1992 NFL Green Bay vs Houston, Dec 13

mm one has come to see a pair of teams fighting for the playoffs the Green Bay Packers and then Houston Oilers [Applause] one two three four I think they get an understanding of what type player they're going up against a guy who you know for three or four seconds is their guy you really don't want to fake he's a great competitor for starters he really has a great field presence he understands the game he doesn't get rattled he keeps his cool never gonna give up and the guys they feed off that I'll do anything it takes to win and to me that's - that's the biggest asset you can [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] today's upsets event a tremendous drama to the playoff picture Green Bank enclosed to within a game of the Vikings in the NFC Central will the win tonight and they play Minnesota in the final game of the year even if they don't win the division they have wild card hopes in the AFC Central the Oilers are almost in as a wild-card but now they have a shot at the division if the Steelers do the unthinkable and lose their last two if it ends at a tie Pittsburgh has the tiebreaker good evening everybody Mike Patrick and Joe Theismann with you from the Astrodome rookie head coach Mike Holdren has done one of the best coaching jobs to the NFL after a two and five start the Packers have won five of their last six including four in a row and Joe for the first time since 1982 they have a shot at the playoffs Mike you know the big reason for the resurgence has been largely because of the play of two guys one a bona fide star and the other an emerging star Sterling Sharpe his average 70 catches a year over the last four seasons and his 88 this year have him on a pace to break art monks 106 he truly is Green Bay's big play guy that he really makes things happen once he gets his hands on the ball he's a total package big strong top and fast enough now Brett Favre is the fourth rated quarterback in the league but the numbers don't quite tell the total story of how impressive these impressive he's been at the eight interceptions five came in two games I mean he's quickly earned the respect of a lot of coaches around the league Jack Pardee says Favre reminds him on burrito Tim Eddy the Oilers defensive coordinator says he looks like Montana but what I love about the kid is he's tough and that carries over to his ballclub you know a lot of people thought the Oilers would be better than eight and five at this point that is Jack Pardee put it every game has been a struggle for them tonight they will not have offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride he underwent successful cancer surgery this week how is that going to affect the run-and-shoot well without Kevin the play calling duties go to Chris Palmer the wide receiver coach who the upstairs in the booth he'll send the place down onto the field to coach Warren Moon on the sidelines who will then signal a man to Cody Carlson on the field ultimately though the load falls on Cody's shoulders this is his fourth consecutive start and green Bale to a lot of different defensive looks at him but the key to the game for the Oilers is not what Cody does with his arm but what he does with his head tonight deciding things like runner past become paramount there is a playoff atmosphere here at the Astrodome in Houston sixty-two thousand plus hoping their Oilers can go to nine and five Chris Jacqui to kick it off [Applause] at Coleman 87 Spencer Tillman 32 wait at the goal line huge game for both ball clubs six racked up shy of the 20 there's a flag down and the Packers the fourth-best kick coverage team in the NFL did the job again [Music] referee tonight Ed Hochuli and the Packers were offside on the kickoff how often do you see that call bet you if you pulled every kickoff team offsides on the kickoff by the kickoff team number 21 five-yard penalty will reap it a of you pulled until the look at a lot of different kickball teams you would find that a lot of guys are just an inch or so far ahead special teams coach for the Oilers Richard Smith exhorting his truth Carl Carter who was the guilty party for the Packers and Nolen Cromwell is the special teams goes to a longtime star in the secondary of the Los Angeles Rams they have changed the way they want Jackie to kick-off they want him to kick the ball high and kick it into a corner and limit the returns well it supposedly kicks to the third of the field and kicked down the middle you can pick right in the hash or left into hash that puts a lot of pressure on the guys running from the offside so they have to try and get way down to get to a contained position Jackie will do it again [Music] Tilman fumbled the ball to floor and he's out about a major mistake by tilman who forgot where he was if he lets this bounce there's a real good chance it goes out of bounds look at his left foot look watch his left foot see he doesn't really have possession but he still touches the ball so he still had a bounce now they mark it at the fore so Huston starts in a real hole and Cody Carlson brings them out [Applause] Lorenzo white the single chef [Applause] [Music] [Applause] complete Roland Michell took him out of bounds let's take a look at that Houston offense Carlson has taken over for the injured Warren Moon completing nearly 70 percent of his passes against Detroit he was the Conference Player of the Week Haywood jeffrey started in the Pro Bowl last year now he has a chance to become the first player with back-to-back hundred Kent sees upfront Bruce Matthews a Pro Bowler at center after an all-star career at Guardi as tremendous versatility and overall this is a very good offensive line that's Chris Palmer the acting outfits and post-war for at least two more weeks and under pressure in each set rice popped number 95 gets his sixth sack of the season make him six and a half of the year left side of your screen the packers only rushed three excellent job they dropped eight into coverage Cody Carlson just doesn't have enough time to unload it may Rhodes right in the middle there's coach ray with the callow them he does sweat a little bit new experience to him being up in the booth third and four [Applause] took that complete to Geoffrey's at the 15-yard line he has genique work on the stop you can't stop that for the Packers on defense they're playing much better during the streak after a slow start Matt Brock leads two down linemen with four sacks Tony Bennett was the NFC's Defensive Player of the Month for November 12 and a half sacks that's number five in the league and Terrell Buckley gives them great speed in the secondary he was their number one draft choice out of Florida State Tony Bennett because he had played for a losing team [Applause] does not get as much publicity richly deserve [Applause] white for the first time Lorenzo white about five near the corner till Mike 1990 when the running shoe really came in you look at the average catch on the wide receivers is like 16 17 yards defense has decided they don't want to give up the big plays anymore so they really turned the running shoot into a dinking dunk offense as we watch Warren Moon he's even got a little cheat sheet he's got to check and see what he signaled a nice way to set did I see the landing let me see what I have and Warren Lew was one of the first guys to admit that that kind of defense was frustrating day [Applause] [Music] [Applause] right again near another first down at the 24 George Koontz was in there along with Johnny Holland [Applause] [Music] Lorenzo white over a thousand yards this time my Crozier the last thousand yard rusher in 1988 to the Houston Oilers when I talked to Lorenzo you know it really is amazing he said the one big difference in him this year is he's learned to be patient doesn't get to the line as much he gives the opportunity for the line to create holes this is the number three office white trying to get the first down the ball lands squarely on the 25-yard line that should be just enough Johnny Holland the leading tackler again with a stop can't say enough about Cody Carlson the way he has come off the bench and played in relief of Warren moon if he does not play well they could already be out of the playoffs 67 percent passing is not having an opportunity to work a lot opening possession of the ballgame from the [Applause] white straight up the middle column makes the tackle but it's a gain of it surprises me a little bit that