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| Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 3:15 pm at Lambeau Field |
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| Broncos |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| Packers |
7 |
3 |
7 |
14 |
31 |
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Packers Player Of The Game
Running back Ahman Green had a record day when the Packers needed a big-time performance. Becoming the first player in team history to reach the 200-yard rushing mark, Green accumulated 218 yards on 20 carries (10.9 avg.). The biggest of them all was Green's 98-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, also good enough for a Packers record. Earlier in the game, Green had a 2-yard touchdown run. As a team, the Packers tallied 262 yards on the ground.
Broncos Player Of The Game
In addition to his game-high 9 tackles, safety Sam Brandon also prevented a Packers touchdown with a interception of Brett Favre after the Packers had the ball first-and-10 at the Denver 27-yard line.
Stat Of The Game
The Packers defense held the Broncos to just 4-of-16 (25 percent) on third down chances.
Play Of The Game
Ignoring a 28-yard touchdown pass to Nate Poole that happened in Arizona -- during the 2-minute warning of the Packers-Broncos game -- causing a Minnesota Vikings loss that enabled the Packers to clinch the NFC North, the biggest 'play' of the game for the Packers Sunday was probably a collection of them. With the Packers up 17-3 in the third quarter, the Broncos had a chance to bring themselves within a touchdown after an 84-yard kickoff return gave them starting position at the Green Bay 12-yard line. But after bringing the ball to the 3-yard line, the Broncos moved it to the 1 on first down, but failed to gain a yard on three plays after that. In that span, Grady Jackson and Cletidus Hunt stuffed Quentin Griffin and Danny Kanell was pressured into a pair of incomplete passes. One play after the goal-line stand, Ahman Green broke free for a 98-yard touchdown run that allowed the Packers to roll to an easy victory.
THEY SAID IT
GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman -
On how to handle all of the emotions: "Well, right now I am just proud of my football team. I am so proud. We came into the bye week having lost two in a row, three games out in the division and unless you have character in that locker room, men who get it, who fight for it, who won't point fingers, who are accountable, you can never get back on track again. Fortunately, I have those type of people in that locker room and on the coaching staff and it is because of their efforts that we are able to get to where we are today. They never questioned anything, they just kept battling. We didn't play perfectly this year, we made plenty of mistakes, but you tell them what they did wrong and they try to fix it the best way they can and it is a credit to them."
On injuries: "I am not sure yet, but I am pretty sure (Mike) Wahle may have done something to his hand. They put a cast on him. I haven't got an update on that hand yet. But if he can play he will play obviously ... (Robert) Ferguson should be healthy next week. Ferguson actually worked out before the game to see if he could play in this game and wanted to play, but I wouldn't let him ... Mike McKenzie wasn't quite ready today, but hopefully he will be by next week ... (Antonio) Chatman got his bell rung but he was OK ... Najeh Davenport strained his neck, but I don't think there is anything of major significance, maybe Mike McKenzie and Mike Wahle ... (Na'il) Diggs' shoulder...but I don't think that's going to hold him out of this football game."
On how fate changed: "Well, we are in this position and we are able to win this division because we worked extremely hard. I don't put a whole lot of stock in the fact that it was lucky. We were down and if at any time we doubted ourselves we may not be in this position right now and you might not be asking that question. So I credit it to a lot of hard work, perseverance, great chemistry on this football team, guys hanging together, believing in each other and enjoying each other's company, where they enjoy winning football games and enjoy the locker room after a win."
On the different feelings of going into the playoffs this year vs. last year: "I have said all along and I don't know if anyone has bought into it, but I think we are a better football team this year. Record doesn't always dictate how good you are. I think we are a better team this year. We are healthier at this point of the season. I mean we limped into the last four ball games, really limped our way through the season last year and it was a tremendous strain and stress on our football team. Every week we had to patch something up and try to fix someone and put them out there and see if they could go. So this year the energy level at this point of the season, in practice, in the locker room, in this building is very high and they are very excited about the postseason and playing as many more games as they will let us play."
On the fourth-and-1 stop and the long touchdown run: "I thought a great turn of events there was the fourth-and-one and we stopped them and then were able to break the long 98-yard run for a touchdown and I thought that was as good of two plays in football that I have ever seen."
