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Green Bay vs. Baltimore
10/25/98 - Packers win 28-10
The Green Bay Packers jumped out to a 21-0 lead early in the third
quarter and coasted from there to a convincing 28-10 win over the
Baltimore Ravens Sunday before 59,860 excited fans at Lambeau Field.
The Packers improved to 5-2, while the Ravens fell to 2-5.
Quarterback Brett Favre returned to form, throwing two touchdown passes
and running for another, and Roell Preston returned a first-quarter punt
71 yards for a score.
Preston took the punt at the Green Bay 29, set up his blockers by
running right, then cut back across the field to the left to daylight
and the end zone. Tight end Tyrone Davis had the key block, pancaking a
Ravens defender.
(265k) | Packers Radio Network with the call!
Preston returns a punt for 71 yards |
"(Preston) was coming my way," Davis said, "that's why I picked (the
defender) off. I knew I had to get somebody."
"I'm trying to take it in (to the end zone) every time I catch the
ball," Preston said. "I feel like every time you kick it off to me, you
disrespect me."
Preston took the punt after the Packers' defense held the Ravens to
three-and-out on the opening series.
"I feel like that's my advantage," Preston said, "making it happen on
the first play (we have). For me, I'm rooting for us to win the coin
toss because I like to hurt you right off the bat."
It wasn't the opening kickoff, but Preston's punt return excited the
crowd and got the Packers rolling. Green Bay was aggressive on both
sides of the ball, in scheme and in execution.
On offense, Green Bay went without a huddle early in the game to
keep the Ravens from substituting defenders at will.
"It gives us a different look out there," quarterback Brett Favre said.
"We were just trying to throw them off a little bit. It slows down
their blitz calls when they can't huddle up."
And that was important, because the Ravens' front seven, led by
linebackers Ray Lewis and Peter Boulware, is extremely fast and strong.
"They got in there and harassed Brett quite a bit," guard Adam Timmerman
said. "They did a great job that way."
But running backs Travis Jervey and Raymont Harris, along with fullback
William Henderson, did a superb job picking up blitzes. Favre was only
sacked once for minus-eight yards. Left tackle Ross Verba didn't give
up a sack to end Michael McCrary, who had been averaging one per game
over the last two seasons. On most plays Favre had time to hit his
receivers down-field. Antonio Freeman had another big day, catching
nine balls for 103 yards, including a one-handed grab for 44 yards.
"We changed the play at the line of scrimmage and I saw (Robert) Brooks
running down the field," Freeman said. "I saw the ball coming. I
turned my hips, and relocated the ball."
Brooks played a solid game, catching 3 passes for 54 yards, including a
28-yard score. That opened up Freeman to single-coverage, something he
hadn't seen very much since Brooks had back surgery during training
camp. Last season, with both players healthy, Brooks and Freeman
combined for more than 2,000 yards, and Brooks seems to be returning to
full health.
(183k) | Packers Radio Network with the call!
Brooks with a 28 yard TD! |
Holmgren took advantage of the single-coverage on Freeman by throwing
quick hitch passes to him.
"(Cornerback Rod) Woodson was basically playing off," Freeman said,
"(cornerback DeRon) Jenkins, he was as well. We just wanted to get the
ball, and give us a chance to make them miss. If you can get five or
six yards, that's a good play. We're hoping to make them miss and get
some positive yardage."
Freeman made his man miss on a four-yard touchdown pass late in the
first quarter, putting the Packers ahead 14-0.
(264k) | Packers Radio Network with the call!
Freeman grabs a 4 yard TD pass |
"Once I get the cornerback's hips turned, it's my job to turn around and
Brett makes the read," Freeman said. "I gave him a double-move and got
him to open his hips, and when he opens his hips, it's a clear lane for
Brett to throw the football, and we got six points."
Holmgren also mixed up his formations, using a two-tight end set with
Pro Bowler Mark Chmura (4 catches, 54 yards) and Tyrone Davis (3, 20
yards). This was something the Packers used effectively during their
world championship season two years ago, with Keith Jackson complimenting
Chmura. Davis had a key 25-yard catch on third-and-seven. He lined up
split wide on the weak side, to Favre's left, one-on-one against
Jenkins.
