All of the preseason precision was missing once the bright lights of the NFL's regular season were turned on Sunday night.

Luckily for the Packers, one finely executed play turned out to be the biggest.

Coach Mike McCarthy's dramatic call on third-and-1 from the 50 with time precious commodity led to Aaron Rodgers' touchdown pass to Greg Jennings with 1 minute, 11 seconds left in regulation gave the Packers a 21-15 victory over the archrival Bears in the season opener.

It was a huge statement by the Pack, who not only kept pace with Brett Favre and the Vikings — still sounds strange, doesn't it? — but they created questions with a team some thought could reach the Super Bowl because of the addition of quarterback Jay Cutler.

Defense was the name of this game and the Packers' switch to the 3-4 looked superb. There was a frenetic pace to new defensive coordinator Dom Capers' scheme, forcing Cutler into four interceptions and forcing several other errant throws.

So, let's hand out the Week 1 honors:

WHAT IT MEANS

Holding serve on their home field was critical. With experts splitting votes between three of the four teams as the favorite to win the NFC North, Also, erasing the stigma of last season's close losses (seven by four points or less) is a good start to a new year.

GAME BALLS

Offense: Aaron Rodgers. It wasn't a game you would put in the scrapbook based on his final stats (17-of-28, 184 yards, 1 TD, 0 picks), but shaking off a safety and some shaky passes, Rodgers came up with a clutch TD pass in a critical situation. It will cement his leadership capabilities.

Defense: Dom Capers. Yeah, I know. He doesn't play. Still, Capers deserves credit for getting the 3-4 defense in shape and confusing the heck out of a pretty good QB in Cutler. The speed at which the Packers' defense played was something Cheeseheads only see on the basketball court.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Rodgers' TD pass to Jennings grabs headlines, but defensive end Johnny Jolly snaring a Cutler screen pass intended for Matt Forte was an amazing play and thwarted a Bears second-quarter scoring opportunity.

UNDERRATED

Defensive end Cullen Jenkins was a force, constantly putting pressure on Cutler and keeping the Bears' running game in check. Jenkins not only had a sack, he had three tackles for a loss. Emerging players in this new 3-4 scheme could make this defense quite dangerous.

NEEDS WORK

Right tackle Allen Barbre was the poster child for the Packers' struggles on the offensive line. The newly minted starter surrendered two sacks and was beaten numerous other times, which led to several hits on Rodgers.

NEXT WEEK

The national television audience will be spared from the unsightly scene that is the Bengals. They mustered a late TD, only to lose 12-7 to the Broncos on a fluke 87-yard touchdown pass.

Packers-Bears preview

Records (2008): Packers 6-10, Bears 9-7

When: 7:20 p.m. Central

Where: Lambeau Field

The line: Packers by 1

Overview

A prime-time audience will witness a new chapter in this storied Packers-Bears rivalry with two young quarterbacks taking center stage. Both teams are hungry to re-establish themselves as contenders, with the Packers only a 6-10 slip since their previous playoff appearance and the Bears two years removed from their last postseason trip.

Preseason prognostications have, depending on the outlet, the Packers and Bears reaching the Super Bowl, so the hype surrounding this matchup is immense.

Why the Packers will win

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will have to show that he can continue his development from last year, when he threw for 4,038 yards and 28 touchdowns with 13 interceptions, and be an efficient manager of Mike McCarthy's version of the West Coast offense.

Also, running back Ryan Grant must return to the type of production he had two years ago, when he average 5.1 yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns as part of his 956-yard season. Last year, Grant amassed 1,203 yards in his first full season as the starter, but he averaged just 3.9 yards per carry and scored only four TDs.

Why the Packers will lose

The transition to the 3-4 defense goes very poorly and is shredded by ex-Broncos QB Jay Cutler and second-year running back Matt Forte.

While the Packers' offense returns virtually intact, with a little bit of shuffling on the line, the defense is really the unknown factor. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers was brought in to revamp what was a porous unit last year.

