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Green Bay vs. Buffalo Bills
09/10/00 - Packers Lose 27-18
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| DE Vonnie Holliday picked off a Rob Johnson pass late in the third quarter to give the Packers the ball deep in Bills territory. |
For the second-straight week, the opposing defense proved too tough for the
Packers, who fell to the Bills on Sunday, 27-18, in front of 72,722 at
Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Bills quarterback Rob Johnson was sacked and battered numerous times by the
Green Bay defense but hung tough to out-duel Brett Favre, who threw for 269
yards and 2 touchdowns for the Packers.
Johnson completed 18 of 26 passes for 259 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1
interception while under constant pressure from Packers linemen, linebackers
and safeties. His touchdown strike to tight end Jay Riemersma with 11:45 to
play in the game gave Buffalo an insurmountable 27-10 lead.
Both defenses originally appeared to have total control of the opposing
offenses. The Bills moved downfield with the ball on their first drive, but
were unable to overcome two sacks by the Packers' defense - one by defensive
end John Thierry and the other by safety LeRoy Butler, which forced the
Bills to punt.
The Packers recorded 5 sacks of Johnson, along with numerous knockdowns and
hurries, making Johnson's poise even more impressive.
On the Bills second drive, Johnson hit Eric Moulds with a 41-yard bomb to
put Buffalo at midfield, but again, the defense held and forced the punt.
It was not until late in the second quarter that the Bills were able to
penetrate the Packers' defense well enough to put points on the board.
After taking possession at their own 46-yard line, Johnson completed
consecutive passes to Moulds and Peerless Price to put Buffalo on the Green
Bay 18. With 48 seconds to play in the half, Bills receiver Jeremy McDaniel
caught a 6-yard touchdown pass for the game's first points.
It appeared that the Packers would have a chance to cut into the lead after
Allen Rossum returned the following kickoff 41 yards to the Buffalo 49-yard
line. However, three plays into the ensuing drive, Favre was hit from
behind by the Bills' Marcellus Wiley and fumbled into the hands of Buffalo
defensive end Phil Hansen, who subsequently ran the ball to the Green Bay
27-yard line with 11 seconds left to play in the half.
A Steve Christie field goal left the Packers with a 10-0 halftime defecit.
Both offenses started quickly after intermission. Riemersma's first of two
touchdowns put the Bills ahead 17-0, but then Favre led the Packers' offense
with precision on a 7-play, 80-yard drive culminating in a 7-yard touchdown
reception for wide receiver Antonio Freeman.
Taking advantage of a fumbled punt return by Rossum later in the third
period, Christie again connected to give Buffalo a 20-7 lead.
Momentum temporarily shifted to the Packers late in the quarter, when Vonnie
Holliday recorded his first career interception deep in Bills' territory.
Johnson, who was sacked by Bernardo Harris on the previous play, hurried a
screen pass after seeing Scott McGarrahan go untouched on a safety blitz.
Holliday, who returned to the game after suffering a hit on his ribs from an
opponent's helmet, collected the errant pass at the 13-yard line, setting up
Ryan Longwell's 24-yard field goal, which momentarily cut the lead to 10.
However, Buffalo's defense would not bend any further until it was too late
for the Packers.
Down by 17 after Riemersma's second touchdown catch, Favre was able to
engineer another 80-yard touchdown drive, with the scoring again coming from
Freeman, who had 80 yards receiving on 7 catches - both team highs.
Freeman's two touchdown receptions gave him 44 for his career, putting him
past Billy Howton (43) for 5th on the team's all-time list.
Favre turned in another gritty performance, completing his first 14 passes
and finishing 25-35 on the day. His two scoring throws moved him past
former Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly for 13th place on the NFL's all-time
list with 238 career touchdown passes.
But against one of the NFL's top defenses, 3 turnovers proved too costly for
the Packers, who will look for their first win against the Philadelphia
Eagles next week.
The Packers played much of the game without a few key players, including
Earl Dotson, who aggravated his back on the second play of the game. Antuan
Edwards, who was filling in for the injured Mike McKenzie, sprained his knee
and left the game. Both players, according to Head Coach Mike Sherman, will
be evaluated on Monday.
Game Highlights (Real Audio)
Packers-Bills archived complete game broadcast (Real Audio)
Post-Game Audio Clips
Audio)
Head Coach Mike Sherman (Real Audio)
S LeRoy Butler (Real Audio)
QB Brett Favre (Real Audio)
WR Antonio Freeman (Real Audio)
WR Charles Lee (Real Audio)
NT Russell Maryland (Real Audio)
KR Allen Rossum (Real Audio)
DE John Thierry (Real Audio)
T/G Mark Tauscher (Real Audio)
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
No score
2nd Quarter
BUF: Rob Johnson pass to Jeremy McDaniel for a 6 yard touchdown. Steve Christie extra point is good.
BUF: Steve Christie 45 yard field goal is good.
3rd Quarter
BUF: Rob Johnson pass to Jay Riemersma for a 6 yard touchdown. Steve Christie extra point is good.
GBP: Brett Favre pass to Antonio Freeman for a 7 yard touchdown. Ryan Longwell extra point is good.
BUF: Steve Christie 20 yard field goal is good.
GBP: Ryan Longwell 24 yard field goal is good.
4th Quarter
BUF: Rob Johnson pass to Jay Riemersma for a 14 yard touchdown. Steve Christie extra point is good.
GBP: Brett Favre pass to Antonio Freeman for a 18 yard touchdown. Donald Driver 2 Point Coversion is good.
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