Crosby's late FG lifts Pack over Eagles

Rookie kicker Mason Crosby's 42-yard field goal with two seconds left gave the Green Bay Packers a 16-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

The Packers benefited from a second major mistake by the Eagles' special teams, as J.R. Reed bobbled a punt with 59 seconds remaining and Green Bay's Jarrett Bush recovered to give Green Bay the ball at the Philadelphia 31.

Reed had replaced returner Greg Lewis, whose muffed punt led to a Packers touchdown in the first quarter.

Brett Favre ran two plays before Crosby, a rookie from Colorado who beat out incumbent Dave Rayner in training camp, hit the winning field goal.

Favre struggled with a young supporting cast on offense for most of the afternoon, but still was able to tie John Elway's record with his 148th career victory as a starting quarterback.

It also counted as the 37th time Favre had led the Packers from a fourth-quarter tie or deficit to a win.

Favre wasn't able to get much done on offense, despite the fact Philadelphia had to play the second half without cornerback Lito Sheppard, who sprained his knee in the first half and was unable to return. Favre was 23-of-42 for 206 yards.

Halfback Brandon Jackson, a second-round pick out of Nebraska, filled in for injured starter Vernand Morency. Fullback Korey Hall was playing middle linebacker at Boise State at this time last year. And rookie wide receiver James Jones also played more than expected after starter Greg Jennings was inactive with a hamstring injury.

It was a so-so return to action for Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, who tore a knee ligament last November and finished the regular season on the sidelines for the second straight year. McNabb was 15-of-33 for 184 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Both teams had chances to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. The Packers got the ball at their own 49-yard line after a personal foul call on Jason Avant during an Eagles punt.

But Favre was stripped of the ball on third-and-7, and Eagles defensive end Jevon Kearse recovered, putting the Eagles' offense at the Green Bay 38. The Eagles couldn't score, either, and were forced to punt.

With the score tied at 10, the Eagles drove 59 yards on their first possession of the second half. McNabb converted two third-and-long situations on the drive, but Philadelphia got bogged down in Packers territory and David Akers hit a 47-yard field goal to put the Eagles ahead 13-10.

Favre came back and drove the Packers 51 yards setting up a 37-yard field goal by Crosby to tie the score at 13 near the end of the third quarter. The drive included a vintage-Favre two-handed underhand flip to rookie running back DeShawn Wynn under heavy pressure for a third-down conversion.

The Packers' special teams, which were among the worst in the league last year, scored first when Eagles returner Lewis muffed a punt that was batted into the end zone, where Tracy White recovered at the bottom of a scrum.

Packers linebacker Nick Barnett intercepted McNabb on the next series, and Crosby hit a 53-yard field goal to put Green Bay ahead 10-0.

The Eagles answered with a 33-yard David Akers field goal and a 9-yard touchdown pass from McNabb to Avant in the second quarter.