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| Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 11:30 am at Ford Field |
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| Packers |
0 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
14 |
| Lions |
10 |
3 |
0 |
9 |
22 |
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Packers Player Of The Game
The Packers defense struggled as a whole, but cornerback Mike McKenzie did his part to try and inspire a Packers win. Notching what could have been a game-changing interception -- had the Packers not fumbled the ball away on the next play -- McKenzie was responsible for the Packers' only turnover. McKenzie also had five tackles on the night, including a 1-yard stop of Bill Schroeder on third down. Offensively, tight end Wesley Walls led the Packers with five catches for 67 yards.
Lions Player Of The Game
No wonder Dre' Bly said earlier in the week that the Lions should force the Packers to pass. In addition to a pair of tackles, Bly had two interceptions, both of them in Lions territory. He also broke up Brett Favre's final desperation heave at the end of the game to preserve the Detroit victory.
Stat Of The Game
Pick one: the Packers had five turnovers on the night and went 1-for-9 on third down conversions.
Play Of The Game
Despite all of their mistakes to that point, the Packers were a touchdown away from having the lead midway through the fourth quarter. But after a 57-yard kickoff return had brought the Packers into Lions territory, Brett Favre's third-down pass to Donald Driver was intercepted by Dre' Bly, who returned the pick 19 yards. The turnover not only quashed a Packers scoring threat, but sparked a Lions drive that resulted in Jason Hanson's fifth field goal of the game.
THEY SAID IT:
GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman -
On momentum: "We didn't have momentum today, that's for sure. They had all the momentum on their side. We didn't start the game well. We didn't finish the game well. I take my hat off to the Lions and what they did today. They had a great game plan. They did a great job of making plays and we didn't make plays."
On looking past Lions: "I was concerned. I told our team last night, I told them during the week, we were going to see the very best that the Detroit Lions had to offer and we definitely did. They played a heck of a ballgame. I'm not surprised by how they played. I knew they were going to play (well). They're the host team and this is their ballgame. In order to beat this team I fully understood how complex that was going to be. Our team had to come out ready and willing and able to play 60 minutes of emotionally-packed football against a very inspired football team, that being the Detroit Lions. We certainly didn't exemplify that during our time on that field and that's disappointing. We've had four weeks of hard, tough, intense football and we didn't make it five weeks."
On if surprised by Packers' poor performance: "Yes, I am surprised because we had an opportunity today to play this football team and hopefully win this game. We had a lot of things in front of us, a lot of things that we wanted to accomplish today that we didn't get done."
On if loss can be an attention getter: "Yeah, it's an attention getter. It got my attention and it got (the players') attention. I've always said, as much as I hate losing, as much as I hate the way I feel right now, things happen for a reason. Maybe this allows us an opportunity to come back and play a great game next week at home. And I hope that's the case then and in the rest of our games. No one in the National Football League can line up week in and week out and not bring their A-game and expect to win. The Detroit Lions did a great job today. I take my hat off to them and what they accomplished. They deserved to win this football game. If we would have won at the end, I wouldn't have felt like we deserved to win, because we didn't play well enough."
Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell -
On near interception by Michael Hawthorne: "I'm sure it's a play he thinks he can make. If you ask him, he's thinks he can make that play every time. That would have been a nice play. He's a fast guy and I don't think anybody can catch him."
On defense: "We didn't play to our standard early in the game. I felt that as the game went on our guys got stronger, but we just didn't have enough on defense to finish this game off. We needed to make a big takeaway, give our offense great field position to finish this game off."
On if it's a four-game season for the Packers now: "No question about it. I still stay this is going to be the best seasoned team and battle tested when we get into the playoffs. I don't think anybody will want to play us."
Na'il Diggs -
On responding to loss: "If we don't get our act together it could be a long rest of the season. If we come back and everybody is positive about learning from it and really sincere about not losing another game this season, then we should be just fine."
On lack of intensity early on by defense: "Nobody was playing with intensity or with the intent to win the football game. We came out in the second half and we're trying to really erase the first half, but it kept catching up to us. No matter what we did as a defense the points that they scored in the first half and what they did in the first half lingered on in the second half. Even though they really didn't do anything, it was still hanging on our back."
On if lack of starters Nick Barnett and Darren Sharper caused problems: "I don't think we missed a beat when they were out. I would love those guys to be out there and healthy, but they're not. We have very good backups. They did a great job, came in and did what they had to do."
Donald Driver -
On 1-for-9 on third-down conversions: "We didn't do anything well out there today. When you can't do anything well it's frustrating all around the table and I think that was our downfall."
