Packers Player Of The Game
On a day when the Packers converted only 4-of-13 third-down opportunities, Ahman Green made the Packers 2-for-2 on fourth down. Twice in the fourth quarter, Green picked up 2 yards on fourth-and-1 situations and ended up scoring touchdowns at the end of both drives. Green's 66-yards rushing were a game-high, and he also had five receptions for 44 yards.
Seahawks Player Of The Game
Forgive him the game-deciding interception, because the Seahawks wouldn't have been in the game without Matt Hasselbeck. While the running game amassed only 49 yards, Hasselbeck completed passes to seven different receivers en route to a 300-yard day. What he lacked was a touchdown pass, but he set up each of Shaun Alexander's three touchdowns.
Stat Of The Game
The one turnover of the game ended the game: Al Harris' 52-yard interception return.
Play Of The Game
It's hard to look past Al Harris' 52-yard interception return for a touchdown, which gave the Packers an overtime win. But there were several other plays that allowed the Packers to win. Among them was a pair of 2-yard rushes by Ahman Green in the fourth quarter that allowed the Packers to convert on fourth-and-1.
THEY SAID IT:
GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman -
On win: "Well, this game came down to one play right here that we made and fortunately we were able to win the football game. You know, Seattle could have hit a touchdown pass and they win and then we put our loss under a microscope like, obviously, people in Seattle will put theirs. But it was two good football teams battling it out the whole way and it could have gone to either team. We were fortunate it went our way."
On play-calling: "I told the guys last night that to win a playoff game, to win a championship game, you have to be aggressive and I am asking them to be aggressive in how they play. I said we have to be aggressive because in playoff games you have to go get them, they don't come to you, you have to go take them. So we were very aggressive in our blitz on that last play and very aggressive on our fourth-down calls and I just felt like we needed to do that and thought that at that time, if we were able to make it, which we did, not by much, but we did make it, that it would be a catalyst for us."
On Brett Favre and Matt Hasselbeck: "I think Matt Hasselbeck had a heck of a football game today ... I am sorry for him that he had to end the season on that last pass because he certainly played a great football game. I thought that he was very competitive with Favre. I thought that Favre had one of the best games he's had, especially since I have been here. I thought that this game was a much greater game as far as what he did on the field in regard to, in comparison to Monday night. I thought what he did out there was phenomenal."
On playing Philadelphia: "They are looking forward to just play again. You get to this point of the season, you know you look forward to just playing again and staying alive. We are fortunate to do that today. Again, we played a very good football team, very well coached, had our troubles at different times against them. They certainly did an excellent job of holding our run game in check for quite a part of the game. But our guys are just looking forward to playing another game and it happens to be against Philly."
On Aaron Kampman's play: "I mean it didn't have to be today, it could have been any day to be honest with you because Kampy has stepped up and, I think, done a tremendous job for us. And here is a guy that wasn't even invited to the NFL combine and he is starting for the Green Bay Packers and not just starting, but playing well for us. He does a great job on containing the naked bootlegs, which is always a trouble for defensive ends and he does a good job there. He is also very stout against tight ends. So I can't say enough about him. I don't know if anybody works as hard as he does. He is a hard worker, first one in the weight room, last one to leave, first one here in the morning, last one to leave. So he has got to where he is by hard work, I promise you that."
On importance of game personally: "Well, certainly last year walking off that field after the Atlanta game was one of the low points of my coaching career. And it was nice to win this football game, that simple."
Brett Favre -
On Seattle: "I can't say enough about Seattle -- the way they played, the way they were coached. I can only imagine how they feel over there, because they played a hell of a football game. It could've easily gone their way. It was about as mistake-free football -- on both sides, in rough conditions -- as you can imagine. I'm sure Matt (Hasselbeck) is beating himself up a little bit, but he played a hell of a football game, as well as the rest of their team. Obviously, I'm glad we won the game, but I do feel for them. It was a great play by Al Harris, because we needed it. Offensively we made some plays, but (Seattle) also played great defensively. Their offense was tough to stop, but in the playoffs that's what it comes down to -- making plays. Unfortunately one team has to go home, but it was a hell of a football game."
On Matt Hasselbeck: "I'm not surprised by Matt's success. I'm surprised that it has taken this long, really, in Seattle -- not that it's been a long time. I didn't think we could stop him today. He was making some great throws and (Seattle's receivers) actually dropped some passes that were catchable and could have made a difference in that game."
