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Green Bay vs. Minnesota
09/21/97 - Packers Win 38-32
The Packers' explosive collision with the Vikings easily ranks as one of
the most memorable in the 36-year history of the series, not the least of
which is the fact that the 38-32 showdown is the highest-scoring contest to
be played in the neighborhood rivalry.
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| Favre Breaks Passing Record |
It eclipsed by one point the previous "record," established back in 1962
when the Packers defeated the Purple Gang in the old Metropolitan Stadium
in Bloomington, Minn., an edifice long since razed, 48-21.
(281K) |
Packers Radio Network with the call!
Freeman is all alone! |
From the Packers' perspective, this one should not have been nearly as
point-productive for the Vikings. The Green and Gold were out front by a
bulging 31-7 margin at halftime -- traceable in large part to four
touchdown passes from quarterback Brett Favre, two to Antonio Freeman and
one each to Robert Brooks and Terry Mickens -- and apparently on the verge
of a "blowout" triumph.
(249K) |
Packers Radio Network with the call!
Mickens scores! |
A pair of early third-quarter turnovers, converted into 14 points by the
opportunistic Minnnesotans, quickly quashed that prospect. Bill Schroeder's
fumble of the second half's opening kickoff opened the door to the Vikings,
cornerback Leonard Wheeler recovering at the Green Bay 19-yard line.
Minnesota was in the end zone 6 plays later, via quarterback Brad Johnson's
3-yard touchdown pass to Cris Carter.
Two plays following the succeeding kickoff, the Vikings acquired another
turnover, defensive tackle Jason Fisk intercepting a Brett Favre pass --
tipped by Vikings middle linebacker Jeff Brady -- at the Green Bay 25-yard
line.
This time, it took the visitors just two plays to reach the end zone,
Johnson hitting Jake Reed with a 7-yard strike for the score. The Vikings
then essayed a 2-point conversion and succeeded, fullback Charles Evans
charging into the end zone for the companion score. Minnesota thus had
closed the numbers to 31-22 in a matter of in just 4 minutes and 40 seconds
of the third quarter and, suddenly, it was a contest once more.
The Packers, intent upon restoring order, decided it was time to act and
set off on a 9-play, 82-yard scoring drive, masterfully engineered by
Favre, who found tight end Mark Chmura in the right corner of the end zone
with a 2-yard throw and, following Ryan Longwell's fifth conversion of the
afternoon, the Green and Gold had a more comfortable, 38-22 lead.
(342K) |
Packers Radio Network with the call!
Chmura scores his first TD this season |
There was, however, no time to relax. The Vikings struck back with a
10-play, 48-yard drive of their own, culminated by a 31-yard, Greg Davis
field goal, and it was 38-25.
The Packers faithful's anxiety level shortly elevated when the Vikings
mounted a 10-play, 90-yard march, climaxed when Johnson hit Reed with a
27-yard scoring throw. When Davis converted, it became a highly tenuous,
38-32 situation, particularly tenuous when the Packers had to settle to for
one first down -- before punting -- following the kickoff.
The Green Bay defense rose to the occasion, however, forcing a return punt
after only one Vikings first down, after which the Packers -- taking over
at the Vikings' 46-yard line with only 1:38 remaining -- proceeded to run
out the clock.
The longtime rivals produced over 700 yards of offense between them, the
Vikings gaining 393 yards (185 rushing and 208 passing) and the Packers 350
(257 passing and 93 rushing).
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| Freeman takes it to the stands |
Freeman, posting the fourth two-touchdown (or better) performance of his
three-year, NFL career, closed out the afternoon with 7 receptions for 122
yards, the fifth 100-yard receiving day of his career and the first by a
Green Bay wideout this season.
(365K) |
Packers Radio Network with the call!
Freeman catches Favre's 3rd TD pass |
Middle linebacker Bernardo Harris, who ranged the field throughout, paced
the defense with something akin to a career game, amassing 13 tackles, 8 of
them solos. Free safety Eugene Robinson weighed in with 9 stops, defensive
back Rod Mullen with 8 and defensive end Gabe Wilkins with 7.
Scoring Summary
- 1st Quarter
- MIN: 1 yard Smith TD run (Davis kick)
- G.B.: 19 yard TD pass; Favre to Brooks (Longwell kick)
- 2nd Quarter
- G.B.: 28 yard TD pass; Favre to Freeman (Longwell kick)
- G.B.: 15 yard TD pass; Favre to Freeman (Longwell kick)
- G.B.: 2 yard TD pass; Favre to Mickens (Longwell kick)
- G.B.: 34 yard Longwell kick
- 3rd Quarter
- MIN: 3 yard TD pass; Johnson to Carter (Davis kick)
- MIN: 7 yard TD pass; Johnson to Reed (2pt: Evans run)
- G.B.: 2 yard TD pass; Favre to Chmura (Longwell kick)
- 4th Quarter
- MIN: 31 yard Davis kick
- MIN: 27 yard TD pass; Johnson to Reed (Davis kick)
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