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Green Bay vs. Tampa Bay
9/13/98 - Packers win 23-15
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| Reggie White had 3 sacks and one forced fumble |
The Packers melded three complementary elements - exemplary field position, the production of turnovers and a smothering defense - into one of the more dominating performances to be seen in Lambeau Field of late.
The final score, for the record, 23-15, is somewhat misleading. The Packers
had things well under control until only six minutes remained in the game -
when leading 23-0 - the Buccaneers struck twice, once on a 95-yard punt
return, to make it look considerably more respectable than the anatomy of
contest would indicate.
The Green and Gold, in fact, were off to a 10-0 lead by the midpoint of the
first quarter. Triggered by Roell Preston's a 48-yard return of the opening kickoff to Tampa Bay's 45-yard line, they cashed in on that opportunity 11 plays later, Ryan Longwell drilling home the first of three field goals during the afternoon - a 38-yard effort.
Following an exchange of punts, the Packers were in the end zone, courtesy
of a Santana Dotson sack of Bucs quarterback Trent Dilfer, which forced a fumble recovered by Vonnie Holliday at the Tampa Bay 14-yard line.
Quarterback Brett Favre required only two plays to capitalize on the opportunity. He sent Dorsey Levens around left end for four yards on first down, then hit a wide-open Tyrone Davis on a slant across the middle and Davis cantered in for the score.
(223K) | Packers Radio Network with the call!
Tyrone Davis scores his first TD of the year |
The Buccaneers retaliated with a drive of their own, moving 61 yards in
nine plays to the Green Bay 20-yard line. Here again, however, the defense
asserted itself, Reggie White sacking Dilfer for the first of three times and forcing a fumble, recovered by linebacker George Koonce, to end the
threat.
A Sean Landeta punt, which came to rest at the Tampa Bay three-yard-line in the second quarter, triggered the Packers' next score. The defense forced a three-plays-and-out punt, which Preston returned 11 yards to the Bucs' 35-yard line. Six plays later, Longwell kicked a 27-yard field goal and the Packers' led 13-0.
Subsequently mounting their longest drive of the day, a 13-play, 78-yard
push, the Packers capped the excursion with Longwell's third field goal, a
20-yard effort, on the final play of the first half.
The third period was scoreless, in large part because of an end zone
interception by cornerback Tyrone Williams of a Dilfer pass intended for
wideout Karl Williams in the extreme left corner. The Bucs had acquired
possession when returner Mike Prior muffed the catch of the punt, Greg Bellisari recovering at the Green Bay 17-yard line for Tampa Bay.
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| Antonio Freeman had 5 catches for 83 yards and a TD |
Then in position to record their first shutout since 1993, the Packers
padded their lead to a comfortable 23-0 early in the fourth quarter, Favre
completing a 5-play, 52-yard effort with a 38-yard strike to Antonio Freeman up the middle.
(205K) | Packers Radio Network with the call!
Favre to Freeman, 38 yard TD |
A second muff of a punt, however, this one by Preston, again provided the
Buccaneers with excellent field position when Jerry Ellison recovered at
the Packers' 28-yard line. Fortunately, pass-rusher Keith McKenzie took
matters in his own hands, sacking Dilfer five plays later, forcing a fumble
and recovering it at the Green Bay 30.
The Packers, in turn, were required to punt and, this time, the Bucs'
Jacquez Green, maneuvering into the open along the left side, returned it
95 yards for a touchdown. Tampa Bay then essayed a two-point conversion and
succeeded, Dilfer finding tight end Patrick Hape in the end zone.
Later, with just under two minutes remaining, the Buccaneers made things a
little tighter, moving 84 yards in 10 plays for their second and final
touchdown, registered on a two-yard pass from Dilfer to tight end Dave
Moore. The Bucs' Michael Husted added the conversion - the final point of
the game.
With 1:57 remaining, the Bucs attempted an onside kick but the Packers'
Bill Schroeder fielded the football and went out of bounds at the Tampa Bay
43-yard line.
Favre closed out a typically productive afternoon with 22 completions in 33
attempts for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns - the 185th and 186th of his
seven-year Packers career - with, for the second week in a row, no
interceptions.
Dorsey Levens, still finding himself after sitting out training camp and
the preseason, had to be content with 43 hard-earned yards in 18 carries, a
2.4-yard average, in the face of a tightfisted Tampa Bay defense.
Levens, however, did manage to match his own career-best for receptions in
a single game with 8, good for 46 yards.
Green Bay's defense limited the Buccaneers to 211 net yards and sacked
quarterback Trent Dilfer 6 times for 50 yards in losses, Reggie White
posting three, Keith McKenzie two and Santana Dotson one of them. The
Packers last previously managed to post six sacks in a game on December 1,
1997, in a 27-11 victory over the Vikings at the Minneapolis Metrodome.
Scoring Summary
- 1st Quarter
- GBP: 38 yard Longwell FG (10:20)
Key play:
Preston - 48yd kick return
- GBP: 10 yard TD pass; Favre to Davis (Longwell kick) (7:20)
Key play:
Holliday - fumble recovery
- 2nd Quarter
- GBP: 27 yard Longwell FG (7:51)
Key play:
Brooks - 25yd catch
- GBP: 20 yard Longwell FG (:00)
Key plays:
Levens - 37 all-purpose yards;
Freeman - 2 catches for 27yds;
- 3rd Quarter
- None
- 4th Quarter
- GBP: 38 yard TD pass; Favre to Freeman (Longwell kick) (13:42)
- TBB: 95 yard Green TD punt return (2pt: Dilfer to Hape) (6:03)
- TBB: 2 yard TD pass; Dilfer to Moore (Husted kick) (1:57)
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