On team confidence: "I can't speak for the whole team right now, but at some point, I'm sure our team, I'm guessing, was surprised a little bit that, hey, we could lose this game. I thought we were playing fairly well. If anything, our confidence should remain the same, but it should be a wakeup call that we're not quite as good as we think we are. I'm just guessing. I take nothing away from Seattle. I'm sure they felt like no one gave them a chance to come in here and win this game. Atlanta probably felt the same way last year."
On approach to playoffs: "Honestly my approach wasn't any different than last year. From my standpoint, I know I've been called on to be a leader in a lot of ways. I have been to the playoffs and I've had some success, but, just like I was saying about this team, that in itself doesn't really carry you. It helps. In certain situations, it helps. I'm sure Matt (Hasselbeck) will learn from today and he didn't play that bad. He played pretty damn good, but the next time he's in the playoffs, he will get better and better and better. As a veteran quarterback, you approach every game the same way. Yeah, it is a playoff. We did lose last year. I knew we could lose last year. We had almost lost to Atlanta early in the season and the previous year, we lost to them here. I'm not surprised by anything."
Ahman Green -
On Seattle's ability to stop run: "They knew our running plays. Our plays are not too dynamic, they're simple plays. Our plays, if you're there, you can stop it. If you got more guys than we can block, they're easy to stop, but if you over-pursue or don't have the right...that many guys, it could hurt you. But they had the right amount of guys. They always have one or two guys that it seems I haven't seen on film yet. I'm pretty sure they always had an extra guy that I had to deal with or there's too many for the guard or the fullback coming through."
On losing earlier in the season to Philadelphia: "It's a game that's behind both of us. We can look back and say, 'We did this and we did that,' but it's in the past. We have to gear up for the future game, this Sunday's game."
On going for it on 4th-and-1: "We know that when we're in that situation eight out of nine, maybe seven out of 10 times that Coach will make that call because we got the front five guys and Kevin Barry comes off the bench to get us that one yard, maybe more."
On role of running game: "Coming into the postseason and the last four games of the season, I knew that defenses were going to start keying in on the run game, because that's something the NFL does all year long. I'm prepared for eight, nine guys in the box...We might just take one yard per carry, but it's something they've got to know - that we're going to run the ball regardless of who's there and set up the passing game."
Al Harris -
On game-winning interception: "We pretty much anticipated (the play). We worked on it in practice. Just from watching tape, when you see an all-out blitz or a population blitz, they were checking to something quick. Basically, we knew it was coming. They played right to it."
On playing against former team, the Philadelphia Eagles: "We're just trying to win and the fact that we're playing Philly makes it a plus. They're a dangerous football team. Everybody pretty much knows that. It's a plus going against guys that you practiced with and pretty much know, but they're probably looking at it as a plus for them also, going against a guy on the other team they know pretty well."
On interception: "I was just thinking, 'Don't drop the ball.' Two weeks in a row, I've dropped picks so I was thinking, 'Don't drop the ball and make sure you secure the catch,' and it was a footrace from there on."
On interception: "We hadn't pretty much got any work all day over there. I jumped a lot of routes. (Hasselbeck) made a lot of good reads, because I jumped a lot of routes today and he would look it off and go to the guy that was open. I was just praying that he would throw the ball, because I knew I was going to gamble on that play. As a DB, you pray that they will run that route - a hitch or a slant - something you can jump quick and get to where you have to go."
Aaron Kampman -
On if he can handle more emotional wins like in recent weeks: "I don't know. I'm totally drained right now. I need to go take a nap."
On making tackle for 1-yard loss two plays before Al Harris' game-winning interception: "I knew it was coming ... Film, and they'd also done it before in the game. We had run a blitz into it the time before, so I wasn't able to stand up and make that play. So I kind of just flicked up and flicked back and saw the motion. We actually had a blitz coming from the other side, so if I wouldn't have gotten out there on that edge, it would have been pretty bad."
Ryan Longwell -
On wind: "It was terrible. Whoever forecasted it, it was a lot worse than it was supposed to be. It was 25 miles per hour, and it was just so cold. Especially going into the south end zone, you were just fighting it every time. And it was going right and left so even PATs we had to aim off-center for the first time in a long time. It was a very tough day."
On 47-yard field goal attempt at end of regulation: "I said we could try it from anywhere obviously, last play of the game. When we got to the 30, I told them five more yards and they tried a play and obviously it didn't work out. I swung as hard as I could, got it on line. I wasn't really concerned about the distance because it was the last play of the game, but I was more concerned with wind right to left, getting it on line. We got it on line, it was a great snap and a great hold and I think we were a couple yards short."
