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Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings - 12/30/01
Game Summary - Packers Win 24-13
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| CB Mike McKenzie returns a 4th quarter interception for a TD |
The Packers used two fourth-quarter touchdowns to turn a 13-10 deficit into a 24-13 victory over the Vikings.
Cornerback Mike McKenzie was the showcase player. He set the early tone with big hits on Vikings' quarterback Spergon Wynn and fullback Harold Morrow. McKenzie effectively limited all-pro receiver Randy Moss to just two catches for 10 yards. He also returned his fourth-quarter interception for 38 yards and a touchdown.
"We had a situation where we started out in man and they came out in a bunch situation so we quartered it up," McKenzie said about his interception. "I read the hook up, read the quarterback and made a play on the ball."
Quarterback Brett Favre did more than go 5-for-5 passing on the touchdown drive that put the Packers (11-4) up to stay in the fourth quarter. He also was the lead blocker on wide receiver Donald Driver's reverse for a 31-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
"Really you just see the back of Brett," Driver said. "When he went down I didn't look at him anymore. I kept running after that. I saw it on the JumboTron and he made a great block."
Minnesota (5-10) used 12 straight running plays to drive 50 yards on its opening possession only to have Gary anderson miss a 39-yard field goal attempt wide right. anderson connected on kicks from 44 and 42 yards out later in the game.
The Vikings did not get any production through the air in the first half. Third string quarterback-turned-starter Spergon Wynn had trouble before halftime completing just one of 10 passes for 3 yards with an interception. aided by a 47-yard touchdown pass to tight end Byron Chamberlain, Wynn finished going 11-of-30 for 114 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions.
Favre ended up completing 18-of-29 attempts for 169 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. He also extended his record to 30-0 when the game time temperature is below 34 degrees at kickoff. Today's kickoff temperature was 19 degrees.
Green Bay was not as effective as usual in the ground game. Driver tied for the team lead in rushing on the day with 31 yards on his reverse for a touchdown. Ahman Green carried the ball 16 times for just 31 yards, but did score the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
"They played well and we had a little trouble running the ball," offensive guard Marco Rivera said. "We didn't take control of the game like we wanted to. Sometimes that is going to happen and we just have to work on that. Hopefully we'll keep improving and we'll go to New York and run the ball."
Minnesota found a rhythm on the ground early with former Badger Michael Bennett picking up 79 yards on 15 carries by halftime. He finished the game with 125 yards on 25 carries. Wynn added five carries for 33 yards and Morrow ran three times for 24 yards.
Moss' biggest play came on the ground with less than two minutes in the game. He gained 11 yards on a reverse.
After Minnesota had cut its deficit to just one at the end of the third quarter, Green Bay got a 24-yard field goal from Ryan Longwell to open the scoring in the fourth. It was his only attempt on the day.
In the cold weather both teams had trouble with the punt game. Packer punter Josh Bidwell averaged 32.4 yards a kick on eight punts. He did pin the Vikings inside the 20-yard line three times. Minnesota's Lee Johnson average 37.2 yards on five punts backing the Packers inside the 20 once.
Bernardo Harris was the leading tackler for the Packers. He recorded 12 tackles (nine solo) during the game and also had an interception. Darren Sharper, who contributed to limiting Moss and Cris Carter to just three catches combined, had six tackles, two passes defensed and one interception.
As a team the Packers broke the club record for sacks in a season when Jim Flanigan wrapped up Wynn in the second quarter. This defensive unit has recorded 51 sacks so far this season breaking the record of 50 set by the 1998 team.
Tight ends led the way receiving for both teams. Green Bay's Bubba Franks caught four passes for 40 yards while Minnesota's Chamberlain had three grabs for 66 yards and a score.
For the Packers, Antonio Freeman had three catches for 43 yards while Bill Schroeder added 29 yards on three grabs. Green also had three receptions for 17 yards and Corey Bradford finished with two catches for 22 yards.
Jake Reed and Michael Bennett tied Moss for second on the Vikings with two catches apiece. Reed gained 13 yards and Bennett and Moss had 10 each. Carter had just one catch for 11 yards in what could have been his final appearance at Lambeau Field as a Viking player.
Notes: Gilbert Brown, John Thierry, Allen Rossum and Nate Wayne were all inactive while recovering from injuries...If the Packers win next week they are guaranteed a home playoff game in the wild card round...If the Packers win next week and Chicago loses then the Packers will have a bye week and host a playoff game in the divisional playoffs...
Packers-Vikings archived complete game broadcast
(Real audio)
Post-Game / Locker Room audio Clips
GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman (Realaudio)
DT Santana Dotson (Realaudio)
WR Donald Driver (Realaudio)
QB Brett Favre (Realaudio)
RB ahman Green (Realaudio)
LB Bernardo Harris (Realaudio)
FB William Henderson (Realaudio)
CB/S Bhawoh Jue (Realaudio)
CB/S Tod McBride (Realaudio)
CB Mike McKenzie (Realaudio)
WR Bill Schroeder (Realaudio)
S Darren Sharper (Realaudio)
T Mark Tauscher (Realaudio)
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
No Scoring.
2nd Quarter
MIN: G.anderson 44 yard field goal
GBP: D.Driver 31 yard run for Touchdown (R.Longwell kick is good)
3rd Quarter
MIN: G.anderson 42 yard field goal
4th Quarter
GBP: R.Longwell 24 yard field goal
MIN: S.Wynn pass to B.Chamberlain for 47 yards and Touchdown (G.anderson kick is good)
GBP: A.Green run for 4 yards and Touchdown (R.Longwell kick is good)
GBP: M.McKenzie 38 yard interception run for Touchdown (R.Longwell kick is good)
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