Pool Report with Referee Ed Hochuli
Interview conducted by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Cliff Christl
Christl: "Can you go over the play again, the ruling on the fumble play?"
Hochuli: "In the first half, there was a fumble and then it was recovered ultimately by Green Bay. The rule is...we call that a pass fumble play. Was it an incomplete pass, or was it a fumble? The question is whether the hand has started forward when he still has possession of the ball in his hand. What I'm looking to see - and looked again on replay - is, when his hand starts forward is he gripping the ball or is the ball loose in his hand. My ruling was that the ball had already been hit, making the ball loose in his hand. Basically, the hand pushes it forward but he is not gripping the ball any longer, therefore, he no longer has possession of the ball. So it's a fumble. The fumble actually happens as soon as the ball was knocked loose from his grip. That (was) before the hand started forward."
Christl: "Can any official blow a whistle on that, or was there a whistle?"
Hochuli: "Normally, I'm the only one that would blow a whistle because I'm the only one looking at it. The other officials have all got their own responsibilities. There were no whistles. I'm the one that ruled fumble, so I let it go."
Christl: "This may sound like a stupid question, but in the Ice Bowl, the officials' whistles didn't work. There were no whistle malfunctions today?"
Hochuli: "One of the interesting things about whistles is that back then we were using a whistle that had a little pea in it, and the pea could freeze. We don't use that whistle any more. The whistle we use now doesn't have a pea in it. No matter how cold it gets, the whistle always works."
Christl: "When the Jacksonville player picked the ball (up) and had it in his hand, is there any forward progress rule that could have affected that?"
Hochuli: "He had the ball just very momentarily. He didn't have it for very long. And if...there was no forward progress because nobody (was) gripping him to stop him from moving forward."
Christl: "I was not requested to ask anything about the interception in the end zone."
Hochuli: "I'll answer."
Christl: "Can you just repeat the ruling?"
Hochuli: "As I explained, the Green Bay Packer player never had possession of the ball for a touchdown. His second foot never came down with him in possession of the ball, in control of the ball in his hands. The Jacksonville player took the ball away before the Green Bay player ever had possession or a second foot down. And the Jacksonville player maintained control of the ball when he hit the ground for the touchback."
Christl: "Is it all based on whether his second foot hit the ground or is there a time moment as far as how long he has the ball?"
Hochuli: "He's got to get his second foot down in possession of the ball in order for...clearly down, the ruling is clearly down on the ground. The second foot clearly on the (ground) in possession of the football before he has a touchdown. And that never occurred."
PACKERS-JAGUAR POST-GAME NOTES
- Today's paid attendance for the game was 70,437.
- Brett Favre played in a 205th consecutive game (224 including playoffs) and make his 203rd consecutive start (222 including playoffs), 87 more than the next-closest streak on the all-time quarterbacks list, 116 by Ron Jaworski (1977-84).
- Ahman Green posted a fifth 1,000-yard rushing season and tied Jim Taylor's franchise record (both overall and consecutive, Taylor also did it five straight years, 1960-64), finishing the contest with 1,086 yards on the season.
- Green, with his 17 carries, went over 1,500 for his career with a current total of 1,505.
- With Ahman Green's 1,086 rushing yards on the season, eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark for the fifth time, William Henderson broke Howard Griffith's NFL record among fullbacks by blocking for a 1,000-yard rusher in a seventh overall season. Griffith blocked for Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Anthony Johnson and Jerome Bettis.
- With 103 points on the season, Ryan Longwell became one of three players to reach the century mark in each of his first eight NFL seasons. Jason Elam (11 to date, 1993-2003, has 96 in 2004) and Adam Vinatieri (nine to date, 1996-2004) own the longest. He needed two points coming into today's contest.
- Before his second field-goal attempt of the second quarter, Longwell had made 45 consecutive field goals inside of 40 yards, the longest active streak in the NFL.
- Antonio Chatman's 28-yard punt return in the second quarter was his longest of the season.
- Darren Sharper's fumble recovery and return for a TD marked the his sixth career touchdown, surpassing both Bobby Dillion and Doug Hart (five) for second on the team's defensive TD list. Herb Adderley leads with seven defensive TDs. Sharper entered the game with five.