On talking to Matt Hasselbeck after game: "I feel sick for him. I mean, I'm happy that we won and obviously happy that we're going to Philly, but he is way, way too good of a guy and way too talented of a guy for it to end it like that. I just went up to him and said, 'I love you and you're the best there is and don't forget about it.' Obviously he was pretty down."
On if he tried that 47-yard attempt 10 times, how many he thinks he would make, given conditions: "With the K-balls, probably 0-for-10. It's a different ballgame nowadays with those new balls. Back in the day with those old balls, you could drive them and these they just go float in the wind. You know, maybe you catch the right gust and you get it 1-out-of-10 times, but it was a low-percentage distance, for sure."
On what his range was Sunday: "I told them 25-yard line going to the south and we told them the 30 going the other way. But it was just tough because the wind was blowing right and left and not consistently. Like the 31-yarder that we had, I had to aim it just inside the right pole to get it through the middle. That's a pretty close range not to aim it almost outside the uprights."
Mike McKenzie -
On Al Harris' game-winning interception: "That's just one of those plays that as a defensive back you just dream about. The quarterback comes out, thinks he sees one thing, checks to something else. And defensively, we were just sitting there waiting. Al made a tremendous play. Hell, that's the game-winner. We're moving on based upon that play. It was a lot of great effort out there by the whole team, but that play really shows a sign of where we're going."
On defensive scheme on that play: "It was all-out (blitz). Everybody we had. We just made sure that we were covering the guys that they had out there and everybody else was coming."
On what leads to a cornerback jumping around: "A lot of tape-study. Obviously we know the offense, we know the coach, we know the system. These two teams, it's almost like playing a divisional rival, we know one another so well. We knew a lot of their checks as well as they knew our checks."
On what he was doing on the other side of the field that play: "Same thing. If you look at the tape, I'm there licking my chops hoping they'll throw my way as well on that play. Across the board on that particular play, when you look at the tape, we was all pretty much sitting there licking our chops, looking for a shot at the ball."
Marco Rivera -
On going for it on fourth-and-1 at the Seattle 42-yard line in the fourth quarter: "You know, Coach has the confidence in us. I tell you what, when he said go for it, it energized everybody in that huddle because when your coach has that confidence in you and says, 'it's up to you guys, you guys go get it,' and we went it got it, that changed the whole tempo of the game and that gave everybody kind of an uplift. We knew right away that we were going to score on that possession and try to win the game."
On if surprised Sherman decided to go for it: "No, not at all. Because there was a reason why we went third-and-1 and we didn't get it and we cleared it up. There's a reason why things happen and once you clean things up and talk about it, okay, now we know what we're doing. It's like, we covered that, now we can go run the play."
Mark Tauscher -
On Sherman's decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 at the Seattle 42-yard line: "He has a lot of faith in us. For the most part it was ugly. It wasn't the prettiest fourth-and-1, but we got it done. And that takes a lot of guts, because I think it was a tie game at the time and we were sitting right at the (Seattle 42-yard line). So, he had confidence we were going to get it done, and we were fortunate to get it done, even if it was by just a little bit."
On emotions of win: "I'm exhausted. I'm definitely excited, but it was a tiring and physically-, emotionally-exhausting football game. We put so much into it. Now we've got to bounce back quick, because we have a tough task coming up."
Mike Wahle -
On if he feels fortunate to win considering that the offense failed to score in overtime possession: "Absolutely. We should have scored the first time we had the ball. Al Harris made an unbelievable play. Our defense, I think, played a great game today. They won it for us, there's no doubt about that. What a thrilling moment for Al, what a thrilling moment for us. At the same time, as an offense, three-and-out in a situation like that is unacceptable."
GAME NOTES
Quarterback Brett Favre established an NFL record for consecutive playoff games with a passing touchdown with 14. Dan Marino is second with 13 (1983-95).
Favre surpassed Terry Bradshaw for third place on the NFL's all-time postseason touchdown passes list with 31 TDs.
Favre moved into third place on the NFL's all-time postseason list for most passes completed in a career, passing John Elway (355). He finished the game with a career postseason total of 364 completions, placing him behind Joe Montana (460) and Dan Marino (385).
The victory marked the 30th comeback win of Favre's career, including postseason games. It marked his fourth such victory of the season (at Minnesota, at Tampa Bay, at San Diego). The win also pushed his cold-weather home record (34 degrees or colder) to 36-1, including playoffs.
