a game on September 1, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

Even with their backups playing most of the game, the Packers still managed to come out on top.  Rookie linebacker Vic So’oto was the star of the game.  The undrafted rookie out of BYU, recorded 1.5 sacks, forced a fumble and had an interception return for a touchdown to help Green Bay sneak past Kansas City 20-19.

GREEN BAY – SEPTEMBER 2011: Vic So’oto (97) of the Green Bay Packers warms up prior to a game on September 1, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The rest of my images from Thursday night’s preseason finale are posted here on website.  Can’t wait for next Thursday night at Lambeau, it’s gonna be a circus, and with any luck I will hopefully have plenty of photos to share.