the Oilers are having the success they are moving the football because Green Bay played Detroit last week which is a running shoe football team so they get them back-to-back and as far as fill study goes defensively it gives them a little bit more of an advantage to see a similar type of formation although the plays are a little bit different from a preparation standpoint and they only have two of the three teams that run in each style of the run and shoot they get them back-to-back one thing that hurts them they lost Laroy Butler in the secondary in the last place you want to lose a guy in the secondaries against the running shooting you have to use somebody to do [Applause] [Music] now they say it's incomplete cooking hold it as he team down at the 32 Vinny Clark in coverage there's a penalty marker down and it will go against the Oilers [Applause] Johnny Holland acting here's the captain on the field after he gets the signal for Mike Holmgren illegal motion on the offense number 84 five-yard penalty repeat second down [Applause] then he Clark up against Haywood Jeffries just his little shake of the shoulder is what did it he was the one who's emotional this ball is thrown out so he likes to do it he likes to get his hands out away from his body to try and make reception second [Music] comes the Blitz Carlos the white on this midfield made the tackle good to ask for better call against the Blitz absolutely if you can free up the only back you have back there and he doesn't have pickup responsibility they rush six you see Lorenzo start slide out to the left side of your screen now he's got a convoy in front of him and that's a big convoy they're just I mean they're knocking people all over cuts back across the field Mike Munchak number 63 picks up Bennett that helps free Cody to slide to the right to make the completion for the big game Munchak a seven-time Pro ballers been playing this year with a bad back why to breathers and carlson sees something he doesn't like wants a timeout with 908 to go first quarter scoreless game from the Astrodome going in that message to Kevin Gilbride they used an offensive coordinator underwent successful cancer surgeon Houston had a kidney and part of her rib Lulu he hopes to be back within three weeks if knowing Kevin he will get well soon now first of ten Oilers in Packer Terry [Applause] Carlson for Jeffries in it Tim Hawkins any court in a double-team [Applause] this is a four 160 fence by the Green Bay Packers they employ four linemen one linebacker and there are your six TVs right here now this ball is going to go up top pop does a nice job reads Cody's eyes breaks on the ball hey we're trying to make the play on it both of them get there mayor got in there a little earlier he pricey he's making a play on the ball right okay you know that's incidental contact when you're trying to make a play on the ball [Applause] opening period [Music] Lorenzo white but from behind and drop meant rock nice play for his left defensive end spot for your veteran animal organ railroads told us yesterday he said we are going to be aggressive on defense so far he's employed a three down line for down line blitzing inside linebackers bringing five people drop in ages approximately 4:30 [Applause] Karlsson deep again overthrows Jeffries this time and once again hawk and Clark head in sandwich he's getting the one-on-one matchups against Vinny Clark that's what you look for as far as a quarterback goes and Cody Carlson is a little bit different than Warren Moon Cody will try and push the ball up the field this is just a straight go they want Haywood to try and outrun Vinnie good coverage ball was put away good decision by the quarterback the injured player is Bryce pop has been very effective in the pass rush goes down David Williams uses the old leg whip put them right on the knee and pop up running off [Applause] Gregg Montgomery who leads the National Football League with a 45-7 average and Robert Brooks back to take the punt where is Terrell Buckley you asked he is on the bench because of fumbling problem and during warm-ups he was still having fumbling problems and was still letting the ball gets through his hair when he talked to him the other night he knew we were gonna talk about the fumble and really didn't go on it too to Montgomery beautiful pit and it makes the end zone just 52 yards no return and the Packers will start from the 20 on left in the period the first receiver ever to reach the rare mark of a hundred receptions was Lionel Taylor in 1961 three years later Charlie Hannigan of the Oilers had a hundred and one in 1984 art month new heights 106 the current NFL record in the last two years Jerry Rice in Haywood Jeffries hit the hundred barrier straight on and this year if Sterling Sharpe can maintain his dr7 catch a game average he will reign supreme with the new NFL record of 108 receptions the sharp blimp another blunt to the air what a year he has having unbelievable Gary Sidney and Gerald Thompson of a split behind car young guy you ought to go up top play-action pump fake in the bond [Applause] overthrow Louis covered like a blanket by Jerry Gray and Marcus Robertson take a look at the Green Bay offense Favre has taken over as the starting quarterback he has been terrific rated fourth in the NFL coming off his first three touchdown game sharp has a chance at one of the NFL's most coveted record from the national recognition that he deserved Tootie Robbins has a neck was official and trait to the pack the 11-year veteran has given him a lot of stability of crime the offensive coordinators came with Mike Holmgren [Applause] barb on the one Jackie Harris the Titanic on defense rate children's having a marvelous year leads the team in sacks second in tackles that is remarkable for an interior lineman Al Smith on the verge of 100 tackles for the fourth year in a row he was a Pro Bowl starter last season so was Chris Dishman but he has only two interceptions in 1992 the numbers who down maybe because he had a contract holdout at the beginning of the year and there is one of the most entertaining people to watch on the sidelines Jim Eddie the Oilers defensive coordinator [Applause] the great defense here has the first down but from behind by Thoren Eddie Robinson this is unbelievable did you see at the end who was there to help pick him up two offensive linemen went up to check on him good job by the Oilers Childress coming in inside gets pressure on the outside this is when he said you see what he sees everybody's covered put the ball away and look out from behind William Fuller's closing on you good hustle by fuller to peel backs spotted outside the 31 Houston was an impressive opening drives with a lot of time off the clock came up empty [Applause] gang tackled Eddie Robinson the rookie out of Alabama mistake the first man to get ahold of the jersey some coaches in the National Football League will script plays Mike Holmgren scripts the first 15 and he does it for specific reasons you see him sending it in first of all he said it takes a lot of pressure off the play caller which is him in this case being able to think it out in his office secondly he gives the 15 plays to his ballclub so they can think about it and he said the third thing is that the team really knows how to react to different situations because they've thought about what they're trying to go up against second barbed with a short set to Edgar Bennett in the flat and Bennett trying to get to the sticks Bubba McDowell took his legs out from under [Applause] Packers of course that they look familiar to the San Francisco offense it's because it is the San Francisco office and basically the San Francisco defense as well and Brett Favre and Mike Holmgren has said it read fart he's young but he has so many wonderful qualities quick release quick feet good stood in the game which is something he's had to learn coming to Green Bay [Applause] [Music] Gary Sidney the former 49er has the first down out to the 43 yard line Al Smith the first man on the tackle [Applause] Andray Childress shaken up [Music] couldn't have worse news for the Houston Oilers who have been racked by injuries its Rijo doubts at the beginning of the season and they lost their left linebacker Lamar Latham they lost their starting free safety beau Orlando and they lost their starting right tackle Doug Smith there's Layton Smith and Layton should be back for Buffalo [Music] poof [Applause] [Music] who is in there