Players to watch

Offense: Jermichael Finley. Learn the name, folks. Pick him up for your fantasy team if he is available. Finley will be the new beast of the tight end position if this preseason was any indication.

Defense: Aaron Kampman. The Pro Bowl defensive end is now playing outside linebacker. He entered this transition as a not-so-happy camper, but with the defense forcing 13 turnovers in the first three games and looking impressive, Kampman could be a star at his new position.

Prediction

The new defense is supposed to solve the problem of winning close games (the Packers lost seven games by four points or less last year) and with the Bears' offense still without a viable No. 1 receiver, the Packers will start off on the right foot. Packers 27, Bears 14

Flashback to the eve of the 2008 NFL season and take a look at the NFC North's starting quarterbacks.

Packers: Aaron Rodgers, unproven and replacing the legend of Brett Favre.

Vikings: Tarvaris Jackson, a player whom Minnesota was pinning its future on.

Bears: Kyle Orton, a locker-room favorite who didn't exactly scare opponents.

Lions: Jon Kitna, capable of putting up big numbers with his high-octane style.

Now, back to today and the eve of the 2009 season:

Packers: Aaron Rodgers, fresh off a 4,000-yard season and a dark horse candidate to be MVP.

Vikings: Brett Favre, didn't he just retire?

Bears: Jay Cutler, one of the best young gunslingers in the NFL.

Lions: Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft.

The NFC North is definitely a quarterback-driven division this year, which makes it one of the most intriguing divisions in the NFL and has added plenty of spice to rivalries that weren't necessarily looking for the added heat.

So, here is a breakdown of what to expect from the Four Horsemen this year:

AARON RODGERS

There is no substitute for game experience and with a season under his belt, Rodgers figures only to improve upon the numbers he put up last year. The Califonia kid completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 4,083 yards, resulting in 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

So how does Rodgers improve? The Packers went 6-10 last year, losing seven games by four points or less. The problem is that Rodgers picked inopportune times to throw picks, thwarting any comeback opportunities or giving the foe a prime shot at a late score.

Rodgers has perhaps the best receiving corps in the NFL (Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson) and a better grasp of the offense, a year of decision-making and anticipation under his belt, which is why Packer Nation is dreaming of Miami in February.

BRETT FAVRE

He has been the subject of many jokes and much criticism. But he is still Brett Favre. Now, he isn't the Favre of the mid-1990s, when he led the Packers to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, not in the least. But on the verge of turning 40, he still has enough in the tank to make a difference for a contender with a missing link.

For all the great seasons Favre had with the Packers, his best may have been his last, when in 2007 he completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 4,155 yards, 28 TDs and 15 picks. That is because Favre bought into coach Mike McCarthy's ball-control methods and took the safe route rather than gamble.

Now, Favre is in Minnesota and has the NFL's best running back in Adrian Peterson. He also has a great defense to stifle opponents. Favre's receivers, however, aren't top shelf. Bernard Berrian is fast, but yet to prove himself. Percy Harvin is intriguing, but he is a rookie and might not hold up against the physical NFC North defenses. The best weapon for Favre is likely to be tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.

The one question for the NFL's version of Cal Ripken Jr. is whether he can make it through a 16-game schedule. Favre underwent a couple of procedures on his shoulder and elbow during the summer, but seems to have his fastball back. Having only a few weeks of practice, the chemistry isn't there yet, so the early going may be a bit of a struggle.

JAY CUTLER

People will focus on Cutler forcing his way out of Denver, but that is old news. Finally, after years of quarterbacks seemingly more suited for the XFL than the NFL, the Bears have a legitimate threat under center.

Cutler may have a reputation as being a little bit of a problem in the locker room, but all of the criticism thrown his way following the Denver fiasco may have knocked some sense into him. After all, when he returned to the Mile High City for an exhibition game, he said all the right things and kept his emotions in check while carving up the Broncos' defense.

There is no doubting Cutler's talent. He has a strong arm and utilized his weapons in Denver very well. But those weapons are lacking in Chicago, where converted defensive back Devin Hester is still learning to become a serviceable receiver, yet he is the No. 1 guy at that spot. Look for tight end Greg Olsen to become his best friend until someone emerges as a viable threat.

