 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Green Bay vs. Miami Dolphins
10/29/00 - Packers lose 28-20
 |
| RB Dorsey Levens scored 2 TDs against the Dolphins but had to leave the game with a sprained knee. |
The Green Bay Packers trip to South Florida began with the hope of climbing
back to .500 and in the mix of the NFC Central race.
Coming out of their bye week, the Packers were at their healthiest point of
the season and seemed to be catching the Miami Dolphins at the right time.
Instead, the Packers fell 28-20 on Sunday after the Dolphins stormed back
from a 17-point deficit. In the process, Green Bay not only dropped its
record to 3-5, but the health of starting running back Dorsey Levens is
again in question after suffering a bruised knee in the first half.
Miami, which suffered a disheartening loss to the New York Jets on Monday
and lost starting All-Pro linebacker Zach Thomas to an ankle injury, used an
81-yard punt return by Jeff Ogden in the third quarter to provide the final
back-breaker to Green Bay.
In the contest's opening moments, Green Bay dominated their AFC East
opponents, jumping to an impressive 17-0 advantage.
The Packers began with a 51-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell to conclude the
game's first series. The drive, which began on the Green Bay 39, was kept
alive when Dorsey Levens was able to pick up a first down on fourth-and-one
in Miami territory.
After the Dolphins converted two straight third downs on their first drive,
Green Bay linebacker Brian Williams stripped the ball from running back
Thurman Thomas and recovered the fumble while laying on his back.
Williams' play was the Packers' first fumble recovery of the season.
It took the offense just seven plays after the turnover to get into the end
zone. Brett Favre completed passes to Levens, Ahman Green and Tyrone Davis
before Miami defensive back Terrance Shaw was called for pass interference
on Packers receiver Bill Schroeder to set up a first-and-goal at the
one-yard line.
Levens then ran clear to the right side to put the Packers in front, 10-0.
Only minutes into the second quarter, Levens struck again on a seven-yard
touchdown run. For the second-straight drive, Green Bay was helped by a
pass interference call on Shaw, who again was defending Schroeder. The
penalty accounted for 39 yards and put the Packers on the Miami 13 to set up
the score two plays later.
With the game seemingly in hand for the Green and Gold, the Dolphins would
find a way to steal the momentum.
Favre, who completed 21-of-34 passes for 194 yards, recognized Miami's
comeback potential.
"It was a big opportunity," Favre said after the game. "We got out 17-0. I
knew it wasn't ours, and I'm sure they felt the same way. But we did jump
out to a good lead on a very good football team."
Miami finally punctured the Packer defense late in the second quarter, going
52 yards in seven plays. Quarterback Jay Fiedler snuck across the goal line
for a one-yard touchdown to trim Green Bay's lead to 17-7.
"We felt good about what we were doing," said offensive tackle Mark
Tauscher. "We kept saying that we have to keep doing what we're doing. I
don't know if we really let down, it's just that we didn't get any turnovers
and we just didn't finish our plays. Then you let a team get some life
back, that's what's going to happen."
In addition to the lead slipping away, Levens left the game late in the
second quarter with a bruised right knee to compound the Packers' woes.
Although he did not suffer the injury to the same knee that was injured
earlier in the season, Levens could not re-enter the game and now will be
listed as day-to-day.
Levens' absence meant Green would receive the majority of plays in the
second half. Though he responded well, rushing for 94 yards on 15 carries,
the loss of their starting tailback was noticeable to the Packers.
"Obviously, when you have one running back, he will tire at times," said
Packers Head Coach Mike Sherman. "We spotted Ahman Green at various stages,
and to his credit, I thought he ran hard even when he was tired. But any
time you lose a player of Dorsey's magnitude, it does affect you."
To start the second half, the Dolphins continued to solve the Green Bay
defense, marching 65 yards in six plays. On a drive keyed by Leslie
Shepherd's 37-yard catch from Fiedler, receiver Oronde Gadsden finished the
series with a 15-yd touchdown reception.