- With his 152 receiving yards, Javon Walker had his fifth 100-yard receiving game of the season and first since Oct. 24 vs. Dallas.
- Donald Driver made his eighth TD reception of the season, one short of his season-high nine occurring in 2002.
- With losses this weekend by Carolina, Chicago, Dallas and the New York Giants, Green Bay clinched a playoff spot.
PACKERS-JAGUARS POST-GAME QUOTES
GM/HEAD COACH MIKE SHERMAN:
(on the hit on (Robert) Ferguson) "I thought it was a cheap shot."
(on being in the playoffs) "I didn't know that until a few seconds ago. I didn't tell the team that. Our mission and goal is to win the division and that is still out there. That is what we are working toward. We certainly didn't help ourselves today, but we still have to go through Minneapolis to do it. I will say this about the guys, we made a lot of mistakes tonight but we have to get them cleaned up. We can't win football games that way."
(on the problems in the red zone) "I thought we were our own worst nemesis more than anything. When you turn the ball over twice and miss a field goal it's tough to score."
(on what is most frustrating about the loss) "When you have opportunities to win the game and you don't -- such as (Darren) Sharper's touchdown. That is a huge play in the game. We are down in the red zone on three occasions and don't take advantage of getting points. We come out of there empty handed. Not only do we not get the touchdown, we do not get the field goal, we do not get anything. From an offensive perspective that is most frustrating. Defensively letting them hit two big long runs on us, that was frustrating, and the penalties because the have been talked to and scolded during the course of this week on what we can't do and that was frustrating and disappointing."
(on Sharper's touchdown) "Heads up play, great play. Paying attention to the game and a significant play in the game -- should have helped us win the football game. A defensive touchdown usually does result in a win about 85% of the time."
QUARTERBACK BRETT FAVRE:
(on the condition of his hand) "It is sore. It is my thumb. It's basically the same thing I did to my right one several years ago. I just sprained the ligament in it. But fortunately it was my left hand. It just bothered me handing off."
(on the weather conditions) "It was cold and a little windy. Not near as bad as last week, but not tough enough to cause all the mistakes that were made today."
(on what cost the team the game) "I think anyone who watched the game knows what cost us the game -- turnovers, penalties, mistakes. I'm amazed we were still in the game. I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. There is going to be differences of opinion from a lot of people. You make that many mistakes and still have a chance to win, I guess there is a lot left out there for us because we easily could have been blown out. It is not so much who we play, but what we do. It is not what the opposing team does. Give Jacksonville credit -- they made less mistakes than we did and that was the difference. But it's stuff that shouldn't happen from our standpoint. You can say it was Jacksonville, you can say it was Philadelphia, you can say it was whoever. It is what we do. If we correct what we do and play up to our standards I like our chances, but that wasn't the case today."
(on what happened to the running game) "I don't know what happened to the running game. We talked the talk about how we were going to run it on whoever. They are probably in their locker room saying 'they are not talking today' and from their standpoint their right. I don't know what happen to Ahman (Green) and how banged up he got. But we have other guys besides Ahman. We have Najeh (Davenport) and (Tony) Fisher. We have, I think one of the best offensive lines in football, but I don't know. I am not the guru in that department."
(on maybe this being his last game at Lambeau) "All I was thinking about was how to win this game. If I was thinking that (it being his last game at Lambeau) I probably would be, as I say sometimes, 'one foot in the parking lot.' I won't have one foot in the parking lot until it's over -- whenever that may be. If today was the last day, it is a heck of a one to go out on, but it never crossed my mind."
SAFETY DARREN SHARPER:
(on his touchdown) "I didn't hear any whistle. I just took a chance at it and said, 'I'm going to try and go get the ball.' I could just kind of tell from the gesture of the referees that they were not blowing the whistle. I just went and grabbed it. Luckily, they gave me the touchdown."
(on if making the playoffs was consolation for losing) "No, not really. We still want to win these games. You are not excited when you don't play well, and that is the main thing."