for children this is the best defense in the AFC fourth overall in the NFL and really Joe the kind of defense for the Houston Oilers that could play an NFC team in a Super Bowl and have a shot and it's the kind of defense that Jim Eddie has to have playing at this time of the year - they're playing aggressive football then they starting to make big plays that's what they've been missing they've done a good job but they haven't been able to make the big play second and seven that good with our opening possession barb with time complete that'll be another first down and it was Thompson out of the backfield with Al Smith on his back that's a great catch if you're a quarterback you have to make catches you put the ball in places where only your guy can make the catch he'll cross from the left side he comes right across the house Smith almost tackles him loses sight of the ball just incredible Al Smith literally cat he's got a more wrapped up before he ever catches it great concentration by Thompson and that is only his fifth reception of the season he started last week for the first time been bothered by blood and ankle injuries all take it around the corner it was rip draft the outside linebacker who's playing in place of Lathan that messed up the timing had got the first hit then Bubba McDowell made the tackle Rick Graff coming over from Miami as a plan-b acquisition in 91 six years in the league he's taller than most of the linebackers on that oiler defense he's 65 to still carries 250 pounds with him and grass will leave the field on second and 12 and Lathan an emerging superstar at linebacker has been out with a broken bone in his leg as we said he should be back for Buffalo and Ray Childress back in the lineup Thompson a single setback on second and 12 they go in the reverse down to the 41 yard line in its rookie Corey Harris out of Vanderbilt who has been terrific on special teams for them Mike Dumas number 38 made to stop when you get a defense that's fired up and chasing the ball you run misdirections they run it inside tight you see look at how the Oilers all converge now the guy that's chasing him is Jerry Gray he knows he's running over there to serve him and the man coverage but he's got a lot of traffic go through and gets caught up in the watch gain of seven on that play third and five coming up the Packers with their own impressed in the socket watt to go in the quarter four-man rush far throws incomplete sidelines Childress in his face I really think the biggest difference in the defense of the Houston Oilers is the pressure they can get up front with four men yes it allows Jim Eddie to put combination coverages in the secondary and utilizes linebackers in run stomping positions but those four guys come off the ball and in their own right create havoc in offensive backfield Webster slaughter who has pumped up the retire game since wired from Cleveland waiting on Brian Wagner's clock boilers got closed nearly killing it but couldn't quite stop it a 41-yard punt no return and we have a nothing nothing score with a minute 20 finding first period from the Astrodome in Houston Mike Patrick and Joe Theismann with you glad you could join us on our Sunday night telecast and the Oilers will take over at their own twenty second possession both teams have had the ball one time long drives no points [Applause] that was tipped over the middle Johnny Holland the linebacker got a hand up on it Cody Carlson getting his plays there's mojo equipment guy with Warren Moon what he's doing is he is explaining to him how the headset controls work this is a whole new world for Warren and you know the other thing is there he is the first four million dollar coach in the history of professional you don't think the coaches out there are excited - no actually he wants the 80,000 at Kevin mates so it's gonna be four million $80,000 coach Warren sign contract this week time to find one more than later white [Applause] stop as he gets up to the 27 yard line Holland approaching a career-high in tackles hope you be with us next Sunday at noon Eastern the Emmy Award winning game day comes your way at noon Chris Berman town Jackson Chris Mortensen and Joe Theismann in a cash thousands provide the best pregame show in the NFL then back at 7 o'clock with NFL primetime highlights and analysis of all today's game and then at 8 o'clock Joe and I will be at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami as the Jets take on the Dolphins [Music] and Johnny Holland is the player shaken up he's got connections with Houston having played at Texas A&M played his college ball in the state he supports a homeless shelter outside of Houston and a lot of players on both of these ballclub very involved in various charitable activity now this is part of the movement in the transition that they've had on that Green Bay defense he was moved to the nickel back after the third week of the season I mean the first four weeks of the season this defense was ranked dead last in the National they were on a hill but with a little bit of tinkering a little bit of movement by Ray Rhodes he's starting to find combinations at work and Holland leads the team with three interceptions third and three for the Oilers [Applause] thousands took Duncan and he's got the first down just struggles across 230 Terrell Buckley made the tackle Duncan struggling a little bit as he got up all the caches Curtis Duncan has 69 now 70 catches he has zero touchdowns zero mark him down nothing he would love to get one and the Oilers are not going to bother to run another play as the first quarter clock is ticking down [Applause] and that will be the end of the first quarter from the Astrodome the Oilers and the Packers fighting for the playoffs gets nothing nothing Hecker's in the center of your picture having to make do with that is starting strong safety Leroy Butler and this is why last week against the Lions number 36 with the cheap shot to the head of Andre ware and that got him a one game suspension without pay from the NFL and it should have there's gonna be a lot more emphasis on cheap shots with the recent injuries in this league [Applause] [Music] [Applause] what a job by tony bennett played off the block and made the tackle for a loss you mentioned something earlier Mike I think which is which was so true here's a guy who plays in a market that doesn't get a lot of recognition but he's certainly a pro bowler watches he's out here down and right out there in the three down position he just comes across protects against the trap does a nice job of playing it off low white didn't help a whole lot by trying to go outside but still Bennett with a nice play lost eight on the play so it's second and 18 that should be like a sack yes it should be like a second first he comes to kill right white breaks the tackle driving the legs up to the 35 yard line Roland Michell hanging on to gain of 12 and right in addition to that thousand yards rushing has caught 45 passes and that's a big thing what they do in practice is every time they run a pass play to a wide receiver one of the quarterbacks who's not work in the drill will throw the ball to Lorenzo white so every pass that's thrown in practice he catches the ball and they've done that in training camp Frank Novak the running back coach right there a great idea that is he keep his hands warm there's people getting used to catching the ball and six for the Euler [Applause] yes they pass incomplete intended for Webster slaughter good coverage again by Carl Carter just too far for the former Cleveland Brown to pick it off railroads do a lot of mixing up with that secondary in with the linebackers that Green Bay defense bring one drop one bring three drop eight Montgomery who bombed his first one for 52 yards to kick to Robert Brooks [Applause] averaging 11 yard to return fair catch on this end and makes it at the 22 punt of 43 no return we are still scoreless at the Astrodome in Houston we started our telecast by saying a sterling sharp has a shot dart monks record they have thrown a ball to a little school yeah but he starts slow I mean just because one quarter goes by and he doesn't get the ball doesn't mean that much take a look at the receptions by quarters 26 thrown to only 14 received he has 54 there but look he goes up into the 70% after that that's what that's the whole thing is now they got to start worrying about obviously they will need his talents if they hope to win this ballgame [Applause] six 100-yard games this year number what a brilliant Thompson on the July slipped through a couple of tackles and scurries his way out to about the 28 yard line both of these clubs need this game badly the Packers actually worse than the Oilers and we have a nothing nothing time with 12 53 to go first half Joe both teams have been able to move the ball I just can't get close enough for a field goal or get the big boy for school and it's not the inability the offenses I think there's a great job being done by both coaches Mike Holmgren defense has been able to move the ball fairly well but Houston has been to the task and stopped them as well Jeff Hardy's off far for the short set Pharr throws incomplete threw it into a crowd that was the closest sharp his head to a catch they're going to get a five-yard incidental facemask on Brett Favre he happen to Brett is going to be on ray Childress in all likelihood number 79 [Applause] [Music] [Applause] could be one of the defensive line that's what they're trying to decide who who they're gonna who's number they're gonna call face mask on the defense number 95 five-yard penalty results in a first down that is fuller [Applause] so that I didn't grab it I just touched it look at the rush up front watch these guys it's gonna be all bullrushes because Favre takes such a short drop these are just bull rush this is take the guy ahead of you and try and push him back into the quarterbacks face and then everybody grab his face Michelle first aid grab and see I was right he did get so they shared please share the face bet he doesn't get two and a half yards first pink 10 patches to three steps right now in trouble Bubba McDowell yeah that was a good decision too he was gonna try the old John Elway put a move on him ah not gonna happen William fuller chased him out of the pocket the entire Green Bay offense is based on timing quick sets you see sharp make his break good job by Chris Dishman closing on him there it is he wants to go right now he's covered now he's got nowhere to go does a good smart thing pulls it down heads out of bounds don't get cute over there when you could also see the Favre doesn't hang around if the the man isn't open he looks for the second option if the second option isn't there at see you later Thompson and Sydney the split backs on second and eight Sydney couldn't get it Harry Sidney finally getting a chance to function as a starter was talking to him on the field he's thrilled to be here in Green Bay and he backed up Tom Rathbun in San Francisco who's just a great fullback and it wasn't for any other reason under the fact that Tom played so well so can consistently Harry never had a chance now he's the guy he's the guy that knows this system as well he's a leader on his ballclub and a guy who wants to play he played in the World League he played in the Canadian Football League he has just hung around while he got his chance and eight for the path underneath dry Sanjay Beach right through his hands into his body I personally think Brett Farve is still a little bit keyed up now this is their first night game Mike Holmgren told us that was one of the things he was concerned about he said this thing's going here he said the state of Mississippi will be launching my family's here the state of Wisconsin will be washing he's gonna have to settle down just a little bit more this kids going to be a heck of a quarterback in time [Applause] work back right now I'm going quickly and sports in the NFL Wagner to punt the Webster slaughter great kick towards the sidelines slaughter able to get his hands on it the driven out of bounds excellent job by the Packers Steve Jackson downfield on special teams [Applause] ESPN's Sunday night NFL is brought to you by EA Sports videogames if it's in the game it's in the game by Cadillac changing the way you think about American automobiles and by McDonald what do you want is what you get guaranteed at McDonald's today nothing nothing second quarter the Oilers take over deep in their own territory they have had lousy field position tonight the average starting field position for Houston their own 12 yard line [Applause] white straight up the middle gentle about the 15-yard line George Koontz and Johnny Holland were there to make the tackle our college football bowl season starts Friday with the Las Vegas Bowl the University of Nevada formerly Nevada Reno will go against Bowling Green it is the first of seven bowl games on ESPN and Joe and I will be doing the Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa Florida on New Year's Day hope you join us for that one and all the other bowl games we have coming your way Ron Franklin - Mike Gottfried - during the Las Vegas Bowl for you this Friday night [Applause] nice solid tackle by Roland Michell but Lorenzo white fights for the first down and gets it one of the toughest things for the offensive lineman to do is they all have to remain square it's the other their feet are square this way that because they have to move laterally so much now when Cody slides to the right see how they just set see how they just set up here they slide this way a little bit they make people take different directions so that they're easier to block because they have such a square swing for white three catches 44 yards [Applause] wife will get about three across the 25 to the 26 that was a case in point where Cody Carlson was making the decision whether to run or pass Bob Young the offensive line coach he reminded me on the field he said remember if it's a sack it's a quarterbacks fault you know once a lineman always alignment and a great job well he's got some great all pros mags Munchak Matthews Dawson Williams that is one solid offensive on pushed on man's hobbled going as long as he can go second and seven [Applause] and bouncing off the fingertips of Webster's water he's covered by Tim Hawk out of Montana I really feel like the pressure that Green Bay is getting up the middle is creating problems for Cody Carlson likes the pressure up the middle that's what they want to do collapse that pocket back into him where he can't step comfortably without a lot of people in there causes the ball to go high when that looked like a catchable ball look like Webster slaughter misjudge didn't didn't get the arms out [Applause] and seven in a battle of defense Oh second Karlsson bhai Ebert and Leonard Harris was blasted as he turned to get a hand yeah by who Chuck Cecil he will hit anything that is breathing and moving in a blue shirt this guy is an absolute missile left part of your screen cause the slides to the left you see Cecil he boy he's just hunting him down Oh kaboom hit him with the shoulder - what a boy his shoulder in the back Montgomery to punt - Brooks as neither scoring through it low line drive returnable kick and may have saved 10 yards did Brooks by picking that one up a punt of 49 great bounce for Montgomery a return of only two and it's been tough defense that's epitomized this game the big hit eBay and you'll notice he's not wiping it off defensive guys don't why see you just write the bottom of your nose you don't wipe it off get that good blood flowing down you're into the game there comes a shot you see he tries to get the shoulder on Harris he doesn't try and bury that helm in the middle of his back and then he lets him know he says hey come in my area again that's only the beginning well he is a hitter two balls at the 27-yard line their secondary has done an excellent job tonight the best interior lineman in football here's from Deepak far and then four combined on the Childress has a motor that never quits that time Brett Farve wants to go to Sterling Sharpe McDowell takes the money outside sharped is trying to go up the field but there it is he's being squeezed Marcus Robertson squeezing him on one side Dishman on the outside he wants to go Fuller chases him up Childress finishes him off to loss of a yard Edgar Bennett is in number 34 running far side arm zip complete and Sterling sharp with his first catch of the night out to the 38 [Applause] boilers are making them work and they're gonna move sharp all over the place tonight this time he's in the slot he released his outside and fills in the hole he's behind Eugene Robinson or excuse me Eddie Robinson manages to slide into the dead spot his this is something about far that time he's just threw that thing almost underhanded got all the releases to get the ball down [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Lee Williams and Childress drilled it the ball came loose but they said after he was down I think the greatest asset that Rey Childress has is his ability to get off the ball was such quickness he has tremendous explosion watch number 79 let him come off the ball he's driving the double-team all the way back now he flows around and there they are again the bookends Lee William and ray Childress they just plant far Easton fans don't like to call they thought it was a fumble instead it will be second and ten Childress amazingly enough leads the team in sacks and his second in tackles you never see that from a defensive tackle we've got a timeout 651 to go in the half still nothing nothing he Robbins the veteran offensive tackle on the sideline they are trying to pop his shoulder back into place and if you have ever had a dislocated joint you know the intensity of that pain and Joe Sims the second year free comes in farbros everything he's throwing Mike has been low he's just really in a little bit of a hurry and he's gonna have to settle down a little bit take his natural strides he's trying to rush everything that was something Mike Holmgren mentioned he said he sees a guy come open and he just can't get the ball air quick enough it's gonna have to slow down his motor just enough to be able to make those completions but she might be wondering where is Tony Mandarin if they have to go deep into their offensive line man Duritz with a thyroid condition concussion syndrome is on a weight program his career may be the shy third and ten far too thin it and the Oilers just swarm all over them Steve Jackson was right on Bennett when he unrelenting pressure right now on the quarterback and the pressure is up the middle and it think about it Mike is it's just coming from the front floor there's children's coming at him again William fuller pushing them the double teams are being shoved back in Favre's face right near the punt to slaughter and again [Music] [Applause] stepped out of bounds and there's a flag down on the play slaughter nearly broke a huge return got 15 yards after a punt of 51 games like this when a game is like this you know somewhere in this football game a special teams play is going to make a make the difference somewhere you can almost feel it starting to set itself up somewhere kick return punt return something in a fake area something's got to give in this game well here's a negative big play you had an illegal block again on the return and the Oilers are going to be pinned deep in their own territory again by the return team during the return number 56 10-yard penalty and half the distance to the goal first down we've got a timeout on the field 555 to go first half still no score the Oilers start in the hole again Jeffords on the foot back nice move to get two or three more yards and the Packers defense has really closed on the ball beautifully tonight [Music] Lindy Clark at six feet Haywood Jeffries at six three just pushes off the ball a little quick controlled passing game really not as strength letting the ball get to his body he's excellent hand catcher once the ball gets to his body funny things will happen to him gain of seven second and three [Applause] [Music] [Applause] but there's a marker down Tony Bennett made the tackle now we'll check the penalty and Bruce Matthews arguing about it and back it comes Houston has now been penalized 94 times that's 24th in the NFL they're shooting themselves in the foot tonight holy on the offense number 74 10-yard penalty half the distance to the goal second down it's a tough thing for the offensive lineman to do we talked about the balanced stance run blocking becomes a problem see his right arm up underneath now he grabs the shoulder pad they do that every down I mean that somebody's doing it somewhere in America every down Paul spotted a thorough [Music] [Applause] the white nice job to set up some blocks and got out to the 18 yard line Tim Hawk made the tackle on Tootie Robbins the 11-year veteran the former Cardinal being wheeled to the locker room with a dislocated shoulder we believe big loss to this ballclub they made a great trade in getting him from Phoenix only gave up a sixth round draft choice he's done a lot for the offensive line and in obvious discomfort third and two after the pickup on the screen pass [Applause] white first down after 22 yard line we talked about the evolution of what defenses have tried to do to the Houston oiler offense and an indicator of that is taking a look at yards per reception 90 they were thirteen point three ninety-one twelve point four so far in ninety two eleven point four spinning yard every year that's everybody's faster than making a big difference to them trying to get the ball upfield instead of downs to the Euler Parcells deep and nobody out there except Terrell Butler wasn't a blue shirt within 15 yards and somebody read it wrong well that's Mike you bring up a very interesting point you can't necessarily read it wrong because the receivers are reading the defense on the run Warren Moon as well as Cody Carlson still trying to figure out okay they have four different options they can take the post they can go in they can stop they can hook it's not easy to get coordination or Carlton did he saw it they try another screen but Bryce PAUP number 95 got the hands up and knocked it away pop an excellent pass rusher from that outside linebacker spot after they moved him from the inside reverse angle you see in the bottom of your screen number 95 he feels the pressure Dave Williams pushing off but he gets up in the perfectly time perfectly time jump just manages to get a little bit of a right wrist on it cherie Don Revie is very impressed by the fact of defense tonight for Carlson eight out of six [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] no indication yet now Packers have the football and it's rolling Mitchell number 47 with the recovery after the Oilers finally get a big play Webster slaughter makes the catch and then coughed it up they finally get some room in the middle of the defense all Webster's doing is trying to make something out of it good line protection Cody reads it right Webster slaughter a new addition to the offense catches it deep in the middle now he's trying to make a play good job Mitchell strips it away Terrell Buckley comes in and makes the hit they see for the reverse angle without Buckland go first big break of the game Packers at the oiler William fuller for a two-yard loss great stop by the defensive end great penetration by Jeff all number 76 as well railroads in the middle with the towel around his neck the defensive coordinator this is what his ballclub has done since he's tinkered with it look at the takeaways 15 takeaways only seven giveaways in the last five games and you've got to remember he installed a new system for these guys something they had to learn second and 13 far above this back foot incomplete he doesn't look come I think that I think Mike Bowman was going to have to move him a little bit he's got to get him away from that pressure up the middle this is what's known is thrown off your back foot if you want to see an illustration there it is throw and going backwards that gets you in nothing but trouble do you know anybody who would be comfortable no no I can't think whose soul is a matter fact that's why I roll them one way the other third and 12 the with their dime package six defensive back to the sidelines that'll be a first down inside the Houston 30-yard line Robert Brooks the rookie a gain of 16 so a sterling sharp isn't there you find somebody else buys another South Carolina guy so you sort of keep it in to school Favre does a nice job you see them on the out pattern Jackson turns them loose that's the soft area Sterling Sharpe runs the coverage off an awful lot of times you can have a decoy Cris Dishman just said he wanted this game look at that that's that is what's called a total complete blanket we've hit the two-minute warning nothing nothing from the Astrodome two minutes to go first half in a scoreless game from the Astrodome and sixty-two thousand people on hand this is tonight's Budweiser storyline White was 77 total yards he has really been the offense Cody Carlson has been limited a nine out of 17 sterling sharp held the one catch and the total yards only 120 to 73 how about it how about a pack of brushing breakdown FAR's got 14 yards the wide receivers have