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Green Bay vs. Philadelphia
09/17/00 - Packers Win 6-3
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| K Ryan Longwell converted on 2 of 3 field goals for the day, including the game winner with 3 seconds to play. |
Ryan Longwell's 38-yard field goal in the game's final seconds gave the
Packers their first victory of the season and Mike Sherman his first win as
a head coach.
The narrow 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles did not provide the 59,869
Lambeau Field faithful with much scoring, but the 1-2 Packers saw their
defense come up big.
"This is not exactly the way I would've drawn it up," Sherman said regarding
his inaugural coaching victory. "I'm very excited that we won the game
because I'd hate the alternative of going to practice as an 0-3 team. But
I'm realistic enough that we have to fix problems. We're not going to win
games by this score very often.
"I was very pleased with the way the defense performed. I was very pleased
with the chemistry of the defense. I met with the defensive team on
Wednesday and told them how proud I was, how they've grown throughout the
season. I think that's a credit to our defensive coaches."
The Green Bay defense held quarterback Donovan McNabb and the Eagles'
offense at bay, limiting Philadelphia scoring to a second-quarter, 43-yard
field goal by David Akers. McNabb was sacked five times by a variety of
Green Bay defensemen and was unable to find a rhythm with his receivers,
compiling just 118 yards on 15-of-31 passing with 1 interception.
Running back Duce Staley was Philadelphia's lone offensive threat, recording
122 of the team's 171 total offensive yards.
At times, Philadelphia was its own worst enemy, committing 12 penalties for
115 yards and often bailing the Packers out of bad situations.
On their second possession of the game, the Packers were backed up to their
2-yard line facing a third-and-11 when linebacker Jeremiah Trotter
intercepted Brett Favre pass at the 12-yard line. However, a defensive
holding penalty reversed the play and gave Green Bay a first down, the first
of many missed opportunities by the Eagles.
"Obviously there were too many penalties," said Philadelphia Head Coach Andy
Reid. "You can't have that against a good football team."
Meanwhile, the Packers offense struggled as well, combining for 236 total
yards but also committing 4 turnovers - 3 interceptions by Favre and 1
fumble by tight end Tyrone Davis. Dorsey Levens' 74-yard rushing
performance and Favre's 18-of-33 completion rate were just enough to put
Longwell in position to connect on 2 field goals - the first coming with
6:08 to play in the third quarter.
Levens' rushing provided the spark on Green Bay's first scoring drive. On
the first play of the drive, Levens rushed around the right corner for 17
yards. After two third-down penalties by the Eagles, Donald Driver caught a
24-yard pass from Favre. An 11-yard run by Levens put Longwell in position
for a 37-yard field goal to knot the defensive battle at 3-3, where it would
stay until the game's waning seconds.
With 5:20 to play, Favre directed a vintage game-ending drive, although it
did not begin encouragingly. Philadelphia's Hollis Thomas sacked Favre for
a 7-yard loss on the drive's first play, but Favre delivered a strike to
Antonio Freeman for 16 yards the very next play to set up Levens' first down
run on third down. First-down completions to Davis and running back Ahman
Green put the Packers at Philadelphia's 30-yard line at the two-minute
warning.
Favre then found Freeman across the middle for 12 yards, and Green Bay ran
the clock down to 0:07 before Longwell's game-clinching kick.
Longwell, who received a game ball from Sherman in the locker room after the
game, had been waiting years for the chance to win a game with his leg.
"It's my first one ever, going back to high school, college, junior high and
everything," Longwell said. "It's exciting to get that monkey off my back."
"There's never any doubt (in the game's final minutes)," said Driver.
"We're just going in there and staying focused on what we have to do. We
knew we had to come in here and win this game, and that's what we did. Ryan
made a great kick to win it for us, and we got the victory."
There were not enough game balls to spread among the impressive defense,
which continued its regular-season surge after a shaky preseason. Even with
injuries to key players such as Brian Williams, Mike McKenzie and Antuan
Edwards, the defense has found unity and big-play capability.