On near-reception at the end of the first half: "I never did see Javon. The only time I saw him was when I jumped up. I knew that I had it. And Javon, he was wide open. So I guess he felt like Brett was trying to throw the ball to him and he came in and tried to make a play ... You can't take anything from him. That's what we talked about when we came to the sideline. He didn't see me, I didn't see him. So it's just a guy trying to make a play on the ball. I was trying to make one as well as Javon."
On impact of loss: "It's always tough when we lose. But we know we have four games left. We have to win all four if we want to make the playoffs. That's our goal right now is to go back, get ready for next week and get ready for Chicago."
On coverage of Dre' Bly: "They played zone all night long. They never did change anything they was doing. Bly had a great game and I take my hat off to him. He had a great all-around game."
Brett Favre -
On Detroit defense: "I think they were determined to come in and stop the run. I'm not saying that because of that we abandoned the running game, but right away we felt it was just one of those games we fell behind ... I've said this all along. When the run game is there, stick with it, and when the passing game is there, take some shots. Their front-four is good enough to stop the run. They're very capable."
On if Packers have run out of second chances: "I don't know if we have. I mean, we still have four games left. If we win all four I'd still guarantee we get in (to the playoffs), but we certainly haven't helped ourselves by the up and down way we've played this year. It's upsetting, it's frustrating, but it is what it is from that standpoint. You deal with it, you go on, until there are no more games."
Robert Ferguson -
On impact of loss: "The season isn't over. We can't start thinking like that. We can't let the media or anybody else dictate how we think. My feeling and the feeling I spread around to all of my teammates is we still have a chance. The door is still open, it hasn't been shut yet. It won't be shut until the last game of the season, so we have to continue to play hard."
On team's intensity: "When you step in the ring, you're man to man. One man is going to win, one man is going to lose. So I don't buy into all of that 'you were flat,' 'we weren't ready,' because we're professionals. We're paid to be ready. So I was ready and I feel like my teammates were ready. They just went out and won the game. I'm not going to make any excuses about it."
On pass that went over his head and resulted in an interception: "That was a good throw by Brett. I just misjudged the ball and mistimed my jump. If I timed my jump I think I could have pulled that down and continued to run."
Michael Hawthorne -
On near interception: "It's just one of those things. Any higher, any farther inside, it would have been right in my lap. Or I guess I didn't break fast enough. If I would have broke fast enough it would have been in my lap. It hit my hands, I should have caught it. It could have been the difference maker. Who knows? A lot of games shouldn't come down to one play, but I'll take that one play. I'll put that one on my shoulders. You want to be a game-breaker. It could have been a game-breaker right there ... It's a gimme almost. Perfect call, perfect coverage, just didn't come away with the ball."
Aaron Kampman -
On how many chances Packers have left: "Not many. We only have four games left and we'll obviously have to take one game at a time. If we try to say, we need to win all four, we just need to take one game at a time and focus on that."
Marco Rivera -
On if team has run out of second chances: "It's hard to say, because you don't really know what's going to happen on Sunday. For me, personally, I would love to win all four. But we've got Chicago next and if we don't beat them, then there's nothing. So it's one team at a time, one game at a time."
On struggles of running game: "We should have executed. There's not one thing they did today that we have not seen. We've seen it before on tape and we should have just executed."
Mike Wahle -
On lack of running game: "First of all, my hat is off to the Lions. They played their asses off today. Very, very physical, obviously. And I think they were very, very disciplined in the way they played us. They knew we were going to try to stretch them early because of their size inside and they played the cut-back lanes really well, forced guys back and had someone waiting right there for them. I think it was a combination of they were very assignment correct and they played their asses off."
On turnovers: "We were lucky to be in that ballgame with five turnovers, let's call it what it is. With no ground game, turning the ball over five times, if you would have told me we were going to be within eight points and 50 yards of tying the football game at the end I would have told you you were crazy. There are obviously some things we have to work on."
Javon Walker -
On loss: "We started off slow and didn't really finish the way we wanted to finish. But there were plays out there that could have been made that we didn't make, and plays that we made that just weren't enough."
On near reception at end of first half: "That was just a scramble play trying to make a play. Brett was back there scrambling and when that's going on there's no route, you've just got to try to make a play."
On going 1-for-9 on third down: "We just didn't convert. In order to win the game you've got to stay on the field on third down and that's what we didn't do a lot this whole game. It showed. We just couldn't execute on third down."
GAME NOTES:
End of 4th quarter. Game over.
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With pressure coming, Brett Favre threw it up for Robert Ferguson, but the ball went over his head and was intercepted by Doug Evans. After a 2-yard return the Lions take over at their own 32-yard line (1:03, 4th quarter).
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Jason Hanson's 32-yard field goal put the Lions up 22-14 (3:34, 4th quarter). Olandis Gary had a 17-yard run on the 8-play, 41-yard drive. Time of the drive 4:39.
The Lions gained possession courtesy of Dre' Bly's interception.
