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Green Bay vs. Detroit
09/28/97 - Packers Lose 15-26
The turnover, not normally a Packers problem, loomed large in the Green and
Gold's ill-fated outing at the Pontiac Silverdome, where they also
encountered a highly anti-social collection of Detroit Lions Sunday
afternoon. Two interceptions led directly to 10 Detroit points and a costly
lost fumble, recovered by the Lions at their own 2-yard line, deprived them
of a potential touchdown late in the third quarter.
They, in company, were sufficient to scuttle the Packers on a day which
could easily have yielded a better fate. The offensive productivity was
there, Brett Favre and cast rolling up 396 net yards -- 289 passing and 107
rushing -- but the finishing touch was lacking.
There was one other significant element. The Packers, who ordinarily are
masterful at the possession game, found that skill deserting them when they
needed it most -- in the fourth quarter. In large part because of a
decisive, 12-play drive, the Lions had the football for 12 minutes and 25
seconds in that final period before capping the drive with a 39-yard Jason
Hanson field goal with only 1:30 remaining in the game, Hanson's boot
sealing a 26-15 victory for Detroit.
Longwell was perfect on the day with 3 field goals including a 53 yard kick |
The Packers had mounted an early 6-0 lead on a pair of Ryan Longwell field
goals, of 36 and 19 yards, respectively, but Detroit linebacker Reggie
Brown intercepted a Favre pass early in the second quarter -- tipping the
ball in the air and then pulling it in -- and returned it 45 yards for a
touchdown. Hanson's subsequent conversion sent the Lions up, 7-6, and they
were to lead the rest of the way.
After the Packers went three-and-out following the kickoff, the Lions
struck again, this time with a 4-play, 74-yard drive capped by quarterback
Scott Mitchell's 4-yard scoring pass to tight end Pete Chryplewicz.
Longwell pulled the Packers closer, to 14-9, with a 50-yard field goal --
his longest to date -- but a second Detroit interception, this one by
defensive end Robert Porcher at the Detroit 30-yard line, led to a 53-yard
Hanson field goal on the final play of the first half, sending the Lions
into the intermission with a 17-9 lead.
The Packers appeared poised to regain their early momentum and take charge
when they launched the second half by driving 54 yards in 8 plays to their
only touchdown of the game. It came on a somewhat bizarre maneuver, one
which saw Favre' pass batted in the air and then ricochet into the hands of
wide receiver Bill Schroeder, who emerged with a 7-yard touchdown. The
Packers' 2-point conversion attempt -- on a pass from Favre to tight end
Reggie Johnson -- failed and they continued to trail, 17-15.
The Lions proceeded to retaliate with a scoring drive of their own, moving
64 yards in 8 plays to set up a 44-yard Hanson field goal which staked the
Lions to a 20-15 lead, points they were not to need.
Favre closed out the day with 22 completions in 43 attempts for 295 yards
-- falling just short of a 15th 300-yard game which would have tied him
with Lynn Dickey for the team's all-time record -- and one touchdown, with
3 interceptions.
Halfback Dorsey Levens accounted for all 107 of Green Bay's rushing yards
in 16 carries, an imposing 6.7-yard average.
Middle linebacker Bernardo Harris, who last week registered a team
season-high 13 tackles against Minnesota, again emerged as the statistical
leader of the Green Bay defense with 11 stops, including 6 solos. Brian
Williams and Tyrone Williams were close behind with 9 tackles apiece.
The redoubtable Barry Sanders led the Lions' 173-yard running attack with
139 yards in 28 carries, a 5.0-yard average.
Scoring Summary
- 1st Quarter
- G.B.: 36 yard Longwell FG
- G.B.: 19 yard Longwell FG
- 2nd Quarter
- DET: 45 yard Interception Return by Reggie Brown - Hanson Kick
- DET: 4 yard TD Pass from Mitchell to Chryplewicz - Hanson Kick
- G.B.: 50 yard Longwell FG
- DET: 53 yard Hanson FG
- 3rd Quarter
- G.B.: 7 yard TD Pass from Favre to Schroeder - 2 Point Conversion Failed
- DET: 44 yard Hanson FG
- 4th Quarter
- DET: 22 yard Hanson FG
- DET: 39 yard Hanson FG
Injury Report
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