Packers Roll Past Seahawks
Ryan Grant, Brett Favre Lead Green Bay's 42-20 Thrashing of Seattle
Halfback Ryan Grant overcomes two early fumbles to rush for 201 yards, Brett Favre tosses three TD passes as Green Bay whips Seahawks in NFC playoffs.
Green Bay faced a 14-0 deficit four minutes into Saturday afternoon’s NFC Divisional playoff game against Seattle. No problem.
Brett Favre and the Packers overcame halfback Ryan Grant’s two fumbles on their first three plays from scrimmage in posting a 42-20 triumph against Seattle in the winter wonderland better known as Lambeau Field.
Green Bay had lost five of its last seven playoff contests, but the young Packers qualified for the NFC Championship showdown against the winner of the New York Giants-Dallas game, the first time they’ve advanced this far since back-to-back Super Bowl appearances after the 1996 and 1997 seasons.
Grant overcame his early miscues to ramble for 201 yards rushing and three touchdowns, both Green Bay playoff records. The Packers out-gained the NFC West champion Seahawks 408-200, including a dominating 235-28 on the ground.
The 8-point favorite Packers converted seven of 10 third downs and scored all six times they entered the red zone as Favre tied his personal postseason mark of three TD passes, two to Greg Jennings, and finished 18 of 23.
Packers’ right tackle Mark Tauscher negated Patrick Kerney, the NFC’s top sack master, and the Seahawks seldom sniffed Favre or even slowed him down. And Seattle’s speedy defense was gouged outside and inside in the wintry conditions.
Green Bay’s stunned faithful followers watched as the host NFC North winners responded to their early deficit. Favre went 5 for 5 and hit a 15-yard TD pass to Jennings, who scored 12 times in the regular season.
Green Bay then marched 64 yards in nine plays to tie it at 14 on Grant’s 1-yard burst over the left side. Grant carried five times for 49 yards on the drive, including 26- and 15-yard gains.
The Packers took advantage of Seattle’s first turnover and covered 18 yards in three plays as Favre and Jennings connected again on a 2-yard fade route to the right corner of the end zone to move ahead 21-14.
Seattle inched closer after a 15-yard roughing the punter penalty extended its drive and sloppy Packer tackling let the visitors travel 63 yards to set up Josh Brown’s 29-yard field goal to close to within 21-17.
Grant scored from 3 yards out one play after Favre pulled another magic act. The 38-year-old future Hall of Famer escaped pressure and a sack on third and 8 from the Seattle 14 to underhand a pass to tight end Donald Lee for a first down. They completed the 14-play, 70-yard jaunt as Green Bay tied a team playoff record with 28 points in a half.
Seattle went three plays and out to start the second half and Favre completed passes of 24 yards to Jennings and 13 yards to backup running back Brandon Jackson for a TD to make it 35-17.
Seattle responded with a 27-yard field goal to make it 35-20, but Grant ripped off a 43-yard burst down the left sideline on a third-and-four call to ignite a seven-play, 65-yard march that spanned the late and early fourth quarters, pushing Green Bay’s margin to 42-20, which established a Packer postseason record in points.
Seattle lost its eighth straight playoff road outing since 1983 despite capitalizing on Green Bay’s early turnovers.
Seattle started with a first and goal at the Green Bay 1 after Grant’s first fumble on a swing pass. Shaun Alexander scored on the next play en route to a 7-0 lead.
Grant’s second miscue set the Seahawks up at the Green Bay 49. Seattle made it 14-0 after Matt Hasselbeck’s 11-yard pass under the goal post to Bobby Engram.
