Packers Player Of The Game
After Mike McKenzie got beat on Marty Booker's 61-yard touchdown play in the first quarter, he told his teammates he'd make up for it. He did. Making two interceptions on the day, including one for a 90-yard touchdown return, McKenzie turned in one of the biggest playmaking performances of the year for the Packers. McKenzie finished the game with five tackles and five passes defensed. Also coming up big defensively for Green Bay was Aaron Kampman, who dominated the defensive line. On offense, Robert Ferguson made seven catches for 79 yards and Ryan Longwell was perfect in four field goal tries.
Bears Player Of The Game
Making five receptions for 115 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown catch, Marty Booker was the one bright spot for the Chicago offense.
Stat Of The Game
The Packers had five takeaways on the day: three fumbles and two interceptions. Also key to the Packers victory: the Bears were held to 44 yards rushing on 20 attempts (2.2 avg.).
Play Of The Game
With the Packers leading 19-14, the Bears threatened to move ahead early in the fourth quarter when they drove deep into Green Bay territory. Looking to convert on third-and-8 at the Green Bay 16-yard line, Kordell Stewart threw to Dez White, but was intercepted by Mike McKenzie who returned the pick 90 yards for a touchdown. Nick Barnett and Darren Sharper delivered key blocks on the return, and McKenzie's interception padded the Packers' lead.
THEY SAID IT
GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman -
On injuries: "Marco (Rivera) sprained his ankle on Walker's TD catch, but was able to continue to play. Maybe not many guys could have, but Marco Rivera can and he did and played well. Robert Ferguson had a blow to the head. He had to come out for a little bit. He hurt his back a little bit, but he returned. Bhawoh Jue strained his groin. I don't know to what degree, but he was unable to return to the game."
On the play of defense: "I can't say enough about our defense. I thought that they kept us in the game while the offense found itself. We end up with 34 unanswered points until we gave away a kickoff return for a touchdown, which is frustrating. But I thought the defense played a heck of a ball game. Our defensive line stepped up. They are a good running football team and I thought we were able to contain their rush game."
On Mike McKenzie: "I can't say enough about Mike McKenzie. Mike McKenzie gets beat on one touchdown pass about 64 yards. Great throw, great catch, and he said he was going to get it back and sure as heck did."
On the stress of the game: "The season is stressful, but you're down 14-0 with your back against the wall, you're really back against the wall. You know just keeping the troops together on the sideline, I thought they did a great job of staying focused, not panicking, staying together, and it is part of what we do. I mean there is stress in everybody's job, not just football coaches. Trust me everybody has it. But certainly this was a must win for us here at home. Playing the Bears adds even more juice to the fire because it is the Bears. That's a rivalry game you have to play well. You have to win those games and we were fortunate to win today."
On the running game: "I am not surprised by anything from week to week. Defenses can gear up, I have said this from day one, defenses can gear up and stop anything they decide to stop. You have to find out what they can stop, if they are really working hard to stop that one phase. I thought they did a great job of containing our run game today. I think we were just under 100 yards, but I thought they did a fine job with that and it was hard running out there. Our guys were blocking and working hard, it wasn't a lack of intensity or effort, it was a physical game. I think when we talk about the Bears-Packers, it's going to be that type of ballgame. We didn't open the game up really until the end. It was a close contest by both sides, any team could have won it and we were fortunate to win it."
On whether they prepared for Kordell Stewart all week: "Well, the way Kordell played last week it would be certainly difficult to sit him down this week. I thought I would have done the same thing, play Kordell. I did not know the status of Chandler, but I thought that Kordell played well enough that he would play this week and we prepared that way."
On the timeout at the end of the 1st half: "It was a mistake on my part. I was hoping I could block a punt and being a little bit too greedy there and it ended up backfiring and it will never happen again."
On Darren Sharper's interception return: "I was pretty happy because he bailed me out of a bad situation that I put us in. I would have liked to see him, after that interception...I think on that last play, because of the scenario, I thought he did the right thing except I thought he could have lateraled the ball at some point there at the end because time had expired and that might have been able to get us a big play. But I didn't fault him for that return. It wasn't a return that was going to put anybody in real bad field position or so forth."
