Packers Player Of The Game
Making 5 tackles, including a sack and forced-fumble of Rodney Peete, defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila was disruptive on defense. On offense, halfback Ahman Green scored the Packers' only touchdown on a 45-yard run, finishing with 77 yards on 12 carries, plus 3 receptions for 10 yards. Also of note was defensive tackle Gilbert Brown, who played with a ruptured biceps and was instrumental in the Packers' goal-line stand.
Panthers Player Of The Game
The third quarterback to enter the game for Carolina, Chris Weinke was sharp completing 8 of his 10 passes for 107 yards and 1 touchdown. He also had a 5-yard run to convert on third-and-3.
Play Of The Game
Nick Barnett and Hannibal Navies combined to make the final stop, but all four plays in the Packers' first-quarter goal-line stand were outstanding. Stephen Davis' 11-yard run gave the Panthers first-and-goal at the 1, but on the following play Navies and Gilbert Brown combined to push Davis back for a 1-yard loss. On second down, Navies combined with Edwards to stop Davis at the 1. On third down, Brown and Chukie Nwokorie stopped Davis at the line of scrimmage, setting up the aforementioned hold by Barnett and Navies on fourth down.
Stat Of The Game
The Packers committed 4 turnovers, 3 of them in the first half by the No. 1 offense. William Henderson fumbled on the Packers' first play from scrimmage and Brett Favre was intercepted twice.
THEY SAID IT
GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman -
On Marco Rivera's injury: "Marco, it's not as bad as we originally thought, but it is still serious. It's an MCL sprain. We will not know the magnitude of it until we get a MRI, but the doctors say there could be a chance he could be ready for the Minnesota game, believe it or not, and there is also a chance that he couldn't, based on the severity of the injury obviously, but at this point we really do not know. So tomorrow when he has his MRI we will have a clearer picture of where he is."
On Gilbert Brown's performance: "Well he certainly showed up on our goal line stand and solidified the middle. I thought he did a nice job of keeping people off our linebackers. I thought our linebackers did a real nice job - Nick Barnett, Wilkins, Hannibal Navies - I thought did a nice job for us and made a number of plays and in order for them to do it, someone has to be doing a pretty good job for us up front. I thought Rod Walker made a couple of plays for us and he has not been out there very often. Gilbert came through and is icing down his bicep at this time, but says he feels fine. We have another preseason game and a couple more practices to determine that."
On whether Gilbert did his job: "I have to watch the tape to really see all that he did. It seemed like he did his job from my advantage point of the sideline, but I really want to have the courtesy of watching the tape to decide should he or shouldn't he."
On encouraging and discouraging points of game: "Well after last week, our defense was put in adverse position when the offense turned the ball over in three of the first four possessions. The defense did a fantastic job of keeping them out of the end zone. Fourteen for 22 yards when they were in there, the great goal-line stand, the 0-6 on third down conversions against the ones (Panthers' first team), the interception by Al Harris was encouraging. When I look at the first defense, they did a nice job. They earned their meal ticket for the next week anyway. Offensively, we were 7-12 on third downs, 58 percent was encouraging. We had a key drive to start the second half, 76 yards was encouraging, and our tackles holding up against their pretty damn good rushers they have. They are a very, very good defensive team and our tackles did a nice job of not allowing our quarterback to get sacked. That was really a test I was holding my breath on, and our tackles did a really nice job there. Discouraging, was the three out of four turnovers on the first four possessions offensively. I did not have too many discouraging (thoughts) on the defense all night. I thought they did a nice job. Our second half offense group was terrible. They could not crack an egg out there. We were five three-and-outs after the Ahman Green touchdown. The second group couldn't do anything and they are normally pretty good, but not tonight. Defensively, we were OK with the second group. Let up a couple of field goals and the interception for the touchdown. Not very good overall by anyone the second half but I have to watch the tape for that."
Nick Barnett -
On goal-line stand: "That was an exciting goal-line stand. Our fans were into it, we were into it, so that showed a lot."
On Lambeau Field atmosphere: "It's exciting, electrifying. It reminds me a lot of Corvallis (home of Oregon State), how the fans are really excited just to be out there."
