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| Sunday, September 14, 2003 - 12 noon at Lambeau Field |
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| Lions |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
| Packers |
14 |
3 |
7 |
7 |
31 |
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Packers Player Of The Game
With their top receiver out and their second receiver ailing, the Packers beat the Lions on the ground. Ahman Green led the way with 23 carries for 160 yards (7.0 avg.) and one touchdown. The offensive line was outstanding, opening holes for a 200-yard rushing effort, while not allowing a sack. The Packers were outstanding on the other side of the ball as well. The defensive line controlled things up front, allowing linebackers Nick Barnett (14) and Na'il Diggs (7) to combine for 21 tackles and four pass deflections, including one interception.
Lions Player Of The Game
About all the Lions had to be proud of by the end of the day was the kicking performance of Jason Hanson. Accounting for all of his team's points, Hanson was perfect from 22 and 52 yards.
Stat Of The Game
The Packers out-rushed the Lions 200 to 52.
Play Of The Game
On just the second play from scrimmage, Ahman Green ran off of right tackle, found an opening and then headed down the sideline for a 65-yard touchdown. The score not only provided the Packers with enough points to win -- Detroit scored only 6 all day -- but set the tone early.
THEY SAID IT
GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman -
On scoring early: "Any time you can score early is definitely a boost, but just like I told the team last week, we did not fall off a cliff. Now this week we are not on top of the world either. We won a football game and lost a football game and we have to keep things in perspective. I am pleased with how we practiced this week and how we got through the week. It was a tough week to be a Green Bay Packer and the guys stepped up. We had a number of injuries, a lot of frustration and disappointment after losing our opening game. I give them a lot of credit. They got in that locker room and the practice field and worked and worked and were determined to give our fans a better performance, and I believe they did."
On injuries: "William Henderson has a hip contusion, Paris Lenon a knee bruise, Robert Ferguson re-aggravation in his MCL, Na'il Diggs a knee sprain, Barnett a hip flexor, but he should be OK and William Henderson was also poked in the eye. I believe they will all be OK and the only one that I'm concerned with would be Wesley Walls and his hamstring."
On Ahman Green: "He has looked like that in practice and in the preseason and it didn't surprise me what he was able to do. You have to credit the offensive linemen. They came off the ball and did some pretty good things. Ahman certainly made some yardage after contact and showed his explosiveness as a runner."
On how well the linebackers played: "It was only one game so I am not going to say we're anointed ones right now. We still have a ways to go and we have a lot of work to do with that group, but they did step forward today collectively and I've said right from the beginning it is going to be a work in progress. You don't revamp a position or a defense and expect it to all be clicking. Today it clicked and hopefully we will click a little bit better next week and continue down the road. But we still have a ways to go. I did think that all three of the linebackers showed their ability to run and make physical-type tackles. There were some bone jarring hits out there. I was pleased with their performance and we still have a ways to go."
On Robert Ferguson: "Fergy may be one of the toughest players on this team. I think Marco Rivera goes up there in that group and Fergy is in that top five group as well. He is a tough kid and when he tells you he is going to do something he is going to give you everything he has. It doesn't surprise me he was able to do what he did. Although last week he was on crutches leaving the locker room, crutches on Monday and Tuesday, walking around a little better on Wednesday, and a little better on Thursday. Friday he gets taped up and wants to practice. What he did today is a credit to him and his mental toughness."
On being effective running the ball: "We would like to be able to run the football that effectively week in and week out, but it usually doesn't happen that way. The running game works in peaks and valleys. To give Ahman Green his carries is important and we were able to do that today. But you still have to be able to throw the ball effectively and we were able to do that on third down in the first half and move the chains but were not as good in the second half and we need to address that."
On any changes this week compared to last week: "I thought we had better practices two weeks ago before the Minnesota game. We had pads on this week and we hit a little bit, but not to the point where we could get anyone hurt. Nothing has changed from that standpoint. There wasn't a different philosophy or demeanor. We normally do not have pads coming out of the preseason and the second game we do have pads and I did that all season last year and then this year I will take it week by week depending on the injuries you have."