On identity of team: "Well I spend a lot of time with these guys. I meet with them everyday and we talk everyday, and they are a good group of men. We learn from our mistakes; that is one thing I think we do do - we learn from our mistakes. I thought we had great intensity out there today, as evident by the fact that it would have been easy after losing last week and going down 14-nothing, just fold the tent...and those guys, that was not an option today for anybody. They battled back and I thought they did a great job. I think that our identity is that we are a bunch of good guys that are going to work hard and it's going to be one week at a time type of season for us the rest of the way and keep battling. I think we do have some battlers in that locker room."
On Ryan Longwell: "Well he kicked field goals well, his kickoffs weren't necessary great, but his field goals were pretty dang good. We have been pretty good in the red zone this year and we struggled today getting the ball in the end zone with good field position there in the red zone. Penalties played a part in that. I was very frustrated because we had too many penalties that forced us to go back five, 15 yards, and put us in longer yardage situations than we need to play in. We are a much better team when we have third and medium and third and short than we are in third and long. But Ryan stepped in and got those points for us. Those were huge points that he made and he has been kicking the ball as accurately as I have ever seen a kicker kick the ball. It is dead center just about every single time. The ones he has missed have simply because of poor footing and haven't been able to swing away at the football. But everyone in practice, everyone in games is right down the middle, so he is having a heck of a year from that standpoint."
Nick Barnett -
On responding to being down 14-0, and Mike McKenzie's message after getting beat on 61-yard touchdown to Marty Booker: "They jumped up on us about 14-0 and we just had to keep our composure. After that big play on Mike, he came to the sideline and was like, 'I'm going to get it back for you guys.' He just went out there and he did it."
On if stopping the run was the key to victory: "I'm not really an analyst or anything like that, but that's always our goal to shut down that run. I think we did a good job of shutting down the run. But we can be better."
Brett Favre -
On playing the Bears: "What frustrates me is everyone says 'Brett Favre's record and how he's done against the Bears and record in cold temperatures.' I'm just one of 53. Unlike baseball, where one pitcher can shut everyone out, in football it takes a team. I don't feel any added advantage against these guys. For whatever reason, we play well against them. They played well today and, at one point, it looked like they were going to take this one. I'm just glad the last 10, 12 years have been in my favor when it comes to playing these guys. "
On interception: "I made a protection call, I thought was going to be picked up. Obviously, there was some miscommunication there. I spun out (the tackle) and as bad as I hate to say it, I threw it as hard as I could towards our sidelines. I didn't even see who was over there. I wasn't even concerned about who was over there. I was just throwing as hard as I could. If it got up to the 50th row, great. That's what I expected it to do, of course. It obviously didn't work that way."
On comeback: "Anytime you spot a team14 points, its tough to come back from. In a game like the Bears game, you can really throw out records and statistics and all that stuff. So to spot them 14 points and give them life is not good. I didn't feel a need to go over and say anything to the guys. If we can't figure it out, than we don't need to be here and guys figured it out."
On play of receivers: "Week in and out, someone steps up. Like Wesley (Walls) last week with five catches. Today (Robert Ferguson) had some big catches. Last week Javon (Walker) had a couple of big catches, today he had, obviously a real big catch, and a week before against 'Frisco he did. I'm not overly concerned about (the wide receiver) position because the guys give great effort. They block, they do what they're asked to do and, for the most part, the balls that I've thrown to those guys, they've caught."
Mike Flanagan -
On running game: "Obviously we've set the bar pretty high for ourselves as far as what we want with yardage. We weren't as successful as we've been in the past, but it was enough to get the win and that's all that matters."
On mood after falling behind 14-0: "Just, why do we always make it so hard? There was no panic. We knew what we were capable of doing. The defense was playing well. I can't say enough about the way they've played the last couple of weeks. And we weren't clicking. We were doing everything we could to give it back to them. We knew that once we got the kinks out it would be okay."
Grady Jackson -
On playing for Packers, impacting the D-line: "It's been fun. I've been having fun since I've been here. The fans are great and it's just great guys on the team. I just feel we're playing as one heart on the defense. We've just been playing well. Most people credit me, but I don't want the credit. I want to give everyone the credit on the D-line because we've all been playing great."
Mike McKenzie -
On early mistakes/ and recovery: "We felt early on we didn't play up to our potential. I had an early play where I let the guy get behind me and they struck early. The next series the offense came back and gave them another (touchdown). We felt pretty confident that as long as we didn't give them anything, that we had a good shot to win the game, so we came back, played our game, went all out and won."