(on Green Bay's run defense) "Once again, we are not being disciplined and not being in the proper places. I'm one of those people not being in the proper places when they are doing certain types of runs. We're just not disciplined."
(on the number of penalties called against Green Bay) "You talk about touch calls. The calls they were making today...you can't just play football. You really can't play football because everything is geared toward the offense and receivers. But I really can't tell because we don't get any calls when they are grabbing our receivers. (Penalties) are not the reason we lost the game."
KICKER RYAN LONGWELL:
(on if the kicking conditions were worse than last week) "The field was better this week, but the temperature was so bad that it's harder to kick. It's kind of a Catch-22."
(on the on-side kick) "You just want a shot at recovering it. And we had it out and we had it on the ground and we had some guys diving at it in the pile. But ultimately, in the situation, it depends on who is at the bottom of the pile. They had two guys at the bottom, so they came away with it."
(on his missed field goal) "In this weather, it's all or nothing. You either hit it perfect or you don't."
(on whether the team knew it had made the playoffs prior to kickoff) "We had no idea. It's exciting (to make the playoffs). It's one of your goals on the season, but your main goal is to win the division. That's our goal, (and) it's still out in front of us. (Minnesota) is a tough place to play on a short week, but we have to go up there to Minnesota and get a win."
(on the NFC North often being between Green Bay and Minnesota) "You wouldn't want it any other way. That's just the way it is in this division. It's probably fitting that it's the only game on (television) because it's going to be a great game."
CORNERBACK AL HARRIS:
(on the number of penalties by GB defensive backs) "We're all held accountable for what we do. Not to take anything away from the (Jacksonville) quarterback and receivers - they did a great job and played an excellent game - but it gets to the point when you are just frustrated. You can touch (the receiver) within five yards, but then when you do it's a foul. But all in all, they just played better than we did."
(on if the playoffs was consolation for losing) "Nothing eases the pain of losing at home. It's the last home game. For me personally, it really, really hurts. I didn't play well at all. Even without (factoring in) the officials, I didn't play well at all."
GUARD MARCO RIVERA:
(on the home loss) "When you have as many penalties as we did and try to win a ballgame, it's tough. Even if it is December, you cannot play that way. This is our time of the year, and we're usually very tough this time of the year at home especially. We didn't get it done today."
(on if the making the playoffs was consolation for the loss) "We lost today and that's all that matters. We can't even think about the playoffs right now. To tell you the truth, that doesn't mean anything to me right now. How are we going to get the Green Bay Packers from losing games? That's what I'm concerned with."
(on not scoring after being in the red zone) "It's tough. You can't turn the ball over in the red zone. You work hard to get down there, and when you have turnovers down there, it minimizes the chance for your team to win. There's no excuse for that, but it happened today."
(on if he was surprised Jacksonville played so well in the cold) "It's a mental mindset when you come here and play. If you can decide, 'OK, it's going to be cold out there today. (But) we're going to go out there and get the job done,' you're going to do it. It's like when we go down to Florida in December and it's warm and hot. We go say, 'Hey, it's going to be a hot game.' Then we go out there and we're fine."
(on the hit that injured WR Robert Ferguson) "Guys don't like to see those kinds of things. It was just two athletes - one catching the ball, and one trying to make a tackle. It was a violent hit. It's part of football, but you don't like to see it. The reality is that it happens every week."
WIDE RECEIVER JAVON WALKER:
(on Ferguson) "He was moving so that was a good thing. I don't know the extent of the injury, but the good thing was that he was moving. We'll find out more about him tomorrow, we'll go talk to him and see how he's doing then."
(about the game) "We didn't capitalize on our opportunities so we need to pull it together this week and get it fixed and get ready to go out there on Friday."
JAGUARS HEAD COACH JACK DEL RIO:
(on if he considered kicking a field goal on 4th down at the Packers 1-yard line) "There was never a doubt. It was a time we felt like we had to get the ball in the end zone. Greg (Jones) hammered it in there and the line did a good job blocking."
