Collins Leads Packers' Defense in Clobbering of Colts

Coaches talk all the time about a proverbial "light" coming on for a young player when he begins to figure this league out. On Sunday, Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins emphatically flicked his on.

With the Packers up only 17-7, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning threw a pass a bit too high for his receiver, and the ball landed right into the waiting arms of Collins. The third-year safety took it back 62 yards for a touchdown, jump-starting the Packers to a 34-14 win over the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field.

"Nick played tremendous today," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "He continues to take huge steps forward, and for a young player, that's all you can ask for. They [Colts] were driving down, and coming out of halftime, that was a big play for our football team to give us a little breathing room."

It looked early on that the Colts would pick up right where they left off last week, driving down on Green Bay's defense for a touchdown on their first drive. But it was all Packers after that point.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers responded on the next offensive series with a touchdown drive on his own, finishing off the march with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Donald Lee.

Green Bay running back Ryan Grant would then find the end zone on the Packers' next possession, scampering in from 11-yards out to put Green Bay up 17-7 going into half time. Grant would finish with his first 100-yard rushing performance of 2008, carrying 31 times for 105 yards and the touchdown.

But the Packers' young safeties stole the show after half time. Collins' interception put the Packers up 24-7 early in the third quarter, then his fellow safety Aaron Rouse intercepted Manning at the Packers' one-yard line and returned it the remaining 99 yards to effectively end the Colts' slim chances at a comeback in the fourth.

"I thought Aaron Rouse, his interception, 99 yards, is to my understanding, tied for the longest in the history of Lambeau Field," McCarthy said. "Anytime you get to put that next to your name, that's a nice accomplishment. So that's a big play for Aaron."

Manning's counterpart, Rodgers, was again effective as he completed 21-of-28 passes for 186 yards and the touchdown pass to Lee.

"He's played very well," McCarthy said. "I thought he did an excellent job today, taking what the defense gave him. The checkdowns were there, (Brandon) Jackson had a bunch of catches. And no turnovers against that defense, that's an accomplishment and that's something you look to do going forward."

Rodgers showed no ill effects of his lingering shoulder injury, and that was greatly assisted by Grant's continuing resurrection in the Packer backfield. Grant rushed for 100 yards for the first time since the Packers divisional playoff win over Seattle, and also recorded his first touchdown of the 2008 season.

"I was finally hitting the holes hard today, seeing things much better," Grant said. "It felt good to get back into the flow of what this offense wants to do."

For the Colts (3-3), the loss puts them back at .500, and with a considerable margin to make-up on AFC South Division leader Tennessee Titans.

"It's a very, very disappointing game, obviously," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "It's the way we've been all year. We've been up and down, not consistent, and we showed more of that today. They played smarter and sharper than we did."

But for Green Bay, the win keeps them in first place of the NFC North, and with positive momentum going into their much needed bye week.

"There was no doubt we needed to be 4-3 going into this bye," Rodgers said. "You know, it's been a situation where guys have stepped up in the absence of guys that have been injured, and guys that have been injured have been playing well through the pain. This is going to be a great week for us to just relax and get healthy."

The "light-beckoning" Collins was all smiles postgame, and for good reason. "Last season I had to deal with a lot of stuff, mostly my dad's health." Collins said. "Now that's all cleared up, I am finally focusing on all football. The game is finally starting to slow down for me."

Notes: The two interceptions for touchdowns gave the Packers five this season, tops in the NFL...Green Bay's Johnny Jolly blocked a field goal in the third quarter...Packers' defensive end Jeremy Thompson left the game with a stinger.