PACKERS-VIKINGS POST-GAME NOTES
- Today's paid attendance for the game was 70,671.
- With the win, Mike Sherman became the second-fastest coach in team history to reach 50 victories (Vince Lombardi did it in 66 games). Sherman entered today with 49 wins in 77 games.
- Sherman ties Mike Shanahan for the 18th-fastest in history to reach 50. Shanahan reached 50 in his 78th game (1998 with Denver). While that ranking seems like a high number, consider that Miami's Jim Bates next week will become the 402nd.
- Brett Favre played in his 200th consecutive game (219 including playoffs) and made his 198th consecutive start (217 including playoffs), 82 more than the next-closest streak on the all-time quarterbacks list, 116 by Ron Jaworski (1977-84).
- Favre extended his streak of games with a TD pass to 34, the NFL's second-longest streak behind Johnny Unitas' 47-game stretch (1956-60), one of the most revered marks in sports history.
-Favre's fourth touchdown throw marked the 18th single-game four-touchdown performance of his career, making him second all-time in NFL history. Dan Marino holds the record with 21.
-Ahman Green's 145 yard-performance is his fourth game this season with 100 or more rushing yards and the 28th of his career.
- Ryan Longwell, already the franchise's all-time leader, earned his 900th career point, accomplishing the feat on a PAT, following Tony Fisher's touchdown. He finished the game with 908 career points.
- With his second-quarter TD catch, Bubba Franks tied No. 2 Ed West (25) on the team's all-time tight ends list for touchdown receptions. Franks entered the day with 24.
- Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila's two sacks give him 41.5 for his career, tying him with Ezra Johnson for No. 3 on the Packer's all-time list.
- David Martin made a career-long 35-yard reception in the first quarter. His previous long was for 31 yards vs. Washington on Sept. 24, 2001.
- James Lee made his first career sack.
**
PACKERS-VIKINGS POST-GAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH/GM MIKE SHERMAN:
Injuries
-Najeh Davenport left with a hamstring, it's not the same one from earlier in the season, it's different.
-Robert Ferguson he was out for awhile but came back.
-Ahman Green had a leg whip on a knee cap, we didn't think we were going to have him, but he taped it up and came out. I can't say enough about this kid, he just did a great job of coming out there and giving us everything he had with that injury, he's pretty sore.
-David Martin hurt his left knee, but I can't really tell you the extent of it at this point.
-Na'il Diggs sprained a calf muscle and did not return.
-Bhawoh Jue had his wind knocked out and did return.
On the rivalry
That's why it's so special in this division because of the rivalries we do have so we don't have to travel half way across the country to play somebody, they're all right here. I take my hat off to the Vikings and Mike Tice, I thought they did an outstanding job of preparing their football team, we ended up having the ball last and we won the football game, but not because they didn't try and do everything they could, I thought they played extremely well.
On the fumble recovery by Steele after Ferguson's kick-off return determining the outcome of the game
The game's not over until it's over obviously. You never know how things turn out. Our guys came into the ball game very focused and played with tremendous intensity, they really wanted to play well today. I'm just proud of the effort they had. The character we showed in adverse situations, even there at the end when we did get the ball and be able to bring it down the field the way we did. Favre makes a great throw. In practice we threw it on the other side every single time, in the game he elected to go to Fisher. Fisher went up and grabbed it, and what a key play that was. Can't say enough about that and that's what it's all about.
On how far they've come since being 1-4
We never really thought we were that far off to begin with even though obviously our record indicated that we were. I believe in order to be able to do something like that, and we still have a lot of football left, a lot of games to play, at this point to be able to win four in a row after losing four, it speaks volumes of the men in the locker room and the character they have and how they handle adversity. I can't say enough, I know you're tired of hearing me say it, it's all about guys staying in the boat, not jumping ship, not pointing fingers, being accountable, being honest about their performance and fix some things. Everybody, myself included, is accountable, we try to fix things when they're not working right. I give our players and coaches, our coaches have done a tremendous of pulling this thing together to be able to win four in a row and we have a big game next week to get ready for so we still have a long way to go.
On going for it on fourth and one instead of kicking the field goal
I'm asking myself the same question. But I think it's obvious. We had 170 yards rushing at that time, I knew they had an explosive offense that could put points on the board, I was pretty confident we were going to get that. He did get it, but obviously they didn't rule it that way and he didn't get it. In hind sight, I should have kicked the field goal. Things turn out for a reason. Maybe the confidence I showed the first time that they would get it made them dig a little deeper at the end at the end of the ball game. I'm not going to second guess it, but I do ask myself, probably should have kicked it because it would have added another possession to the ball game and it wouldn't have come down to the last field goal, but that's the way it goes.