Favre's 319 passing yards today marked the third time in his career he surpassed the 300-yard mark in the postseason, but was his first such outing resulting in a victory (others: 1/14/96 at Dallas; 1/16/94 at Dallas).
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Franchise postseason records established today:
Favre extended his franchise record for games played (18).
Javon Walker (2) tied the team mark for consecutive 100-yard receiving games (also Sterling Sharpe in 1993, Robert Brooks in 1995 and Antonio Freeman in 1997).
The Seahawks (7) tied for the most kickoff returns by a Packers opponent (also Super Bowl II vs. Oakland 1/14/68, St. Louis Cardinals 1/8/83 and Carolina 1/12/97).
Ahman Green tied the single-game mark with two rushing touchdowns (also Elijah Pitts in Super Bowl I vs. KC, 1/15/67; Travis Williams vs. LARm, 12/23/67; and Edgar Bennett vs. SF, 1/4/97).
Also:
This marked only the second postseason overtime game in Packers annals, joining the famous 1965 Western Conference playoff in which Don Chandler beat Don Shula's Baltimore Colts. That '65 game was also the first sudden-death game in NFL history (the league adopted overtime rules for regular-season games before the '74 season).
In 26 overtime games, the Packers are now 11-11-4, and 1-1 this season; they lost to the Chiefs, 40-34, here on Oct. 12.
This marked the 18th overtime contest in NFL playoff history (complete list on Page 457 of Packers guide), the first decided by a defensive touchdown.
IN-GAME NOTES
Facing third-and-11 at the Seattle 45-yard line, Matt Hasselbeck's pass was intercepted by Al Harris and returned 52 yards for the game-winning touchdown, 33-27 (10:35, OT).
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The Packers went three-and-out on their first possession in overtime. Brett Favre twice threw incomplete for Ahman Green. Tony Fisher came up five yards short on his third-down reception. After a Green Bay punt, the Seahawks take over at their own 34-yard line (12:55, OT).
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The Packers forced a Seattle three-and-out to start overtime. Shaun Alexander was stopped for a 1-yard gain on third down. Matt Hasselbeck threw incomplete on second down. Alex Bannister's third-down reception came up a yard short of the first-down marker. After a Seattle punt and a 12-yard Antonio Chatman return, the Packers take over at the Green Bay 26-yard line (13:55, OT).
Initially on Seattle's third-and-9 play, Bannister was ruled with fumbling the ball, allowing the Packers to recover at the 43-yard line. But after a review, officials ruled Bannister was down before fumbling.
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Seattle won the toss to start overtime and will receive.
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End of 4th quarter.
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Ryan Longwell's 47-yard field goal attempt fell short as time expired (0:00, 4th quarter). From first down at the Green Bay 29-yard line with 45 seconds left, the Packers moved the ball to the Seattle 29-yard line to set up Longwell's attempt. Ahman Green had a 6-yard catch. Robert Ferguson had an 8-yard catch. Javon Walker had a 27-yard catch.
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Shaun Alexander's 1-yard touchdown run allowed the Seahawks to tie the game, 27-27 (0:51, 4th quarter). Nick Barnett was flagged for pass interference on third-and-goal at the 6-yard line, bringing the ball to the 1. Koren Robinson, Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram each had receptions on the 7-play, 67-yard drive. Time of the drive was 1:53.
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Ahman Green's 1-yard touchdown run on second-and-goal moved the Packers ahead, 27-20 (2:44, 4th quarter). Earlier on the drive, Green had a 2-yard run on fourth-and-1. Najeh Davenport had a 4-yard run on third-and-1. A 6-yard catch by Green, 11-yard catch by Javon Walker and 5-yard catch by Donald Driver were the only pass plays on a 12-play, 51-yard drive. Time of the drive was 6:46.
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The Packers forced another Seattle three-and-out. Matt Hasselbeck threw three straight incompletions, the last of which was batted away by Mike McKenzie. After a 21-yard punt return by Antonio Chatman, the Packers take over at their own 49-yard line (9:30, 4th quarter).
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Ahman Green plowed his way into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown that allowed the Packers to tie the game, 20-20 (10:01, 4th quarter). On the previous play, Green fought through a Randall Godfrey's tackle for a 2-yard gain on fourth-and-1. Earlier on the drive, Donald Driver had an 11-yard catch on third-and-2. Najeh Davenport had an 8-yard carry on third-and-1. The Packers scoring drive was 12 plays, 60 yards. Time of the drive was 6:56.
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End of 3rd quarter.