MATTHEW STAFFORD

The No. 1 overall pick out of Georgia inherits a 17-game losing streak with the daunting task of winning — one game, any game. Please. The Lions were the laughingstock of the league last year, highlighted by Dan Orlovsky unknowingly running out of the back of the end zone for a safety while rolling out for a pass.

Stafford has embraced the challenge and played well in the preseason. Some thought the rookie might take a backseat to Daunte Culpepper early on, but a freak foot injury late in the preseason made the first-year coach Jim Schwartz's opinion moot, forcing Stafford onto the field for Week 1.

It will take time for Stafford to establish himself. He won't be this year's version of Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco, rookie QBs a year ago who led their teams to the playoffs. Stafford's quick development will only make this division even more exciting to watch this year … and for years to come.

Depending on whether Brett Favre comes back.

Perhaps the most important series remaining on the Brewers' schedule begins Monday between two in-state rivals.

Huh?

The Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, the Nashville Sounds, hosts St. Louis farm team Memphis in a four-game series with the first-place Redbirds holding a 1½-game lead (entering Sunday) over the Sounds and Iowa Cubs in the Pacific Coast League's American North Division.

It would be in the Crew's best interests to see the Sounds rally to make the PCL playoffs and go all the way to the Bricktown Showdown. If not, things could get awkward after this week around Miller Park.

That is because of J.J. Hardy. The former All-Star shortstop hasn't exactly been lighting it up with Nashville, hitting .233 with three homers and nine RBIs in 16 games since his demotion to Triple-A. Only Hardy really knows why he is still struggling: pouting, still out of sync, injured, lost all confidence.

If Hardy can snap out of his funk and help the Sounds to the postseason, that means Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and manager Ken Macha won't have to figure out a playing rotation with Hardy and top prospect Alcides Escobar, who is getting his feet wet as a regular major-leaguer, quite so soon. A Sounds failure will make the final three weeks of the Brewers' season less awkward.

A resurgence by Hardy would be good for the Crew and the shortstop. Hardy is a superb defender and should be a decent threat offensively. With Escobar seemingly ready to play every day, the Brewers will have the choice between Hardy and Escobar at short or whether to move one of those guys to another position of need — second or third base (depending on what happens with Rickie Weeks and Felipe Lopez).

With a major need to upgrade the starting rotation, Hardy might be the best option to trade, but he will only be attractive if he finishes with a flourish. The Red Sox have shown a lot of interest during the season, but will Melvin swallow hard and take a deal that may not equal Hardy's potential?

Hard to say. But it would be nice if Hardy starts to find his swing again this week and lead the Sounds to the playoffs.

One of the more hilarious things about sports is early-season projections.

Remember when Tuffy Rhodes hit three homers on Opening Day in 1994 for the Cubs? He was projected to belt 486 round-trippers, a number that had to make Barry Bonds jealous. He would up smacking a grand total of eight homers that year en route to 13 for his major-league career (although he is now a home run king in Japan).

You can apply the same theory to preseason football. A few years ago, the Raiders went 5-0 in exhibitions, only to revert to the ugliness that the Silver and Black have become.

That is why you should take what the Packers did in their first two exhibitions with a grain of salt. The first-stringers didn't play much, but when they did, they looked pretty sharp. But the caveat is they were playing the Browns and Bills, not exactly teams penciled in to be Super Bowl contenders this year.

So when the Packers hit the road to face the defending NFC champion Cardinals in their third preseason game, you will get a more true picture of where they stand.

First, they are playing away from the friendly confines of Lambeau Field. Second, the surprising Cardinals obviously are a contender to make a run at another Super Bowl trip. Third, the starters will see extensive playing time after what amounted to cameos in the first two games.

So now we will see if Aaron Rodgers still has command of the offense, whether Ryan Grant can be an effective runner, whether Jermichael Finley continues to emerge at tight end and if the new 3-4 defense will confuse foes and produce more turnovers.

It is just the preseason, but forget the first two games. Pay attention to this one, but remember they are still practice games.

