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Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns - 08/11/01
Game Summary - Packers Lose 10-3
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| Despite breaking his hand, RB Dorsey Levens posted a total of 7 carries for 54 yards against the Browns. |
For the first time since 1993 the Green Bay Packers did not win the opening game of the pre-season. Tonight's battle with the Browns in Cleveland was everything a pre-season game is expected to be: numerous mistakes by both teams, a high number of penalties and first-string players with reduced playing time.
In the end, it was two Green Bay turnovers that played the decisive factor in the outcome of the score.
"Turnovers were the key," said Doug Pederson in a post-game interview.
The third offensive series for the Browns would prove to be the deciding factor in the game. Pinned at their own 4-yard line to start the drive, quarterback Tim Couch spread passes around to wide receivers Kevin Johnson and Quincy Morgan. Running back Jamel White carried the load on the ground contributing four first downs as Cleveland marched down the field. The ten-minute drive culminated with White hauling in a 9-yard pass for the game's only touchdown.
Green Bay answered the call with a 47-yard Ryan Longwell field goal on the following drive. Running back Dorsey Levens was the workhorse of the offense, breaking a screen pass for 16 yards followed by a 20-yard run to put the Packers in field goal range. Levens finished the night as the team's leading rusher with 29 yards on 5 carries.
Brett Favre played most of the first half, completing 8 of 11 passes for 80 yards a 93.0 passer rating. Pederson performed well throwing 13 passes, completing 10 for 84 yards. Only a second-half interception with the Packers driving in the red zone marred tonight's performance by the veteran signal caller.
Couch finished with 10 completions on 13 passes for 84 yards and a passer rating of 118.1 on the night. James Jackson led the Cleveland rushing attack with 10 carries for 66 yards.
a Rondell Mealy fumble at the goal line was the other costly turnover the Packers committed during the game. The Packers had compiled an 18-play, 58- yard drive before turning the ball over.
Some players trying to make the team as free agents made a strong case for themselves in the game. DeVone Claybrooks intercepted a Ty Detmer pass in the end zone with just 20 second left in the first half. Linebacker Donte' Curry blocked a Cleveland punt with 3:54 remaining in the game, but Billy Joe Tolliver and the rest of the offense were unable to convert the opportunity into points.
Battling Pederson for the back-up quarterback position, Tolliver finished the night completing 2 of 3 passes for just 6 yards. Tolliver entered the game for the first time with just under four minutes left in the final quarter.
After the game, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman noted that Tolliver would see more playing time next week against Denver.
One bright spot for the Packers was the solid play of wide receiver Charles Lee. The second-year player led the team with 4 receptions for 41 yards. Corey Bradford added 32 yards on 3 receptions for the Packers.
Bubba Franks also attracted some favorable reviews with two receptions for 19 yards in the first half.
Chris Gizzi finished the game as Green Bay's leading tackler with six stops on the night. Defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila added the team's lone sack in the first quarter.
Penalties were a major problem for both teams. The Packers tallied 11 penalties for a total of 80 yards and the Browns with 8 penalties totaling 74 yards.
The Packers suffered some injuries on the night with Levens expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks with a fractured fourth metatarsal on his left hand and linebacker Nate Wayne expected to miss the next week with a mild (first degree) sprain in his right knee. Jon Krick also left the game with a strained lower back.
The win gave new Cleveland head coach Butch Davis his first victory as the Browns headmaster.
Green Bay will play its second pre-season game on aBC's Monday Night Football versus the Denver Broncos. The game will be at Lambeau Field on Monday august 20th with a 7:00 p.m. start.
Audio Clips
Game Highlights - (Real audio)
Packers-Browns archived complete game broadcast - (Real audio)
Post-Game / Locker Room audio Clips
GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman (Realaudio)
DT Jim Flanigan (Realaudio)
DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (Realaudio)
RB ahman Green (Realaudio)
RB Dorsey Levens (Realaudio)
LB Torrance Marshall (Realaudio)
RB Rondell Mealey (Realaudio)
QB Doug Pederson (Realaudio)
LB Nate Wayne (Realaudio)
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
No Scoring
2nd Quarter
CLB: T.Couch 9yd TD pass to J.White. (P.Dawson Extra Point is good)
GBP: R.Longwell 47yd Field Goal is good.
3rd Quarter
CLB: P.Dawson 23yd Field Goal is good.
4th Quarter
No Scoring
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