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Green Bay Packers vs. Washington Redskins - 09/24/01
Game Summary - Packers Win 37-0
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| Brett Favre & antonio Freeman celebrate in the endzone after a touchdown on Monday night. |
Tonight marked the final game in the first weekend back for the NFL since the tragic events in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania on Sept. 11. The Packers welcomed the Redskins to Lambeau Field for the first meeting between these two teams since 1988. It wasn't about who won or lost, but just the fact they played the game.
The pregame festivities included area firefighters and policemen holding an american flag shaped like the United States in the middle of the field. Country music star Martina McBride honored america with her rendition of the national anthem. Perhaps one of the most awe inspiring sights for Packer fans was that of linebacker Chris Gizzi leading his team out onto the field proudly waving the Stars and Stripes. an entire crowd of 59,771 flag waving fans chanting "U.S.a., U.S.a.," greeted Gizzi, a graduate of the air Force academy.
"That was a rush," said Gizzi. "I'm trying to think of how to describe it. It felt like Braveheart, just running out there screaming my head off. My head was going to pop off, my legs were pumping -- it was a rush -- then you get to play a football game. It was awesome."
For the record, with three touchdown passes Brett Favre guided Green Bay to a 37-0 victory over Washington. The Redskins' Jeff George managed just 102 yards through the air as his team managed just 137 net yards on offense. Favre finished the night going 20-of-31 passing for 236 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
Green Bay recorded its first shutout since a 28-0 blanking of the Raiders on Dec. 28, 1993, while the Redskins have failed to score a touchdown yet this season, losing to San Diego 30-3 two weeks ago. The Packers defense has not allowed a touchdown yet this season.
Ahman Green was the workhorse of the Green Bay offense. He gained 116 yards on 25 carries to break the century mark for the second time this season. Currently the NFL's leading rusher, Green added six receptions for 30 yards. Washington's Stephen Davis grounded out 65 yards on 13 carries to lead the Redskins.
"It's a big thing for us offensively, defensively, and special-team wise," Green said regarding the team's 2-0 start. "It's what we worked for in the off-season and it's what we worked for during training camp. We have a solid confidence about this team that we know what we can do when the time is right. We just have to take it one practice at a time and one game at a time and prepare correctly."
Antonio Freeman started the scoring for the Packers with his first touchdown reception of the season -- a 12-yard grab from Favre on the second drive.
"I caught a seam route and I think they got mixed up on the motion," Freeman said. "I was able to get inside and head straight for the goalposts. Brett (Favre) read the safety come up a little and he threw it right over his head. Six points."
Freeman finished the night with 4 catches for 37 yards. Bill Schroeder's only catch of the game was a 41-yard strike from Favre to make the score 20-0 in the third quarter.
"Brett (Favre) called an 'X slant' and they rolled up the coverage," Schroeder said. "Brett threw me a perfect ball, then it was off to the races. I just didn't want to get caught."
Bubba Franks also added a touchdown catch late in the game for a 27-0 Green Bay lead. It is the second straight week Franks has caught a touchdown pass. Washington's Michael Westbrook had 4 receptions to lead his team.
Ryan Longwell was a perfect 3-for-3 on a night that was all Green Bay offensively. He connected on kicks of 28, 32 and 30 yards respectively. The Redskins' Brett Conway, a former Packers draft choice, did not attempt a kick.
The Packers defense pressured George all night. Green Bay's Vonnie Holliday, Santana Dotson, Billy Lyon and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila all recorded one sack. Nate Wayne and John Thierry spilt another to total five Packer sacks on the Redskins quarterback. Gbaja-Biamila (four) is now tied for the NFL lead in the category with Seattle's Chad Brown.
Wayne recorded his first career interception on the second play of the second half to damper any enthusiasm Washington brought out of the locker room. according to the linebacker the defensive strategy was to force the Redskins to rely on the passing game.
"We were hitting on all cylinders tonight," Wayne said. "The intensity was at the highest point. We were going in focused on the running game and try to get them into a passing mode. I think we did that tonight."
The Packers made plays on special teams. Rondell Mealey recovered a Mario Bates fumble on a fourth quarter kickoff return for a touchdown. Freeman filled in for regular return specialist Allen Rossum who was inactive due to injury. Freeman has not returned punts since the early stages of his career.
"I'm a lot more comfortable in the offensive set than I was back there, but my job was to field the ball and go straight up the field and see what you can get," Freeman said. "I felt good back there. That was like being in the play yard again, like being a kid just having fun."
In the national spotlight on aBC-TV's Monday Night Football, the Packers continued their strong start to the season. However, as Favre pointed out in his postgame press conference, that is not what he'll remember most about tonight's game.
"It's not so much what I'll remember about tonight, it's what I'll remember about the last two weeks," Favre said. "I don't think anyone will forget what happened and they shouldn't. Life does go on and I think tonight was a just a small piece of what not only we have, the Redskins have and our fans have for this country. I watched the games yesterday, and you watch what's happening and the response the country has had to the tragedy, that's what I'll remember about tonight."
God Bless america.
Packers-Redskins archived complete game broadcast (Real audio)
Post-Game / Locker Room audio Clips
GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman (Realaudio)
S LeRoy Butler (Realaudio)
QB Brett Favre (Realaudio)
TE Bubba Franks (Realaudio)
WR antonio Freeman (Realaudio)
DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (Realaudio)
RB ahman Green (Realaudio)
DE Vonnie Holliday (Realaudio)
WR Bill Schroeder (Realaudio)
S Darren Sharper (Realaudio)
T Mark Tauscher (Realaudio)
G Mike Wahle (Realaudio)
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
GBP: A. Freeman 12 yard Touchdown pass from B.Favre. (R. Longwell kick)
2nd Quarter
GBP: R. Longwell 28 yard Field Goal
3rd Quarter
GBP: R. Longwell 32 yard Field Goal
GBP: B.Schroeder 41 yard Touchdown pass from B.Favre. (R.Longwell kick)
4th Quarter
GBP: B. Franks 4 yard Touchdown pass from B.Favre. (R.Longwell kick)
GBP: R. Longwell 30 yard Field Goal
GBP: R.Mealey 27 yard fumble return for Touchdown. (R.Longwell kick)
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