(on S Deon Grant's fourth quarter interception) "That was big. That was huge. In the red zone they were, I believe, one for five on the day and we are were able to get three turnovers there where they don't even come away with a field goal -- so in a tight football game that is huge."
(on how Jacksonville prepared for the cold weather) "I think it is a matter of mentally preparing yourselves for what you have to face. You can't condition your body for the temperature you are going to feel in the short amount of time we have to prepare for a game, but you can condition your mind. I felt like our team was well conditioned from that standpoint."
(on Jacksonville's commitment to the running game) "Fred (Taylor) did a great job tonight running. The line blocked well. We knew that it would be important for us to be able to run the ball. Part of that plan was for us to be successful and part of it was to keep # 4 on the sideline. Fred ripped off some big runs, and they play a lot of extra people in the box so it is not always easy to do."
JAGUARS SAFETY DONOVIN DARIUS:
(on his ejection from the game) "I always try to play within the rules. I understand that sometimes these unfortunate things happen and I just pray for Robert's (Ferguson) speedy recovery. I'm sorry that it turned out the way it did. It was nothing intentional. I love to play this game 100 miles an hour and I never do anything to play outside of the rules."
(on Jacksonville's defensive performance) "Brett Favre is one of the best quarterback's out there. I give a lot of credit to our defense. We fly around and we just try to make plays. This is a game of can make the most plays, and we were able to make more plays today than they were. They had an opportunity at the end, but in the end, the guys that we lined up I felt did a superb job of both starting and finishing the game."
JAGUARS QUARTERBACK BYRON LEFTWICH:
(on Jacksonville's balanced offensive attack) "We were able to run the ball and pass it. We did a good job of mixing it up and attacking. We made some big runs. When you have #28 (Taylor) back there you have to give that guy some touches because he can make some big things happen."
(on if Jacksonville can make the playoffs) "I really do believe that we have a team that is capable of going out there and making the playoffs, but this is just one step. We still have two more big steps and that is all we can look at."
(on how important this win was) "In my short career this was one of the most important because this win kept us in the hunt. We are right in the thick of things. Now it is just up to us."
**
End of game.
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The Packers were unsuccessful on the onside kick attempt.
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Brett Favre found Antonio Chatman in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown (1:08, 4th quarter).
The Packers' scoring drive was 7 plays for 67 yards. Time of the drive was 1:24.
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Robert Ferguson has been taken to a Green Bay hospital for x-rays on his head and neck.
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Brett Favre's 22-yard pass intended for Donald Driver was intercepted and downed by Deon Grant in the end zone. The Packers challenged the ruling on the field but it was upheld.
Jacksonville was flagged with an unsportsmanlike penalty for taunting. The Jaguars will take over at thier own 10 yard line (3:40, 4th quarter).
**
Robert Ferguson was injured as he caught a 31-yard pass from Brett Favre. Donovan Darius was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play and was ejected from the game (4:49, 4th quarter).
Ferguson, meanwhile, was carted off the field on a stretcher.
**
Fred Taylor has left the game with a left knee bruise. His return is questionable.
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Brett Favre's first pass on the ensuing drive was intercepted at the Jaguars' 43 yard line by Rashean Mathis, his second of the game (9:41, 4th quarter).
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The Jaguars extended their lead to 11 points as Greg Jones punched it in on 4th-and-goal from the 1 yard line (9:49, 4th quarter).
Byron Leftwich completed 2-of-3 passes for 17 yards, while Fred Taylor had 4 carries for 40 yards on the drive, including a 21-yard carry to the Packers' 4 yard line.
The Jaguars' scoring drive was 10 plays for 58 yards. Time of the drive was 5:51.
**
End of 3rd quarter.
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Brett Favre's pass intended for Bubba Franks from the 3 yard line was intercepted by Rashean Mathis and downed in the end zone. The Jaguars will take over their own 20 yard line (5:27, 3rd quarter).
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The Jaguars reclaimed the lead on the ensuing drive as Fred Taylor rushed for a 37-yard touchdown (10:15, 3rd quarter).
Byron Leftwich completed 1 of his 2 pass attempts to Jimmy Smith for 26 yards. Taylor had 2 carries for 38 yards.
