Rodgers shows Packers there is life after Favre

Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass and then scored one himself as he made an immediate impact as the Green Bay Packers's starting quarterback. His impressive efforts helped the Packers to a 24-19 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday in their opening game of the new season. Rodgers, who replaced the now departed Brett Favre in the starting line-up, threw 178 yards during the game and made a one-yard plunge into the end zone in the fourth quarter in front of a raucous home crowd at Lambeau Field.

The 2005 first-round draft pick spiked the ball after his touchdown to put the Packers ahead 24-12 with 6mins 03secs to play, then performed a traditional "Lambeau Leap" into the crowd in celebration. "I've been dreaming about that for four years," Rodgers said. "It feels great." Rodgers took over the Green Bay starting job after the popular Favre retired, before he subsequently reversed his decision and returned before being traded to the New York Jets.

Rodgers completed 18 out of 22 passes with no interceptions and had plenty of help from his defence and special teams, capped by a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown from Will Blackmon. "A lot of people forgot about the Green Bay Packers season last year, how good we were," Rodgers said. "We got the job done and the defence held on." Rodgers hit Korey Hall with a one-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Mason Crosby added three extra points and a 42-yard field goal for Green Bay.

Minnesota's Sidney Rice scored on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Tarvaris Jackon, while Adrian Peterson added a three-yard touchdown run and Ryan Longwell kicked two field goals. In Oakland, Jay Cutler through 299 yards to guide the Denver Broncos to a 41-14 rout of the Oakland Raiders. Cutler also completed touchdown passes to rookies Eddie Royal and Darrell Jackson. Denver raced out to a 27-0 lead after three quarters. The Raiders only made the score more respectable on two fourth quarter touchdowns from to Ashley Lelie and Ronald Curry.

* Reuters