"If it's a linebacker, they're not as quick as the cover guys," Davis
said. "If it's a cover guy, they're not as strong as a linebacker. So
I think it's a small mismatch either way."
Jervey also was more involved in the offense, giving the Packers a more
balanced attack than they had during their last two losses. While
Jervey managed just 72 yards on 29 carries--a 2.5-yard average, he also
had a 16-yard run and a few carries for negative yardage. Jervey said
he was content with the offense's performance on the ground.
"Shoot, as long as we win," Jervey said. "I felt the blocking was all
right. It's just that they had eight guys up there (in the "box" near
the line of scrimmage). You'll see (defenders) getting free. But like
I said, if they do that, it's going to cause problems for the running
game, but at the same time, Brett was successful, and found some seams,
put some points on the board and won the game."
Jervey also caught the ball well out of the backfield, a good sign for
the Packers, since play-action passes were a big part of the Green Bay
ball-control offense during the last two Super Bowl runs when Pro Bowl
running back Dorsey Levens was healthy and playing. Jervey, filling in
for Levens until he returns from a lower leg injury, has the speed to be
dangerous in the open field.
The Ravens didn't see much open field against a Packers defense that was
unleashed by defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur, who had been forced to
play a more vanilla scheme in recent weeks due to injuries to key
players like linebackers Antonio London and George Koonce, and safety
LeRoy Butler.
London is out for the year and Koonce sat out, but Butler, playing
closer to full health, returned to blitzing and playing up at the line
to stop the run. He finished with three tackles and multiple
quarterback pressures. He also picked off a pass when Santana Dotson
applied pressure.
"(Butler) is one of those guys who comes to play every game," Dotson
said. "The quarterback threw up a duck, and he did a good job catching
it."
The Packers defensive line dominated the line of scrimmage, and applied
consistent pressure, despite playing an offensive line that boasts Pro
Bowl left tackle Jonathon Ogden and 350-pound right tackle Orlando
"Zeus" Brown.
Ends Reggie White, Vonnie Holliday, Keith McKenzie and Vaughn Booker,
along with tackles Gilbert Brown, Bob Kuberski and Dotson, were
relentless and applied consistent pressure on the quarterback.
They also filled gaps so well they held the Ravens to just 36 yards
rushing.
"We feel like if we're not the strongest, we're one of the strongest
defensive lines in the NFL," Dotson said. "A lot of pressure was on us
this week to come up and make plays. We put a lot of pressure on
ourselves every week to do so."
(247k) | Packers Radio Network with the call!
Favre sneaks in for the score! |
Holmgren said the line's depth is key, because it allows Shurmur to mix
things up and keep his players fresh.
"Fritz is a master at that," Holmgren said. "Going back to the Super
Bowl last year, I think our defensive line was a cause of concern for
us. But now it has become a strength."
The Packers won their first game since Minnesota ended their 25-game
regular season streak at home two weeks ago. Next they face the San
Francisco 49ers, 6-1, who have become a sort of rival to Holmgren's
Packers.
"It's definitely going to be a big game," Dotson said. "It's a tough
NFC challenge for us."
Scoring Summary
- 1st Quarter
- GBP: 71 yard Preston TD punt return (Longwell kick) (13:13)
- GBP: 4 yard TD pass; Favre to Freeman (Longwell kick) (:45)
Key plays:
Favre: 7/9 for 74yds;
Chmura: 2 catches for 18yds;
Davis: 13yd catch
- 2nd Quarter
None.
- 3rd Quarter
- GBP: 28 yard TD pass; Favre to Brooks (Longwell kick) (12:47)
Key plays:
Freeman: 44yd catch;
Jervey: 16yd run
- BAL: 38 yard Stover FG (10:07)
- GBP: 4 yard TD Favre (Longwell kick) (6:14)
Key plays:
Butler: Interception;
Freeman: 2 catches for 14yds;
- 4th Quarter
- BAL: 46 yard TD pass; Harbaugh to Lewis (Stover kick) (6:34)
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