 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Green Bay vs. Tampa Bay
10/10/99 - Packers Win 26-23
 |
| Antonio Freeman and Desmond Howard celebrate Freeman's first quarter TD reception. Freeman finished the night with 7 catches for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns. |
Once again, Brett Favre led the cardiac Packers (3-1) to victory in the last minute of the game. This time, the victim was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3), on Favre's birthday no less. The night also marked the retirement of certain Hall of Famer Reggie White. The event was
celebrated with a ceremony at halftime.
On their final possession, the Packers assumed possession on their own
27-yard line with 1:40 showing on the clock trailing 23-19. On the
second play of the drive, Favre, from the shotgun formation, found Bill Schroeder for a 42-yard pass play down the sideline to the Tampa Bay 31-yard line.
Dorsey Levens ran for 10 of his 99 yards to the 21-yard line. After two incomplete passes, Favre, returned to the shotgun formation and hit Antonio Freeman for a 21-yard touchdown strike. The play encompassed all of 40 seconds while traversing 73 yards in 6 plays. There was still work to be done.
The defense had to hold the potent Buccaneer offense. After allowing a
completion to Jacquez Green from Trent Dilfer, the Bucs had possession
at their own 33-yard line. On third down, Dilfer threw for Reidel
Anthony, but overthrew it and Darren Sharper intercepted the pass to seal the victory for the Packers.
When the game started, it seemed that the Packers would handle Tampa Bay
easily. The Packers shut down the Buc offense on their opening
possession, forcing them to punt after three plays. Once they gained
possession, it did not take long before the Packers found out they could
move the ball against the top ranked defense in the National Football
League in overall yards against. The first play from scrimmage, Favre
was able to draw Brad Culpepper across the line of scrimmage before the
snap. Knowing, he had a free play, Bill Schroeder went deep, Favre hit
him for 51 of his 158 yards receiving on the night. Three plays later,
Favre hit Freeman for a 19-yard touchdown strike. Freeman finished with
152 yards on 7 catches, Schroeder matched Freeman's 7 catches to lead
the team.
Following an interception by Tyrone Williams, it seemed the Packers were rolling. The change of possession allowed Ryan Longwell to a 42-yard
field goal on his way to tying a career high for successful field goals
in one game. On the ensuing Buc possession, Dilfer's pass was deflected
on the line and intercepted by Jermaine Smith deep in Packer territory, thwarting a Buccaneer score.
But it wasn't going to be easy for the Green and Gold. Pinned deep in
their end of the field, the Packers could not move the ball
successfully, and were forced to punt. Louie Aguiar punted out his own
end zone for 24 yards. The Bucs started the second quarter with a
16-yard touchdown pass from Dilfer to Warrick Dunn.
Then it was the Pack who went three and out.
Martin Gramatica hit a 41-yard field goal to knot the score at 10. He
then broke the tie with a 36-yarder. Longwell returned the favor from
49-yards out. At halftime, nothing was settled, the score was
deadlocked at 13.
The Packers opening possession was one of the more interesting thus far.
Levens ran for an apparent 23-yard touchdown, but it was called back due
to a holding penalty. Then, Favre hit Corey Bradford for a 19-yard
catch, Bradford fumbled, the ball hit the pylon, it was ruled a
touchback, Buccaneer ball on their own 20-yard line.
The Bucs were forced to punt on the following drive. After getting one
quick first down on a completion to Levens, Favre was sacked twice,
forcing a third and 26 yards on the Packer 37-yard line. Favre hit
Freeman for a 43-yard gain and a first down. The drive stalled,
Longwell hit a 38-yard field to break the tie and give the Packers a
three point lead.
The Bucs would answer with a 36-yard field goal. Longwell would hit a
43-yarder to regain a lead at 19-16.
On the ensuing Buccaneer possession, Keith McKenzie did it all on one
play. He sacked Trent Dilfer, forced a fumble and recovered the fumble
giving the Packers possession on the Buccaneer 19-yard line. After four
Levens runs, the Packers were at the Tampa Bay 4-yard line. Then,
another weird play happened. Favre, under pressure, scrambled back to
about the Tampa Bay 25-yard line. He heaved the ball in an attempt to
avoid the sack. He was called for intention grounding. The drive
resulted in Longwell's first missed field goal of the season.
The Bucs wasted no time in capitalizing on the opportunity, Mike Alstott
finished the drive with a 22-yard touchdown run to give the Bucs a 23-19
advantage. But they left too much time on the clock, and the magician
worked his magic once again.
Once again, it was Brian Williams leading the defense with 14 tackles,
one of which was a sack. Keith McKenzie had the only other sack of
Dilfer. The Packers won the turnover battle, as they forced four
turnovers while not turning the ball over themselves.
Real Audio Clips
Packers-Bucs Game Highlights (Real Audio)
Reggie White Halftime Ceremony (Real Audio)
Reggie White Talks To The Media (Real Audio)
Head Coach Ray Rhodes Press Conference (Real Audio)
QB Brett Favre Press Conference (Real Audio)
WR Antonio Freeman Press Conference (Real Audio)
DE Vaughn Booker (Real Audio)
S LeRoy Butler (Real Audio)
K Ryan Longwell (Real Audio)
DT Billy Lyon (Real Audio)
WR Bill Schroeder (Real Audio)
LB Brian Williams (Real Audio)
C Frank Winters (Real Audio)
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
GBP: 19 yard TD pass; Favre to Freeman (Longwell kick) (11:59)
Drive: 4 plays, 74 yards, 1:06
Key play:
Schroeder: 51 yard catch
GBP: 42 yard Longwell FG (7:37)
Drive: 7 plays, 19 yards, 2:56
Key play:
T.Williams: Interception
2nd Quarter
TBB: 16 yard TD pass; Dilfer to Dunn (Gramatica kick) (14:53)
TBB: 41 yard Gramatica FG (10:43)
TBB: 36 yard Gramatica FG (3:36)
GBP: 49 yard Longwell FG (:57)
Drive: 7 plays, 40 yards, 2:36
Key play:
Levens: 29 yard catch
3rd Quarter
GBP: 38 yard Longwell FG (6:52)
Drive: 8 plays, 50 yards, 2:08
Key play:
Freeman: 43 yard catch
TBB: 36 yard Gramatica FG (14:28)
4th Quarter
GBP: 43 yard Longwell FG (5:57)
Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 4:40
Key play:
Freeman: 3 catches for 41 yards
TBB: 22 yard TD run; Alstott (Gramatica kick) (1:45)
GBP: 21 yard TD pass; Favre to Freeman (Longwell kick) (1:05)
Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards, :40
Key play:
Schroeder: 42 yard catch
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
