Senior Writer
SUMMARY: Q Favre's interception leads to a field goal in 23-20 OT upset playoff loss to the "underdog" Giants. A narrative summary of the final playoff game's news highlights, report cards, commentary & previews.
National views:
ESPN--Manning, Giants head to Super Bowl for rematch with Pats: Aside from the 90-yarder to Driver, the Packers were held to 146 yards passing by a secondary criticized for being leaky, and to 28 yards rushing. They were 1-for-10 on third downs a week after blitzing Seattle in the snow. Defensively, Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo held back on his tendency to bring the blitz and relied on his base four-man rush, which allowed the linebackers to settle into the mid-range zone. This limited Brett Favre's ability to hit his receivers on the short crossing patterns that allow them to advance the ball after the catch.
Sportsline--Giants Take NFC by Stunning Pack in OT: "Next time Favre has the ball in overtime in the playoffs, someone tell him not to throw deep to his right. That Webster interception was reminiscent of a Dawkins overtime pickoff in the 2003 playoffs when Favre was throwing for Walker. Both were Favre's first -- and only -- passes in OT."
Sporting News--Packers running game missing. Lambeau not kind of late to Packers.
FOX--Packers, Favre fall short. Brett Favre and Green Bay could not overcome the feisty Giants as they lost 23-20 in overtime. Hear [video highlights] from the veteran QB after losing the NFC Championship. But don't blame the Big Blue for ruining the fun. That's because the Packers — and Favre in particular — blew it.
Packernation views:
Packers: Giants Win 23-20: "Too bad it had to end this way. This was not the Packers' best game."
Missed chances haunt Packers: There were many reasons why the Packers lost: Favre, Harris' inability to slow Burress, no running game, failure to stop the run, struggling to convert third downs while being unable to stop the Giants on third down, etc. "I think every player in this locker room is thinking I could have done this better, I could have done that better,” Bush said. “You still make mistakes. But you’ve got to keep your head high and keep moving. “If you keep it in you, it will eat you alive. You’ve got to forget about it and move on with your life and try to get better. What else can we do?”
Giants 23, Packers 20, OT--Ice Picked, Favre's Interceptions in Overtime Leads to Giant Upset: "All the plans and the hopes we had are out the window," general manager Ted Thompson said. "It's a shame. I certainly didn't think we played our best, and the Giants played very well."
Loss a chilling end to season: Players stunned into silence. We definitely let one get away tonight," said linebacker A.J. Hawk. "But we don't feel like our best times are behind us. We feel like this team can definitely move forward. This won't be our last time here in this situation." "I mean, it's not life or death, I keep it in perspective that way," said Kampman.
Defense force crumbles: Against Giants, balance is not squad's strength. All season the Green Bay Packers talked about how their defense was effective, because they could pressure the quarterback and cover anybody in the secondary with lockdown corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson. The Packers' failure on both fronts in the NFC Championship Game is a big reason the New York Giants advanced to Super Bowl XLII on Sunday with a 23-20 overtime victory. "We couldn't make the plays when we needed to," said tackle Cullen Jenkins.
Giants boot Packers in OT 23-20. The Green Bay Packers' dream season, set up so well for a return to the Super Bowl, ended with a major thud Sunday night. They had so much going in their favor for their NFC championship battle with the New York Giants: The home-field advantage, an arctic Wisconsin winter night and nearly pristine health. But the Packers, 7½-point favorites over the plucky underdog from out east, were done in by a poor second half, when both sides of the ball faltered at critical times. Their unexpectedly magnificent season ended with a whimper when Giants kicker Tynes redeemed himself with a 47-yard field goal in overtime that won the game, 23-20, and choked the life out of the Lambeau Field crowd....The Packers lost for a number of reasons, beginning with their inability to get a handle on the Giants' offense, and their failure to run the ball with any kind of effectiveness, thus turning loose a Giants pass rush that's the strength of that team.
Favre Views:
Against Giants Breaks Don’t Go Favre’s Way: "The ending felt all wrong. In this season, when almost everything went right for the Green Bay Packers and their quarterback, Favre expected victory right up until the very moment that he lost."
Cold facts jar disappointed Favre. Superb season dampened by tough defeat: Immediately after it was over, Favre was asked about his future, whether the disappointment of this loss would affect his decision whether to return. Favre admitted taking the loss hard but didn't seem like someone ready to give it up. "Had we won this game and gone to the Super Bowl and whatever happens in that game when it was over, I was going to go home and think about where I wanted to go from there," Favre said. "I don't think that's going to really change because we didn't make it. It's been a great year. "I'm very disappointed. I'm not going to rush to any quick decisions. It will probably be quicker than it has been in the past. I'm not going to let this game sway my decision on way or the other."
Favre Full of Regret, Indecision After Fateful Interception: But even had Favre's final pass not been intercepted, the Packers knew they didn't play nearly as well as they had for most of the season. For one thing, they controlled the ball for just 22:34 compared to the Giants' 40:01. Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy could only shake his head. "Forty minutes," he said, "is a long time … You've got to generate first downs." For another thing, the Packers converted just one of 10 third-down opportunities. "Three-and-outs," Favre said, "that'll kill you."
Unbelievable Favre Can't Save The Day for Ice Cold Pack: The 13-3 Packers crashed, 23-20, no magic left from old magician at the bitter, cold end of maybe his most magical season of all.
