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Green Bay vs. San Francisco
1/4/97 - Packers Win 35-14
Box Score
Triggered by their record-breaking punt returner, Desmond Howard, the Packers charged to an early 14-0 lead in rain-swept, soggy Lambeau Field, then proceeded from there to a three-touchdown victory over the San Francisco 49ers in qualifying for a berth in the NFC Championship Game for the second year in a row.
Desmond Howard stuns the 'Niners with a 71 yard punt return for a touchdown |
Howard, who shattered the NFL's single-season record for punt return yardage during the regular-season, returned the first punt of the game 71 yards for a touchdown to stun the visiting Prospectors, then returned Tommy Thompson's second punt 46 yards to the San Francisco 7-yard line, setting up a 4-yard, Brett Favre scoring pass to flanker Andre Rison two plays later-in the ninth minute of the first quarter.
The Packers expanded that early advantage to 21-0 in the second quarter with the aid of a welcome takeaway-cornerback Craig Newsome's interception of an Elvis Grbac pass. Newsome fumbled when hit after picking up the loose ball but teammate Sean Jones recovered at the 49er 15-yard line.
It took Favre only three plays to get the Packers in the end zone a third time. After Dorsey Levens gained 3 yards at right end, Favre hit Edgar Bennett with a 10-yard pass to the 2-yard line and Bennett completed the project on the next play with a burst up the middle.
With Chris Jacke's third conversion, the Packers led 21-0 and appeared to have the game well in hand. Two subsequent turnovers, however, made things somewhat tenuous temporarily, leading to a pair of quick touchdowns for the 49ers and reducing Green Bay's lead to 21-14.
The first such contretemps occurred when the Packers' Chris Hayes was hit by a San Francisco punt and the 49ers' Curtis Buckley recovered the "muff" at the Green Bay 26-yard line. The 49ers then scored in 6 plays, Grbac hitting running back Terry Kirby from 8 yards out for the touchdown with 24 seconds remaining in the first half.
The second costly miscue occurred on the opening kickoff of the second half when the 49ers' Steve Israel recovered the "free ball" and returned it to the Green Bay 4-yard line. Grbac, untouched, scored on first down on a "keeper," wheeling into the left corner of the end zone. Jeff Wilkins second conversion pulled the 49ers within seven points.
Responding to these untoward developments with renewed resolve, the Packers decided it was time to reassert themselves. Taking the succeeding kickoff,they methodically swept 72 yards in plays to mount a 28-14 lead, a drive completed by wide receiver Antonio Freeman's recovery of an Edgar Bennett fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
Unwilling to concede, the 49ers made two other significant bids before calling it a day. The first, midway through the third quarter, saw them go for it on fourth-and-one at the 50, a maneuver which failed when Packers nose tackle Gilbert Brown plugged up the middle and right end Sean Jones and linebacker Wayne Simmons stopped Grbac for no gain on a quarterback sneak.
The issue was largely settled when the Packers completed their scoring with only 5:31 remaining. Hayes recovered a Kirby fumble, forced by safety Mike Prior, at the San Francisco 32-yard line. Favre then put together a 6-play drive, climaxed by Bennett's 11-yard sweep of right end for the touchdown.
Dorsey Levens runs wild on a mud-covered Lambeau Field |
With a driving rain and soggy field conditions on this blustery afternoon, it was not a day conducive to producing impressive statistics. The Packers, who had averaged 345.9 yards per game over the regular-season, settled for a modest 210 net yards - 139 rushing and 71 passing.
Coordinator Fritz Shurmur's smothering defense, meanwhile, was limiting the 49ers to 196 yards, 68 rushing and 128 through the air.
Favre, playing with restraint under the tricky conditions, was a poised and precise workman. He completed 11 of 15 passes for 79 yards overall - without an interception - while throwing the 14th touchdown of his five-year career in postseason play.
Bennett, again demonstrating that he is a masterful mudder, easily emerged as the day's leading rusher, slogging for 80 yards in 17 attempts, a 4.7-yard average. He also caught 2 passes for 14 yards.
Linebacker Wayne Simmons played a major role in the tightfisted defensive performance, leading the charge with 8 tackles, 6 of them solo stops. Fellow linebacker Brian Williams, a first-year starter, also turned in a strong performance, posting 5 solo tackles and forcing and recovering a fumble, and strong safety LeRoy Butler contributed 4 unassisted tackles and was credited with 2 passes defensed.
Prior, an 11-year pro, also was an overall standout, weighing in with 5 tackles as a defensive back and 3 on special teams, where he also forced a fumble. |
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