On facing Mike Holmgren: "Well, Mike is a great football coach and they have an excellent football team and they will be a challenge. We have to have everything covered when we play them. They will be well-prepared and ready to go in this football game, but we will be, too, so it should be a heck of a game."
On Favre's emotional roller coaster this week: "Well, as I told him today before he took the field, you know I don't know if anyone really realizes how much pressure he was under on Monday night. Much has been made about him playing that game for his dad and to play the way he played I think was phenomenal because people expected him play that way and I don't know if anyone expected him exactly to play that well, but he did. But today I told him to 'just go out there and just have fun and enjoy the game and enjoy your teammates,' and I thought he did."
On if something magical is happening: "Well, I don't put a whole of credence in magic as much as I do in hard work and effort, and character, and things like that. I think we made more up of that than magic necessarily. I just can't say enough about the team. There were times during the course of the season where it was pretty ugly there; the first seven ball games and when we went into that bye. And to win seven out of our last nine -- four in a row -- I think it speaks volumes for the type of people that we have in that locker room. I don't know if we are the most talented team out there, but I would find it hard pressed to find a team that cares about one another as much as they do and enjoys one another, is willing to work hard to get where they want to get and is accountable for their mistakes. You tell them what they did wrong and they fix it. So as a coach that is magical to have a team like that."
Donald Driver -
On winning division championship: "It's still a shock right now. I think the biggest thing for us that we're happy to be in the playoffs. We've been through a lot this season - winning games and losing games - but we got some help from Arizona and now we're division champs again, back to back."
On team improvement: "For the last four weeks, we've stepped up and shown everyone that we're back. I think we showed it by putting up 31 points tonight and offense and defense and special teams keeping up their play. It's playoff time now. "
Brett Favre -
On outcome: "In the fourth quarter, I had no idea it would work out this way. It was 17-3 and (Denver) was close to scoring and I said, 'We're in for a game.' I was more concerned about us surviving this game and see what happens. The odds were against us this week. I think everyone assumed Minnesota winning. I'm sure a lot of our fans were asking for help yesterday, as well as today. In some ways we got it and in most ways we earned it."
On adversity: "We had our share of bumps in the road along the way this year...I've stood up here every week and said that this team practices like we're undefeated. We've bounced back from bad games and adversity as well as any team I've ever been a part of. I felt like we deserved it."
On overall game: "I thought that Denver played exceptionally hard. From our standpoint, I don't think it was really our kind of game. We didn't put up numbers like we did Monday night, but we did rushing and Ahman, of course, had an unbelievable game. The bottom line is we won. I didn't feel affected any by missing practice. That first drive was the drive that won the game for us, as it turns out, so you never know. It was the type of conditions that our running game needed to dominate and we did more than dominate."
On week leading into today's game: "It's been a long week in some ways and short in others. My preparation has been short and it's been long considering what I had to go through and my family had to go through. As I said after the game on Monday night, I feel like (my father) was watching. My emotions right now - I'm numb to be perfectly honest with you. I've cried as many tears as I possibly could cry. I'm so proud of this team and what we've been able to overcome. I think a lot of people were concerned with our emotions coming out. I think we showed what we were capable of doing. I just couldn't be more pleased."
On post-game reaction: "Everyone was so excited. I was really just numb. I didn't know whether I should smile, cry, or rejoice. There's just been so much going on this week. I know what we've done, but I don't think it's hit me. I don't think really everything that's happened this week has hit me. This team has earned it, we really have."
Mike Flanagan -
On Ahman Green: "What can you say about the guy? Every time we need something, he seems to be the guy to do it. He's had an amazing year, he's an amazing player, he's an amazing man and we're going to ride it as long as we can."
On overcoming adversity: "Preseason, personally with Brett - it seems like everything that could happen to us did, but somehow we've found a way to bounce back and get our foot in the door and that's all we've talked about doing."
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila -
On win: "It's a miracle. I'm excited. It's been a long, tough year, but we still accomplished what we wanted to do."
Ahman Green -
On win: "The biggest thing was the 'W' in this game. Like I said a couple of week ago, we do the things that we're supposed to do in the rest of the season for us and the chips fall where they may."