On Longwell's game winning field goal
I really don't worry about him very often to be honest with you. I have tremendous confidence in Ryan Longwell as he does in himself. When he tells me he can make it, he's right most of the time, certainly from that range. We discussed at the beginning of the year at what point do you work the clock and at what point are you not worried about scoring a touchdown and just say, 'let's kick the field goal because it's automatic.' With him anyplace inside the 20-yard line is definitely automatic especially on a day like today with the weather we had.
QUARTERBACK BRETT FAVRE:
On the rivalry with the Vikings
You can easily tell that they're good games. I don't want to say there's bad blood, I just think you're seeing the best of both teams. Tonight was no exception. They battled and deserved this game just as much as we did, and that's what it's all about. Fortunately for us we came away with it. It gets better with every game with every year.
On if he gets nervous during a two minute drill at the end of the game
It'd be easy for me to say no. But I'm no different than anyone else. I've said this before and I'll it again, I'd much rather be up in that situation, but if you play long enough, you'll be forced into it, either a come from behind situation or a game like we had tonight. It's nerve racking, there's no doubt about it. You got to be willing to roll the dice and do whatever it takes and be able to say 'I gave it my best.' If you say I don't want to make a mistake, you've already lost when you view it that way.
On Walker's touchdown catch and Fishers catch at the end of the game
I'd like to start with Fishers first, simply because he's a running back and he doesn't get a whole lot of work at catching the ball. I feel like he is our best pass catcher out of the back field. On that particular play, the play was an empty set with no backs in the back field, he came in motion. You would think with a certain coverage, you can get a play. If you're playing two deep on that play, more or less you would go to the three receiver side, I think Donald was running down the middle of field open. But I have a lot of confidence in Fish obviously. He made some great plays tonight, that probably was the biggest in recent memory. But they say it was a great throw, but I put it where it was catchable. How many throws do quarterbacks throw that are catchable that are not caught? It comes down to the player making the play. It's what we ask him to do. He knows he's a viable receiver on that play. Did he think it was coming his way? I don't know, but he was ready. He'd probably tell you that's exactly what he would do given the opportunity.
Javons catch is what he has done over and over again. Reach in and reach out. He's steadily moving up the latter as one of the top receivers in this league. I still think there's a long way to go with him. His confidence is sky high, but he may look back three years from now and say 'you know what, at that point I was not as good as I thought I was.' And that's a good thing. He's a good kid, he works hard, he has a lot of confidence. When I threw that ball, from the sidelines, Darrell and Mike said 'great play.' Sometimes you have confidence in a guy and give him a chance. There's no second guessing decision. We have guys that have done it over and over again and you have confidence in them, so give them a chance.
KICKER RYAN LONGWELL:
(on making the game-winning field goal) "It felt great. We've been in a pretty good groove, so I knew we'd have a pretty good shot at getting it. My only concern was making sure my foot stuck in the ground and didn't slip out from under me."
(on whether he believed he would have a kick to win it) "I thought we'd get a shot. I thought we'd get in range with Brett (leading the offense). Our two-minute drill at the end of the half the last month or so has been really, really good. We get a shot almost every time, so I knew we'd get in range."
(on how far we could have kicked the last field goal) "To the closed end (of the stadium) we were going 50 yards, and to the open end we were going 48. So we were within range."
(on his confidence level on making a game-winning kick) "Like I tell you guys every week, I prepare myself for a game winner every single week. I actually told Rob (Davis), my snapper, when we missed that fourth-and-one, 'We're going to have to kick a game winner.'"
(on being in first place in the division) "I'll tell you what, we were in a hole a month and a half ago. You've heard the saying up against the wall, but we were really up there and fought hard to get back. It feels good to be in first place, but this win doesn't do anything if you can't back it up with a few."
TIGHT END BEN STEELE:
(on his fumble recovery) "There wasn't any doubt in my mind I had the ball. There wasn't anyone that was going to get the ball away from me."
(on being on the bottom of a fumble recovery pile) "It seemed like eternity under there. People are scratching, I'm cramping up. Until I got the go from the ref that we had it, I stayed under there."
