GREEN BAY - Middle linebacker Omar Gaither was not kidding when he said that the Eagles defense could gel instantly.

Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson's unit had six different starters from the opening-day lineup only a year ago and they corralled the Green Bay Packers running game for a total of 46 yards. Future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre looked more like a game manager than a playmaker with 206 passing yards.

The defense allowed only three points that didn't come after a turnover, but their effort was undone by two muffed punts, as the Eagles dropped their season opener, 16-13. Packers rookie kicker Mason Crosby nailed the game-winning field goal with only :02 remaining. Punt returner J.R. Reed sprinted up to field a short punt by Jon Ryan, but could not handle the ball and it was recovered by Jarrett Bush at the Eagles' 31-yard line.

The other muffed punt put the first points on the scoreboard. In the first quarter, Greg Lewis was nailed by Bush as he attempted to field a punt. The punt landed at the 21-yard line and was knocked into the end zone inadvertently by the Packers and Tracy White recovered the ball to score the touchdown. It was the first game that Lewis and Reed returned punts, even though both had experience with kickoff returns.

In his return from a knee injury that required season-ending surgery in 2006, quarterback Donovan McNabb completed 15 of 33 passes for 184 yards. He connected with wide receiver Jason Avant over the middle for a 9-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 10-10 in the second quarter. The Packers did an effective job playing press coverage on the wide receivers and Green Bay's defensive line consistently put pressure on McNabb all day.

- CHRIS McPHERSON

46: The amount of rushing yards allowed, the lowest total allowed since they gave up 21 in a 2005 win vs. San Diego. 1.91: The average gain for the Packers on first down plays, the lowest total allowed in the opening week of the 2007 NFL season.	"We can't play like that and expect to win football games. Green Bay did a heck of a job staying with it and winning the football game, but we surely can't be going out and having turnovers on special teams, the dropped balls we had on offense, the penalties we had on offense and missing tackles on defense. You can't have those, not to compete on this level." - Head coach Andy Reid	The Packers were able to capitalize on the Eagles' second muffed punt of the game as rookie kicker Mason Crosby nailed a 42-yard field goal that sailed through the uprights with only :02 remaining in the game. Jarrett Bush recovered the muff, even thought Eagles tight end Brent Celek said that he had the ball first.