On 98-yard run: "It's kind of a misdirection play where we start of to our left and we try to bait (the defense) to the left and come back right and that's basically what happened to perfection. The offensive line blocked who they needed to block and the only person I had to deal with is the safety and I think he got pulled in from the action of the whole play at the beginning. That was the start of it and running to the end zone was the end of it."
On playoffs: "We still have games to play in front of us. Right now it's just one game at a time. The first game is against Seattle and we'll take it from there."
On Seattle: "Things I'm expecting from their defense is 8 or 9 guys in the box to stop the run and intense play. You go from college to pros and preseason to regular season, and now it's regular season to postseason and that intensity switches to another gear. Their defense is going to be flying around and it's going to be another intense game for us and them. As long as we stay consistent and keep our mistakes to a minimum and our turnovers to nil, we'll be able to do the things we like to do."
On last year's playoff loss to Atlanta/upcoming game: "I wasn't healthy. None of us were healthy on this team. It was more of a bitter taste in our mouths. Hopefully we come out here and play like we've been playing and do the things we're supposed to do against a good Seattle team. Hopefully that taste will change, but we've still got to play the game."
Michael Hawthorne -
On play of Packers: "We're on a high. We started clicking at the right time and gelling at the right time. We won in December and we're still heading up the mountain."
On win over Broncos: "We knew what we had at stake. We weren't worried about what anyone else had to do, just the Green Bay Packers. We got a little help and now we're division champs."
Darren Sharper -
On Arizona/Minnesota last minute play to win game and clinch Packers division title: "Crazier things have happened. Now, we're just excited to get into the playoffs. It's a new season."
On regular season: "In a 16-game season, there's always ups and downs. We've been at the lowest of lows and now we're at the highest of highs. Our goal at the beginning of the season was to get to that Superbowl and now that goal's possible."
On stopping the Broncos running attack: "Our defensive line has taken it upon themselves all year long to not let anybody run on us."
On defensive improvement over course of season: "We knew at the beginning of the season that we had a lot of new faces and it was going to take a while to blend. You've seen us take off in the last couple of games and it's the perfect time to do it."
GAME NOTES
Brett Favre (190) passed No. 2 Ray Nitschke (190) on the team's all-time games played list. Bart Starr (196) is first.
Favre finishes the regular season with 32 TD passes, leading the league in the category for the fourth time in his career. The only other players to lead the league in TD passes for four or more seasons are Johnny Unitas (1957-60), Len Dawson (1962-63, 1965-66) and Steve Young (1992-1994, 98).
Favre's first quarter scoring strike to Bubba Franks added to his streak of consecutive games throwing a touchdown pass. The franchise record now stands at 25.
Favre finished the season with a 65.39 completion percentage, a personal and team best. Favre previously held the record with a 64.12 percentage in 1992.
Since 1992, Favre and the Packers are 41-12 (.774) in regular-season games during December and January. No other quarterback or team has a better mark during that span.
**
Ahman Green registered his 10th 100-yard rushing game today (218 yards), extending his own team record. He also notched his 19th and 20th touchdowns of the season, surpassing Jim Taylor for a team record.
Green's 98-yard scoring excursion in the fourth quarter marked the longest carry in team history (97, Andy Uram vs. Chicago Cardinals, Oct. 8, 1939) and also pushed him over the 200-yard mark for the game. He finished the game with 218 rushing yards, a team record, and became the first Packer to rush for more than 200 yards in a game.
Green's 1,883 season rushing yards tops the National Football Conference. He became the first Packer to lead the conference in rushing since John Brockington captured NFC honors in 1973 (1,144 yards over a 14-game season).
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Marcus Wilkins' fumble recovery for a touchdown was the first TD of career and marked the first return of a fumbled kickoff for a touchdown by the Packers since Rondell Mealey did so Sept. 24, 2001, vs. Washington (27 yards).
**
The 31-3 defeat of Denver marked the ninth consecutive season-ending victory at home for the 'Green and Gold.' The win also improves Mike Sherman's record in regular season games during December and January to 17-2, an .895 winning percentage.
The Packers' 2,558 total rushing yards this season is a franchise record. They previously rushed for 2,460 in 1962 and 2,350 in 1961.
The Packers' 5.05 yards per carry is a team record for rushing average in a season. The 1961 team finished with a 4.96 average.
