Post-Game Quotes
GM/HEAD COACH MIKE SHERMAN:
(on losing the home opener) "You have no idea how it feels to lose at home in front of that crowd; it was a great crowd out there. Yeah it hurts a lot...personally."
(on the mood in the locker room) "Well certainly very somber...disappointment...frustrated I am sure, but just like last week I told them, 'Hey you win a ballgame you don't go out and make your reservations for Jacksonville.' Same thing when you lose a ball game - you don't find a hole to crawl into. It is part of life in the National Football league where you better bring your 'A' game every week,every single week to play because anybody can beat anybody."
(on (Ahman) Green's fumble) "It seemed like he had control of the ball. Urlacher just came from underneath and laid some wood on the football and knocked it out. I thought it was a pretty good hit by the Pro Bowler."
(on (Mike) McKenzie's performance) "I saw him have good coverage on our sideline and I don't think they made any plays on him. I thought he played pretty well; he was excited about playing. I thought he played pretty well."
(on (Rex)Grossman's performance) "I told the guys coming in he's an aggressive, confident football player. I thought he demonstrated that today. We were going after him with everything we had at times and he kept on getting up and making plays. He's not the fastest guy in the world but he got out of trouble a number of times and I thought he did an outstanding job managing the ball game."
(on not going for the field goal on key fourth down) "Thought about it, going for the field goal...at that time I was concerned about how far we had to go if we kicked the field goal; how far we had to go to get the touchdown. I didn't think we had enough time. They had been pretty good at moving the football and obviously we would have had to get the onside kick for it to work. But I was concerned that we were close and that it was the best opportunity for the touchdown. If we got the touchdown then we could recover the onside kick and kick a field goal for the win. There was not a lot of time on the clock but that was discussed."
(on the passing game) "I never felt there was a time during the game where we were behind throwing the football. I thought we were pretty balanced offensively most of the game. We had made some big plays; we are capable of making big plays in the passing game. We had our opportunities there at the end; we just didn't (make the big play)."
QUARTERBACK BRETT FAVRE:
(on losing the game) "There is not a whole lot you can say; I think the game speaks for itself. Give Chicago credit coming in here, coming off a tough loss and winning and capitalizing when they had to, something we didn't do. I am not going to sit here and say that we gave the game away, but we didn't make the most of our opportunities. It's as simple as that. We made some plays, they made more. We had the opportunity to make some more, but we didn't. It is discouraging, it really is."
(on loss hurting more as home opener or divisional game) "I think both. It is a double whammy, you know, if we lose at home and it is within our division. Nothing good can come out of it, if anything good can come out of it. I didn't really see any of our guys feeling any better than they were, looking past this game; I don't see that. If anything, it is early in the year and guys, like last year, realize that every play is so crucial to a game and a season."
(on changing gears from running to throwing) "I don't know if it is difficult. It takes the surprise out of it. I think I have said it before: that for whatever reason, we are going to have to shift gears and today was one of those days. As I said last year, I have no problem with us running the ball if we run it effectively - (but) you've got to get points. Dominating in the yards category doesn't make up for the points, it's as simple as that."
(on (Brian) Urlacher causing the key fumble) "That was a basic run play for us. I don't know who is supposed to block him (Urlacher) and he is a fine football player, there is no doubt about it, but you have to account for him and put a pad on him some way."
(on whether the Bears were a different team) "No, I know we have had a lot of success against these guys over the years, but when we have had it it's been here. They are a very talented football team, they realty are. I know sometimes the record is deceiving, but they are a talented football team and I knew they would play hard. I think every time that we play them, they play hard. Urlacher always plays full tilt; Mike Brown plays that way. They made some good draft picks, they traded for some guys. Rex Grossman played well and so on and so on, but I don't think they were a different team."
SAFETY DARREN SHARPER:
(on what the defense did well) "Toward the latter part of the game we were just working for an opportunity to try to win the game, but overall, I think we played well. Our defense is based on stopping the run and we didn't do that today. We definitely get an F as far as grading out."
(on the blitz scheme) "(The blitzes) were fine. They did a lot of play action to offset our blitzes, but the fact of the matter is we have to get home on the blitzes."
(on what you take from a loss) "You can't overlook anybody. You have to always go out and play like the better team. We need to be focused from the beginning of the game."
FULLBACK NICK LUCHEY:
(on moving the ball but not scoring) "It's very frustrating. I really think the same way Coach (Sherman) feels in that we came here ready to play. Guys were ready to play, we were confident and we didn't take them lightly. The ball just didn't bounce our way today."
(on the positives of the offense) "As long as we don't shoot ourselves in the foot, we should be able to handle our business and should put up far more points than 10. (Scoring only 10) is not us, that's not us. We have the talent and the players on this team to put up more than 10 points in any game no matter what defense we face. But give some credit to Chicago because they made plays when they had to. We moved the ball, but they made the plays."
(on playing more than in the past) "I played this much last year once I got back from my injuries late in the season. It's not really about me as much as about the offense. I'm just trying to help make the offense become the best in the league. I think we still have more than enough to prove that, and we will prove it before the season is over."