On Bears/big plays: "You have to tip your hat to the Bears. They were not going to lay down and they made a lot of good plays out there, but some how, some way, we found a way to get it done with big plays on our side."
On interception: "We knew they were taking shots and we figured they were going to try to pick up the first down. They threw a pass out to the flat and I made a play."
Marco Rivera -
On falling behind 14-0: "Some teams panic. We kind of didn't panic. We're like, all right, it's time to wake up. Let's start playing some football. We'll just take it one play at a time. So that's what we did. McKenzie had that big turnover there and we just started chipping away a little bit a the lead and ended up turning around."
On Ahman Green failing to reach single-season rushing record: "For us, it's getting the win. Personally I would have liked to see Ahman get the record today, but hopefully that will happen this year. It better happen this year. And if not this week, hopefully next week."
Mike Wahle -
On defense: "We're very, very grateful our defense played so well. Our D-line was unbelievable today. They were just all over the ball. I think they really won that game for us. We were able to put some points up on the board, but a lot of those were a direct result of the defense."
On Minnesota beating Seattle: "It doesn't matter to me. I can't worry about that. None of us can. We can only worry about winning our next three games. Like I said earlier this week, if we win out and we don't go to the playoffs, that's on us. We screwed up. I'm going to hope that they slip a little bit, but we have too much to worry about. We have to worry about these next three. We have to end this football season 4-0. And if we get to the postseason, then we'll be on a roll, that'll be great. But if we end the season 4-0 and we don't make it. That's our fault. We have only us to blame."
GAME NOTES
Brett Favre has now played in 188 consecutive games, setting a new team record. The previous record holder, Forrest Gregg, played in 187 straight (1956, 1958-70). Gregg's streak included an exemption for missing the 1956 finale and the entire 1957 season (Lambeau Field's inaugural year) while serving his country in the armed forces.
Only two men have played more games in a Packers uniform than Favre, Hall of Famers Bart Starr (196) and Ray Nitschke (190).
Favre has thrown a touchdown pass in 22 consecutive games which ties a Packers record set by Cecil Isbell during the 1941-42 seasons.
Favre has now thrown a TD pass against the Bears in 24 straight games, tying an NFL mark for scoring strikes against one opponent (Dan Marino threw for a TD in 24 consecutive games vs. the New York Jets).
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The Packers went over 2,000 yards in team rushing today and now have 2,057 yards on the season. It marked the first time the team surpassed 2,000 ground yards since 1985.
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Robert Ferguson's 7 catches today marked a career high.
Continuing a trend: when Robert Ferguson is the Packers' leading receiver, the team is 6-0.
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Mike McKenzie, with 2 aerial thefts today, marked his second career multiple-interception game. The first time came against Arizona on Jan. 2, 2000, when he also picked off 2 passes.
McKenzie's 90-yard interception return for a TD was his second return for a score in his career and also the longest.
McKenzie's TD return was the first scoring interception by a Packer since CB Al Harris returned an interception 56 yards for a touchdown against Detroit, Sept. 14, 2003.
The 90-yard score by McKenzie shares fourth place in team annals for such returns (LeRoy Butler vs. San Diego, Sept. 15. 1996).
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The last time an opponent returned a kickoff for a touchdown: Chicago's Glyn Milburn, Dec. 13, 1998 (94 yards).
IN-GAME NOTES
End of 4th quarter. Game over.
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Jerry Azumah answered the Ahman Green touchdown with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, 34-21 (2:13, 4th quarter).
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After losing a yard on first down, Ahman Green ran left for a 2-yard touchdown to add to the Packers lead, 34-14 (2:26, 4th quarter). The Packers took over on the Chicago 1-yard line after Grady Jackson's sack. The Packers scoring drive was 2 plays, 1 yard. Time of the drive was 0:29.
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Facing fourth-and-10 at the Chicago 10-yard line, Kordell Stewart was sacked by Grady Jackson for a loss of 9-yards. The Packers take over at the Chicago 1-yard line (3:15, 4th quarter).
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Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila recovered Desmond Clark's fumble. The Packers take over at the Green Bay 37-yard line (6:05, 4th quarter).
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With the Chicago Bears facing third-and-8 at the Green Bay 16-yard line, Mike McKenzie intercepted Kordell Stewart's pass for Dez White and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown. Brett Favre hit Bubba Franks for the 2-point conversion, 27-14 (9:16, 4th quarter).
