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Green Bay vs. Miami
09/14/97 - Packers Win 23-18
It was a quarter-century in coming but, with Sunday's 23-18 victory, the
Packers finally took the measure of the Miami Dolphins. Miami had won the
first eight meetings in the regular-season series, which was initiated at
Miami in 1971 when Bart Starr, then in his 16th and final NFL season, was
the Packers' starting quarterback.
And, in keeping with the history of the rivalry, the first win did not come
easily. After three quarters, the Packers were out-front by a scant
one-point margin, 13-12, and the situation remained tenuous.
A turning point came late in the third quarter when Miami Head Coach Jimmy
Johnson elected to go for it with the Dolphins in a fourth-and-11 position
at their own 32-yard line. Reggie Johnson, a tight end by trade, foiled the
Dolphins' bid. Declining to "bite" on Bernie Parmalee's fake, he dropped
the Dolphins running back after only a 2-yard gain, the Packers taking over
on downs.
Seven plays later, rookie Ryan Longwell kicked his third field goal of the
afternoon -- in as many attempts, a 39-yarder, which gave the Packers a
16-12 lead.
Then, after Dan Marino and the Dolphins were stymied in the wake of one
penalty-induced first down, the Packers forced a punt. Quarterback Brett
Favre proceeded to direct the Packers' longest drive of the afternoon, a
12-play, 83-yard march, climaxed by his 10-yard pass to fullback William
Henderson for the score.
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| Henderson had 7 catches, including a TD |
(163K) | Packers Radio Network with the call!
Henderson grabs a TD pass |
The Dolphins, however, were not willing to call it a day. And they shortly
had a final opportunity. Favre fumbled on an aborted play and the Dolphins'
Dunstan Anderson recovered at the Packers' 35-yard line. Marino had the
Fish in the end zone in 6 plays, completing a 29-yard pass to former Packer
Charles Jordan for the touchdown. The Dolphins' subsequent attempt for a
2-point conversion -- a pass intended for tight end Troy Drayton -- failed.
Favre, closing in on another major team record, threw the 150th and 151st
touchdown passes of his career, climbing to within one of career leader
Bart Starr, who was on hand as a participant in the Packers' annual
"homecoming" festivities to observe Favre's performance.
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| Freeman catches his 1st TD this year |
(170K) | Packers Radio Network with the call!
Freeman catches a 2 yard TD |
Overall, Favre completed 24 of 37 passes for 253 yards, with no interceptions.
Running back Dorsey Levens was a key factor in the Packers' 392-yard
offensive effort, amassing 121 yards rushing in 21 attempts -- the first
100-yard rushing day of his four-year pro career -- in pacing a 142-yard
running attack.
A major factor in the winning effort was the surprise return to action of
Mark Chmura, who started at tight end and played the first three quarters
after sitting out only one game with a knee injury that was expected to
sideline him for from 4 to 6 weeks. He caught 5 passes for 57 yards while
giving the Green Bay offense a much-needed and additional dimension.
The 249-pound Henderson also had a large afternoon, snaring 7 passes -- a
career-high -- for 60 yards and a touchdown.
Linebacker Brian Williams becoming an increasingly significant factor at
outside linebacker, registered 10 tackles (6 of them solos) to spearhead
the defense. Safeties LeRoy Butler and Eugene Robinson weighed in with 8
stops apiece.
Scoring Summary
- 1st Quarter
- MIA: 24 yard Mare kick
- MIA: 31 yard Mare kick
- 2nd Quarter
- G.B.: 2 yard TD pass; Favre to Freeman (Longwell kick)
- MIA: 22 yard Mare kick
- G.B.: 26 yard Longwell kick
- 3rd Quarter
- MIA: 34 yard Mare kick
- G.B.: 24 yard Longwell kick
- 4th Quarter
- G.B.: 39 yard Longwell kick
- G.B.: 10 yard TD pass; Favre to Henderson (Longwell kick)
- MIA: 29 yard TD pass; Marino to Jordan (2pt failed)
Injury Report
| Packers: |
Gilbert Brown - NT (knee sprain); will not return
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