The Jaguars' scoring drive was 4 plays for 64 yards. Time of the drive was 1:29.
**
The Packers scored on the opening possession of the 2nd half as Brett Favre connected with Donald Driver for a 32-yard touchdown (11:52, 3rd quarter).
Favre completed all 4 of his pass attempts for 67 yards on the drive. Javon Walker had 2 catches for 32 yards and Ben Steele had 1 catch for 3 yards.
Ahman Green chipped in with 2 carries for 9 yards.
The Packers' scoring drive was 6 plays for 76 yards. Time of the drive was 3:16.
**
End of 1st half.
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Just as the Packers were threatening to take the lead, Brett Favre fumbled as he was handing off to Ahman Green. Jacksonville recovered at their own 31 yard line (1:10, 2nd quarter).
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The Jaguars reclaimed the lead as Byron Leftwich connected with Jimmy Smith for a 16-yard touchdown late in the 2nd quarter (2:28, 2nd quarter).
Leftwich completed 1-of-2 pass attempts for 16 yards. Fred Taylor had 2 carries for 14 yards.
The Packers were penalized 3 times for 38 yards on the drive.
The Jaguars' drive was 4 plays for 68 yards. Time of the drive was 2:16.
**
On the ensuing drive, Byron Leftwich fumbled as he was hit by Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.
As everyone on the field thought the play was over, Darren Sharper slapped the ball away from Vince Manuwai, picked it up and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown. Jacksonville challenged the play, but the ruling on the field was upheld (4:49, 2nd quarter).
Gbaja-Biamila was credited with a 6-yard sack and a forced fumble on the play. Jacksonville's Vince Manuwai was credited with a fumble recovery and Darren Sharper was credited with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and the touchdown.
**
Byron Leftwich returns to the game as the Jaguars take over at their own 13 yard line.
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Ryan Longwell's 31-yard field goal attempt was wide right (5:31, 2nd quarter).
For Longwell, it was his 1st miss in 45 attempts from inside the 40 yard line (longest streak in the league).
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On the ensuing drive, Byron Leftwich sustained a bruised left wrist as Cullen Jenkins drove him to the ground. His return is questionable.
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Brett Favre sustained a left hand bruise. He will return to the game.
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The Packers found their first points of the game as Ryan Longwell hit a 35-yard field goal early in the 2nd quarter.
Brett Favre completed 2-of-3 passes for 40 yards on the drive. Javon Walker had one catch for 23 yards and Antonio Chatman had 1 catch for 17 yards.
Ahman Green had 2 carries for 6 yards.
The Packers' scoring drive was 7 plays for 36 yards. Time of the drive was 3:06.
**
End of 1st quarter.
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Ahman Green fumbled two plays later and Jacksonville's Deon Grant recovered at the Jaguars' 10 yard line. The Jaguars were unable to capitalize on the turnover and were forced to punt.
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Forced to punt on their opening drive of the game, the Packers' Michael Hawthorne recovered David Allen's fumbled punt return at the Jaguars' 30 yard line.
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Jacksonville took the early lead as Byron Leftwich connected with Jimmy Smith for a 31-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the game (13:02, 1st quarter).
The touchdown was Leftwich's only pass attempt of the drive. Fred Taylor had 2 carries for 47 yards.
The Jaguars' drive was 3 plays for 68 yards. Time of the drive was 2:04.
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Temperature at kickoff is 12 degrees (sunny, wind chill is -1).
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The Jaguars have won the coin toss and have elected to receive.
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The following Packers players are inactive for today's game: Kevin Barry, Na'il Diggs, Chris Johnson, James Lee, Steve Morley, J.T. O' Sullivan (third quarterback), B.J. Sander.
Paris Lenon will start at linebacker in place of Diggs. Scott Wells will start at center in place of Grey Ruegamer.
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The following Jaguars players are inactive for today's game: Juran Bolden, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, Quinn Gray (third quarterback), Anthony Maddox , Dennis Norman, Brett Romberg, Chris Thompson and George Wrightster.
Greg Jones will start at fullback in place Marc Edwards. |
