Packers Player Of The Game
Limiting the San Francisco 49ers to 192 total yards, the entire Packers defense deserves accolades. But one of the biggest playmakers of the day was Antuan Edwards, who had the Packers' only interception along with four tackles, which included a sack and an impressive takedown of Terrell Owens. The play of the Packers defense was most impressive considering that Pro Bowler Darren Sharper and starting middle linebacker Nick Barnett left the game injured and Al Harris also was sidelined at one point.
49ers Player Of The Game
Tony Parrish had one of three Niners interceptions to go with seven tackles.
Stat Of The Game
The Packers defense allowed 10 points for the game despite three turnovers by the offense, one of which gave the 49ers possession at the Green Bay 22-yard line, another of which allowed the Niners to start from the Green Bay 20-yard line.
Play Of The Game
You could pick any play from the Packers' two early defensive stands as significant plays toward the Packers win. But perhaps the biggest play of the day was the third from scrimmage for the Packers, when on third-and-5 Brett Favre hit Javon Walker down the sideline for a 66-yard touchdown. The big play not only kept the Packers from going three-and-out, it put the Packers up early in a game where they would never lose the lead.
THEY SAID IT
GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman -
On injuries "Nick Barnett sprained his ankle in the game; he returned to actually play some base downs, but was hampered a little bit. We taped it up on the sidelines and we will have to wait and see tomorrow to see how he turns out. Obviously with a short week there is concern there. Al Harris had a stinger during the game; he left but was able to return there. Kenny Peterson sprained his MCL, he came out of the game, did not return. Sharper, on that great play he made ended up maybe bruising a rib and he was not able to return to the ballgame."
On rushing game's ability: "Well it's the line, the tight ends, the fullbacks, and the backs, and the receivers as well, blocking. I mean it is not just the offensive line although they have done an outstanding job this season - I can't say enough about them. They have performed up to their level of expectation. I expected us to be like this last year, unfortunately we lost our guys. But they really are doing a fantastic job. Larry Beightol, Joe Philbin, the two line coaches have done a great job with them as well."
On defensive improvement: "Well, when you have transition like we had and I revamped the defense early in the season as you well know, and put that on me, it takes a while for guys to get used to one another; how they are going to fit in to certain schemes and how if we play certain things, and that was a big part of that. I do think, however, that several new faces have brought some chemistry to our defense as well and has been well received by our guys and I think they have helped us. But the guys who have been here are stepping up and making plays on a pretty consistent basis, at least they have for the last three or four weeks."
On whether it has been good that they haven't had to rely on the passing game: "I still believe even though we were imbalanced a little bit today in regard to throwing and running, I would like to be more balanced than we were today. It wasn't the way it was working obviously and we geared it in the other direction, but I think you have to be able to be fairly balanced. You may throw it a little more than you run it, but I thought it keeps them balanced. I am pleased with how we run the football, there is no question about that, but we still have to be able to throw the ball effectively. We did throw two touchdown passes that were significant plays in the game. Those two receivers stepped up, Fergy and Walker made some great plays on the ball there; Brett made some great throws as well. So I am pleased with the offense throwing and running it. I'd like to be a little more effective throwing it at times than we were today."
On Favre's interceptions, whether the thumb was a factor: "I don't think so. The first one was a bullet throw - he just threw it, I believe, a little high. Bubba was open, he pulled up to make the throw and he missed it. So I don't think the throw was affected by the thumb. Let's face it, he does have a broken thumb, it is sore, and maybe there is something there, but I don't think it effected that throw."
On 49ers' QB Tim Rattay: "Coming into the game our team had a lot of respect for him in regard to his composure. I think he still showed composure today. He made a great throw on the 'sluggo' move, the 'double move' pass to Owens for the touchdown. I think he is going to be a heck of a quarterback."
