Packers Daily Links: Driver Breaks Franchise Receiving Yardage Record

Wide receiver Donald Driver broke James Lofton's franchise record for receiving yardage on Sunday. That and more in today's Daily Links...

Wide receiver Donald Driver had one catch on Sunday, a 10-yard snare late in the third quarter that made him the Packers' all-time leading receiving yardage record holder. "The catch gave Driver 9,666 career receiving yards, allowing him to surpass Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton, who had 9,656 yards during his Packers career," writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. "The two were tied after Driver’s four catches for 41 yards in the season opener against New Orleans." Driver reportedly gave the team a pre-game speech to the team.

More on Donald Driver in the record books appears at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Packer Report (subscription required).

Safety Nick Collins stayed overnight in a Charlotte hospital after taking a shot to the head on Sunday, but the initial prognosis was positive. "Collins has normal feeling and complete movement in his extremities," the Journal Sentinel quoted a Packers press release. "As is standard protocol, he will be kept in the hospital overnight for observation. When he returns to Green Bay, he will undergo further testing and evaluation." Charlie Peprah replaced Collins in the lineup late in the game.

More on Nick Collins appears at the Press-Gazette.

The Packers, for a second straight game, featured a bend but don't break defense, not unlike last year's squad. "On 26 plays Sunday at Bank of America Stadium, the Dom Capers-coordinated defense of the Green Bay Packers lined up in the so-called 'red zone' against the Carolina Panthers," writes Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "The fact that the Panthers scored touchdowns on just two of their six red-zone trips loomed large in Green Bay's 30-23 victory." As McGinn reports, the Packers are allowing touchdowns on only 27.3% of opponents' trips inside the red zone.

More on the red zone defense comes from Packer Report (sub required).

The offense, on the other hand, found some nice harmony between the running game and the passing game. "Again, a timely running game complemented quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the passing attack," writes Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel. "Starks has a reminder for everybody out there who may still be confusing this offense with the one from the 2010 regular season." The success in the running game wasn't entirely because they were milking the clock, either.

More on the offense appears at the Packers official website and ESPNMilwaukee.com.

Charles Woodson, despite being beat in coverage a few times on Sunday, played hero in the end. "Woodson had the final say," writes Rob Demovsky of the Press-Gazette. "The takeaway king put together the sixth multiple-interception game of his 14-year NFL career and was in on another turnover play by recovering a fumble to help bail out a defense that for the second straight game to start the season yielded mega yardage. If not for Woodson and the four turnovers the Packers’ defense forced, they might not have departed Bank of America Stadium with their 30-23 victory and their 2-0 record." Woodson can afford to give up receptions and yardage if he can continue to come up with turnovers like he did on Sunday.

More on Charles Woodson comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com and the Journal Sentinel.

General game recaps are published at ESPNMilwaukee.com, the Press-Gazette, the Journal Sentinel, the Packers official website, USA Today and via the Associated Press.

Cornerback Tramon Williams hopes to play next week. That's the word from ESPNMilwaukee.com and JSOnline.

Sidebar items at the Press-Gazette include rants and raves and thumbs up and down.

The Journal Sentinel has the play of the game, scoring summary, Packers replay and random quotes.

Leftover items are pulled together at ESPNMilwaukee.com.

Praise for Cam Newton from the Packers can be seen at ESPNMilwaukee.com and the Charlotte Observer.

The Wisconsin State Journal's coverage has a column from Tom Oates and unit grades.

A statistical analysis comes from Eric Goska of the Press-Gazette.

Some photojournalism work appears at PackersNews.com.

Jordy Nelson had the game-clinching touchdown.

Tom Crabtree lines up at fullback.

Jermichael Finley doesn't get a touchdown because of the Calvin Johnson rule.

Chastin West is no longer on the Packers practice squad.

JSOnline has video of Jermichael Finley and Donald Driver.

Video: Analysis of Sunday's game comes from the Press-Gazette staff...

Brian Carriveau is the editor of the Maple Street Press Packers Annual. To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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jj's picture

September 19, 2011 at 08:00 pm

Donald Driver is one of the toughest all time Packers to play the game! Farve wasn't bad too LOL!!!!!

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