I have always thought Brett Favre to be self-absorbed. But just how much?

By boarding a plane Tuesday morning in Mississippi and heading to the Twin Cities to sign with the Vikings for a reported $10 million to $12 million, Favre pulled the ultimate selfish move.

Having followed Favre through his entire career, I had grown to accept the three-time NFL MVP's waffling about his playing future. But when he said a few weeks ago that he didn't want to continue, I figured he was done for this year — and probably his career. He had the entire summer to weigh the offer from the Vikings, who have surpassed the Bears on a competitive level as the Packers' biggest rival.

Favre's hatred of training camp — not just two-a-days, but living in a dorm — is well-documented, but to delay this decision until now, just days after the Vikes broke training camp and had their first exhibition game, shows that he does believe he is above everyone ellse.

I was all for him joining the hated Purple and Gold during the summer. Now, I'm torn. I have empathy for Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson — and how much does John David Booty expect for his uniform No. 4 now? — but sports is also a business. The Vikes win on this one, so do fans who have yet antother story line to follow.

The Vikings' locker room will certainly be torn, but for how long? Will Favre ingratiate himself to his new teammates, unlike what he did with the Jets following last summer's drama? Will all of the disgruntled attitudes be instead pointed toward coach Brad Childress?

The NFC North just became the most interesting division to watch. That is, until Brett Favre retires again.

Exhibitions are hard to read, especially the first and second one. Usually, the first-stringers are in there for a quarter, maybe more, then the backups vying for jobs battle it out and usually determine the outcome.

Saturday's 17-0 victory over the Browns had several outstanding aspects to it for the Packers, who are trying to bounce back from a disappointing 6-10 season. Granted, the Browns aren't exactly a Super Bowl contender, but they were a solid foe for a preseason opener (they will square off again in the regular season in Week 7).

So, here are some impressions:

Jermichael Finley: Despite a second-string tight end having just two catches for 18 yards, showed the dynamic ability that made the Packers draft him n the third round a year ago.

James Jones: The No. 3 receiver rebounded nicely from disappointing 2008 marked by a preseason knee injury.

3-4 defense: Yes, the scheme had a very good debut. Four interceptions and three sacks highlighted the performance of the new-look unit.

Desmond Bishop: The Packers were already happy with who they had competing for starting spots. After Bishop, stuck behind A.J. Hawk at one inside linebacker spot, stole the show on defense with one interception and forcing another.

Aaron Rodgers: Looked solid in his 5-of-10, 102-yard performance. His mobility led to a 53-yard touchdown strike to Donald Driver.

Matt Flynn: The mumbling that began last year grew a little bit louder with the No. 2 quarterback further distancing himself from No. 3 Brian Brohm, who was drafted in the second round last year while Flynn was taken in the seventh.

Anthony Smith: The safety brought in from the Steelers due to his familiarity with the Capers-style 3-4 defense redeemed himself for a facemask penalty (which did revent a TD) but picking off a Brad Quinn pass in the end zone three plays later.

Ryan Grant: For a guy coming off a 1,206-yard sophomore season, there is a lot of criticism leveled at the running back. Maybe that is because he had just four TDs and his yards per carry dropped from 5.1 as a rookie to 3.9 last year. He looked good against the Browns.

Offensive line: With starting spots up for grabs at center and right tackle, the offensive line was certainly productive. The unit paved the way for 230 yards rushing, allowed two sacks and contributed mightily to a 39:56-20:04 advantage in time of possession.

The Brewers finally made a big move, but it had nothing to do with trading for a starting pitcher.

Wednesday's flurry of action that saw shortstop J.J. Hardy sent down to Triple-A Nashville, pitching coach Bill Castro fired and the versatile Bill Hall cut was just the latest in a series of bold steps general manager Doug Melvin has taken. The new guys are prized shortstop prospect Alcides Escobar, speedy outfielder Jason Bourgeois and pitching coach Chris Bosio, all up from Nashville.

There are several areas to talk about, so here we go.