Mike Flanagan -
On renovated Lambeau Field: "I think it's been amplified. This is still storied Lambeau Field, this isn't just a new stadium that was built for a team and an owner to generate new money. This is still Lambeau Field, this is still the Green Bay Packers, it's just that now all of a sudden it's been moved into the 28th century. This place is state of the art and it's a great place."
On Marco Rivera: "If there's any way Marco can play, he'll play. He's one of the toughest guys in this game and if he can play, he can play and if not someone else will have to do the job."
On Ahman Green: "Ahman is always something special. Even when he's banged up he's something special. He's going to give you everything he's got every play, that's why it's so much fun to block for him."
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila -
On Gilbert Brown: "It was awesome just to be able to see him do everything. He got to play a little bit, he did a little 'Gravedigger' deal, so he played a complete game to me. It was kind of cool. The way he gets the fans to respond, that's how he is to us. We look at him for leadership."
On Gilbert Brown: "What Gilbert is doing is very amazing. Not everybody could do that. You have to give him a lot of credit for his mental toughness."
William Henderson -
On third quarter drive: "Every time we score it's something to build on. Regardless of whether we didn't do well or not, we're going to study the film and we're going to get better because of it. Everything that happens on the field, we will find a way to use it to our advantage and grow from it."
On players 'counting heads' with cuts approaching: "Even though you tell guys not to, it's very hard for people not to do that somewhat, because it's such a tight competition with so many positions. It makes it difficult for guys not to look."
Mark Tauscher -
On Ahman Green: "We have all the confidence in the world in him. We've got to do our job and Ahman is going to do is. If we give him any kind of hole, we're going to be successful running the football."
On Marco Rivera going down with sprained knee: "That sucks. Marco is as tough as they come. He's been through this before and I'd be shocked, if it's nothing structural, I'd be shocked if he's not ready to go by Minnesota and I'm sure that's what he's looking for."
On Rivera: "He's our heart and soul of the line. He keeps everything together. He's been here the longest, he's been to a Pro Bowl and his toughness and leadership is just huge. I know I loving having him next to me. He's a rock and he's always prepared and it would be a huge loss, but with his toughness I'm pretty sure he'll be ready to go."
Mike Wahle -
On importance of touchdown drive to start third quarter: "We came in at halftime pretty pissed off. They're a good defense, I take nothing away from them, but we're a good offense, too, and what happened out there in the first half was despicable. We wanted to come in and get some points on the board, especially leaving the first half with the situation with the field goal after our two-minute (drive), we definitely wanted to come out and get some points on the board."
On Marco Rivera: "I really don't know about the injury. Obviously we're going to lose something when we lose one of our starters, but we've got plenty of guys here that can step up and play. We're not worried about that. We're not going to have to change anything, we're going to keep doing what we do ... I'm sure we can pull through like we always have. This has happened for the last couple years."
GAME NOTES
Saturday night's attendance at Lambeau Field was a record 69,831. The previous record of 65,358 was established in the Packers' playoff loss to Atlanta last season.
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End of 4th quarter. Game over.
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Akili Smith's pass was intercepted by William Hampton and returned 30 yards for a Carolina touchdown, 20-7 (0:56, 4th quarter).
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John Kasay's 52-yard field goal attempt missed short and right (3:09, 4th quarter). The Packers take over at their own 42-yard line with Akili Smith at quarterback for the second time.
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Shayne Graham's 44-yard field goal attempt missed wide right (7:42, 3rd quarter). On the drive, Chris Weinke completed 33- and 11-yard passes to Walter Young, plus a 9-yard pass to Nick Goings.
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Chris Weinke hit Walter Young with an 11-yard touchdown pass that gave Carolina the lead, 13-7 (14:56, 4th quarter). Earlier on the drive Weinke made a 5-yard scramble up the middle on third-and-2, and hit Young with a 29-yard pass on third-and-10. The Panthers scoring drive was 10 plays, 65 yards. Time of the drive was 5:20.
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End of 3rd quarter.