On Antonio Freeman: "I thought he did a great job. He couldn't walk on his foot yesterday due to some tendonitis in his foot. We gave him some anti-inflammatories and he really didn't practice with us a whole heck of a lot yesterday and he settled down and was fine today. He made some pretty critical catches for us and moved the chains for us. I think there is a lot of confidence between the quarterback and him."
On the kickoff that went out of bounds: "It was a planned pooch kick. We had that end of the field and felt confident with the way they were playing. They have a very good kickoff return unit but they cheat a little bit and we were trying to put it in that hole right there. It felt like on a wet field and with the wind we would be able to do that. If we were able to keep it in bounds I felt like we would have been able to recover that. It was an aggressive call."
Offensive Coordinator Tom Rossley -
On calling more running plays: "When you break the first one and you're making 5 and 6 and 7, it's easy to keep calling runs. If the first pass had been incomplete and the first run had been stopped for 1, it's hard to keep calling those runs. Give credit to the offensive line, they did a great job of controlling the line of scrimmage, and when you do that it's easy to call them. That's the easiest way to do it."
On offensive line: "I can't say enough about them. They're an athletic group, they play well together and they did a great job today. Ahman gets the yardage, but those guys did a heck of a job today."
Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell -
On defensive line, pressure: "Our rush was excellent today, I can't say enough about that. It all works together. (Lions quarterback Joey) Harrington is a quality player and he didn't have time. He was throwing off his back foot because there were people in his face. So the rush did a great job. It's not going to show statistically, but when you look at third down and you look at his average per pass, he had a tough time dealing with our guys."
On play of linebackers: "It was really nice to see them flying around because that was Mike Sherman's goal when he drafted these guys, to have more speed and quickness at that position. It looked like it paid off. But give the guys up front some credit for keeping those guys clean."
Nick Barnett -
On difference between this week and last week: "I was just seeing and believing this week. I just decided that if I see it I'm going to just go, and don't be hesitant. I've been seeing it, but I haven't been, 'Okay, there it is, just go.' But I've still got a long way to go. I was still a little hesitant on some plays, but it takes time. I'll get there."
On if it was an angrier defense than last week: "I think it was a faster defense. We were more prepared and out there running around just having fun. That's what we've got to do. But we're nowhere close to where we want to be still. We could dominate even more if we come together more. We had a solid game, but I think we could be a lot better."
Na'il Diggs -
On his performance: "I feel pretty good about it. I would say it's probably one of my better games that I've played here. I'll have to watch film to really see if my mistakes outweighed my plays, but I feel really good about what I did. I got some key plays right and made some plays out there."
On Nick Barnett: "He's a very athletic player, fast and got instinct. That's going to carry him a long way. He hasn't got the experience yet, so once he gets the experience he'll be that much better. He played well. He played outstanding."
Brett Favre -
On his impression of Robert Ferguson: "Even before this game -- and I have said this all of training camp -- I am not going to jump on the bandwagon. I said way back when that he has made dramatic improvements and has grown up a lot. He is one of the tougher guys you will ever be around. He has tremendous raw talent. Now he is starting to take it to the next level. The talent is there, but now he is starting to make plays. I can't believe he played this week first of all. I won't say that is what we expect out of guys because no one would have said anything if he wouldn't have played but it meant a lot to him to play. And not just play but to make plays. He blocks and it means something to him to spring the running back and it means something to him to catch the ball. He is a confident person and it bothers him when he doesn't play well. You can see that and guys feed off of that and today to me it was just Robert Ferguson. I don't want to talk about it too much because he has a long way to go and he would be the first person to admit that, but he definitely took a step in the right direction today."
On addressing the team: "As I told the team I am not a very vocal person. There are different types of leadership. For example Reggie White, he called player meetings all the time --which is fine because he backed it up. I think that if you call meetings all the time and do it over and over again, then after a while guys just start saying, 'Oh God, not another one of those.' I probably should speak up a little more. I am no different today than I was 10 years ago in that area. I have always felt words were secondary and that actions, to me, were the most important things. If players saw me playing as hard as I can, then they should too. It was brewing all week and I felt like I needed to say something because I am one of the elderly statesmen on the team, whether I like it or not. And I do play every week, and play hard, but at some point you have to lead that way."
