Packer News.com Eric Goska column: Collins, Rouse pick off history[img]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?[/img]
Nick Collins and Aaron Rouse probably have never heard of Hal Van Every, Ed Jankowski, Bob Adkins and Andy Uram. Until Sunday, those four men owned the Packers record for the most yards gained returning interceptions in a game.
Rouse and Collins each returned an interception for a touchdown in Green Bays 34-14 win over the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field. The two safeties became just the second pair to return Peyton Manning interceptions for touchdowns in the same game, and in doing so, they broke a Packers record that had stood for nearly 67 years.
Collins intercepted Manning first, and his touchdown gave Green Bay a 24-7 lead early in the third quarter. On a dead run, he pulled down a high, third-down pass that wide receiver Reggie Wayne let slip through his hands. Waynes diving attempt at a tackle barely slowed the defensive back, who also evaded guard Jamey Richard who lunged for him near the sideline at the Colts 35-yard line. Cutting back, Collins then eluded a group that included receiver Anthony Gonzalez and tackles Ryan Diem and Charlie Johnson before dashing into the end zone.
Rouse made his move late in the fourth quarter with the Colts perched at the Packers 6-yard line. He stepped in front of a pass intended for Gonzalez and set sail. Dallas Clark was the only Colt that had even a remote chance of stopping him, but that ended after defensive end Kenny Pettway got between Rouse and the Indianapolis tight end.
Rouses score put Green Bay in front 34-7. Except for a meaningless touchdown by running back Dominic Rhodes, the game was over.
Collins' return measured 62 yards. Rouse traveled 99 yards on his journey.
The 161 yards is the most yards gained on interceptions in a game by the Packers since the statistic was first kept in 1940. It broke the record set by Van Every (1 interception for 91 yards), Jankowski (1-33), Adkins (1-25) and Uram (1-9) who had 158 yards in a 54-7 rout against the Steelers on Nov. 23, 1941.
The Patriots Otis Smith and Ty Law are the only other duo to return Manning interceptions for touchdowns in the same game. Smith went 78 yards with his steal and Law added another 23 yards as New England blew out the Colts 44-13 on Sept. 30, 2001.
Green Bay has returned five interceptions for touchdowns this year. Collins and cornerback Charles Woodson each have two.
The team single-season record is six set in 1966.
The Packers have returned 10 interceptions for touchdowns in the first 39 regular-season games under Mike McCarthy. Thats by far the best start by a Green Bay coach. Runner-up Mike Sherman had five in his first 39 games.
Extra points
Since 1921, the Packers are 13-0 in games in which they returned two interceptions for touchdowns. Collins is the only player to have been involved in three of those games.
Penalties accounted for 11 first downs, the most in any Packers game in history. Green Bay had five first downs by penalty and the Colts had six. The previous record of 10 was set on Oct. 20, 2002 against the Redskins and tied two years later in a game against the Eagles.