**
Facing third-and-5 at the Detroit 35-yard line, Brett Favre's pass for Donald Driver was intercepted by Dre' Bly. After a 19-yard return the Lions take over at their own 46-yard line (8:13, 4th quarter).
Najeh Davenport had started things off with a 57-yard kickoff return to the Detroit 40-yard line.
**
Jason Hanson's 46-yard field goal increased the Detroit lead, 19-14 (9:17, 4th quarter). The Lions earned possession on Brett Favre's fumble. The Lions scoring drive was 4 plays, 8 yards. Time of the drive was 1:33.
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One play after Mike McKenzie's interception, Brett Favre fumbled while trying to pass. The Lions recovered and take over at the Green Bay 41-yard line (10:50, 4th quarter).
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With the Lions facing first-and-10 at their own 30-yard line, Mike McKenzie intercepted Joey Harrington's pass for Az-Zahir Hakim (10:58, 4th quarter).
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Jason Hanson's 49-yard field goal put the Lions ahead, 16-14 (13:09, 4th quarter). The Lions started their drive courtesy of Terrence Holt's fumble recovery but got no farther after that. The Lions scoring drive was 4 plays, 0 yards. Time of the drive was 1:44.
**
Facing second-and-10 at the Green Bay 10-yard line, Brett Favre completed an 18-yard pass to Javon Walker. But Dre' Bly poked the ball loose from behind, allowing Terrence Holt to recover the loose ball. The Lions take over at the Green Bay 31-yard line (14:57, 4th quarter).
**
End of 3rd quarter.
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The Packers forced the Lions into their second straight three-and-out punt (0:20, 3rd quarter). Aaron Kampman's sack and forced fumble of Joey Harrnington on first down, which was recovered by Detroit, pushed the Lions back 7 yards. After a fair catch by Antonio Chatman, the Packers take over at their own 20-yard line.
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In a running formation with Kevin Barry an eligible receiver, Brett Favre faked a handoff to Ahman Green and fired downfield to Javon Walker for a 45-yard touchdown that put the Packers ahead, 14-13 (3:48, 3rd quarter). On the previous play Favre hit Donald Driver for a 20-yard gain. The Packers scoring drive was 3 plays, 65 yards. Time of the drive was 1:22.
**
Facing third-and-4 at the Green Bay 32-yard line, Brett Favre's pass for Antonio Freeman was intercepted by Dre' Bly. The Lions take over at their own 28-yard line (7:36, 3rd quarter).
Earlier on the drive, Robert Ferguson had an 18-yard reception. Wesley Walls had a 10-yard catch. Donald Driver had a 6-yard catch.
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End of 2nd quarter. Halftime.
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Jason Hanson's 28-yard field goal increased the Lions lead, 13-7 (2:37, 2nd quarter). The Lions drove to the Packers 1-yard line but went backward after that. Antuan Edwards sacked Joey Harrington on third down to force the field goal try. Earlier on the drive Torrance Marshall earned his first career sack. Including three third-down conversions, the Lions scoring drive was 14 plays, 62 yards. Time of the drive was 7:50.
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Brett Favre hit Bubba Franks in the back right corner of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown pass to put the Packers on the scoreboard, 7-3 (10:27, 2nd quarter). Wesley Walls had a 30-yard reception on the drive. Najeh Davenport had a 12-yard catch. Donald Driver had an 8-yard catch. Ahman Green had two runs for 12 yards. The Packers scoring drive was 8 plays, 84 yards. Time of the drive was 5:06.
Brett Favre has now thrown a touchdown pass in 21 consecutive games.
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End of 1st quarter.
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Jason Hanson's 42-yard field goal increased the Detroit lead, 10-0 (0:33, 1st quarter). Mikhael Ricks had a 38-yard catch-and-run on the drive, which also included a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on the Packers. The Lions scoring drive was 8 plays, 64 yards. Time of the drive was 4:08.
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Shawn Bryson's 6-yard touchdown run to the left corner of the end zone put the Lions on the scoreboard first, 7-0 (8:05, 1st quarter). The Lions had a pair of third-and-1 conversions on the drive on runs by fullback Cory Schlesinger. Az-Zahir Hakim had a 14-yard reception. The Lions scoring drive was 10 plays, 56 yards. Time of the drive was 4:46.
The Packers failed to get a first down on their opening drive. Brett Favre's pass on third-and-6 went through the hands of Donald Driver.
**
The following Packers are inactive for today's game: Nick Barnett, Brennan Curtin, Craig Nall (third quarterback), Kenny Peterson, Jamal Reynolds, Darren Sharper, Marcus Spriggs, Marcus Wilkins.
Antuan Edwards and Marques Anderson will be the starting safeties. Torrance Marshall will start at middle linebacker in place of Nick Barnett. |
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