On success vs. the 49ers: "I take success individually one at a time. I don't look at it cumulatively because things change very dramatically in this league. We have been fortunate to have beaten them; they are always close, hard fought games. This game as well could have been either way, fortunately for us it worked out in our favor. You don't normally throw three turnovers, three picks and win a football game. We're minus two in the turnovers and won. We are very fortunate that that happened. Our defense responded extremely well, but no I don't think we have anything over the 49ers. They are a great organization. I visited with Coach Walsh before the game and Dennis is a great coach. That organization has great history and tradition and I have a lot of respect for all that they have done and accomplished and are still accomplishing."
On building momentum: "We have won two in a row before once this season, unfortunately only once, so I wouldn't say momentum is anywhere yet. I think momentum is after four games, not two games. But, we haven't lost anything put it that way."
On Antuan Edwards: "Antuan has been working hard and getting better. One thing about Antuan - he has been an injured player since he's been here so...and he is still is a little bit banged up. Antuan Edwards has really come into this season and worked and worked and worked and made steady progress. I am really happy for him, (he's) very deserving of what he accomplished today and he had a significant role in our win today."
Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell -
On 192-yards allowed: "It's our best performance against a quality offense. This was a big game for both teams. They're an excellent running team and our guys responded. We're happy with the effort. Our offense also did a great job. Those guys ran the football great and that helps you get that (192)."
On defense preventing points when offense gave it up on Packers 20-yard line and 22-yard line: "I love sudden-change. If you look at our defense, we're excited. We were jacked up for that. That's an opportunity to do something for this football team and we responded. I couldn't feel better about our guys, the way they did (respond). Because they were excited about going out. That's your job as a defense. It's going to happen at times. It doesn't happen very much with our offense, they're so dependable, but it's a team effort."
On performance of Antuan Edwards: "He did a lot of good things in the football game. He can build on this. It is one game, we're going to move on to the next one, and I think he's capable of many good games here in the future ... I think he's a quality football player. I see this in my vision of the way he played: he should do this. This is not out of character for him, this is what he should do. And this is what I expect him to do."
Nick Barnett -
On injured ankle: "I hope it's not too bad. I'm not a trainer so I can't tell you I'm going to be ready to go, or it's perfect. I've just got to go in (the training room) right after I get done talking to you guys, get some treatment and see what happens."
On how he sustained injury: "We made the tackle and I was on the ground and I jumped up and when I came down I turned (my ankle). It wasn't even on a real play. It's crazy how it happened, but it happened, unfortunately. We'll take care of it."
Najeh Davenport -
On success of third-and-short offense: "Coach has been kind of preaching that to us the last couple weeks about our third-down ratio. Maybe the first couple games we were like 1-for-4. These last couple we were like 3 out of 4 or 4 out of 4. A long as we can stay on the field, it's positive."
Na'il Diggs -
On putting pressure on 49ers QB Tim Rattay: "We knew in the game plan we had to keep pressure in his face. He doesn't have a whole lot of experience, so we tried to mix things up as far as pressuring his throws. It really wasn't so much of (sacking him), but just hitting him and getting pressure on him that was the biggest factor. We got him a little out of his rhythm and the defense did a good job as a whole of getting pressure on him."
On improvement of defense: "I think we're coming into our own on defense and we're playing like it. Everybody is gelling and getting together. Right now, health is really key for us. We've all got to stay healthy and get out there."
On importance of win: "This is keeping the momentum going that we need for the second half of the season. We're going to Detroit on a short week. They're going be fired up to have us there on a Thanksgiving game. The win was great for momentum, but we can't, by any means, dwell on this game. By tomorrow at noon, we've got to be able to forget this game."
Antuan Edwards -
On pressuring Tim Rattay: "You've got to credit our D-line for that. We kept the heat on him. We got to him and it looked like he never got a chance to get in rhythm. That's Packer football. We've come a long way. It seems like we're gelling a little bit, we just have to keep it going."
On giving up season-low 192 yards: "It's not a big surprise to us to get it done. We knew we had the ability to do it, it's just going out there and making it happen. And we got it done today."