seven in the running backs have seven wouldn't play call that power football that's a good Houston defense go first and ten from the [Applause] [Music] [Applause] and at the quarry Harris who is a wide receiver his first carry of the year was a running back for two years at Vanderbilt [Applause] it's a chance to be running back a little bit here because it was first two years there then he went to wide receiver and he's still really learned in the wide receiver position Mike Holmgren just using the athlete in him at any position he can they ran him that time directly from scrimmage earlier yet [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] jacketing seven far throws behind sharpen he couldn't hold [Applause] quick post sterling just coming off the ball reads the defense Favre just throws it a little too far behind him I would say it it's got to be a better throw but still to kind of catch sterling usually makes Chris Dishman when he talks about Sterling Sharpe he said hey the guy dropped very few balls and Brett Favre just absolutely knew it and there will be something said about that in the huddle these guys are rib Marshall [Applause] Barb's will not get the first down chased out by Bubba McDowell near the 21 made a good decision Mike homem does not tolerate turnovers or mistakes very well and in that case what far did was he knew they were in field goal range give Jackie a chance to make the KITT get out of bounds don't put it up where it can be picked off makowsky the familiar number seven for the Packers is now the holder for Chris Jackie he said he feels better than he's ever felt throwing the ball really well this will be a 39-yard a champ jackie has hit nothing for style points but three for the field goal this is as close to a knuckleball you're going to get with a football everybody just walking around and disbelieve it's like is it really good watches this thing Hartley's going to get off the ground it just sort of wavers sideways past the line of scrimmage almost hits goal post cam and obviously made for revolution ugly but it works nobody's ever gonna look back in the record books and all they're gonna see is the three points not how ugly it went through coming up at half-time chris burrman to the fastest three minutes in television and some tremendous highlights for you from today including some upsets the NFL playoff picture better Minds than ours we'll sort it out in the studio and Joe will be back for his analysis of the first half of this ballgame so the Packers on the board first and they lead it 3 to nothing and Webster slaughters bumble set up the drive for the field goal here's a guy who was so frustrated when he first came here because he had no idea what the run-and-shoot was about next year Webster slaughter will have an entire training camp next year it will be a big impact Racine [Music] he's kick will go six yards deep in the end zone and called a little down affair [Applause] Chris Palmer on the left warren moon on the right they're talking to one another of course Warren Moon talking to Cody Carlson this is new experiences for both of them Chris Palmer hasn't called plays since 1984 and five when he was with the generals he's never done it from upstairs so he's getting a different view of the field of course for Warren Moon to be signaling them in as well as communicating upstairs broadening his experience one I'm sure he's anxious to give back to the coaches oilers take over at the 20 this good field position for them [Applause] [Music] [Applause] white and white will get six maybe seven before he's tracked down from behind by Bryce off one thing that jumps out Mike on both these defensive line great lines great quickness great speed chasing the ball down the field clock running 45 seconds left in the half Carlson's given that will be a first down after the Johnny Holland was right and the Oilers we use a timeout stop the clock of 31 seconds to go Karlsson eleven out of nineteen hundred and eleven yards the dealers of Olli cross midfield once might take a look at what the Packers are doing defensively as we roll the tape you'll see they're giving them a lot of room underneath the right there if you stop is he they're letting them have all this stuff in here these guys are sort of close in the middle but here's the safety way back here safety way back there they're just not giving them an opportunity to go down the field and when the ball is thrown they're always going towards it instead of trying to chase it down the field the Packers have really done a remarkable job this year and Jack Pardee knows he is within four plays of having only one loss this season his Houston oiler team has pushed a lot of people all over the all you need to lose that at the end it seemed is terribly frustrating here for them [Applause] they're a teapot and have a shot [Music] [Applause] and [Music] he is second in the conference that is his 70th trailing only his teammate Haywood Jeffries [Applause] Cody Carlson certainly has the arm he rolls away this time Duncan up top of your screen hooks up by the cylon does a nice job here realizes he can make a plane how he gets out of bounds to save the clock good presence of mind on the field 23 seconds to go in the half boilers at their old holding on [Applause] your man rock [Applause] one hit Duncan again he rolls that about another smart play by Duncan and now the Oilers used a timeout as they say he was touched inbound and if you stop the boat you're gonna go after a rookie coaches luck can protect the rookie in most instances but once you get in two minutes you'll lock into a defense that's Terrell Buckley up top and you see the job that Duncan does on him he sells him up the field and then just stops Cody Carlson can he control ball it's matter of fact when you talk to the receivers he throws it harder than Warren Moon but you can bet if you're a rookie corner it's on-the-job training and that's what Terrell Buckley's get where's Buckley another one of the rookies that held out came in late did not have the advantage of going through training camp tremendous physical skills he's got a great attitude and also didn't start until week fives right so he's another one of those insertions into the defense al del greco who missed two game-winning kicks and has been under a lot of fire here in Houston but what people forget he has a game-winning kick earlier this year and is a quality kicker [Applause] come through a couple of times down the stretch 16 seconds to go in a half [Applause] Jeffery's at the sideline stop the clock eleven seconds after 24 without a time without timeouts they can't throw the ball down the know they can't and that's something the Packers have to realize they can go soft in the mill because they would not have time to complete a pass in the middle of the field and still get their field goal unit out onto the field to try the kick I'm sure Mike homeland has reminded his team exactly what the situation is he covers every base with excellent excellent football coach doing a great job Eagle iterates over 11 seconds to go [Applause] [Music] [Applause] clothes picked off at the one-year ports killing its food out near the 30-yard line Binnie Clark with his second and a bad decision by Cody Carlson cost them at least a field goal and Cody Carlson looks like he's hurt Haywood Jeffries now you know they've got to work to the perimeter then he Clark's been oil all day he just hangs in his own you see Chuck Cecil coming over now Cecil comes over and just puts the head under the armpit and levels Haywood Jeffery and both Jeffries and Carlson very slow to get up as Vinnie Clark the rookie who was burned a year ago now in his second year with more confidence and bigger plays we will check on hey with Jeffries and the rest of the players right now let's join Chris Berman in the playoff hunt leading the Houston Oilers here in the Astrodome it's amazing you think of these two offensive teams the Green Bay Packers molded after the San Francisco 49ers which seemed this year to almost be unstoppable Packers in their own right have of course the Houston Oilers with the run-and-shoot supposedly a wide-open offense hey with Jefferies with the bandage on the forehead seeming no worse for wear and del Greco will kick it off Corey Harrison Robert Brooks of Terra bookies [Applause] Harris had a to the 45 volcanoes no fumble and the Packers will start with great field position after a return of 35 [Applause] Richard