On Antonio Freeman: "I love the guys we have: Fergy (Robert Ferguson), Donald (Driver), Javon (Walker). I wouldn't trade those guys for anyone. They give great effort and have tremendous talent. It was nice and I think our fans enjoyed it and liked having him (Freeman) back. Freeman will tell you that he can't run with those guys and that he is a body catcher -- all the things that you ask in a receiver, Free doesn't have. But the bottom line is production. You can't argue with what he has done over the years. I told him the second-to-last catch he had on that drive, when everyone was cheering, I said that 'they love you and I do and this team does, too. That is what makes you great as a human' and Free has meant so much to me in my career and to the Packers over the last nine or 10 years and I enjoy having him back."
On running the football: "Unlike the Packers of old, our offense is based on running the football. Now we have a great running back and the best offensive line since I have been here -- most athletic -- and we are very capable. In order for us to be successful we have to establish the run."
Robert Ferguson -
On Antonio Freeman: "Free is like Brett, he leads by example. I learned a lot from him my rookie year. I just learned a lot again. He came back and he's running the same routes the same way that he was when he was here (before) and still getting open. People are asking, how does Free get open all the time? He ain't the fastest, he ain't the biggest, the strongest, whatever. He just knows how to get open. That's a talent."
On when he decided he could play with injuries: "During warm-ups I was questionable. I was actually going to pull myself out. I came up and I put the heat pad on and then I ran around on it and said that I could go."
Mike Flanagan -
On mentality coming off of last week's loss: "We had something to prove. We don't lose at Lambeau. That's our mentality. And sure enough we did, we got punched in the mouth last week. We didn't do what we were supposed to do and we came back and we took it upon ourselves as our group (offensive line) that we need to establish it."
On Ahman Green's opening touchdown run: "When you come out and break it like that, it puts the defense on their heels. They're more hesitant in what they're doing, and our confidence is contagious. It just spreads throughout the team."
Antonio Freeman -
On receiver corps: "I've only had three legitimate days of practice. We're still a work in progress. I think when it becomes meat and potato time come later this year, we get some other guys healthy, that will make our four wide receiver package even that much better."
On warm reception from fans: "It was great. When I ran out on the field, I heard people yelling my name. Some people buy into the fact that I'm back, some people don't. Everybody has a choice, and I'm fine with that. But the way that No. 4 ran up to me, I could just see the excitement on his face after that third-down completion, that speaks volumes. Words can't even explain what that meant for me."
Ahman Green -
On touchdown run: "It is one of our bread and butter plays. It is a counter misdirection and it's a play that if it is blocked right all I have to deal with is out running the safety."
On what that did for confidence: "It gets us in a groove offensively and team-wise. Establishing the run early sets everything else up with the pass. And if a team wants to blitz us early then they have to be worried about us having a big run or pass through play action."
On Favre addressing the team: I expect the unexpected. For him to get up there and say something to the team, he felt like he needed to say something to the team. And every now and then I get up and say something even though I don't say much. But if I need to say something that is in my gut to get us going mentally or get up us riled up or after a game."
Darren Sharper -
On play of defense: "Flying around. It was definitely a different type of team than we saw last week. We were attacking more."
On importance of offense's early score: "Once we see them drive and put points on the board, we kind of feed off of that. Really we should just concentrate on what we need to do, but it just so happens that when they put points up on the board we get a little more excited."
Mark Tauscher -
On difference between this week and last week:"I think we were as intense as last week, it's just not turning the ball over and we executed better. We could do a ton of things better. Everybody up front is going to say the same thing, we can block better and we could have got (Ahman Green) more (yards) today if we would have finished off our blocks a little bit better."
Mike Wahle -
On emotional lift of Robert Ferguson's presence in lineup despite injury: "It's just like every week we've got a guy banged up who comes out and plays hard, and Fergy was the guy this week. It's almost expected, but at almost the same time seeing him out there is definitely an emotional lift because you know the guy is out there fighting for you."
On if he prefers heavy dose of runs, as today: "Hell, yeah. This is my favorite stuff to do, just keep running right at them. No gimmicks, nothing. Let's just go at them. This is what we run, let's see if you can stop us."