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Doug Pederson replaces Brett Favre at quarterback (6:38, 3rd quarter). Favre on the night was 18-for-29, 116 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs.
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Shayne Graham's 42-yard field goal closed the gap, 7-6 (6:38, 3rd quarter). With Jake Delhomme at quarterback, Muhsin Muhammad made a 12-yard catch on the drive. Mike Seidman made a 9-yard catch. Brad Hoover had a 10-yard run. The Panthers scoring drive was 10 plays, 51 yards. Time of the drive was 4:23.
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Ahman Green broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run that he followed with a Lambeau Leap, 7-3 (11:01, 3rd quarter). Earlier on the drive, Javon Walker made an 18-yard catch across the middle on third-and-9. Donald Driver made a 10-yard catch on the right sideline on third-and-8. The Packers scoring drive was 7 plays, 76 yards. Time of the drive was 2:47.
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John Kasay's 26-yard field goal put the Panthers on the board first, 3-0 (13:48, 3rd quarter). The Panthers started deep in Green Bay territory after Michael Bates' 51-yard kickoff return. A 25-yard pass interference penalty brought Carolina to the 10-yard line. The Panthers scoring drive was 4 plays, 26 yards. Time of the drive was 1:12.
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Michael Bates opened the third quarter with a 51-yard kickoff return. The Panthers begin first-and-10 at the Green Bay 35-yard line.
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End of 2nd quarter. Halftime.
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It appeared the Packers were on the scoreboard when Ryan Longwell made a 47-yard attempt with 30 second left in the half, but a holding penalty nullified the kick and forced a punt. On the previous play, Brett Favre and Ahman Green failed to connect on third-and-3. Earlier on the drive, Najeh Davenport had a 15-yard run up the left sideline. Javon Walker made an 8-yard grab. Donald Driver made two receptions totaling 13 yards.
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Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila sacked Rodney Peete on third-and-3 and forced a fumble that was recovered by Carolina (8:00, 2nd quarter).
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End of 1st quarter.
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Brett Favre fired over the head of Donald Driver and was intercepted by Reggie Howard, who made an 8-yard return to the Carolina 42-yard line (1:33, 1st quarter).
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One play after Deon Grant's pick gave Carolina the ball, Al Harris intercepted Rodney Peete's pass at the Green Bay 20-yard line (3:40, 1st quarter).
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Facing second-and-3 at their own 46-yard line, Brett Favre's pass for Javon Walker was deflected, bounced off of Walker and was intercepted by Deon Grant, who returned the pick 2 yards to the Carolina 47-yard line (3:46, 1st quarter).
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After the goal-line stand, the Packers gained 8 yards on three plays -- a 2-yard run by Ahman Green, followed by two William Henderson receptions for a total of 5 yards -- forcing a punt (8:07, 1st quarter).
Marco Rivera was injured on the drive. Rivera has a sprained knee, has been taken to the locker room for further evaluation. Will not return.
Darren Sharper has a groin strain, will not return.
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Stephen Davis had an 11-yard run up the middle that brought the Panthers to the 1-yard line, but the Green Bay defense kept Carolina out of the end zone (9:35, 1st quarter). Gilbert Brown was in on two run stops in the goal-line stand. Hannibal Navies and Nick Barnett combined to keep Davis out of the end zone on fourth-and-1. The Panthers drive started at the Green Bay 34-yard line after William Henderson's fumble.
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On the Packers' first play from scrimmage, Brett Favre completed a 4-yard pass to William Henderson. Henderson then fumbled the ball, recovered by Carolina at the Green Bay 34-yard line (14:38, 1st quarter).
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Temperature at kickoff is 72 degrees.
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The following Packers players are inactive for tonight's contest: Reggie Coleman, Tyrone Davis, Na'il Diggs, Jorg Heckenbach, Chris Johnson, Rob Johnson, James Lee, Jermaine Petty, Lamar Smith, Marcus Spriggs, Adam Tate.
Donald Driver and Robert Ferguson will be the starting wide receivers.
Antuan Edwards and Darren Sharper will be the starting safeties.
Marcus Wilkins will start for Na'il Diggs. Gilbert Brown is expected to start. |