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On third-and-goal at the 1-yard line, Shaun Alexander forced his way into the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown, 20-13 (1:57, 3rd quarter). Bobby Engram and Itula Mili each had a pair of receptions on the drive. The Seahawks scoring drive was 11 plays, 77 yards. Time of the drive was 4:57.
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On fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line, Shaun Alexander ran into the end zone for a touchdown to bring the game to a tie, 13-13 (9:28, 3rd quarter). On third-and-goal at the 6-yard line, Matt Hasselbeck's pass deflected off of Hannibal Navies and was caught by guard Steve Hutchinson, who fell forward for a 5-yard gain. The Seahawks scoring drive was 10 plays, 74 yards. Time of the drive was 5:32.
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End of 2nd quarter. Halftime.
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Ryan Longwell's 27-yard field goal increased the Packers lead, 13-6 (0:46, 2nd quarter). Donald Driver had a 23-yard reception. Ahman Green had an 8-yard run. The Packers scoring drive was 6 plays, 30 yards. Time of the drive was 1:32.
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The Packers defense forced Seattle into another three-and-out. The Seahawks started from their own 24-yard line, but lost 14 yards when Cletidus Hunt sacked Matt Hasselbeck and forced a fumble recovered by Seattle. Grady Jackson and Mike McKenzie combined for a stop for Shaun Alexander for a loss of 4. Al Harris stopped Alexander for a gain of 1 on fourth down. After a Seattle punt, the Packers take over on the Seattle 39-yard line.
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Brett Favre's 23-yard pass to Bubba Franks moved the Packers ahead, 10-6 (4:37, 2nd quarter). The Packers drive started with a 44-yard pass to Javon Walker. Ahman Green picked up 12 yards on a screen pass. The Packers scoring drive was 5 plays, 80 yards. Time of the drive was 2:13.
Favre has now thrown a touchdown pass in 14 straight playoff games, moving him past Dan Marino for sole possession of the NFL record.
The touchdown pass by Favre is the 31st of his career in post-season play, good enough for third all-time.
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Josh Brown's 35-yard field goal moved the Seahawks ahead, 6-3 (6:50, 2nd quarter). The Seahawks had first-and-10 at the Green Bay 17-yard line, but could get no farther. On second down at the 17, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was pressured into an incomplete pass. Initially the pass was ruled a fumble that Nick Barnett returned for a touchdown, but the original ruling was overturned after an instant replay review. The Seahawks scoring drive was 8 plays, 51 yards. Time of the drive was 2:23.
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Ryan Longwell's 31-yard field goal tied the game 3-3 (9:13, 2nd quarter). William Henderson had a 29-yard reception to start the scoring drive. Ahman Green had two runs for 8 yards. The Packers scoring drive was 5 plays, 37 yards. Time of the drive was 2:01.
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The Seahawks' third possession went three-and-out. Aaron Kampman and Grady Jackson put pressure on Matt Hasselbeck to force an incompletion on first down. Na'il Diggs and Nick Barnett stopped Shaun Alexander for a 2-yard gain on second down. Matt Hasselbeck was pressured and flagged for intentional grounding on third down. After Antonio Chatman's fair catch, the Packers take over at the 50-yard line (11:14, 2nd quarter).
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End of 1st quarter.
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The Seahawks' second possession went three-and-out. Aaron Kampman sacked Matt Hasselbeck on first down. Mike McKenzie and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila combined to stop Shaun Alexander for no gain on second down. Koren Robinson's third-down reception came up a yard short of a first down. After a Seattle punt, the Packers take over at their own 45-yard line (0:43, 1st quarter).
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Josh Brown's 30-yard field goal put the Seahawks on the scoreboard first, 3-0 (7:01, 1st quarter). The Seahawks moved the ball from the Seattle 31-yard line to the Green Bay 9-yard line in seven plays, but the Packers held strong after that. Na'il Diggs and Nick Barnett stopped Shaun Alexander for a loss of 1 on first down. Cletidus Hunt dropped Alexander for a loss of 2 on second down. Maurice Morris couldn't get both feet down on a ball thrown into the end zone by Matt Hasselbeck on third down. The Seahawks scoring drive was 10 plays, 57 yards. Time of the drive was 4:53.
Prior to the scoring drive, the Packers picked up only one first down on the game's opening possession.
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Temperature at kickoff is 20 degrees.
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The following Packers players are inactive for today's game: Gilbert Brown, Derek Combs, Brennan Curtin, Craig Nall (third quarterback), Chukie Nwokorie, Marcus Spriggs, Erwin Swiney, Marcus Wilkins
Grady Jackson will start in place of Gilbert Brown. |
