NFL Recap (Green Bay-Chicago)
Posted: Sun December 27, 1998 at 7:32 p.m. EST
GREEN BAY 16, CHICAGO 13
CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Ryan Longwell booted an
18-yard field goal with 9:49 remaining as the banged-up Green Bay Packers
overcame a sluggish performance to defeat the Chicago Bears, 16-13 in
their final tuneup for the playoffs.
Longwell's kick, which came after Green Bay failed to score on two
attempts from inside the 1, gave the Packers (11-5) their 10th straight win
over the Bears, the longest winning streak one team has held over the other
in the storied rivalry.
Green Bay will face the San Francisco 49ers in the
wild card round of the playoffs next weekend at 3Com Park. The Packers, who
would have hosted the game if San Francisco lost to St. Louis, have bounced
the 49ers from the playoffs each of the last three years.
The Packers responded after getting a tongue lashing from coach Mike
Holmgren at halftime.
"He can rant and rave all he wants, but unless we get it in our thick
heads to go out and play, we won't play," said Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre. "It's amazing
when you got guys in their 20s and 30s and you've still got to treat them
like kids sometimes. I'm no different than the rest of the guys."
Green Bay heads into the playoffs riding a three-game winning streak,
but the two-time defending NFC champions will not be the favorites.
"It will be a little unusual since we our underdogs this time, but we
have nothing to lose," added Favre. "I don't think anyone's really giving
as a chance. I've heard that the only team that can beat Minnesota or has a
chance is us."
The Bears had a chance to force overtime in the final minutes after
linebacker Lemanski
Hall recovered quarterback Doug Pederson's fumble at
the Chicago 48 with 2:45 left. But safety LeRoy Butler preserved the
win by sacking Steve
Stenstrom and recovering a fumble at the Green Bay 49 with 54 seconds
remaining.
In a 26-20 win over the Bears two weeks ago at Lambeau Field, the
Packers sacked Stenstrom three times in the final minute.
"We didn't function as well as I would have liked today, but we won
the football game and that's what I hoped for going into the playoffs,"
said Holmgren.
While Green Bay will be rooting for St. Louis, the Packers' main
concern is getting healthy as they played without four regulars.
Favre was without wide receiver Robert Brooks and tight
end Mark Chmura, while
the defense was missing rookie end Vonnie Holliday and
cornerback Craig
Newsome.
"We knew this was going to be a tough game," said Favre. "We wanted to
win it and we did everthing we possibly could to win it. We're 11-5, which
isn't too shabby."
The Packers were badly outplayed in the first half, collecting their
only points on defensive end Keith McKenzie's 28-yard
interception return with 7:57 remaining in the first quarter.
Defensive end Reggie
White, possibly playing the final regular-season game of his Hall of
Fame career, deflected a pass into the hands of McKenzie, who returned it
the distance for his second touchdown of the season and a 7-0 Green Bay
lead.
"I want the people to expect me to make plays and I want the offenses
to expect me to be back there causing havoc," said McKenzie. "Reggie made a
big play."
Chicago outgained the Packers, 212-74 in the first half, but could
manage only a 10-7 halftime lead. Linebacker Andre Collins' 28-yard
interception return set up Stenstrom's 14-yard TD pass to running back James Allen with 38
seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Stenstrom completed 17-of-30 for 199 yards with two interceptions and
Allen added 60 yards on 22 carries for the Bears, who completed
back-to-back 4-12 seasons.
"This has been a classic what-if season and I think there's a
tremendous nucleous of talent here," said Stenstrom. "A couple plays here
and there and we're an 8-8 team, possibly making a run for the playoffs."
The Bears took the lead on Jeff Jaeger's 29-yard field
goal with 3:54 left in the second period before Jaeger and Longwell each
missed kicks in the final minute of the half.
"I was very proud of how these guys battled today and left it on the
field," said Chicago coach Dave Wannstedt, who may have coached his final
game with the Bears.
Favre ignited the offense in the second half as the Packers drove 71
yards on 12 plays on their first possession, taking a 13-10 lead on his
eight-yard TD pass to Antonio Freeman with 8:19
remaining in the third quarter.
But Longwell missed the extra point and safety Tony Parrish's eight-yard
interception return to the Green Bay 28 set up Jaeger's game-tying 21-yard
field goal with 2:29 left in the third period.
Green Bay put together a 12-play, 74-yard drive on its next possession
that consumed nearly eight minutes as Dorsey Levens' five-yard run gave the
Packers a first-and-goal at the 4. But after Darick Holmes picked up
three yards, Levens was twice stopped for no gain. Green Bay coach Mike
Holmgren took no chances, sending out Longwell to break the tie.
The Packers, outgaining the Bears 165-69 in the second half, appeared
to clinch the victory when the Bears failed to convert a first down on a
faked punt. Green Bay took over at the Bears 41 after Mike Horan's pass
sailed over the head of Ryan Wetnight, who slipped
at the Green Bay 48.
But the Packers gave the Bears one more opportunity when Pederson, who
took over for Favre with 8:37 remaining, fumbled a handoff two plays later.
Favre completed 16-of-22 passes for 153 yards in 3 1/2 quarters and
passed Terry Bradshaw with his 213th career TD pass, moving into 18th place
on the all-time list.
Levens rushed for 52 yards on 17 carries, while Freeman caught seven
passes for 65 yards and finished the season as the NFL's leader in
receiving yardage with 1,424.
Wannstedt completed his sixth season in Chicago with a 41-57 record,
but the players aren't ready to give up on him.
"The players respect him," said linebacker Barry Minter. "The players
still belief in him and in his staff."
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
|
