With a Little Help From Longwell, Packers Win by a Foot

Andy Reid’s anticipated return to Lambeau Field ended with Ryan Longwell’s redemption.

Longwell made a 38-yard field goal with three seconds left as the Green Bay Packers eked out a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

It was Longwell’s first game-winning field goal in the NFL, college or high school, and it gave Mike Sherman his first victory as an NFL head coach.

Longwell missed one against Chicago last season and at Philadelphia on Sept. 7, 1997--the last time the Packers (1-2) failed to score a touchdown.

“I know I’ve hit the ball well over the last four years, so I wasn’t really stressed about having to get a game-winner,” Longwell said. “But this one was eerily similar to the one in Philadelphia.”

That’s when Longwell slipped on wet turf and shanked a kick as time expired in a 10-9 loss to the Eagles.

Reid, the Eagles’ second-year coach, spent five seasons coaching the Packers’ tight ends and two years as quarterbacks coach.

“There were too many penalties,” said Reid, who was in no mood to talk about his return to Green Bay. “I just wanted to win.”

The Eagles (1-2) were flagged 12 times for 115 yards and both teams had touchdowns wiped out because of penalties in the third quarter.

The Packers hadn’t won with so few points since a 6-3 victory over the Rams in 1965. The Eagles hadn’t held a team to six points and lost since a 6-3 defeat at Pittsburgh in 1968.

Packer running back Dorsey Levens played for the first time since having left knee surgery on Aug. 15. He carried 24 times for 74 yards.

“It’s the first time I’ve been hit since January, so I’m a little beat up,” Levens said. “But my knee feels great.”