"It was a great effort," said linebacker Bernardo Harris, who recorded a
sack and 6 tackles during the game. "We came out and knew what we wanted to
get done. We wanted to win the game any way we could. We wanted to keep
fighting, keep working hard. We knew it was going to be a tough battle,
because they have a great defense, but we wanted to step up and show that
we're a great defense also. We just came out and fought hard today."
With each passing game, the defensive line has appeared more active and far
more comfortable in defensive coordinator Ed Donatell's new scheme,
evidenced in defensive tackle Santana Dotson's level of play on Sunday.
"I know that, defensively, this was our best game," Dotson said. "We're
really trying to grow as a unit, and I think it's showing. Every game we're
getting stronger, and every game we have more belief in what we're being
asked to do out there. I think my role is big in this defense, and this
might have been my biggest game as far as numbers are concerned. But more
importantly, as a unit, this was our biggest game.
"The crowd helped us," he continued. "It was a close game. In the second
half, we went in and made some big plays and big hits to get the crowd into
it. I think everybody in the crowd was kind of on their heels, kind of
weary. Everyone is used to us scoring 27 or 30 points, but it's not always
going to be like that. It was a defensive battle today, and our crowd
really stepped up in the second half."
Relief and gratification were evident in players' post-game comments, and
players sensed that Sunday's win would be a foundation from which to build.
"You can call it an ugly win," said Favre, "but it's a win. Sometimes you
have to win them like that. If anything, a game like that will build
character, it'll bring a team together more than anything. You have to win
games like that sometimes when you're not on the same page, when you don't
get the third downs...We'll get on the same page."
"You have to take it how you can get it," Freeman said. "We could very
easily be sitting here 0-3, but instead we're 1-2. A win goes a long way in
this league."
Freeman's ability to finish the game was in doubt with just over one minute
to play in the first half. On third-and-10, Favre rifled an incomplete pass
to Freeman, who was crossing the middle of the field. As Freeman dove for
the ball, he was hit in the back of the head by a defender's knee, which
left the receiver shaken and the sell-out crowd silent.
When Freeman headed to the locker room, his return was in doubt.
"It was a pretty emotional game for me," said Freeman. "All I could think
of was that I was paralyzed. When I got hit, I immediately wiggled my leg,
and I had motion in my body. I came back in and took X-rays, said a prayer
and thanked the Lord, because things could have been a lot worse. I was
determined not to let my team go out there without me. It can hurt all it
wants all night, but we won the game, and I was able to finish with my
team."
Center Frank Winters, who left the game in the first half with a sprained
ankle, was the only other injury of note. His condition will be further
evaluated on Monday.
The Packers now turn their attention to the Arizona Cardinals, who they will
face next Sunday at 3:05 CDT.
Game Highlights (Real Audio)
Packers-Eagles archived complete game broadcast (Real Audio)
Post-Game Audio Clips
Head Coach Mike Sherman (Real Audio)
QB Brett Favre (Real Audio)
RB Dorsey Levens (Real Audio)
S LeRoy Butler (Real Audio)
DT Santana Dotson (Real Audio)
LB Bernardo Harris (Real Audio)
K Ryan Longwell (Real Audio)
S Darren Sharper (Real Audio)
T Mark Tauscher (Real Audio)
G Ross Verba (Real Audio)
Scoring Summary1st Quarter Scoring: PHI 0, GB 0 Total: PHI 0, GB 0
No scoring in the 1st quarter
2nd Quarter Scoring: PHI 3, GB 0 Total: PHI 3, GB 0
Philadelphia 02:00 David Akers (PHI) 43 yard field goal is good.
3rd Quarter Scoring: PHI 0, GB 3 Total: PHI 3, GB 3
Green Bay 06:08 Ryan Longwell (GNB) 37 yard field goal is good.
4th Quarter Scoring: PHI 0, GB 3 Total: PHI 3, GB 6
Green Bay 00:03 Ryan Longwell (GNB) 38 yard field goal is good.
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