Packers Jump On Eagles

The Green Bay defense is making it easier for the offense to get into the end zone and let Robert Brooks get up close and personal with the fans in the stands.

Brooks caught five passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns as the Packers routed the dazed Philadelphia Eagles 39-13 in the first Monday Night Football game at Lambeau Field in 10 years.

Brooks vaulted himself into the end zone seats packed with delirious denizens decked in green and gold after TD receptions of 25 and 20 yards from Brett Favre, who overcame a rough start to throw for three touchdowns.

Dorsey Levens even got into the act, doing his version of the Lambeau Leap after a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

A Lambeau Field-record crowd of 60,666 watched the Packers go 2-0 for the first time since the strike-shortened 1982 season, when they won their first three. Philadelphia fell to 1-1.

Brooks had four catches for 116 yards in the first half as the Packers built an astonishing 30-7 lead against an Eagles team that thinks it can unseat Dallas as ruler of the NFC East.

Edgar Bennett gained 93 yards on 17 carries and also scored on a 25-yard reception when he grabbed Favre’s pass in the flat and rumbled his way into the end zone for a 37-7 lead with 6 minutes left in the third period.

The blowout capped an exhilarating week in Green Bay, which began with President Clinton visiting the Packers at Lambeau Field on Labor Day.

In two weeks, Favre, who was 17 of 31 for 261 yards, has seven touchdowns and no interceptions as the Packers have outscored their opponents 73-16.

But it was the Packers’ defense that really spoiled the return of Philadelphia coach Ray Rhodes, who served as defensive coordinator in Green Bay from 1992-93.

The Packers, who had just 16 takeaways last season, already have 10, including four in the first half Monday night.