Records & History - NFL.com

1996 NFC Divisional Playoff, continuedSan Francisco . . . . 0 7 7 0 — 14Packers . . . . . . . . . 14 7 7 7 — 35GB — Howard 71 punt return (Jacke kick)GB — Rison 4 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)GB — Bennett 2 run (Jacke kick)SF — Kirby 8 pass from Grbac (Wilkins kick)SF — Grbac 4 run (Wilkins kick)GB — Freeman fumble recovery in end zone (Jacke kick)GB — Bennett 11 run (Jacke kick)PACKERS 30, CAROLINA 131996 NFC ChampionshipJan. 12, 1997, at Lambeau Field, Green BayThe Packers overcame two early deficitsto defeat upstart Carolina and earn a berth totheir first Super Bowl in 29 years, largely onthe strength of Dorsey Levens’ 205 yards ofoffense. It was the first title game in GreenBay since the legendary 1967 “Ice Bowl.”Not quite 10 minutes into the game,linebacker Sam Mills intercepted Brett Favredeep in Green Bay territory, setting up Kerry Collins’ 3-yard TD tossto Howard Griffith.On the first snap of the second quarter, Levens evened thescore, out-jumping Carolina’s Eric Davis at the right edge of the endzone on a 29-yard touchdown reception. The previous play, Levenshad rushed for 35 yards on third-and-1.Carolina converted a Favre fumble, near midfield, into a fieldgoal, but the Packers stormed back with 10 points in the finalminute of the first half. Favre connected with Antonio Freeman for atouchdown on a 6-yard fade with 48 seconds remaining, capping a15-play, 71-yard drive. When the Panthers then attempted to movedownfield, rookie Tyrone Williams made a diving interception at thePackers’ 38, which Chris Jacke turned into a 31-yard field goal 10seconds before halftime.Late in the third quarter, Edgar Bennett strolled untouchedthrough the middle on a 4-yard touchdown, giving Green Bay a27-13 lead. Levens set up the score on the previous play, going 66yards down the right sideline on a perfectly executed screen.Green Bay put up 479 net yards, a then-team playoff record. Itchurned out 201 rushing yards (99 on Bennett’s 25 carries, 88 ononly 10 attempts by Levens). Levens also made five receptions for117 yards, and Favre completed 19 of 29 for 292 yards.While the weather certainly was cold – 3 degrees with a minus-17 wind chill – the storyline before the game was the field, ravagedagainst San Francisco the previous week, when rainy conditionsturned it into a mud pit. The Packers installed an all-new surfacedays prior to the game, with sod trucked in from Maryland on morethan two dozen semis.The George S. Halas Trophy, symbolic of the National FootballConference Championship, was presented to President Bob Harlan,General Manager Ron Wolf and Head Coach Mike Holmgren in anon-field ceremony following the game.Carolina . . . . . . . . . . 7 3 3 0 — 13Packers . . . . . . . . . . 0 17 10 3 — 30Car — Griffith 3 pass from Collins (Kasay kick)GB — Levens 29 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)Car — FG Kasay 22GB — Freeman 6 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)GB — FG Jacke 31GB — FG Jacke 32Car — FG Kasay 23GB — Bennett 4 run (Jacke kick)GB — FG Jacke 28PACKERS 21, TAMPA BAY 71997 NFC Divisional PlayoffJan. 4, 1998, at Lambeau Field, Green BayIn a hard-fought, defensive struggle –much like their two earlier meetings duringthe regular season – the Packers’ offensivesuperiority overwhelmed the Bucs on a grayday. Dorsey Levens’ (then) team playoffrecord112 rushing yards helped Green Baymaintain control.The Packers foiled three first-half fieldgoalopportunties. On the first, Bob Kuberski surged up the middleto block Michael Husted’s 43-yard attempt. On the second, KeithMcKenzie stuffed Tampa Bay’s fake field goal for no gain. Then, onthe third, Bucs long snapper Dave Moore sailed the ball over holderSteve Walsh’s head.After Kuberski’s block, Brett Favre moved 67 yards for theteam’s first score, a touchdown pass to Mark Chmura. Rookie RyanLongwell then hit two field goals, the second set up by a TyroneWilliams interception in Bucs territory.Tampa Bay, making its first playoff appearance in 15 years, gotits only points after intercepting Favre and driving 94 yards for aMike Alstott touchdown. But the Packers kept the Bucs at arm’slength, when Levens, who had 88 yards after halftime, punched in ashort touchdown run early in the fourth quarter and Favre converteda two-point conversion on a quarterback draw.Warren Sapp forced two fumbles and sacked Favre three times.The two combatants openly jawed throughout the contest in anintriguing sideshow.Tampa Bay . . . . . . . 0 0 7 0 — 7Packers . . . . . . . . . . 7 6 0 8 — 21GB — Chmura 3 pass from Favre (Longwell kick)GB — FG Longwell 21GB — FG Longwell 32TB — Alstott 6 run (Husted kick)GB — Levens 2 run (Favre run)COMMUNITYPACKERS NFL TITLE GAMES & PLAYOFFSADMIN. &COACHESDRAFT &VETERANS FREE AGENTS 2012 REVIEWPACKERS HOME PLAYOFF WEATHER, BY TEMPERATUREGreen Bay …Date Opponent Game Result Kickoff ConditionsDec. 31, 1967 Dallas Cowboys NFL Championship Game W, 21-17 -13° -46° wind chillJan. 20, 2008 New York Giants NFC Championship Game L, 20-23 (ot) -1° -23° wind chillJan. 12, 1997 Carolina Panthers NFC Championship Game W, 30-13 3° -17° wind chillJan. 8, 1983 St. Louis Cardinals Super Bowl Tourn., First Round W, 41-16 20°Jan. 4, 2004 Seattle Seahawks NFC Wild Card Playoff W, 33-27 (ot) 20° 7° wind chillDec. 31, 1961 New York Giants NFL Championship Game W, 37-0 21° 5° wind chillJan. 9, 2005 Minnesota Vikings NFC Wild Card Playoff L, 17-31 26°Jan. 4, 1998 Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC Divisional Playoff W, 21-7 28° patchy, freezing drizzleJan. 13, 2002 San Francisco 49ers NFC Wild Card Playoff W, 25-15 28°Jan. 5, 2013 Minnesota Vikings NFC Wild Card Playoff W, 24-10 29°Dec. 31, 1995 Atlanta Falcons NFC Wild Card Playoff W, 37-20 30° light fogJan. 4, 2003 Atlanta Falcons NFC Wild Card Playoff L, 7-27 31° light snow throughout gameJan. 12, 2008 Seattle Seahawks NFC Divisional Playoff W, 42-20 31° heavy snow throughout gameJan. 15, 2012 New York Giants NFC Divisional Playoff L, 20-37 31°Dec. 26, 1965 Baltimore Colts NFL Western Conf. Playoff W, 13-10 (ot) 32°Jan. 2, 1966 Cleveland Browns NFL Championship Game W, 23-12 33° 3.5 in. snow removed pregameDec. 31, 1994 Detroit Lions NFC Wild Card Playoff W, 16-12 33°Jan. 4, 1997 San Francisco 49ers NFC Divisional Playoff W, 35-14 34° rain throughout gamePLAYOFFHISTORYLAMBEAUFIELD MISC.Milwaukee …Dec. 23, 1967 Los Angeles Rams NFL Western Conf. Playoff W, 28-7 20° 0° wind chillDec. 10, 1939 New York Giants NFL Championship Game W, 27-0 46° 34 mph winds, 21° wind chill477