KICKER RYAN LONGWELL:
(on the Packers going for it on fourth-and-8 late in the game) "I was ready (to kick), but I wasn't involved in the discussion, so I don't know what went on. If they would have pointed my way, I would have ran out. I was ready to do it. I don't know what they were going to decide, but we had our onside kick team ready to roll."
(on the missed field goal) "I hit it right where I was aiming, right where pre-game said I should have aimed it. It was supposed to do what (Paul Edinger's kick) did at the end and turn hard left. It started inside the right upright and turned right, and turned right and went what I thought was into the wind and hit the upright. It was one of those Lambeau kicks where if I guess wrong and hit it where I'm aiming....it's just one of those things."
(on whether he is still getting used to Lambeau Field's wind) "It is just kick to kick. You have to adjust kick to kick. We thought we had a pretty good feel for it. I hit it good, hit it solid, but if you guess wrong you guess wrong. I obviously guessed wrong on that one."
CENTER MIKE FLANAGAN:
(on the difference between this week and last week) "We just didn't make plays when we needed to. You have to give them credit. This is a tough one to swallow. They made plays on the ball when they needed to and we didn't. That's really what it comes down to. They got us."
(on Ahman Green's fumble) "Urlacher shot through the strong side of our power load, our bread and butter, and we didn't pick it up and he shot underneath. I don't know exactly without seeing the tape, but he basically came through unscathed. Plus, it would have been a walk to the endzone. We do that, they take it back the other way (and) that's a 14-point swing right there. It makes it tough to bounce back from."
(on whether it was a shock to lose to Chicago) "They should have won their game last week. Just because they are Chicago everyone wants to label them. Green Bay wasn't worth a damn for 20 years, but the 90s were pretty good. Just because they weren't good last year doesn't mean they're not good this year. (Coach) Lovie has them playing hard, and they played well."
TIGHT END BUBBA FRANKS:
(on the reason for the loss) "They just made more plays than we did. We didn't catch the ball when it needed to be caught, we turned the ball over here and there. Turnovers will hurt you. Last week they helped us because we didn't have any. (Carolina) did. Now we had turnovers and (Chicago) didn't have too many."
(on whether he is concerned about the offense) "Not at all, not at all. It's just a small stepping-stone and you are going to have them during the season and you just have to step over it. "
(on losing the home opener three of the last five years) "It is (frustrating). But does it matter? We still make it to the playoffs each year, so it doesn't matter. We still have our goal down the road and we can still accomplish it. It's one game, a bump in the road, but there's no need to jump off the bandwagon."
Packers-Bears Post-Game Notes
- Today's attendance was 70,688, a Lambeau Field regular-season record. The only larger crowd was 71,457 at the 2003 playoff game vs. Seattle.
- Brett Favre has thrown for a TD in 27 straight games, a franchise record, tying him with Chris Chandler and Peyton Manning for No. 4 on the longest all-time NFL streaks list. Johnny Unitas is No. 1 with 47 straight games.
- Favre has thrown for a TD in 25 consecutive Bears games, the best mark for the longest streak ever against an opponent. Coming into Sunday, he was tied with Dan Marino, who threw a touchdown in 24 consecutive games against the New York Jets.
- Favre has 3,999 career completions, moving him to the No. 3 spot in the NFL. He passed Warren Moon (3,988) and now needs 124 to surpass No. 2 John Elway (4,123).
- Favre's 9-yard run for a first down was his longest rushing attempt since Dec. 1, 2002, vs. Chicago.
- Ahman Green carried for 100-yards for the 26th time as a Packer, tying Jim Taylor's career record.
- Ryan Longwell, with his first two field-goal attempts, surpassed Chris Jacke (224) for No. 1 on the team's all-time field goal attempts list, finishing the game with 225 career attempts.
-Longwell now has 302 career PAT's, passing Chris Jacke for No. 1 in that category. He entered Sunday with 301.
- Darren Sharper's first quarter interception gave him 33 career interceptions, tying him with Irv Comp for No. 5 on the Packers' all-time career interceptions list. On the team's all-time list, needs one interception to surpass Comp, six to surpass No. 4 LeRoy Butler (38) and seven to surpass No. 3 Herb Adderley (39).
- Bears safety Mike Brown's 95-yard fumble return for a TD is the second-longest fumble return ever against the Packers. Jack Tatum (Oakland) recovered a fumble and returned it 104 yards vs. the Packers on Sept. 24, 1972.
-Tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher each made their 50th NFL start Sunday.
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Today's paid attendance was 70,688, a new Lambeau Field regular season record. Last year's attendance for the playoff game vs. Seattle was 71,457.
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End of game.
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Taking over at their own 35 yard line, the Packers drove deep into Bears territory, but were unable to find the end zone. The Bears took over on downs at the 25 yard line.
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The Packers' defense held the Bears to three plays and Chicago's 45-yard field goal attempt was no good.