Javon Walker -
On offensive attack: "Obviously when we went into this game, we didn't know the weather was going to be the way it is. When Ahman broke that run we knew it would be a good day to run. When the running game is going like it is and you've got a running back like Ahman Green, you can't stop it. You have to keep going to him."
GAME NOTES
Running back Ahman Green moved past Dorsey Levens and Pro Football Hall of Famer Clarke Hinkle into fourth place on the Packers' career rushing list, finishing the contest with 4,015 career rushing yards. With his 65-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter, he passed Hinkle and later, in the same quarter, advanced past Levens on a 2-yard rush. Green entered today's game with 3,855 yards, just 5 back of Hinkle (3,860) and 83 short of Levens (3,937).
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The 65-yard score was Green's longest run since his 83-yard TD run on Sept. 9, 2001, in a 28-6 season-opening win over Detroit.
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Green's touchdown made him only the 27th player in Packers history to score more than 200 points in a career. Green came into the game with 198 and finished with 205.
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Green collected his 16th career 100-yard rushing game today, his 15th as a Packer. He is now second in Packers 100-yard rushing games, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Taylor. His 160 yards today marked the seventh time he's rushed for 150 or more yards in his career.
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Quarterback Brett Favre made his 175th consecutive start, extending his NFL record for quarterbacks, and played in his 177th straight game, leaving him only 10 games short of the Packers' career record, 187, by Forrest Gregg. His streak is currently the NFL's longest at any position.
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Favre surpassed Fran Tarkenton on the NFL's all-time completion list, ending the game with 15 completions for a career total of 3,692.
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Running back Tony Fisher notched his first career receiving touchdown with his 5-yard score in the first quarter.
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With his reception in the second quarter, wide receiver Antonio Freeman made his first catch as a Green Bay Packer in a regular season game since Jan. 6, 2002, in a 34-25 victory at the New York Giants when he hauled in 1 reception for 27 yards.
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Detroit kicker Jason Hanson's successful 52-yard field goal was the longest of his career vs. Green Bay and the longest by any Lions' kicker at Lambeau Field since Glenn Presnell booted a 54-yarder in 1934.
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Cornerback Al Harris' interception returned for a touchdown was his first pick as a Packer and the second scoring theft of his career, the first coming in 1999 as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. It also marked the longest interception return of his career.
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Before Harris' score, Marques Anderson was the last Packer to score on an interception, returning an aerial theft 14 yards for a TD vs. Detroit on Nov.10, 2002.
IN-GAME NOTES
End of 4th quarter. Game over.
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Al Harris took his first Packers interception and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown (10:18, 4th quarter).
That's the second interception return for a touchdown in Harris' career, the other time with Philadelphia.
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End of 3rd quarter.
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Al Harris and Darren Sharper were there to knock away Joey Harrington's pass on fourth-down. The Packers take over at their own 35-yard line (2:17, 3rd quarter).
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On third-down, Brett Favre rolled left and fired a 14-yard touchdown pass to Robert Ferguson, 24-6 (10:18, 3rd quarter). Green Bay gained possession on Nick Barnett's interception. The Packers scoring drive was 3 plays, 19 yards. Time of the drive was 0:49.
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Joey Harrington's pass for Mikhael Ricks hit the intended receiver in the back and deflected skyward, allowing Nick Barnett to make an interception. After a 14-yard return, the Packers start first-and-10 at the Detroit 19-yard line (11:07, 3rd quarter).
Barnett's interception is the first of his NFL career.
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The Lions held the Packers to a three-and-out following Mike McKenzie's interception. Josh Bidwell's punt made it past Bhawoh Jue and into the end zone for a touchback (12:37, 3rd quarter).
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Mike McKenzie picked off Joey Harrington's pass for Charles Rogers. The Packers take over at the Detroit 40-yard line (14:03, 3rd quarter).
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End of 2nd quarter. Halftime.
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Jason Hanson's 52-yard field goal brought the Lions closer as the second quarter expired, 17-6 (0:00, 2nd quarter). Joey Harrington hit Shawn Bryson on back-to-back passes for a total of 14 yards to help set up the field goal. Detroit gained possession on Dre Bly's interception. The Lions scoring drive was 5 plays, 21 yards. Time of the drive was 0:33.
