 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Green Bay Packers vs. Cleveland Browns - 12/23/01
Game Summary - Packers Win 30-7
 |
| TE Bubba Franks hauled in 2 touchdown catches in the first quarter. |
The Packers are back in the NFL playoffs for the first time since the 1998 season with a 30-7 win over the Browns.
On a cold and snowy day tailor-made for a December game at Lambeau Field, the Green Bay defense paved the way for the win. Three Browns turnovers caused by the Packers defense lead to 21 points for Green Bay.
"It's a big step," GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman said. "The Packers have been out of the playoffs for two years. It does put us over a hump so to speak, but we still have a long way to go. We're certainly not satisfied just being in the playoffs. We still want to win our division and try to keep pace with the Bears."
Tyrone Williams' interception return for a touchdown as Cleveland (6-8) was driving late in the second quarter, swung the game's momentum in favor of the Packers and it would never switch back. He added another interception to stall a second-half Cleveland drive.
"It was at the end of the half and they didn't want to give up a touchdown at the end of the half like that," Williams said. "It put them back on their heels big time after they were making a push at us. It gave us back the momentum."
Rookie Bhawoh Jue hauled in his first NFL interception on Cleveland's opening drive to set the defensive tone of the game.
Offensively the combination of Brett Favre and tight end Bubba Franks proved fruitful near the end zone as they connected twice for touchdowns. On the game's opening drive, Favre hit Franks for a one-yard touchdown reception. The drive was buoyed by 42 yards rushing from running back Ahman Green.
Following Jue's interception, Favre hit Franks for his second score of the game, a 4-yard touchdown pass. The tight ends were Favre's favorite target this afternoon as he completed seven passes to them. Franks hauled in 4 catches for 29 yards and two touchdowns while Tyrone Davis added his first 3 receptions of the season for 14 yards.
The quarterback extended his NFL record with his sixth 30-touchdown season by completing 18-of-28 passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns. The Browns' Tim Couch completed the afternoon going 22-of-33 for 203 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Favre has never lost a game when the kickoff temperature was 34 degrees or below at kickoff. The game time temperature today was 24 degrees with a wind chill of 11.
"It was nice to start the game the way we did," Favre said. "We put it in right away and set the tone and tempo of the game and made them play catch-up. Offensively they moved the ball well, but our defense came up with some big plays. Tyrone Williams had some huge plays and our defense played hard."
Cleveland scored its only touchdown midway through the second quarter when Couch hit running back Jamel White on a shovel pass for a 3-yard score. White finished the afternoon rushing 21 times for 131 yards, in addition to recording 9 receptions for 85 yards and one touchdown.
Green bounced back after gaining only nine yards in last week's loss at Tennessee. He amassed 150 yards rushing on 21 carries, along with 3 receptions for 18 yards. It was Green's sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season tying Dorsey Levens (1997) for second place on the club's all-time single season record list. Jim Taylor recorded 7 such games during the 1962 season.
Levens saw extended playing time for the first time this season with 9 rushing attempts for 72 yards. He also caught 2 passes for 25 yards, including a diving 16-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter.
"It was a play that we practiced all week, it's just and out and up," Levens said. "Brett threw a perfect pass over my shoulder and luckily I caught it."
The Green Bay offensive line, wearing no long sleeve shirts despite the cold weather, paved the way for big games from both Packer running backs.
"Both backs were running extremely well and we were blocking well," offensive tackle Chad Clifton said. "We were in our element tonight with the weather - the snow and the cold. It was a great night for us."
The Green Bay defense took control of the game after the first Williams interception. In addition to picking off Couch three times, the Packers forced and recovered two fumbles and sacked him four times.
Darren Sharper, Na'il Diggs and Vonnie Holliday all recorded one sack. Rookie Jamal Reynolds sacked Couch forcing a fumble on the Browns' last drive. Bernardo Harris and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila recovered fumbles on the day.
"We definitely made a statement," Jue said. "With as many turnovers as we got today, there is nothing better than that. It means that everyone is rallying to the ball and we're getting the ball out and making plays. Hopefully we can keep that going."
Notes: Defensive end John Thierry re-aggravated his knee injury in the second quarter and did not return to the game...Tyrone Williams was also the last Packer to return an interception for a touchdown, doing so in last season's win at Chicago...Green left the game in the second half due to breathing problems from asthma...
Packers-Browns archived complete game broadcast
(Real audio)
Post-Game / Locker Room audio Clips
GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman (Realaudio)
DT Santana Dotson (Realaudio)
QB Brett Favre (Realaudio)
TE Bubba Franks (Realaudio)
RB ahman Green (Realaudio)
LB Rob Holmberg (Realaudio)
K Ryan Longwell (Realaudio)
CB/S Bhawoh Jue (Realaudio)
WR Bill Schroeder (Realaudio)
S Darren Sharper (Realaudio)
T Mark Tauscher (Realaudio)
T Mike Wahle (Realaudio)
CB Tyrone Williams (Realaudio)
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
GBP: B.Franks 1 yard pass from B.Favre (R.Longwell kick no good)
GBP: B.Franks 4 yard pass from B.Favre (R.Longwell kick)
2nd Quarter
CLE: J.White 3 yard pass from T.Couch (P.Dawson kick)
GBP: R.Longwell 39 yard Field Goal
GBP: T.Williams 69 yard Interception return (R.Longwell kick)
3rd Quarter
GBP: D.Levens 16 yard pass from B.Favre (R.Longwell kick)
4th Quarter
No Score.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