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Late in the fourth quarter, Michael Hawthorne forced David Terrell to fumble and Nick Barnett recovered at the Packers' 47 yard line.
Brett Favre's pass intended for Bubba Franks was intercepted two plays later. The Bears took over at the Packers' 36 yard line.
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After the Bears picked up their first penalty of the game (false start on T John Tait), forcing a 3rd-and-14 at the Chicago 42 yard line, R-Kal Truluck forced and recovered Rex Grossman's fumble, returning the ball to Green Bay.
The play was challenged by Chicago and was overturned.
The Packers took over their own 20 yard line as Brad Maynard's punt sailed into the end zone.
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End of 3rd quarter.
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With the touchdown pass to Ferguson, Favre has now thrown touchdowns in 27 consecutive games, tying him for 4th in NFL history with Chris Chandler (ATL) and Peyton Manning (IND).
Against the Bears, Favre has thrown a touchdown in 25 consecutive games, surpassing Dan Marino (vs. Jets) for 1st in league history.
Also, Ryan Longwell's 302nd extra point put him in first all-time in Packers' history.
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The Packers answered Chicago's score as Brett Favre connected with Robert Ferguson for a 18-yard touchdown (1:46, 3rd quarter).
Favre completed 6-of-9 passes on the drive for 63 yards, while Ahman Green rushed for 24 yards.
Favre's earlier touchdown pass to Bubba Franks was called back as the tight end was flagged for offensive pass interference.
The Packers' scoring drive was 19 plays for 89 yards. Time of the drive was 9:45.
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The Bears scored on the opening drive of the second half as Thomas Jones punched it in from the 1 yard line (11:31, 3rd quarter).
The Bears converted a 3rd-and-1 as Jones ran for 54 yards to put the Bears inside Packers' territory.
Jones was responsible for yardage on every play of the drive, rushing for 72 yards and catching a 7 yard pass from Grossman.
The Bears' scoring drive was 6 plays for 79 yards. Time of the drive was 3:29.
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End of 2nd quarter.
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For Green, Sunday marked his 26th game with at least 100 yards rushing, tying him with Jim Taylor for first all-time in Packers' history.
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The Packers were unable to capitalize on the overturned play as Mike Brown returned Ahman Green's fumble 95 yards for a touchdown to extend the Bears' lead to 11(1:44, 2nd).
The Packers' drive started at the Bears 41 yard line following Antonio Chatman's 18 yard punt return.
Favre connected with William Henderson for a gain of 13 yards, while Ahman Green rushed for 26 yards before the fumble.
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The Packers, on 3rd-and-9, forced the Bears to punt as Mike McKenzie knocked away Rex Grossman's pass intended for Daryl Jones.
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On the ensuing drive, Mike Green intercepted Brett Favre's pass intended for Donald Driver inside the 5 yard line. Green returned the interception 41 yards to the 45.
The return was negated as the Packers challenged the ruling on the field. It was determined that Driver touched Green and he was down by contact. The Bears took over at their own 6 yard line.
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The Bears took the lead in the 2nd quarter when Rex Grossman connected with FB Bryan Johnson for an 11-yard touchdown (7:40, 2nd quarter).
The Bears converted plays of 19, 14, 13 and 11 yards on the drive.
Rex Grossman completed 2-of-3 passes for 25 yards on the drive. Thomas Jones rushed for 22 yards.
The Bears scoring drive was 7 plays for 65 yards. Time of the drive was 3:13.
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The Packers missed a chance to extend their lead to 6 as Ryan Longwell missed a 45-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
The Packers opened the quarter with a 44-yard pass from Brett Favre to Javon Walker to move into Bears territory before missing the field goal try. The reception was the longest offensive play for the Packers this year.
The attempt was Longwell's 225th as a Packer, and moves him into first all-time in team history.
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End of 1st quarter.
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With his 33rd interception as a Packer, Sharper is tied with Irv Comp for fifth all-time in the franchise's history.
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On 2nd-and-12 from the 29 yard line, Darren Sharper intercepted Rex Grossman's pass intended for Bobby Wade inside the Packers' five yard line.
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Ryan Longwell's points came on his 224th attempt as a Green Bay Packer, tying him with Chris Jacke for No. 1 all-time in the franchise's history.
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The Packers came away with three points on their opening drive of the game when Ryan Longwell connected on a 25-yard field goal attempt (9:02, 1st quarter).
The Packers converted on their first third down of the game as Brett Favre opened a hole with a lead block for running back Ahman Green for a gain of 25 yards.
Favre completed 3-of-3 passes for 11 yards on the drive. Green rushed 4 times for 35 yards.
The Packers scoring drive was 10 plays for 62 yards. Time of the drive was 5:58.
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The Packers have won the coin toss and have elected to receive.
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Temperature at kickoff is 74 degrees (sunny).
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The following Packers players are inactive for today's contest: Brad Bedell, Najeh Davenport, Grady Jackson, Steve Morley, Craig Nall, Kenny Peterson, B.J. Sander and Joey Thomas. |
