Green Bay Outlast Niners on the Frozen Tundra

Packers 37  San Francisco 17:

Brett Favre celebrates a 67-
yard TD strike to WR Sterling
Sharpe.

Green Bay, WI. - The Niners and Packers faced off on a cold snowy day at Lambeau field today in the second round of the NFC playoffs. After holding the Pack to three and out on their first possession, Young leads the Niners on a 74 yard 11 play drive to give San Francisco a 7-0 lead. After Brett Favre fumbles the snap on the first play of their next possession, SF turns it into three points for an early 10-0 lead. The play of the game may have been on 3rd and 3 from the Packer 15 when the Packers were waiting for Steve Young on a draw play up the middle.  

Sterling Sharpe who had been a big play man all season puts the Packers on the board on a 67 yard pass from Brett Favre. Sharpe who caught the ball at the 40 broke a tackle and took the ball to the house to the delight of a sold out crowd at Lambeau Field.  When Jerry Rice fumbled three plays later and the Packers recovered at the Niner 25 the crowd erupted once more. Three plays later Edgar Bennent scored from 10 yards out to give the Pack a 14-10 lead. The Niners were clearly rattled as Dexter Carter fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Moments later Chris Jacke gave Green Bay a seven point lead.

The Niners got rolling again driving to the Packer 35 before facing a 4th and 5. Instead of opting for a field goal, the Niners went for it. Young's pass to Rickey Watters was complete but he was brought down by Johnny Holland short of the first down and Green Bay took over.  A 15 yard pass to Bennett was followed two plays later by a 32 yard pass from Favre to Sharpe giving the gave the Packers the ball deep in Niner territory. SF held and Chris Jacke added another field goal to give GB a 20-10 lead.

In the second half a Steve Young pass for Watters was picked off by Wayne Simmons who returned it to the Niner 38. Six plays later Bennett scored his second TD of the game to give the Pack a commanding 27-10 lead.  The Niners responded with a TD of their own to cut the score to 27-17 but their onside kick failed giving Green Bay the ball in San Francisco territory. Minutes later Chris Jacke added his third FG of the day to give the Packers a 30-17 lead. SF rallied once more but on 4th and goal from the 3, Young's pass to Waters fell incomplete.  Minutes later  Terrell Buckley, T-Buck to his teammates, intercepted a Young pass and dashed 64 yards down the sidelines into the end zone and into the stands for a 37-17 win. Buckley was so excited when he scored he kept running through the end zone and into the stands. The press was quick to jump on his actions calling it a Lambeau Leap. 

The Niners outgained the Pack 350 yards to 257 but were minus three in turnovers and 4-7 on fourth down.

Green Bay faces the winner of the Cowboys and Giants game tomorrow.