NFL Playoff Recap (Tampa Bay-Green Bay)
Posted: Sun January 4, 1998 at 6:21 p.m. EST
GREEN BAY 21, TAMPA BAY 7
Dorsey
Levens rushed for a club playoff record 112 yards and a touchdown and
the Green Bay Packers
continued their dominance at Lambeau Field with a 21-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in an NFC divisional playoff game.
The Packers (14-3) have never lost a home playoff game at 12-0,
including 10 wins at Lambeau, and will meet the San Francisco 49ers (14-3)
in the NFC Championship Game next Sunday at San Francisco. It marks the
third straight year Green Bay has reached the NFC title game. The Packers
have eliminated the 49ers from the playoffs each of the last two years.
"It's a great opportunity," said Packers coach Mike Holmgren, who
improved his postseason record to 8-3. "We know San Francisco pretty well."
Green Bay also extended its Lambeau winning streak to 27 games,
including four playoff contests.
"It was a dogfight all the way," said Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
"Tampa Bay's defense is one of the best. I don't think San Francisco's
defense is any better."
Favre hit tight end Mark Chmura with a
three-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and Ryan Longwell
kicked field goals of 21 and 32 yards in the second quarter to stake Green
Bay to a 13-0 halftime lead.
Levens took over in the second half, rushing for 88 yards on 17
carries after being held to 24 yards on eight carries in the first half.
"To be a big-time back you have to have a big game in big games," said
Levens. "I think I did that today. I seem to run better when I'm tired.
I'm more patient and I get my reads better."
A six-yard run by fullback Mike Alstott with
6:17 left in the third quarter capped an eight-play, 94-yard drive and
pulled Tampa Bay within 13-7.
But Levens scored on a two-yard run and Favre ran for the two-point
conversion with 13:37 left in the fourth quarter to increase Green Bay's
lead to 21-7.
Favre completed 15-of-28 passes for 190 yards with two interceptions,
both by cornerback Donnie Abraham.
Antonio
Freeman had four catches for 75 yards.
Tampa Bay's Trent Dilfer
completed just 11-of-36 passes for 200 yards with two interceptions. The
Packers held Tampa Bay's Pro Bowl backfield of Warrick Dunn and
Alstott to 85 yards on 25 carries.
"Tony Dungy did a great job with that club, they remind me a little
bit of us coming up two years ago," said Holmgren.
The odds were heavily stacked against the Buccaneers (11-7). Along
with trying to tackle the Lambeau mystique, the Bucs had to contend with
the cold weather factor.
Temperature at kickoff was 29 degrees which spelled impending doom for
Tampa Bay. Favre entered with a 22-0 record at home when the game-time
temperature dips below 35 degrees. Meanwhile, the Bucs were 0-16 when
temperature at kickoff is below 40.
But the Bucs managed to hang in there despite squandering three field
goal opportunities and committing two turnovers in the first half. Michael Husted
had a 43-yard field goal attempt blocked by Green Bay's Bob Kuberski with
9:05 left in the first quarter. The Bucs failed on a fake field goal and
flubbed another field goal attempt due to a bad snap in the second quarter.
It appeared the Packers were ready to apply the knockout punch on
their first possession of the second half. After reaching the Tampa Bay
25, Favre had his arm hit by safety John Lynch on a pass
intended for Robert Brooks and
Abraham intercepted the ball at the Tampa Bay 6.
The Bucs then marched 94 yards in eight plays. On a 3rd-and-11 from
the Tampa Bay 5, Dilfer hit Reidel Anthony
with a 52-yard pass to the Green Bay 43. After two running plays by Alstott
netted seven yards, Dilfer connected with tight end Dave Moore on a
28-yard play to the Green Bay 8. One play later, Alstott raced around left
end for a six-yard touchdown with 6:37 left in the third quarter.
"It was great blocking by the line," said Alstott of the touchdown.
"Trent gave me the ball and I basically walked into the end zone."
The Packers bridged the third and fourth quarter with a nine-play,
54-yard scoring drive which featured two third down conversions to seal the
win.
At midfield on a 3rd-and-6, Levens caught a short pass and broke three
tackles for a 13-yard gain to the Tampa Bay 37. Following an eight-yard
sack by defensive tackle Warren Sapp and an
incompletion, the Packers were faced with a 3rd-and-18. Favre rifled a
23-yard pass up the middle to Derrick Mayes,
who made a juggling catch and prevented the ball from hitting the ground
with his feet at the Tampa Bay 22.
"I thought the turning point was that 3rd and 18 when we couldn't get
a stop there," said Bucs coach Tony Dungy. "They made a great play there."
Levens ran for 15 and five yards on the next two plays before scoring
on a two-yard run with 13:37 left. Following a timeout, Favre raced up the
middle for the two-point conversion.
"As the game progressed, he (Levens) wanted the ball more and that's
what you want to see," said Favre.
Favre was 4-of-5 for 60 yards in Green Bay's 67-yard scoring drive in
the first quarter. He hit Chmura with a 17-yard pass and connected with
Freeman on a 26-yard play. On a 3rd-and-9 at the Tampa Bay 17, he drilled
a 14-yard pass to Mayes to keep the drive alive. On the next play, Favre
rolled right and hit Chmura in the end zone with a three-yard touchdown.
A 28-yard punt return by Brooks set up the Packers at the Tampa Bay 29
on their second scoring drive. Brooks then caught a 21-yard pass from Favre
all the way to the Tampa Bay 8. But on a 3rd-and-goal from the 2, fullback
William
Henderson dropped a pass in the end zone. Longwell followed with a
21-yard field goal with 1:52 left in the second quarter.
On Tampa Bay's next play from scrimmage, a pass by Dilfer deflected
off the hands of receiver Robb Thomas and was
intercepted by Tyrone
Williams, who returned it 14 yards to the Bucs 27. But the Bucs
defense held and the Packers settled for a 32-yard field goal by Longwell
with two seconds left in the half.
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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