HARDY DEMOTED

Hardy seems like a sensitive guy, so it will be interesting to see how he deals with his being shipped to Nashville. No one can argue with Hardy's defense … he probably deserves some Gold Glove consideration, but doesn't make enough of the dazzling plays to make the highlights.

No, what has troubled Hardy is his bat. He has hit the ball hard this year, but usualy right at someone or the victim of a sensational play. The 26-year-old is hitting just .229 with 11 homers and 45 RBIs. Manager Ken Macha has tried Hardy in several slots in the batting order without much success.

Hardy is a lanky guy, so maybe his swing is a bit long. Hardy has natural power (50 homers over previous two years), perhaps second only to Prince Fielder on the Crew, but he isn't a homer-happy hitter. On the contrary, he is more of a gap hitter when he is right.

A lot will be made of the fact Hardy is only 20 days away from a critical date in his free-agent status; if he doesn't come back up before September, Hardy will be under contractual control by the Brewers for another year, perhaps making him more valuable in trade talks.

ESCOBAR'S ARRIVAL

This is the player Crew fans have been salivating over all year. Deemed ready as a major-league defender last year, Escobar spent this year trying to prove he could keep up offensively. He batted leadoff in the Futures Game and compiled a .298 average at Triple-A.

He is a player the Brewers can't afford to play around with like they did Mat Gamel. Gamel received inconsistent playing time despite no clear-cut third baseman and eventually was sent back to Nashville. But Macha is already on the record saying Escobar may only play against left-handers, likely meaning the range-challenged Craig Counsell will start most days. Ugh!

Escobar was second in the Pacific Coast League with 42 steals and could be the leadoff hitter next year depending on what moves are made this offseason.

Bourgeois, meanwhile, should get some time in right while Corey Hart continues his recovery from last week's appendectomy. He ranked 10th in the Pacific Coast League with a .316 average and fifth with 36 steals. Macha is likely to stick with Frank Catalonotto in right, but Bourgeois should get spot starts in right and center (when Mike Cameron needs a day off).

BYE-BYE, BILLY

Hall memorably hit walk-off homers on Mother's Day (with a pink bat) in 2007 with his mom in the stands. That came a year after his breakout year of 2006, when he hit .270 with 35 homers and 85 RBIs as he primarily played shortstop following a season-ending injury to Hardy.

Hall was a fan favorite (including mine) because he showed an unselfishness. He played third base, shortstop, second base and center regularly during his tenure and even made a start in left this year and a couple in right before being axed. This move wasn't surprising other than the Brewers decided to eat the rest of Hall's contract (about $10.5 million).

But the handwriting was on the wall: .201 average, six homers, 24 RBIs. He recently made a trip to Triple-A in hopes of rekindling his offensive magic. His stay lasted only four games before he was summoned to replace Hart on the roster.

Hall will land somewhere considering he comes cheap now.

BYE-BYE BILLY, PART 2

Imagine that loyal company employee who eveyone likes and has been around forever in a rather obscure role. Finally, he gets a chance to sit in the chair he has dreamed of. But his group, after a very surprising and excellent start, has generally floundered.

So you fire him. Such is the situation involving Castro, who had served admirably as bullpen coach for 17 years and been associated with the Brewers for 33 years, finally becoming pitching coach this year. But when your starters aside from Yovani Gallardo are maddeningly inconsistent and eventually eroding the confidence of the bullpen due to excessive use, your job in the big chair is on the line.

The Brewers were 15th (out of 16) in the National League and 25th (out of 30) in the majors with a 4.84 ERA, including a 5.16 mark by the starters — worst in the league.

On comes Bosio, the former Brewers pitcher who tends to be a bit more gruff and direct with pitchers than Castro. Recent additions to the bullpen (David Weathers, Claudio Vargas and Jesus Colome) should provide some stability and freshness, but how Bosio figures out his rotation will be the key to what happens the rest of the season.

MELVIN'S MOMENTS

Just like he did last year when acquiring C.C. Sabathia and firing Ned Yost, Melvin isn't afraid to do what needs to be done. And slowly, Melvin has sent signals to the Crew's core of young players that it is produce or pack up.