McKenzie's interception return for a touchdown was the second of his career and at 90 yards it tied for the fourth-longest in team history.
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End of 3rd quarter.
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Ryan Longwell's 45-yard field goal increased the Packers lead, 19-14 (0:43, 3rd quarter). Robert Ferguson had 6- and 18-yard catches on the drive. The Packers scoring drive was 8 plays, 36 yards. Time of the drive was 5:01.
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Ryan Longwell's 35-yard field goal gave the Packers the lead, 16-14 (6:52, 3rd quarter). The Packers gained possession courtesy of Mike McKenzie's interception. Robert Ferguson had an 8-yard catch on third-and-4 and a 13-yard grab. The Packers scoring drive was 9 plays, 35 yards. Time of the drive was 4:39.
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Mike McKenzie intercepted Kordell Stewart's pass for Marty Booker on third-and-11. After an 8-yard return, the Packers take over at their own 48-yard line (11:31, 3rd quarter).
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End of 2nd quarter. Halftime.
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Darren Sharper intercepted Kordell Stewart's pass near the goal line and returned it 50 yards before being brought down to end the second quarter (0:00, 2nd quarter). Kabeer Gbaja Biamila had a 9-yard sack of Kordell Stewart on the previous play.
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Brett Favre hit Javon Walker in the front-right corner of the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown to bring the Packers within 1, 14-13 (2:43, 2nd quarter). Robert Ferguson had 20- and 12-yard catches on the drive. Ahman Green had two catches for 17 yards. Najeh Davenport had a 13-yard run. The Packers scoring drive was 9 plays, 86 yards. Time of the drive was 5:10.
Favre has now thrown a touchdown pass in 22 straight games, tying Cecil Isbell's Packers record (1941-42).
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Cletidus Hunt's 7-yard sack of Kordell Stewart on third-and-11 helped force a Chicago punt. The Packers will start from their own 14-yard line (7:53, 2nd quarter).
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Ryan Longwell's 38-yard field goal brought the Packers closer, 14-6 (9:57, 2nd quarter). On the previous play, Brett Favre looked for Javon Walker on third-and-10. The Packers challenged the ruling that it was an incomplete pass, but replay confirmed the decision on the field. The Packers scoring drive was 4 plays, 1 yard. Time of the drive was 1:06.
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David Martin forced Jerry Azumah to fumble during his kickoff return following Ryan Longwell's field goal. Torrance Marshall recovered the fumble. The Packers take over at the Chicago 21-yard line (11:04, 2nd quarter).
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Ryan Longwell's 24-yard field goal put the Packers on the scoreboard, 14-3 (11:12, 2nd quarter). On the previous play, Lance Briggs tipped Brett Favre's pass for Wesley Walls on third-and-4 at the 6-yard line. Earlier on the drive Tony Fisher had an 18-yard catch-and-run on third-and-9. Walls had a 9-yard catch. Ahman Green had five carries for 21 yards. The Packers scoring drive was 11 plays, 54 yards. Time of the drive was 4:38.
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End of 1st quarter.
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Facing third-and-8 at the Green Bay 35-yard line, Brett Favre was intercepted by Lance Briggs, who returned the pick 45 yards for a touchdown, 14-0 (0:50, 1st quarter). After avoiding one would-be sacker, Favre was attempting to throw the ball away, but Briggs tracked it down near the right sideline. Favre was flagged for intentional grounding, but the penalty was declined.
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Kordell Stewart hit Marty Booker down the right sideline for a 61-yard touchdown to put the Bears on the scoreboard, 7-0 (1:46, 1st quarter). On the previous play, Stewart hit David Terrell for a 21-yard gain on third-and-9. The Bears scoring drive was 4 plays, 83 yards. Time of the drive was 2:10.
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Playing in his 188th consecutive regular-season game, Brett Favre moved past Forrest Gregg to become the Packers' all-time leader in consecutive games played.
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The following Packers players are inactive for today's contest: Derek Combs, Brennan Curtin, Craig Nall (third quarterback), Kenny Peterson, Jamal Reynolds, T.J. Slaughter, Marcus Spriggs.
Antuan Edwards has been placed on injured reserve. Erwin Swiney has been added from the practice squad and is active. |