On physical play of the defense: "For the last couple weeks we've been pretty physical. We want to keep carrying that over to each game. And today, yeah, we were pretty physical."
On performance: "I've come a long way, through injuries and all that. And it was big. It was big for me. I always knew I had the ability to make plays, it's just each Sunday, it's not happening. I finally got a break."
Brett Favre -
On offense: "In those types of conditions, that was the type of game we wanted to play. They knew, we knew it, but they were not able to stop us. Talking to some of (the 49ers) the guys the last couple of plays, they were just so impressed with our offensive line and how well they block and how aggressive they are. It's kind of a weekly thing now, but it's not bad. You've got to give credit to our running backs, too. We've got three good ones."
On role of passing game: "We all know we can run the football, even when the opposing team knows it. Probably sooner than later, they'll come a time when we'll have to throw it and we have the guys that can go get it. I think that's obvious. Javon Walker, the first one that he caught, was actually a 15-yard out and he just ran by the guy and I happened to catch him and he made a great catch. (Robert Ferguson) actually had off-coverage to Donald (Driver) on the other side. I just liked the match-up with Fergy and threw him a back shoulder ball and he made a great catch. We're capable of throwing the ball down the field and making plays, it doesn't have to be perfect every time, but there has to be shot-plays we can design off of our run."
On running game: "We're 6-5 and we're not exactly where we want to be, but we are fighting our way back. When you have the offensive line that we have and the running backs that we have, we would be dumb not to utilize that in that area. It's not a knock on the rest of our skill guys. When called upon, so far, guys have made plays in the reception department. Javon made a great play today. From my standpoint, I don't mind it a bit. I don't, because when you run the football the way we are, and say they do start stopping us, you're going to have a one-on-one somewhere - like I did today, the one to Fergy. Instead of taking the easy throw to the off-corner, I take the bump-and-run-guy just because I like that match-up. It's kind of lie and wait, which is not a bad thing to do."
On win at Lambeau: "I think back to last year and the year before, there was just a certain confidence. Even when we didn't play that well, we won. We were able to overcome mistakes or the way the opposing team was playing. The games we've lost this year, we haven't been able to do that here. Last year with Minnesota here, they jump up and for whatever reason we come back and everyone expects that. This year, we kind of lost that a little bit, so it was nice to win."
On wearing Bart Starr throwback jersey after game: "A lot of guys were giving me a hard time about wearing a throwback, because usually I just wear a T-shirt and jeans, but I figured I'd change it up a little bit. What better guy to wear than Bart Starr."
Robert Ferguson -
On impact of win: "I don't think we ever lost momentum in my opinion, because I'm the type of person to come out and play hard every game. But right now I think we're definitely clicking on offense and definitely on defense. The defense played huge today. To go out and pretty much shut out a wideout like Terrell Owens, who is one of the elite in the league right now, is huge."
Mike Flanagan -
On if it's amazing how Packers offense has transformed into a dominant run attack: "I wouldn't call it amazing. We've known what we have here. Obviously last year we were killed by injuries, so it was tough to keep our group out there ... But leading the league in rushing right now, that doesn't mean anything. Maybe Week 16, Week 17, whenever the season is over, maybe then you look back and say we did a good job, but we still have things that we're trying to do here."
On contribution of Kevin Barry to running game: "U-Bacon? Man, he's a load. There's a reason we keep doing it, that's for damn sure. He comes in there and lays heavy on them. He's a big guy and he's been doing a hell of a job out there. It seems like every week he's getting more and more snaps."
On if he gets tired of running the football: "Do I get tired? Hell, yeah. Of running the football? No. That's what we linemen love."
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila -
On limiting big plays: "That's very important. That's what we call and explosion, and when you minimize explosion, it gives you a great chance to win."
On importance of win: "It's big to be able to get consistency. Instead of winning and losing, winning and losing, it feels great to continue being consistent, winning back to back and especially at home."