(on making the recovery against his old team) "Maybe it hasn't set in quite yet, but it definitely was a little extra special to get that against my old team. Just like I said, I was just in the right place at the right time. I was able to hold to it."
RUNNING BACK TONY FISHER:
(on his fourth-quarter catch) "Me and Edgar Bennett always talk about every time you get an opportunity you have to make a big play. It was just one of those things. The game was on the line and Brett (Favre) had confidence in me that I would make the catch. I'm happy he did throw it and I was able to make the play."
(on running a 20-yard route) "I think they saw that I could do that a little bit. Sometimes when our receivers are down for the scout team, I'll help the scout team out as a wide receiver. Whatever it takes for this team to win, I'm willing to do."
(on his touchdown catch and fumble) "I think I was across the goal line before (the fumble) happened. I guess it went down in the stats that it was a fumble, but something like that shouldn't happen. I shouldn't have made it even that hard. I felt that I had already crossed the line and I started raising up. I got a little careless and I shouldn't have. I just have to keep the ball high and tight until the whistle."
GUARD MARCO RIVERA:
(on being in first place) "We were 1-4 a few weeks ago, but we clawed our way back. Now we're 5-4 and this is the first time we're in the plus column since the first week of the season. It's a credit to my teammates and to the coaching staff for sticking together and not letting anything disturb our goals."
(on the effectiveness of the run game) "I think we just needed to sustain our blocks. The coaches put a good game plan together. If we just sustain our blocks, Ahman (Green) will find the cracks and he'll run the ball. That's our forte and that's what we're going to stick with."
(on going for it on fourth down in the third quarter) "Anytime we go for it on fourth down, we want to make it. That's where we make our money. It was a big play. Obviously they got it and they got the momentum and I believe they went down and scored. Anytime Coach (Sherman) calls it on fourth down, we have to make it."
DEFENSIVE TACKLE GRADY JACKSON
(on Minnesota's offense) "They have a great offensive line. You can't take anything from them. With Daunte (Culpepper) in the backfield...Daunte is almost like a Brett Favre but not quite a Brett Favre. He has a great arm, but we got to him and had a lot of pressure on him."
(on his role in the defense) "It's just the basic that it is going to demand double teams on me. It's going to leave a lot of people one-on-one. It's bad (to be double-teamed), but it's part of defense. You're the big man in the middle, and you have to take that role."
**
End of game.
**
Robert Ferguson returned the ensuing kick 37 yards to the Vikings' 46 yard line.
Favre connected with Tony Fisher for 25 yards to the Minnesota 29 and Ryan Longwell hit the 33-yard game winning field goal as time expired.
The Packers'scoring drive was 5 plays for 33 yards. Time of the drive was 1:20.
**
Daunte Culpepper drove the Vikings 66 yards in 3 plays to tie the game as he connected with Moe Williams for a 17-yard touchdown (1:20, 4th quarter).
Culpepper also connected with Nate Burleson for 40 yards and ran for 9 yards on the drive.
The Vikings' scoring drive was 3 plays for 66 yards. Time of the drive was :58.
**
The Vikings pulled to within 7 points as Daunte Culpepper connected with Onterrio Smith for a 2-yard touchdown (2:53, 4th quarter).
Culpepper completed 8-of-13 passes on the drive for 94 yards.
The Vikings' scoring drive was 16 plays for 86 yards. Time of the drive was 5:56.
**
Na'il Diggs has left the game with a calf injury. His return is questionable.
**
On the ensuing drive, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila sacked Daunte Culpepper on consecutive plays for losses of -2 and -8 yards, respectively.
**
Robert Ferguson's 55-yard kick return set up the Packers' next score, a 6-yard touchdown pass from Favre to William Henderson (13:30, 4th quarter).
Favre completed 3-of-4 passes for 32 yards, including a 13-yard pass to Antonio Chatman and a 12-yard completion to Javon Walker.
The Packers' scoring drive was 8 plays for 35 yards. Time of the drive was 4:15.
**
End of 3rd quarter.
**
The Vikings were able to capitalize on the Packers' turnover as Daunte Culpepper hit Nate Burleson in the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown (2:44, 3rd quarter).
Culpepper completed 4-of-5 passes for 54 yards on the drive, including a 37-yard pass to Jermaine Wiggins.
The Vikings' scoring drive was 5 plays for 54 yards. Time of the drive was 2:14.
**
The Packers' 2nd drive of the half ended as Donald Driver, who had gained 14 yards on a pass from Brett Favre, fumbled at the Vikings' 46 yard line. Corey Chavous recovered the fumble for the Vikings.