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Brett Favre's pass for Robert Ferguson was intercepted by Dre Bly. After a 4-yard return, the Lions take over at their own 45-yard line (0:33, 2nd quarter). Earlier on the drive, Favre hit Javon Walker for a 19-yard gain.
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Mike McKenzie broke up Joey Harrington's third-down pass for Charles Rogers to force another Detroit punt. The Packers take over at their own 9-yard line (3:31, 2nd quarter).
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Rod Walker broke into the backfield to stop Shawn Bryson for a 6-yard loss on third-and-1. After John Jett's 37-yard punt, the Packers take over at their own 13-yard line (6:08, 2nd quarter).
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Ryan Longwell's 46-yard field goal increased the Packers' lead, 17-3 (8:22, 2nd quarter). Brett Favre threw incomplete for Javon Walker on third down. Antonio Freeman's 13-yard catch on third-and-9 earlier in the drive was his first reception of the season. The Packers also benefited from a 20-yard pass interference call on their 9-play, 43-yard drive. Time of the drive was 3:58.
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The Lions had first-and-goal at the 4-yard line, but were forced to settle for Jason Hanson's 22-yard field goal, 14-3 (12:20, 2nd quarter). The Lions benefited from Bracy Walker's fumble recovery to start the drive at the Green Bay 15-yard line. Michael Ricks made a 10-yard reception. Na'il Diggs stopped Olandis Gary after a 1-yard gain and broke up a pass for Bill Shroeder in the end zone. Antuan Edwards stopped Gary for a loss of 1. The Lions scoring drive was 6 plays, 11 yards. Time of the drive was 2:40.
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End of 1st quarter.
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After the defense held Detroit to another three-and-out, John Jett's 35-yard punt touched Marcus Wilkins and was recovered by the Lions' Bracy Walker at the Green Bay 15-yard line (0:00, 1st quarter).
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Joey Harrington's 17-yard pass to Charles Rogers marked the only first down allowed by the Packers thus far. After a punt, the Packers take over at their own 11-yard line (2:25, 1st quarter). Mike McKenzie broke up a deep pass intended for Bill Schroeder in the end zone.
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On second-and-10, Joey Harrington's pass bounced off of Charles Rogers and fell to the turf incomplete (3:44, 1st quarter). Darren Sharper appeared to have intercepted the deflected pass and the Packers challenged the ruling. Instant replay confirmed the incomplete pass. The Packers were charged a timeout.
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Tony Fisher plowed his way into the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown from Brett Favre, 14-0 (4:26, 1st quarter). The Packers' running game dominated the drive. Ahman Green had a 13-yard run on third-and-5, and a 3-yard run on third-and-2. Najeh Davenport had five carries for 31 yards. The Packers scoring drive was 13 plays, 59 yards. Time of the drive was 8:42.
The Packers gained possession after the defense held Detroit to a three-and-out.
Fisher's touchdown reception was his first in the NFL.
On the drive Ahman Green moved past Dorsey Levens (3,937) to No. 4 in Packers rushing history. Earlier in the game, Green passed Clarke Hinkle on the all-time list.
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Ahman Green broke free up the middle and then down the right sideline for a 65-yard touchdown run on the Packers' second play from scrimmage, 7-0 (14:08, 1st quarter). On first down, Brett Favre completed a 13-yard pass to Robert Ferguson, who is playing with knee and ankle sprains. The Packers scoring drive was 2 plays, 78 yards. Time of the drive was 0:52.
Green's run moves him past Clarke Hinkle (3,860) to No. 5 in Packers rushing history.
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Brett Favre starts his 175th consecutive game for the Packers, moving past Jets tackle Winston Hill (174, 1963-76) for 10th all-time. Favre's consecutive game-started streak is the longest active streak in the NFL.
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Temperature at kickoff is 63 degrees. Light rain.
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The following Packers players are inactive for today's contest: Brennan Curtin, Donald Driver, Nick Luchey, Craig Nall (third quarterback), Kenny Peterson, Jamal Reynolds, Marcus Spriggs.
Chris Johnson was placed on injured reserve Saturday. |
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