Ryan Longwell -
On missed field goal: Did he just not get enough?: "No, I drilled it. Hit it right down the pipe. Hit it as hard as I could, and same thing two weeks ago. That's the beauty of kicking in a dome, it lets you get away with those and Lambeau Field you've got to have chip shots this time of year."
On place among all-time Packers scorers: "It's weird because obviously I still look at them as light years ahead of where I should be and I don't see my name fitting amongst the Paul Hornungs and Don Hutsons of the world, but maybe when we look back in 20 or 30 years or something it will take it's own place. But it's pretty special. For a kid from Bend, Ore., to be here in the record books is pretty neat."
Mike McKenzie -
On defensive play: "The whole defense did a great job. The defensive line came out early and set the tempo for the whole game. They played with a lot of fire. Our linebackers were constantly in the backfield and we just kept playing. We did an excellent job out there."
On win: "It's key right now. Especially at home, it was important for us to come out and establish ourselves as a great home team, so we're ecstatic right now."
Hannibal Navies -
On pressuring Tim Rattay, contributing to interception by Antuan Edwards: "They left me 1-on-1 with Garrison Hearst, and I just felt like if I could get in the quarterback's face, I could force him to throw a bad throw. Even if I couldn't get a sack on him I could try to disrupt him a little and I think that's what happened."
On overall comfort with defense now: "It's like the back of my hand now. The unit is learning to play with each other, play as one group, and it's starting to show. We're out there playing as one team instead of 11 players and it's starting to show on the field."
On gratification of complete defensive effort by team: "It's very good. Especially heading into this long stretch of games we have, it's a confidence builder to play well against the offense like that. The next games we have ahead of us we have to win. I think our confidence is up a little bit and we can play well against any team in the league."
Kenny Peterson -
On extent of right knee injury: "Right now it's just an MCL (sprain). They're going to find out the severity of it tomorrow and see how much it swells tonight. Hopefully very little so I can get right back out there."
On how injury occurred: "I got rolled up on. I did an inside move and I tried to come out to make a tackle and Kabeer kind of like, he was making a tackle, he just rolled up on my leg."
Marco Rivera -
On Minnesota winning to keep 1-game lead in division: "You know what, if we just keep winning and playing one at a time, we'll be there. We'll be there at the end. The way it looks right now, we're feeling pretty good. We're very confident right now. The defense is playing very well. They had another good showing today and they're getting momentum and playing with a lot of confidence. If we keep doing that, we'll be all right."
On Ahman Green's records speaking to performance of O-line: "If he's running for over 100 yards, there's got to be a reason. And the reason is the offensive line. You know, we're blocking and we've got the fullbacks, and a big credit to the tight ends. They're a big part of our running game. And we've just been clicking and executing."
Mark Tauscher -
On teams stacking box against the run: "We're not going to see a lot of seven-man box anymore. We realize that we're going to see eight- and sometimes nine-man fronts and when they bring (Kevin Barry) in, we might see 10-man boxes. But KB can make a big play. He can go vertical, too, so they're going to have to start respecting his fly pattern I think ... That joke didn't go over that well."
Javon Walker -
On his touchdown reception: "It was a big play on third down. The (defender) was playing bump press. Usually when a guy is playing bump press like that, with no free safety help, you have to try and take them deep and that's what happened."
On significance of win: "The win put us in a position where we can be where we want to be at the end of the season - in the playoffs. The more we keep going and going and making corrections, the more we'll be where we want to be at the end of the season."
On receivers complementing run game: "The way the run game is going now, (the receivers) have got to go with it. Whatever we do as receivers, we have to play a part in whatever the running game is doing."
GAME NOTES
Quarterback Brett Favre has thrown for a touchdown in 20 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in team history behind only Cecil Isbell's 22-consecutive game mark, set in 1941-42.
