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Green Bay vs. Chicago
Box Score
12/1/96 - Packers Win 28-17
For the second week in a row, the Packers made amends for an unproductive first half with a strong finish. After settling for a 7-7 tie at the intermission (the visiting Chicago Bears dominated time of possession over the first two periods, 21 minutes, 49 seconds to Green Bay's 8 minutes, 11 seconds), they began to take over the game in the third quarter. The Packers moved 48 yards in 10 plays following the second half kickoff, a drive that set the tone even though a culminating, 46-yard field goal attempt by Chris Jacke veered wide right.
Desmond Howard runs untouched into the endzone on a 75 yard punt return |
Then followed a somewhat deceptive stretch in which there were two consecutive and routine punt exchanges, suggesting that the sluggish tempo of the first half might continue. In the wake of the second Bears punt, however, Desmond Howard provided the catalyst the Packers needed. Fielding Todd Sauerbrun's high floater, he streaked down the right (east) sideline and, breaking into the open, raced 75 yards to a go-ahead touchdown.
(225K) | Packers Radio Network with the call! |
It was the second scoring punt return of the season for Howard, tying a Packers record established by Billy Grimes in 1950 and tied by Willie Wood in 1961.
The Bears shortly stayed in contention, mounting a 47-yard drive following the kickoff to set up a 34-yard Jeff Jaeger field goal, reducing Green Bay's lead to 14-10.
It was at this juncture the Packers concluded it was time to settle the issue. With running back Dorsey Levens spearheading the drive, they swept 80 yards in 9 plays to score following the succeeding kickoff, Levens providing 49 of those yards on three rushes, the last of them a 10-yard excursion around right end for the score early in the fourth quarter.
Eugene Robinson then provided the coup de grace on the Bears' next possession, intercepting a Dave Krieg pass at the Bears' 47-yard line. Quarterback Brett Favre took it from there, escorting the Packers to the end zone in 10 plays and scoring the touchdown himself on a one-yard sneak with 5:39 remaining in the game.
The Packers' defense swarms over runningback Raymont Harris |
The Bears then used up most of the remaining time with a subsequent, 60-yard drive for a consolation touchdown, registered by way of a 5-yard Krieg pass to wideout Bobby Engram. Jaeger's conversion provided the final point of the day as the Packers departed their favorite field with a 28-17 victory.
Favre, who posted his 31st touchdown pass of the season on a 19-yard throw to tight end Keith Jackson late in the second quarter, enabling the Packers to enter halftime with a 7-7 tie, was an errorless marksman. He completed 19 of 27 passes, for 231 yards, without an interception.
His primary target was the returning Antonio Freeman, who caught 10 passes for 156 yards, both career-highs, in making his first game appearance since suffering a broken left forearm against Tampa Bay October 26.
Levens, amassing a then career-high 69 yards in just 5 attempts (an imposing 13.8-yard average), combined with Edgar Bennett to mount a stout, 126-yard rushing attack. Bennett contributed 51 yards in 16 carries as they accounted for 121 of the 126 yards between them. |
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