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Green Bay vs. Tampa Bay
01/04/98 - Packers Win 21-7
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| The Bucs had a tough time bringing Levens down |
In a contest more than slightly reminiscent of two earlier regular-season encounters, the resourceful Packers outlasted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 21-7, in their divisional playoff Sunday - the first postseason
meeting between the teams.
The Packers, defeating the Bucs for the third time this season in a
tightfisted, defensive struggle, had bested Tampa Bay, 21-16, in the
Floridians' first visit of the season to Lambeau Field (October 5) and
subsequently repeated that success with 17-6 win at Tampa's Houlihan's
Stadium December 7.
The Green and Gold, holding a 13-0 lead at halftime on this occasion,
appeared in position to put the game away at the start of the third quarter
when Antonio Freeman returned the second half kickoff 90 yards for what appeared to be a touchdown, but Darren Sharper drew a 10-yard holding
penalty en route and the Packers found themselves beginning their third
period exertions from their own 11-yard line.
Favre, undeterred by the "setback," quickly maneuvered the Green and Gold into scoring position, directing a march that carried them to a first down at the Tampa Bay 25-yard line. On the eighth play of the drive, however, the Bucs' Donnie Abraham put an abrupt end to it, waylaying a Favre pass at the 6-yard line.
The Buccaneers, taking advantage of the contretemps, then drove 94 yards in
8 plays for their only touchdown of the game, fullback Mike Alstott
sweeping left end from 6 yards out for the score, and at 13-7, it briefly
was a new game.
Two exchanges later, the Packers decided it was time to settle the issue
and they moved 54 yards in 9 plays for their final TD of the afternoon,
Dorsey Levens bolting over left guard from the 2 for the score. Quarterback Brett Favre then provided one of the afternoon's more titillating moments, scoring a 2-point conversion on a quarterback draw which saw him exuberantly attempt to "dunk" the football over the crossbar after charging into the end zone.
(293K) |
Packers Radio Network with the call!
Levens plunges in for a TD |
Levens was a key factor in the winning process, setting a new Packer
postseason single-game rushing record, 112 yards in 25 carries, to play a
major role in both controlling and advancing the football. He also caught 4
passes for 29 yards to close out the day with 141 yards of total offense.
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| Gilbert Brown and Santana Doston both had big games |
Favre, meanwhile, had a productive afternoon despite heavy pressure from
the Bucs' defense, weathering 4 sacks to completed 15 of 28 passes for 190
yards and one touchdown - the 19th postseason TD of his remarkable career.
(683K) |
Packers Radio Network with the call!
Chmura catches a Favre TD pass |
Free safety Eugene Robinson, mounting one of his best efforts, paced a miserly defense with 10 tackles (4 solos and 6 assists), fellow safety LeRoy Butler and Keith McKenzie weighing in with key sacks and cornerback Tyrone Williams and safety Mike Prior with interceptions.
Defensive tackle Bob Kuberski also authored one of the day's biggest plays, knocking snapper Dave Moore back from the line of scrimmage and blocking Michael Husted's 43-yard field goal attempt, which would have provided the first points of the game.
The statistics reflect the tenor of the contest, the Packers finishing with
289 yards to the Bucs' 263, the visitors with 66 offensive plays to the
Green and Gold's 64. The Packers, however, did manage to emerge with an
edge in time of possession, 32 minutes, 3 seconds to the Buccaneers' 27
minutes, 57 seconds.
Scoring Summary
- 1st Quarter
- GBP: 3 yard TD pass; Favre to Chmura (Longwell kick) (5:36)
- Keyplays:
Blocked FG: Kuberski;
26 yard pass to Freeman;
3rd & 9 - 14 yard pass to Mayes
- 2nd Quarter
- GBP: 21 yard Longwell FG (1:55)
- Keyplays:
28 yard Brooks punt return;
21 yard pass to Brooks
- GBP: 32 yard Longwell FG (:06)
- Keyplays:
14 yard INT T.Williams
- 3rd Quarter
- TBB: 6 yard Alstott TD run (Husted kick) (6:17)
- 4th Quarter
- GBP: 2 yard Levens TD run (2pt: Favre run) (13:37)
- Keyplays:
3rd & 6 - 13 yard pass to Levens;
3rd & 18 - 23 yard pass to Mayes
Milestones
Brett Favre: 7th consecutive playoff game he has thrown a TD pass. Favre breaks a playoff record previously held by Bart Starr.
Robert Brooks: 8th consecutive playoff game he has caught a pass. He is tied with Dorsey Levens and Carroll Dale (65-72)
Dorsey Levens: 8th consecutive playoff game he has caught a pass. He is tied with Robert Brooks and Carroll Dale (65-72)
Dorsey Levens: 112 yards rushing is a Packers playoff record. Record previously held by Edgar Bennett (108 yards)
Visit Playoffs 97 for more..
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