The Packers scored the second-most points in franchise history with 442 on the season. Previously, the 1996 Super Bowl champion team scored 456.
By netting 5,798 yards, the 2003 Packers were the second-most productive team in franchise history. Only the 1983 club (6,172) was more prolific.
IN-GAME NOTES
End of 4th quarter. Game over.
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Doug Pederson relieved Brett Favre.
Favre for the season: 308-of-471 for 3,361 yards, 32 touchdowns, 21 interceptions.
Favre's completion percentage of 65.4 is a Packers record.
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On the kickoff following the Ahman Green run, James Whitley stripped Adrian Madise allowing Marcus Wilkins to recover the loose ball in the end zone for another Packers score, 31-3 (13:10, 4th quarter).
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On the first play from scrimmage after the goal-line stand, Ahman Green ran right and down the sideline for a 98-yard touchdown to increase the Packers lead, 24-3 (13:18, 4th quarter). The Packers scoring drive was 1 play, 98 yards. Time of the drive 0:13.
The run by Green is the longest in team history. The run also gives Green 218 yards for the game, making him the first 200-yard rusher in team history.
Green now has 20 touchdowns this season, passing Jim Taylor's 1962 team record.
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The Broncos had three plays from the Green Bay 2-yard line but couldn't get into the end zone. The Broncos drive started with a 83-yard kickoff return by Adrian Madise. The Packers take over at the 2-yard line (13:32, 4th quarter).
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End of 3rd quarter.
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Ahman Green's 2-yard touchdown run increased the Packers lead, 17-3 (1:35, 3rd quarter). Earlier on the drive Green had a 47-yard run. Javon Walker had a 15-yard catch to start the drive. The Packers scoring drive was 4 plays, 69 yards. Time of the drive was 2:25.
Ahman Green's touchdown was his 19th of the season, tying Jim Taylor for the Packers single-season record, established in 1962.
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Jason Elam's 31-yard field goal put the Broncos on the scoreboard, 10-3 (4:00, 3rd quarter). Jeb Putzier had two receptions for 17 yards on the drive. The Broncos scoring drive was 8 plays, 35 yards. Time of the drive was 4:06.
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Darren Sharper's interception of Danny Kanell brought the first half to a close (0:00, 2nd quarter).
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Ryan Longwell's 40-yard field goal attempt missed wide right (0:32, 2nd quarter). Earlier on the drive, Javon Walker had a 15-yard catch on third-and-6. Antonio Freeman had a 13-yard catch on third-and-10.
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Ryan Longwell's 33-yard field goal increased the Packers lead, 10-0 (4:43, 2nd quarter). Tony Fisher had a 6-yard run on third-and-3. Najeh Davenport had a 5-yard run on third-and-1. The Packers scoring drive was 10 plays, 32 yards. Time of the drive was 5:25.
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One play after Al Harris' interception, Brett Favre's pass for Wesley Walls was intercepted by Sam Brandon in the end zone. After the touchback, the Broncos take over at their own 20-yard line (11:42, 2nd quarter).
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Facing third down, Jarious Jackson was intercepted by Al Harris. After a 33-yard interception return, the Packers will take over at the Denver 27-yard line (11:49, 2nd quarter).
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End 1st quarter.
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Facing second-and-goal at the 2-yard line, Brett Favre's play-action pass to Bubba Franks went through the hands of Jashon Sykes and was caught by Bubba Franks for a touchdown, 7-0 (8:49, 1st quarter). Favre completed six passes on the drive to six different receivers. Javon Walker had an 11-yard catch. Donald Driver had a 20-yard grab. Ahman Green had five carries for 17 yards. The Packers scoring drive was 12 plays, 80 yards. Time of the drive was 6:05.
Brett Favre has now thrown a pass in 27 consecutive games, extending his Packers record.
**
The following Packers are inactive for today's game: Gilbert Brown, Derek Combs, Brennan Curtin, Robert Ferguson, Mike McKenzie, Craig Nall (third quarterback), Jamal Reynolds, Marcus Spriggs.
Donald Driver and Javon Walker are the starting wide receivers. Grady Jackson will start in place of Gilbert Brown. Michael Hawthorne will start in place of Mike McKenzie. |
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