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Green Bay vs. Tampa Bay
11/12/00 - Packers Lose 20-15
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| Ryan Longwell kicked a career long 52 yard field goal in Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. |
On a day in which their world was turned upside down by a foot injury to
Brett Favre, the Packers nearly pulled out a gutsy victory over the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
Green Bay used superb special teams play to make the game's outcome close,
but Bucs kicker Martin Gramatica made the most of his opportunities in the
fourth quarter, kicking two field goals in excess of 50 yards to give his
team a hard-fought 20-15 win.
Immediately after the disappointing loss, all questions turned to the health
of Favre.
Head Coach Mike Sherman explained that the quarterback has a left mid-foot
sprain and would be further evaluated on Monday.
"We'll find out tomorrow," Favre responded to questions about his playing
status. "It's sore right now. We didn't take any x-rays. We'll wait until
tomorrow and see what happens.
"I was just coming out of the pocket and had my foot planted. Warren (Sapp)
fell on the right side of my foot. It's just of those freak things, you
know. It kind of bent my foot the opposite way.
"I'm upset we lost. We played them hard. It's upsetting to me that I got
hurt, but that part of it I can't control. I think our guys played hard."
"It's too early to tell (the extent of the injury), but he's not able to
walk at this present time, so I expect him to be out for a little bit,"
explained Sherman of the three-time MVP.
Tampa Bay jumped out to a 7-0 lead when Shaun King found Keyshawn Johnson in
the end zone for a 5-yard score to complete an 8-play, 70-yard drive early
in the second quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Bucs attempted to surprise the Packers with an
on-side kick, but Scott McGarrahan recovered for the Packers at the Tampa
Bay 39.
The Packers, however, were unable to make a first down against the miserly
Bucs defense and settled for a 52-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell.
After a 53-yard miss by Longwell on the Packers' next possession, the Bucs
marched 62 yards and scored on a 19-yard pass from King to Reidel Anthony
with just under two minutes to play in the first half.
The score remained 14-3 until 8:38 remained in the third quarter, when
Longwell connected on a 42-yard field goal. On the drive, which began at
the Tampa Bay 33, the Packers went with a no-huddle offense and moved the
ball well with passes from Brett Favre to Bill Schroeder, Ahman Green,
Donald Driver and De'Mond Parker.
However, Warren Sapp's sack of Favre on third-and-9 not only forced the
Longwell field goal but also left Favre in pain when his left foot got
caught under the falling 303-pound defensive tackle.
Up to that point, Favre was 14-of-25 for 117 yards and no interceptions.
With Favre's status in doubt, Green Bay's defense took the field only to see
starting free safety Darren Sharper come hobbling off the field during the
Bucs' following series.
Antuan Edwards, the Packers' back-up safety, entered the game and was up to
the task. On the next play after Sharper left, Edwards intercepted King at
the Green Bay 48.
With Favre's shoe off and his ankle in ice, second-string quarterback Matt
Hasselbeck took charge of the offense and put Longwell in position for a
45-yard field goal, inching the team closer at 14-9.
Longwell's three made field goals on the day made him eligible for first
place on the NFL's all-time accuracy list, a record that requires 100
successful tries. He now has made 101 of 119 attempts (84.87%) and sits
just ahead of Miami Dolphins kicker Olindo Mare, who has now connected on
105 of 126 attempts (83.33%).
When he lined up for another 45-yard attempt with just under 14 minutes to
play in regulation, little did the Buccaneers know his presence was as
merely a decoy.
Hasselbeck, the Packers' regular holder, received the snap and sprang to his
feet to find rookie tight end Bubba Franks wide open and racing to the end
zone for a 27-yard touchdown catch.
The touchdown was the first of Franks' young career and Hasselbeck's second
touchdown pass. His first scoring strike came last year in Minnesota on
another fake field goal for Green Bay.
The Packers, however, were unsuccessful on a two-point conversion attempt,
and Gramatica's 54-yard field goal put the Bucs back in front 17-15 with
10:12 to play.
A Green fumble on the Packers' next series gave the Bucs the ball at the
Green Bay 38-yard line, and Gramatica connected on another field goal, a
51-yard kick.
After alternating possessions, Green Bay took control at the Tampa Bay 20
with 2:29 to play in the game and no timeouts remaining. They remained
hopeful of stealing a victory in similar fashion to last Monday's improbable
victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
But they only could gain nine yards in the next four plays, and the
Buccaneers were able to spend the game's precious last seconds by kneeling
on the ball.
Hasselbeck completed 9 of 18 passes for 93 yards and no interceptions for
the game.
"I felt as prepared as I could be," said Hasselbeck. "That's just the
nature of being a back-up. In the offseason, I asked Coach Sherman for two
reps a week and he's given me about six reps a day. I'm very thankful for
those reps."
Hasselbeck already has the confidence of his teammates, should Hasselbeck be
required to play next week when the Packers face the Indianapolis Colts at
Lambeau Field.
"He's better than half the quarterbacks in the league right now - probably
20 of them," said safety LeRoy Butler.
"We can win with number 11 (Hasselbeck) if number 4 (Favre) can't go," he
added.
"I'm sure Brett will be fine," Hasselbeck cautioned, "but I'll be ready
either way."
Injury notes
Sharper returned to the game shortly after leaving in the third quarter.
Defensive tackle Santana Dotson, who suffered an ankle injury, also left the
game and then returned.
Cornerback Mike McKenzie injured his knee in the first half and did not
return. Both he and linebacker Na'il Diggs, who left late in the game with
a bruised leg, will be evaluated on Monday, along with Favre.
Game Highlights (Real Audio)
Packers-Bucaneers archived complete game broadcast (Real Audio)
Post-Game Audio Clips
Head Coach Mike Sherman (RealAudio)
S LeRoy Butler (RealAudio)
DE Santana Dotson (RealAudio)
QB Brett Favre (RealAudio)
TE Bubba Franks (RealAudio)
RB Ahman Green (RealAudio)
LB Bernardo Harris (RealAudio)
QB Matt Hasselbeck (RealAudio)
K Ryan Longwell (RealAudio)
T Mark Tauscher (RealAudio)
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
No Score
2nd Quarter
TBB: S.King pass to K.Johnson for 5 yds and TOUCHDOWN (M.Gramatica Extra Point is good) (8, 70yds, 4:13)
GBP: R.Longwell 52 yd Field Goal is GOOD (4, 5yds, 1:13)
TBB: S.King pass to R.Anthony for 19 yds and TOUCHDOWN (M.Gramatica Extra Point is good) (6, 57yds, 3:26)
3rd Quarter
GBP: R.Longwell 42 yd Field Goal is GOOD (9, 43yds, 3:38)
GBP: R.Longwell 45 yd Field Goal is GOOD (5, 25yds, 2:41)
4th Quarter
GBP: M.Hasselbeck pass to B.Franks for TOUCHDOWN (2 point conversion NO GOOD) (5, 52yds, 1:06)
TBB: M.Gramatica 54 yd Field Goal is GOOD (8, 37yds, 3:41)
TBB: M.Gramatica 51 yd Field Goal is GOOD (4, 5yds, 1:49)
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