It Was a Very Cold Ending for Favre: Up until the final moments of an overtime loss, the legendary quarterback thought the Packers were the team of destiny.
Bitter Pill for Favre, Packers to Swallow: Favre will have a hard time getting over this one. His team had the frigid weather it wanted, the homefield advantage it coveted and the belief that this was going to be its year. Then, with one ill-advised pass that floated into the hands of Giants cornerback Webster in overtime of the Packers' 23-20 loss in the NFC Championship Game, the dream was over. All the good vibes that had blossomed this season seeped out of Lambeau Field at that moment.
Favre's performance: ...All but 73 of his passing yards came in the first half. The final 30-plus minutes were forgettable. Both of his interceptions late in the game were vintage Favre from previous seasons, putting downfield throws up for grabs. The back-breaker on the second play of overtime was all on Favre, who had time to set his feet in the pocket but failed to drive the ball through the crisp air to the outside of Driver along the sideline, which allowed Webster to redeem himself by jumping the inside pass to get the Giants in position for the game-winning field goal [by the way, RB Grant was wide open on the play]. Favre, who didn't hesitate in unloading one pass into triple coverage, should have had at least two more throws picked off.
Kiln's Favre: "On this night, though, there is no more magic. When the New York Giants end the dream in overtime, after the curses fade into the night, Stevie manages a bitter laugh. Near the bar, Ginger turns to Greg. There's no point staying. The feeling is gone. Over behind the bar, their friend Dave speaks up. On the screen, Eli Manning is celebrating. There is no sign of Favre. The fires in the parking lot burn low, flames turning to smoldering embers. Diesel engines rumble as the people clear out. In Green Bay, Favre says he's not sure if he'll ever play again. In Kiln, there's an old man named Burl who thinks about the game, and about all the love they've given Favre, and all the joy he has given them in return."
Packer Report Cards [Packersnews.com] [Rockford Register Star] [USA Today]:
Rushing Offense: F D- D-; Passing Offense: D C C-; Rushing Defense: D C- C-; Passing Defense: C D D-; Special Teams: C C- D; Coaching: C C- F.
Bonus: Sports Exchange Grades--Coaching F.
The Good, Bad & Ugly: Good--Driver, Pickett, & Tauscher; Bad--Favre, McCarthy, & Sanders [old story]; Ugly--Bush.
COMMENTARY: The Packers blew it! USA Today summed it up:
"Head coach Mike McCarthy had his worst game of an otherwise brilliant season as the offensive play-caller. To have a disinterested Favre attempt to throw the football nearly two-thirds of the time on a brutally cold night made no sense. McCarthy abandoned the run by the third quarter in a hotly contested game. The extension of the run game in the passing attack utilizing quick slants, which worked wonderfully throughout the season, was conspicuously absent against an injury-plagued secondary. The lopsided time of possession in favor of the Giants (40:01 to 22:34) was underscored by two straight three-and-outs late in the fourth quarter, at a time when pounding away with Grant might have been the impetus for a substantial, game-winning drive at the end. Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders inexplicably waited until late in the game to try to turn up the pressure on Manning. All in all, a team supposedly destined to advance to the Super Bowl didn't bother showing up for a home game that was Green Bay's for the taking, never mind the unbearable conditions."
As Scout said: "Golden Opportunity Wasted." As Sydney said, "Enough Blame To Go Around." In recent Packers playoff history, the game is a deja vu predictable lesson about the final critical keys to building a winning playoff team. One foresaw the final overtime act when the predictable scenario played out reaching the bitter loss. While the team faith is important, the psychological will to endure the neverending challenges along the tough path to your destiny is equally important in the matrix. It is a hard lesson in the offseason to remind the Packer nation that a supreme armoured performance is always the best way against a "motivated underdog" team hyped by the "hot air" of the eastern sports media elite. Lombardi knew better! He would have never ever lost this game, allowing himself to be outcoached & outplayed & coming up short to the inevitable "not enough" scenario.
PREVIEW: It's about time for us to move on. In the coming weeks, end-of-the season reviews, postseason acquisitions and draft previews to upgrade & solidify the team for a dynasty run continuing in 2008.
Favre's future: Green Bay legend Favre deserves better ending--"But if the competitive fire still burns within — and the aches within are easy enough to handle — Favre belongs in green and gold in 2008." Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy met with Brett Favre and plans to be in regular contact with the veteran quarterback until he's reached a decision about playing next season. "I had a chance to talk to Brett for quite some time," McCarthy said....We really as far as how to handle the decision, (it will be) very similar to last year. Take a couple weeks, take the emotion out of everything that's going on, positive and negative, and make the best decision that's in the best interest of him and his family. "We talked about all the reasons why to come back and some of the reasons why he wouldn't come back. We ran through that gauntlet. He's always been very open and forthcoming with how he feels about every situation. I told him I'd call him or he'd call me in the next seven or 10 days. That's really how we did it the last two years. We'll talk probably every seven to 10 days and see where he is."
Team needs: "...A young pass-catcher at tight end or look towards the future at offensive tackle in the early rounds of the draft. In their biggest game of the season, the Packers' front seven was not able to contain the Giants' running attack, so a [second reliable] space-eater [and/or maybe a reliable 2nd DE pass rusher] should be sought as well. A down-the-line consideration is finding adequate replacements for All-Pro cornerbacks."