Smith the special teams coach exhorting his troops there's there's a play now is the ball out ball now ground cannot cause the fumble good call by the official excellent job by the official the ruling is the ground cannot cause a fumble in that case it did spotted at the 44 hackers trying to win the fifth straight time the last time that happened the Lombardi era night 66 when they once [Applause] Thompson from the corner woulda let him get back to the line this grace needs to be very great that is not Darrell Thompson strong suit he was an i back in college he's better off running up the middle halftime stats passing yards for Houston 151 only 45 for Green Bay neither team able to run the ball in the first half but even with 151 Houston had no points and the average start their own 13 for the Oilers and when you're playing zone laying back making them be very when you have to go 87 yards on an average every time you touch the ball it makes it very very difficult Thompson skidders down to the 47 yard line where al smith made the tackle the Green Bay offense is a controlled passing offense of course Favre likes to get it down the field you see just one try to Sterling sharp deep but he's dumped off a lot of balls little off to his right he's a right-handed quarterback makes a lot of sense when you get a lot of pressure from the defensive line you want to unload the ball we gave ray Rhodes to circle with the towel let's give sure him Lewis the circle here the offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers sterling sharp the leading receiver in the NFL of eighty eight catches has been held to one nearly seven again third and short far play-action goes here tighten Jackie hair first to the Euler 37 yard line and Jackie Harris has really emerged as of course he is number one in the NFL among tight ends in Texas that's his first tonight and there was a guy who was an exceptional wide receiver for six wide receiver in college comes in to the pros he creates problems for safeties down the middle class he has such great speed to getting the inside of his own if you want to double the outside receiver if the Packers score here it will really be a surprise for everyone they only have 19 points in the third quarter all year long not this time waiting for with Sean Jones and Al Smith there's a flag on the play [Applause] and Houston was offside and Jim Eddie exercised about [Applause] at the greatest expose me [Applause] offsides and the defense number 95 five yards 50 first down that's fuller he gets tougher and tougher to play defense when you're in a three nothing game because every play can mean so much and his defense has played so well I mean they tell them the three points the turnover really set it up so it wasn't the defense's fault it's not like we may is taking a trivet down their throat the number one defense in the AFC first and five [Applause] farbros completed inheritance i'm the 30-yard line and a game stands them up market Robert see number 31 got the first hip take a look see who's caught the ball this second half you'll see in the first part of the game they wanted to go to the wide receivers now you've got Thompson making a catch you've got Harris making two one two three quick set quick look and fire the ball this is a four yard completion but still it's a completion working inside to the running backs and to the tight ends those are the people are very who are very difficult to double cover it will leave Green Bay with the second and one at the Houston 28 yard line 1125 to go third period three nothing pack [Applause] and first down as Thompson takes it straight up the middle inside the 25 Smith & Robinson the linebackers combined on the tackle he just runs with so much more authority up the middle he's a little bit deeper he just feels so much more comfortable going right up the middle and he is not their workhorse back that's Vince workman who's been on injured reserve with the shoulder injury he's eligible to come back right away Thompson and Edgar Bennett have done a fine job running the ball in his absence [Applause] Barnes gets into sterling shark Dishman takes him out of bounds only his second catch of the night there's Benz workmen came in 10th in the conference with 631 yards they expect him back next week averaging four yards a carry [Music] also an excellent pass receiver they lose a little bit when he's out of the lineup as far as past receptions go second and six package with a good-looking drive here it's reached to Houston sweater constant pull her head and by the knees and little let go native maybe a yard fuller pro-bowl starter a year ago Mike Holmgren a very tough coach at disciplinarian when you talk to him he's got that twinkle in his eye loves what he's doing and doing a great job at it tutti Robins out of his uniform he is done for the night and appears to have a big ice bag on that dislocated shoulder the veteran of the penis barýþ again the quick-set down at the Laura Louis will pick up maybe a yard and right there Jerry Gray an important acquisition for this ballclub from the Rams again great defense by the front pool watch the push it's just a four-man rush that's all it is they forced hard to throw the ball he gets it out for the short pass it's up to the receiver to break a tackle he can't he make him kick Jackie who has the only points of the night from 39 and describe this one since 36 dead center Kris Jackie two for two and the Green Bay Packers extend their lead over the Oilers to six nothing and they took a lot of time off the clock on that drive 627 [Applause] homeland from the three diving forward to the 20-yard line working with the defense there's a flag down on the play came in late Jim Eddie drawing up plans for his defensive share of the 10-yard line certainly has been a custom tonight Cody Carlson has had to work out of holes you can see that there may they're trying to go deep but they're getting nothing out of it he's working inside that 15 yard area and spreading it out across the field but looking look in the backfield five for five in swing passes and screens to low white behind the line of scrimmage he's seven for seven behind the line of scrimmage with passes Giammetti talking to his rookie linebacker Eddie Robinson telling him what he wants to do on the next series the defense has played very well they've given up to Chris Jackie field goals and that's it but the Packers defense has played even better and the Oilers need to get something started on the offensive side of the ball [Applause] [Music] 20th time relative thing [Applause] and people inside the five in return that is his first interception of the season shucks Cecil what all over his nose still that is worth painting on Cody Carlson set looking down the middle of the field there he is right there all he's gonna do is sit and watch as Cody rolls he doesn't move the receiver comes across [Applause] he sees everything now he's going to break on the ball while his throne it's just badly thrown its way out front too far the receiver was there and so was Chuck Cecil his second turnover of the night forced by Green Bay and they have a golden opportunity here far zone 4 players had a shot at it Dumas got a hand on it maybe Robertson did too well what a huge play that would have been little patience Favre not the most patient person he showed it tonight he looks he sees he makes the throw he's trying to go to Herod oh my goodness right through Mike Dumas's hands whoo got away with well I don't know that's a war thank you it's both second and goal from the two Sydney - courage that cost them a one of these guys come off the ball that's exactly right and now you're down in a confined area they've come off the ball all over the field now you've got them backed up in a confined area you can bet they're going to be firing the gaps look at that almost to the man the Oilers got under every Green Bay Packer that means that the line is not going forward now Chuck's east away needed ham pine with blood on his nose looked in the mirror decided to look pretty good in his pimple you don't reveal the badge of honor and dish then exhorting the defense [Applause] darling sharp the guy who wants to go to they've got him covered like a blanket even getting bumped around far just doesn't have the time after a wild mr. Li will come open by that time Bret's got all kinds of problems of his own to deal with what a defensive stand by [Applause] this will be a 4-yard attempt