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Green Bay vs. Cincinnati - Postgame Quotes - Green Bay
Regular Season - Packers Win 13-6
COACH HOLMGREN'S POSTGAME COMMENTS:
"Interesting, huh?"
(on the performance and the result) "Our defense played a marvelous game, and I told them so. I think they did a fine job. We were in jams a couple times and they got us out of it. But I think the thing that bothered Fritz (defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur) - the same thing that bothered me - was that we had a couple chances to put it away with interceptions and we dropped them. It looked like we could have had them.
"But, other than that, it's pretty hard to fault those guys. They played with a lot of heart, and Cincinnati's got a fine football team. And coming in here after couple of emotional weeks of play in our own division...and come on the road. It's a great win for us...Tough ball game...tough game."
(on the "debut" of Raymont Harris) "He did fine...But we just have to hold onto the ball in those crucial situations (Harris lost a fumble at the Bengals' 30-yard line in the fourth quarter). But I thought, all in all, for his first really starting game, he did fine. And now we just have to build on what he did today."
(on Robert Brooks' contribution) "His back is sore and that's why we didn't practice him for a couple days. But he's a gamer and one of the great people on this football team. He just came through when we needed him. He was one of the guys on offense who came through today."
(on Brett Favre's success in 'Checking Off') "He did some good things and then he did a couple that I wish he hadn't...But he's a great player. I mean, heck, I don't know what more we can say about him. I think, today, he held the team together. We were down to about one halfback, two backs, whatever it was for a while, so...
"I was unhappy that we didn't score more points. We had our chances. And there was a couple of crucial situations we didn't execute very well."
(on what adjustments he had made when Raymont Harris had to leave the game temporarily in the third quarter) "I just left William Henderson in the game and went three wide receivers. Michael Blair could have gone in the game. But I was saving that. I was hoping Raymont would clear up, which what he did. He got bonged in the head and then he snapped out of it pretty quick. When William was in there, we actually got a couple first downs, which was OK. But I wouldn't want to play a whole game that way. But a few plays there worked."
(on going for it on fourth-and-three at Cincinnati's 33-yard line late in the fourth quarter) "I had three choices - either try the field goal and if we don't make it...they get pretty good field position for their last drive; punt it down in there close, and there's a chance that thing runs into the end zone and they're out at the 20. We're on the 33 or something like that anyway, wherever we were...about the 35. So I said we'll try to get a play that I thought would pick up the three yards. Obviously, it was the wrong play. It didn't work very well."
(on whether he had considered replacing Roell Preston as kick returner at any time in the game) "No. No, I didn't. Sometimes those things (a fumble on a punt return) happen and a guy works his way out of it...That didn't happen today."
(on whether winning on the road in difficult circumstances shows maturity) "Yes. This was a great win today. Gee whiz. I had the feeling all week that this was going to be a tough ball game. These guys are an underrated team and Bruce (Cincinnati Head Coach Bruce Coslet) is really doing a nice job. This team's got good young players and some real good skill people. And, you know, we have had two emotional weeks now. And it was that type of game. I think it was sign of maturity that we could hang in there when bad things happened today, and still get out of here with a win."
THE PLAYER PERSPECTIVE:
Brett Favre (on whether the game had reminded him of 1997's game in Philadelphia, where the Packers lost a somewhat similar game, 10-9): "It was a road game, the score was low, and it was a little unusual...But I do know this - Cincinnati's got a good football team. They played hard and we earned every bit of what we got today. And they have nothing to be ashamed about. We found a way to win the ball game...that's the most important thing. You've got to go on the road in tough environments and win. And that's what we did today."
(on having 'Checked Off' frequently at the line of scrimmage) "Well, as I said, when you play a team like Cincinnati, that blitzes a lot, you never know where they're coming from. You have to study and prepare. And I think we did that. And we hit some big plays on 'em. We just didn't get the ball in the end zone. And I tip my hat to them. They did a good job of keeping us out. But in this game, it doesn't matter as long as you get enough to win - handle what they do just enough. That's an unusual defense - one we don't face very often. And so I think we handled it real well."
(on the Packers' final, fourth-and-three offensive play) "I didn't want to take any chances. Chewy (tight end Mark Chmura) was coming open but you know, unless it was picture perfect, I was going to eat the ball, because our defense had been playing well. And I didn't want to take any chances on the ball getting batted or Chewy getting hit and fumble. People can second-guess Mike (Head Coach Mike Holmgren) and do whatever they want, but we won the ball game. I think it was a good move. We would have liked to have gotten a first down. But it was a good move land we didn't take any chances."
(on the performance of Raymont Harris) "Raymont played well. He took some big hits. He ran hard and he got good yardage for us, for the first time starting for us, coming off his injury. And I'm sure he was kind of wondering how he would do. I was very pleased with the way he played."
(on Robert Brooks' contribution) "Well, he scored the only touchdown we had. Robert's a heck of a player. You know he's been hurt and been fighting through it. Any little bit we can get out of him is beneficial to us. So I'm sure Robert's pleased. I know he wants to play a little bit more but we still have 13 games left - and hopefully more after that. We just want to bring him along slow."
(on what it's like for a quarterback to watch from the sideline and see his defense 'dominate' like it did today) "Well, defense wins championships...We've got to score points. How many points is enough. Well, we scored 13 today and that was enough to win. And last week, we scored a little bit more, and the week before we scored a little bit more...We haven't played easy teams, either.
"Our defense is great - they really are. They make big plays for us. As long as we don't put ourselves in bad situations on offense, we'll be all right."
Raymont Harris (on his approach): "I may take a few chances (but) I'm always going to be trying to go forward. I'm hoping everything went well today. (But) I didn't play a perfect game, by no means.
(on why he joined the Packers as a free agent) "I came to a winner (with a smile). This organization has a core of good players that are going to make it happen"
Roell Preston (on his punt return fumble): "I ran into Lamont (teammate and blocker Lamont Hollinquest) and the ball popped out. (After that), the game was so close, I'd rather be safe than sorry (in opting not to attempt to field subsequent punts).
"We came out with a victory and that's all that counted."
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