**
Both Ahman Green and Robert Ferguson have returned to the game.
**
The Packers opened the 2nd half with a defensive stand.
Cullen Jenkins sacked Daunte Culpepper for an 8-yard loss on 3rd-and-5, forcing the Vikings to punt for the 3rd time of the game.
**
David Martin injured his left knee on the kickoff to open the 2nd half and has been taken to the locker room for x-rays.
**
End of 1st half.
**
The Packers added 3 points to their lead as Ryan Longwell connected on a 43-yard field goal to end the first half.
Brett Favre completed 3-of-6 passes for 33 yards.
Ahman Green left the game with a left knee injury. Green entered the locker room early for further evaluation, but was believed to be ok.
Tony Fisher replaced Green and rushed 6 times for 34 yards. Fisher also had 1 catch for 9 yards on the drive. Donald Driver had one catch for 18 yards and William Henderson had 1 catch for 6 yards.
The Packers' scoring drive was 14 plays for 63 yards. Time of the drive was 4:32.
**
Ahman Green has left the game with a left knee injury. His return is also questionable.
**
Robert Ferguson has left the game with a shoulder injury. His return is questionable.
**
The Packers needed only 3 plays to extend their lead to 11 points midway through the 2nd quarter, as Favre connected with Bubba Franks for a 17-yard touchdown (7:27, 2nd quarter).
Ahman Green had 2 carries for 52 yards, including one for 35 yards.
The Packers' scoring drive was 3 plays for 69 yards. Time of the drive was 1:20.
**
On 3rd-and-2 from the Packers' 3 yard line, Mark Roman broke through the line to stop Onterrio Smith for no gain, forcing a 21-yard field goal by Morten Andersen (8:47, 2nd quarter).
Daunte Culpepper completed 2-of-5 passes for 32 yards, including a 20-yard pass to Jermaine Wiggins and a 12-yard pass.
The Vikings' scoring drive was 11 plays for 63 yards. Time of the drive was 5:22.
**
The Packers reclaimed the lead as Brett Favre hit Tony Fisher for a 1-yard pass from the 2 yard line. Fisher fumbled at the 1 yard line but recovered in the end zone for the score (14:09, 2nd quarter). Favre was credited with the touchdown pass.
On the drive, Favre completed 2-of-4 passes for 37 yards, including a 35-yard pass to David Martin along the left sideline. The reception was challenged by Vikings head coach Mike Tice, but the ruling on the field was upheld.
Ahman Green had 3 carries for 12 yards on the drive and Antonio Chatman had 1 carry for 8 yards.
The Packers' scoring drive was 9 plays for 65 yards. Time of the drive was 3:39.
**
Najeh Davenport has left the game with a left hamstring injury. His return to the game is questionable.
End of 1st quarter.
**
The Vikings answered Green Bay's score as Daunte Culpepper found Jermaine Wiggins for a 13-yard touchdown (6:25, 1st quarter).
The Vikings converted two big third down plays, including Culpepper's 22-yard pass to Marcus Robinson on 3rd-and-17.
Culpepper completed 4-of-5 passes for 58 yards on the drive. Moe Williams also had 1 catch for 17 yards.
The Vikings' scoring drive was 9 plays for 71 yards. Time of the drive was 4:43.
**
The Packers scored on their opening drive of the game as Brett Favre connected with Javon Walker for a 50-yard touchdown (11:08, 1st quarter).
Favre completed 2-of-3 passes for 55 yards on the drive.
Ahman Green had 3 carries for 13 yards. Najeh Davenport had 2 carries for 5 yards.
The Packers' scoring drive was 8 plays for 73 yards. Time of the drive was 3:52.
**
Temperature at kickoff is 46 degrees (partly cloudy).
**
The Packers have won the coin toss and have elected to receive.
**
The following Packers players are inactive for today's game: Brad Bedell, Chris Johnson, Steve Morley, J.T. O'Sullivan (third quarterback), Kenny Peterson, Nick Rogers, B.J. Sander and Kelvin Kight.
Bhawoh Jue will start at safety in place of Darren Sharper.
**
The following Vikings players are inactive for today's game: Rod Davis, Adam Haayer, Anthony Herrera, Shaun Hill (third quarterback), Steve Martin, Mewelde Moore, Randy Moss and Raonall Smith.
Michael Bennett will start for Onterrio Smith at running back. |
