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Packers vs. Carolina
NFC Championship
1/12/97 - Packers Win 30-13
Box Score
Brett Favre shrugged off two early turnovers, misadventures which led to 10 of Carolina's 13 points, to direct three scoring drives of 70-plus-yards and ultimately carry the day in the NFC title game with a substantial degree of comfort.
Dorsey Levens amasses 205 total yards on the day |
Actually, the 27-year-old field general presided over a four scoring marches of that distance, the first having been sandwiched between the two giveaways and climaxed by a 29-yard strike to running back Dorsey Levens in the right corner of the end zone to tie the score at 7-7.
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Packers Radio Network with the call! |
After the Panthers had again gone ahead, 10-7, by way of a John Kasay field goal after Carolina's Lamar Lathon had recovered a Favre fumble at the Green Bay 45-yard line, the Packers quarterback responded with an impressive, 15-play, 71-yard drive capped by his 6-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Freeman in the left corner of the end zone.
A highly opportune interception by rookie cornerback Tyrone Williams at the Green Bay 38-yard line on the first play following the kickoff provided another scoring chance seconds later. Favre's 23 and 25-yard throws to Andre Rison and Freeman, respectively, moved the Packers into field goal position and Jacke connected from 31 yards out, sending them into the intermission with a permanent, 17-10 lead.
The Green and Gold scored again on their first possession of the second half, Jacke finishing off an 11-play, 73-yard drive with a 32-yard field goal for a 20-10 advantage.
The Panthers then made their final response, second-year quarterback Kerry Collins escorting them 73 yards in 11 plays to set up a 23-yard Kasay field goal, and the Packers' margin was reduced to seven points.
Favre promptly rectified the situation, putting together an explosive, 3-play, 74-yard scoring drive which included a 66-yard pass-run collaboration with Levens, who was pushed out of bounds at the Carolina 4-yard line on the second play of the march. Edgar Bennett then finished the project, barging over right guard into the end zone on the succeeding play. Jacke's conversion made it 27-13 with less than two minutes remaining in the third period and the Packers were clearly in charge.
The fourth quarter, with the only score a 28-yard Jacke field goal, was relatively uneventful. Aside from an early Sam Mills interception and return to the Green Bay 3-yard line, which led to Carolina's only touchdown, Favre forged another vintage performance, completing 19 of 29 passing attempts under far less than optimum conditions (bitter cold and strong winds) for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The defense held Carolina to 45 yards rushing |
The defense, which led the NFL in fewest touchdowns and fewest points allowed during the 1996 regular season, continued to dominate the opposition. Coordinator Fritz Shurmur's miserly platoon held the Panthers, possessors of one of the league's better running games, to a mere 45 yards rushing - a 3.2-yard average.
And, aside from the Panthers' first quarter touchdown, triggered by the interception which gave them first down-and-goal at the Green Bay 3-yard line, Green Bay's defenders limited the Carolinians to a pair of field goals.
Overall, the Packers' huge bulge in time of possession - 38 minutes, 3 seconds to the Panthers 21 minutes, 57 seconds - eloquently documents the Green and Gold's superiority on this frosty afternoon.
Dorsey Levens enjoyed a career day, amassing 205 yards rushing and receiving - 88 in 10 rushing attempts for an imposing 8.8-yard average, and 117 yards with 5 receptions...the first 100-yard receiving day of his three-year NFL career.
Bennett, again a reckless runner, emerged as the game's leading rusher - just missing the 100-yard mark with 99 yards in 25 carries, a 4.0-yard average, his total falling only 9 yards short of his club single-game postseason record of 108 yards, posted against Atlanta in the Packers' 1995 wild card victory over the Falcons.
Bennett's rushing touchdown was the fifth of his career, extending his own playoff record, and his 25 rushing attempts were their third-most in team history, swelling his career total to 99, fourth-most in club playoff annals. |
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