A fake punt by the Dolphins on their next possession put them in Green Bay
territory again. Cornerback Mike McKenzie then was called for his second
pass interference penalty, which gave the Dolphins a first down at the 14.
Two Lamar Smith rushing plays later, the Dolphins scored their third
straight unanswered touchdown to go ahead 21-17.
Twelve minutes into the half, Ogden's return was made off the punt of Josh
Bidwell. The kick sailed short, and when Ogden ran upfield to field the
ball, the Packers coverage unit had ran past the play, leaving the returner
a clear lane to the right side.
"It is frustrating any time you give up 28 unanswered points," said Sherman.
"We dropped too many footballs and our special teams gave up too many big
plays in the second half. When you play on the road, it's tough. When you
play a good team on the road, it's tougher. We had a good plan going into
this game and we were able to jump on the Dolphins. We executed fairly well
in the first half, but we gave up too many big plays in the second half.
"The return came about from a high snap and a poor kick. The fake punt came
while we were trying to set up a return, and they caught us. To their
credit, they took advantage of our error. It was a great call, and I give
them all the credit in the world."
Though Longwell was able to connect on a 48-yard field goal with 10:50 to
play in the game, the remaining Packer offensive efforts would be thwarted
by the staunch defense of the Dolphins.
Miami forced two Green Bay turnovers with under four minutes remaining, the
first on a Brock Marion interception, which sailed off the finger tips of
wide receiver Bill Schroeder, and the second on a Favre fumble that was
forced by defensive end Trace Armstrong with 1:46 to play.
With no timeouts remaining, Green Bay was forced to watch Fiedler kneel on
the ball as the closing seconds trickled away.
"We just shot ourselves in the foot," said safety LeRoy Butler. "We played
a good half of football, then found a way to lose.
"They played great on special teams, and we didn't," the veteran defenseman
continued. "That hurt us. It really hurt us."
Though clearly upset with Sunday's loss, Sherman remains high on his troops
and insists that the team has time to right itself.
"We were up 17-0 against a good football team in a hostile environment," he
said. "There is a fine line between winning and losing in this league, and
we are not far off that line. It all depends on our players hanging
together, fighting through adversity and refusing to lose. We didn't get
that done today, but we will get it done."
The Packers will take the primetime stage next week with a Monday Night
Football appearance against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings, who
suffered their first loss of the season Sunday at Tampa Bay. Kickoff is
slated for 8 p.m. CST.
Injury News
Besides Levens, the only player suffering an injury in Sunday's game was
linebacker Mike Morton, who has a bruised tailbone. He will be evaluated
further on Monday.
Game Highlights (RealAudio)
Packers-Dolphins archived complete game broadcast (RealAudio)
Post-Game Locker Room Audio Clips
Head Coach Mike Sherman (RealAudio)
Special Teams Coach Frank Novak (RealAudio)
S LeRoy Butler (RealAudio)
QB Brett Favre (RealAudio)
LB Bernardo Harris (RealAudio)
WR Bill Schroeder (RealAudio)
T Mark Tauscher (RealAudio)
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
GBP: R.Longwell 51 yd Field Goal is GOOD.
GBP: D.Levens run for 2 yd TOUCHDOWN (R.Longwell Extra Point is good)
2nd Quarter
GBP: D.Levens run for 8 yd TOUCHDOWN (R.Longwell Extra Point is good)
MIA: J.Fiedler rush for 1 yd and TOUCHDOWN (Mare Extra Point is good)
3rd Quarter
MIA: J.Feidler pass to O.Gadsden for 15 yds and TOUCHDOWN (O.Mare Extra Point is good)
MIA: L.Smith rush for 4 yd and TOUCHDOWN (Mare Extra Point is good)
MIA: J.Ogden Punt return for 81 yd and TOUCHDOWN (Mare Extra Point is good)
4th Quarter
GBP: R.Longwell 48 yd Field Goal is GOOD.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