With 2 TD passes today, Favre has now thrown for 20 touchdowns for 10 consecutive seasons (20 this season), matching Dan Marino's NFL record. Marino threw for at least 20 TDs from 1983-92.
Favre's 66-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Javon Walker is the Packers' longest pass play of the season and Walker's longest reception of his career.
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With 154 yards today, RB Ahman Green produced his fourth-consecutive 100-yard outing, setting a Packers record. The previous record was held by John Brockington (1971), Dorsey Levens (1997), and Ahman Green (2003).
Green's eight 100-yard rushing games this season are a Packers record. Jim Taylor (1962) and Green (2001) previously held the record at seven.
Green went over the 5,000 career-yard mark as a Packer, coming into the game needing 26 yards to accomplish the feat. He now has 5,128 career rushing yards in a Packers' uniform (good for second place in team annals, behind only Jim Taylor's 8,207 yards) and is only the third Packers player with 1,000 carries and 5,000 yards.
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Kicker Ryan Longwell passed Chris Jacke for first place on Green Bay's all-time field goals made list with 174. Jacke had 173 from 1989-96.
IN-GAME NOTES
End of 4th quarter. Game over.
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With three third-down conversions, the Packers were able to run out the final 6:08 of the game. David Martin had an 8-yard catch on third-and-5. Najeh Davenport had a 5-yard run on third-and-2. Brett Favre scrambled for 5-yards on third-and-4.
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Antuan Edwards intercepted Tim Rattay. After a 5-yard return the Packers take over at their own 48-yard line (6:08, 4th quarter).
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Ryan Longwell's 37-yard field goal increased the Packers lead, 20-10 (7:44, 4th quarter). The Packers never passed on their 8-play, 28-yard drive. Ahman Green had four carries for 17 yards. Najeh Davenport had a 17-yard carry on third-and-2. Tony Fisher had a 10-yard run. Time of the Packers drive was 4:23.
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End of 3rd quarter.
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Facing fourth-and-3, Tim Rattay hit Terrell Owens for a 24-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to cut into the Packers lead, 17-10 (1:33, 3rd quarter). Garrison Hearst had a two carries for 29 yards on the drive. An unnecessary roughness penalty gave the 49ers 15 extra yards. The 49ers scoring drive was 7 plays, 71 yards. Time of the drive was 1:45.
The 49ers drive started courtesy of Mike Rumph's interception.
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Facing third-and-12 at the San Francisco 30-yard line, Brett Favre's pass for Antonio Freeman was intercepted by Mike Rumph. The 49ers take over at the 29-yard line (3:20, 3rd quarter).
On the drive, Ahman Green had 34-yards rushing and passed the 100-yard mark for the fourth straight game, which is a Packers record. Green's 100-yard performance is his eighth of the season, also a Packers record.
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With the 49ers facing third-and-8, Antuan Edwards sacked Tim Rattay for a loss of 7 yards to force another three-and-out punt. After Antonio Chatman's return, the Packers take over at their own 29-yard line (6:52, 3rd quarter).
During the drive, Darren Sharper landed hard on his back and had the wind knocked out of him. He's been taken to the locker room for precautionary X-rays on his ribs.
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The Packers defense forced another 49ers three-and-out. Antuan Edwards took down Terrell Owens on third down to force a punt. After Antonio Chatman's fair catch, the Packers take over at their own 18-yard line (10:13, 3rd quarter).
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Ryan Longwell's 49-yard field goal attempt came up short (12:08, 3rd quarter). Ahman Green had a pair of carries for 28 yards on the drive. Javon Walker nearly pulled down a Brett Favre pass on third-and-6 that would have brought the Packers within the 10-yard line. The 49ers take over at the Green Bay 39-yard line.
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End of 2nd quarter halftime.
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Ryan Longwell's 38-yard field goal increased the Packers lead as time expired in the first half, 17-3 (0:00, 2nd quarter). Robert Ferguson started the scoring drive with a 31-yard kickoff return. Ahman Green had a 24-yard run. Donald Driver had a 6-yard reception. Bubba Franks had a 7-yard catch. The Packers scoring drive was 6 plays, 37 yards. Time of the drive was 2:00.
