Longwell boots the Packers to the Super Bowl!
What a game! In a game of twists and turns and ups and downs, the Green Bay Packers’ rookie kicker Ryan Longwell booted a 40-yard walk-off field goal to send the Green Bay Packers to Super Bowl XXXII with a win over the San Francisco 49ers, 26-23, in front of a hysterical Lambeau Field crowd.
Despite the drama of the Ice Bowl, this game could very well go down as the greatest game in Lambeau Field history. Brett Favre vs. Steve Young…two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks and they didn’t disappoint.
The euphoric Packer fans nearly had their hearts broken as time wound down in the 4th quarter. With the game tied at 23, the 49ers were on a drive that seemed as if they were going to win this classic duo on the Frozen Tundra. He drove the ball down the field with completions to Terry Kirby, Terrell Owens and a big-time catch by Iheanyi Uwaezuoke that put the 49ers on the Packers 25-yard line with 2:15 to go. That’s where it all fell apart for the 49ers.
49er head coach Steve Mariucci thought he had 49ers in field goal range. He ran William Floyd, who was stuffed at the line of scrimmage by the Packer front. Then Garrison Hearst tried outside but was stuffed for a 2-yard loss. At 3rd and 12, many would have thought that Mariucci would just run the ball and set up a field goal for kicker Gary Anderson to win the game. Instead, Mariucci gambled. He wanted to give the 49er kicker a better opportunity than a 44-yarder, so he called a pass play. What happened? The greatest defensive end in NFL history is what happened! Reggie White sacked Steve Young at the Packer 36-yard line. Instead of a 44-yarder, Anderson now had to attempt a 53-yarder.
With the wind blowing across the Frozen Tundra, Anderson didn’t get a chance to boot the 49ers to the Super Bowl. On the snap, the holder fumbled the football! There was a chaotic scramble for the football and DT Santana Dotson came up with the football for his third fumble recovery of the game! The Packers took over at their 43-yard line to a ruckus Lambeau Field crowd!
Favre didn’t waste this opportunity. He had a minute to go with no time outs. On his first play, he hit Bill Schroeder, who went out of bounds for a six-yard gain. On the next play, Favre rifled a shot to Antonio Freeman for 15 yards to the 49er 36-yard line. The Packers hurried up and Favre spiked the football to stop the clock. On second down, Favre dropped back and connected with his roommate and best friend TE Mark Chmura to the 49er 23-yard line and a 13-yard gain. Favre waited for the clock to wind down and then he spiked the football with just 4 seconds remaining.
With all of Packer Nation holding its collective breath, Longwell sent the ball through the uprights and the Packers are on their way to Super Bowl XXXII to defend their Super Bowl Championship.
In the battle of QBs, Favre finished the game 21 of 37 for 295 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. Young finished 22 of 32 for 254 yards and a TD.
The Packers will now await the AFC Championship game to find out their opponent for Super Bowl 32. Denver travels to Kansas City to have a showdown in Arrowhead Stadium.
Excellent game!