Hall and outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. have been shown the door, while Hall, Hardy, secoRickie nd baseman Weeks and left-hander Manny Parra have been sent to the minors while struggling. Right-hander Carlos Villanueva and Hart are next on the hot seat.

You have to like Melvin's tactics despite having his hands tied with the Crew's monetary limitations, but he still has work to do if they are to return to the playoffs this year.

Are the Packers gamblers?

Visions of Michael Vick dancing through defenses are seared into NFL fans' brains. Talent-wise, he is unquestioned and would be a dream to add to your roster.

That was up until two years ago.

A dogfighting conviction and prison time have turned Vick from must-see FB to a cautious experiment. What will the public reaction be? Will PETA be camped at every practice? How will he be accepted into a locker room? What have two years away from football done to his skills?

Someone will find out and the rest of the teams will either be kicking themselves and patting themselves on the back. Truth is, it is probably going to be more of the kicking.

But the gamble is huge … and that is why the Packers are at the table, figuring out whether to toss away a pair of jacks and facing a huge raise while being the short stack.

The Packers have played it conservative when it comes to free agents under Ted Thompson. Just look at the players he signed in recent years. Yeah, not exactly household names.

So why are they still kicking the tires on Vick? He would provide them with the game-breaker they really don't have at this point. Vick could be more of a slash player with the Pack, a receiver, Wildcat QB and running back.

It would be a mistake to bring him in solely as a QB. Remember what Aaron Rodgers had to deal with a year ago with a certain No. 4? The Packers are tantalizingly close to being a dangerous team, depending on how the transition to a 3-4 defense goes and whether they can have a consistent running game.

The Packers could go all-in and deal with the baggage and fallout Vick will definitely bring. Or they will fold. The bet here is that they protect their stack and ditch the cards.

A few days ago, we broke down the defenses of the NFC North. Today, it is the offense's turn.

QUARTERBACK

1. Packers: Year 2 as the starter for Aaron Rodgers and he continues to feel more comfortable in a cautious offense.

2. Bears: Finally, a real QB in Jay Cutler. But how long will it be before the tempermental ex-Bronco gets under his teammates' skin?

3. Vikings: Brett Favre will … oh, wait. Never mind. Between Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, they need to not lose games.

4. Lions: Matthew Stafford is the future, but Daunte Culpepper is the present … at least for a little while.

RUNNING BACK

1. Vikings: Adrian Peterson has taken the title of best back away from LaDainian Tomlinson.

2. Bears: Matt Forte (1,328 yards) burst onto the scene as a rookie and is expected to take the next step forward.

3. Packers: Ryan Grant's yards per carry average dropped from 5.1 yards in 2007 to 3.9 in 2008.

4. Lions: If Kevin Smith's production ever matches his mouth, watch out.

WIDE RECEIVER-TIGHT END

1. Packers: Greg Jennings has a new contract and is the go-to guy in one of the NFL's deeper corps.

2. Vikings: Bernard Berrian didn't have the expected impact last year despite his 20.1 yards per catch average.

3. Lions: Former first-rounder Bryant Johnson pairs with second-year phenom Calvin Johnson.

4. Bears: Will the Devin Hester experiment ever succeed? Someone needs to emerge if the passing game will work.

OFFENSIVE LINE

1. Bears: Orlando Pace provides an upgrade at left tackle, but will age catch up with him?

2. Vikings: Second-year pro John Sullivan takes over for Matt Birk at center and rookie Phil Loadholt is penciled in at right tackle.

3. Packers: Questions need to be answered at both tackle spots, but there are plenty of bodies around.

4. Lions: C Dominic Raiola and LT Jeff Backus provide the experience among a maligned bunch.

KICKER-PUNTER

1. Vikings: Ryan Longwell continues to be among elite.

2. Bears: K Robbie Gould is clutch and P Brad Maynard is consistent.

3. Packers: Mason Crosby is money, but punter is a huge concern.

4. Lions: Jason Hanson plans on kicking until he is 75.