Ryan Longwell's field goal, the 173rd of his career, tied Chris Jacke for the all-time Packers lead.
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Todd Peterson's 24-yard field goal put the 49ers on the scoreboard, 14-3 (2:00, 2nd quarter). Na'il Diggs tackled Garrison Hearst after a 2-yard gain on third-and-goal at the 8-yard line to force the field goal try. The 49ers twice converted on third down earlier on the drive. The 49ers scoring drive was 14 plays, 54 yards. Time of the drive was 6:00.
Kenny Peterson twisted his right knee on the drive. His return is questionable. Al Harris suffered a neck stinger. His return is questionable.
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On what was just the second pass of the drive, Brett Favre hit Robert Ferguson down the left sideline for a 16-yard touchdown to increase the Packers lead, 14-0 (8:00, 2nd quarter). Ahman Green had four carries for 23 yards on the drive including a 2-yard rush on third-and-1. Najeh Davenport had two carries for 28 yards. Tony Fisher had a 1-yard run on third-and-1. The Packers scoring drive was 10 plays, 83 yards. Time of the drive was 5:39.
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Tony Parish's interception gave the 49ers possession at the Green Bay 22-yard line, but again the Packers defense came up big as penalties pushed San Francisco backward. Bill LaFleur's 17-yard punt was fair caught by Antonio Chatman at the Packers 17-yard line (13:39, 2nd quarter).
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Facing second-and-17, Brett Favre's pass to Bubba Franks was intercepted by Tony Parish (14:53, 2nd quarter). After Parish's return, the 49ers take over at the Green Bay 22-yard line.
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End of 1st quarter.
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Todd Peterson's 28-yard field goal bounced off the left upright, no good (1:57, 1st quarter). The 49ers started their possession from the Green Bay 20-yard line after Zack Bronson's interception, but the Packers defense held strong. Hannibal Navies stopped Terrell Owens for just a 2-yard gain. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila sacked Tim Rattay on third down to force the field goal attempt. After the missed field goal, the Packers take over at their own 20-yard line.
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Facing second-and-4 at the Green Bay 23-yard line, Brett Favre faked a handoff to Ahman Green and threw to Bubba Franks. Favre's pass sailed over the head of his intended target and was intercepted by Zack Bronson. After Bronson's return, the 49ers take over at the Green Bay 20-yard line (5:27, 1st quarter).
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The 49ers drove as far as the Green Bay 31-yard line, but were forced to punt on fourth-and-22 at the Green Bay 43-yard line. Na'il Diggs had a 9-yard sack of Tim Rattay at the start of the drive. Cletidus Hunt had a 7-yard sack of Rattay. After a 26-yard punt, the Packers take over at their own 17-yard line (6:10, 1st quarter).
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The Packers faced third-and-5 at their own 34-yard line when Brett Favre hooked up with Javon Walker down the left sideline for a 66-yard touchdown to put the Packers ahead, 7-0 (11:31, 1st quarter). Favre has now thrown a touchdown pass in 20 consecutive games. Walker's reception was his career long and the longest of the season for the Packers. The Packers scoring drive was 3 plays, 71 yards. Time of the drive was 1:35.
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The 49ers went three-and-out on the game's opening possession. Garrison Hearst had two rushes for minus-1 yard and Al Harris tackled Tai Streets for a 10-yard gain on third-down. After a 38-yard punt, the Packers take over at their own 29-yard line (13:06, 1st quarter).
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Temperature at kickoff is 38 degrees.
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The following players are inactive for today's game: Derek Combs, Brennan Curtin, Curtis Fuller, Craig Nall (third quarterback), Jamal Reynolds, T.J. Slaughter, Marcus Spriggs, Marcus Wilkins. |
