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NFC Championship - Green Bay vs. San Francisco
01/11/98 - Packers Win 23-10
Dorsey Levens celebrates his TD with Ross Verba |
In the final accounting, the game appeared to turn on a dramatic second quarter interception - a theft that abruptly converted a major 49er threat into a Green Bay touchdown - the Packers' first of the game.
Appropriately, the larceny was committed by the NFL's leading active
interceptor, free safety Eugene Robinson, possessor of 49 career "picks" in regular season play.
(245K) |
Packers Radio Network with the call!
Robinson with a 58 yard INT |
Four plays earlier, a 43-yard pass-run collaboration between San Francisco
quarterback Steve Young and wide receiver J.J. Stokes had flown the 49ers
all the way to the Packers' 30-yard line.
With the Prospectors in a third-and-8 situation at the Green Bay 28 and
trailing by only 3-0, Young unfurled a pass intended for tight end Brent
Jones. Robinson, however, swept in front of Jones, pulled in the football
and headed up the field. Cutting back to his right when he was about to be
tackled, he cantered 58 yards to the San Francisco 28-yard line before
being run to earth by 49ers' center Chris Dalman.
(193K) |
Packers Radio Network with the call!
Freeman slashes for a TD |
Following the "exchange," Levens had to be content with one yard on first down but, on second down, Favre found split end Antonio Freeman in the open and, the latter, making deft maneuvers through the San Francisco secondary, raced 27 yards into the end zone. The conversion by Ryan Longwell, who earlier had provided the Packers' first points with a 19-yard field goal in the first quarter, padded the Packers' lead to 10-0.
Antonio Freeman glides into the endzone to put the Pack out in front 9-0 |
The 49ers subsequently were able to end their scoring drought with a 28-yard Gary Anderson field goal, but the Packers retaliated with a 43-yard three-pointer by Longwell on the final play of the first half, sending the
Green and Gold into the intermission with a 13-3 lead - one that was
eventually decisive though they later added a third Longwell field goal in
the third quarter and a second and final touchdown by way of a 5-yard burst
up the middle by Levens with 3:10 left in the game.
With the 10-point lead, the Packers turned over the ball control responsibilities to Levens in the second half and he responded with a slashing performance, rushing for 71 yards in 17 of his game-high 27 attempts en route to the his new postseason, single-game record, which surpasses his 112-yard effort in the divisional playoff game against the Buccaneers January 4.
(222K) |
Packers Radio Network with the call!
Levens blows through for a TD |
Favre, who threw no interceptions and was sacked only once, had a
remarkably efficient passing performance under the soggy circumstances,
completing 16 of 27 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown.
The Defense, which had shut down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense en route to a 21-7 victory in a divisional playoff game a week earlier, was even more effective against the 49ers.
Steve Young cannot escape pass rush specialist Keith McKenzie |
Fritz Shurmur's miserly defenders limited San Francisco to a lone field goal, the 49ers' touchdown having come on Chuck Levy's 95-yard kickoff return with 2:52 remaining in the game.
The defensive unit, up on the bit throughout the dreary afternoon, literally put the clamps to San Francisco's running game, restricting the Californians to 33 yards in 18 attempts, an average of only 1.8 yards per rush.
Young, a wily left-hander, was permitted to complete 23 of 38 passes for 250 yards, but also authored the second quarter interception that loomed large in the outcome, and was sacked four times for 26 yards in losses.
The Williamses - Tyrone and Brian - led the Packers' defensive charge, the former weighing in with 7 unassisted tackles and the latter with 6. Tyrone Williams also was credited with three passes defensed and forced one fumble.
Designated pass rusher Keith McKenzie played a key role in pressuring Young, sacking him twice for 13 yards in losses.
In holding the 49ers without an offensive touchdown, the defense now has
gone 31 consecutive quarters - reaching back into the regular season -
without allowing a touchdown pass.
Scoring Summary
- 1st Quarter
- GBP: 19 yard Longwell FG (2:49)
- Keyplays:
18 yards Favre to Brooks;
24 yard pass interference on Woodson;
3rd & 5 - 11 yards Favre to Chmura
- 2nd Quarter
- GBP: 27 yard TD pass; Favre to Freeman (Longwell kick) (11:30)
- Keyplays:
58 yard Robinson INT
- SFF: 28 yard Anderson FG (1:02)
- GBP: 43 yard Longwell FG (:03)
- Keyplays:
40 yards Favre to Freeman
- 3rd Quarter
- None
- 4th Quarter
- GBP: 25 yard Longwell FG (5:04)
- Keyplays:
31 yard Thompson punt;
3rd & 5 - 11 yard Favre to Brooks
- GBP: 5 yard Levens TD run (Longwell kick) (3:10)
- SFF: 95 yard Levy kickoff return (Anderson kick) (2:52)
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