by Chris Jacqui's he's been perfect he's also been the only 629 to go third quarter green bay 9 Houston nothing oil or defense stood tall again and held the Packers to a field goal but it's 9 nothing and they need some help from their offense well they're trying to show the formations to the deep to the defensive line what they're getting from the Packers and the audibles they have to go to when they get in there for me gentlemen : deep to receive Jackie's kick [Music] holman from the goal line when the packers have done a great job still nine nothing back in a moment [Applause] packers from the Astrodome let's take a look at the NFC wild-card scenario the New Orleans Saints have clinched a berth at least as a wild-card the redskins with a huge win over Dallas today now at nine and five they play at Philadelphia next week the Eagles stayed even with the Redskins with the overtime win in Seattle and the Green Bay Packers here tonight trying to run their record to eight and six they have the Rams and Minnesota left that to decide the division [Music] [Applause] Karlsson gets the completion out to the 25 yard line where Johnny Hollander makes the decisive stop Duncan another underneath catch when you keep changing defenses like Green Bay and Ray Rhodes has done it not only creates problems for an offense that would be considered a normal offense but it compounds the problems against the run-and-shoot because both the receivers and the quarterback have to read something different game 9 on the last second [Music] [Applause] [Music] white Pig whole this time the Lorenzo right up to the 34 yard line Johnny Holland with another tackle [Applause] Ernest givins sort of a forgotten man in this offense and believe me he'll let you know he's had two catches for only 14 yards tonight the other offensive factors for this ball club is Lorenzo white the thousand yard rusher 11 carries only 33 yards Sabri Bey is chef everybody down [Applause] [Music] driving for the first down and stop just shy for Green Bay Packers took him out of bounds Webster slaughter has really been a great addition he's giving him some size inside this time he comes across in motion starts up and moves across underneath the zone getting much more comfortable he said you know it's really difficult to be able to try and execute with physical skills and think out there at the same time he's getting more comfortable he's exceeded physical skill set 11 catches the last two weeks after finally getting it looked like Mike Munchak the left guard jumped early both start prior to the snap on the offense number 63 five-yard penalty remains second down [Applause] penalty's tonight the Oilers who are very heavily penalized all year long have seven Green Bay only one a lot of them have come one kicks that have forced him to be backed up deep in their own territory that Jack's not very happy complete down to the pack of 37 whips this water makes the grab partner was there but he couldn't stop in a gain of 24 Karl Karl on Webster slaughter he's got an eye on him he knows he's got him and the man web starts inside then just breaks out great concentration when I asked him where he thought he could bring to this offense he said I can bring big plays that's exactly what he just did big job for Karl Carter tonight he is not grateful since he signed on November 4th and here he is covering Wenceslas a little Jake given finally showing some life on offense Cody Carlson with lots of time to be able to throw the football jack party likes what he sees now Tony Bennett has 12 and a half sacks look at the job that mags is doing and he's not even close to Cody good throwing lane Givens good concentration through the arms turns it upfield and then gets out about Givens now with 61 catches for his career number two for the Orleans the Blitz Carlson at the one on that's a great job by Carlson and white that is a slip screen what they do is the rings of white was supposed to block the guy he just hesitates and slides down the middle Chuck Cecil he is so far that he's twenty yards back by the time white gets the bun he's going backward he's in the end zone now he's got to react all the way up he's got to react 25 yards to try and make a play he gave a renzo white an opportunity to make a play from 25 first and goal from a foot away white ran into his own blossom may have lost the foot Tim walked the first man to hit him for Green Bay this is a very difficult situation for the Houston oiler all offensive linemen I mentioned before about them about them being in a balanced stance that means both feet are fairly parallel you don't lock your foot back like you see with great run drive blocker they have to remain parallel push it could be in Ottoman to a pan so I wouldn't expect him to try and drive it up the middle I'll expect him to go off the corners or throw the ball he's going to turn why but it's a touchdown Karlsson calls his own number and he was perfect on that dry.quick count - don't the defense a chance to really hunker down and getting good stances who comes to the line goes with the quick count plus he's got an old-world center in bruce matthews he just stays close to him he puts his arms up holding everybody they'd say I'll just follow you Bruce take me home and now al del Fredo will come [Applause] we have the fans on their feet here at the [Music] [Applause] with 123 to go third quarter Houston's finally on the board have Ricky Watters injured and be able to bring in and flee out of Florida State and have him turn in that performance and that offense did its job this time as del Greco prepares to kick to the Packers it's 9 7 Green Bay over Houston 123 to go third quarter Paris and books the rookies are gay didn't make the 40-yard line the scoring drive for the Oilers for the 15th time this year the Houston Oilers mounted an 80 yard plus Drive they did it in 506 Carlson hit every pass on the drive and scored on the run key play was a slip screen watch this Lorenzo whites back here Johnny Holland's gonna blitz he's just gonna Nick him and then slide out there's nobody to cover white because he's supposed to be a blocker see he just slips them and now that wide open a middle of field nearest guy is Chuck Cecil he was five yards deep in the end zone big offensive series here as the Packers are not used in their own territory farm with the short set throws complete Sterling Sharpe out across the 30 in the 31 his third catch and we have an injured player down one of the oil Ron wolf is in the middle of the picture on on top right Lauren wolf is the reason that Brett Favre is the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers he went to scout him watched the films of him as a senior wasn't terribly impressed started to leave this is when he was the personnel director for the Jets then someone said hey have you seen the films of him as a junior before he had that auto wreck and he said no I haven't handed him to him went down and looked at him and said oh this kid is really good in the auto wreck he had 30 inches of his intestine removed in an operation lost 35 pounds as a senior he was not the same player so a lot of people laid off of him Ron Wolfe thought he was the best player in the entire draft and they worked a trade with the Atlanta Falcons to get him and Al Smith is the injured player for the Oilers their big middle linebacker who was such a great hitter boy you just get gun-shy in these situations every time anybody is down you get scared left part of your screen sterling with the catch I see how stick the helmet right on his shoulder and he stays down saw him grabbed towards his neck when he was on the ground and no matter how big and how strong you are how much support you have you use the helmet and stick it in there it's very dangerous Sterling Sharpe has now broken his own single-season records for the Green Bay Packers 91 catches the record is Art Monk 106 week Joe Theismann through 106 that year all right you know they're very similar in receivers they're not known for their speed but they're certainly fast enough to one by a lot of people they have terrific hands can lay out for the ball have no respect for their body but you know you've got to give a lot of credit to the Euler defensive backs look at what they've done with sterling Cris Dishman plays one side Jerry Gray plays the other he they've got no balls out here or deep everything has been in the middle of the field and even behind the line of scrimmage and as you pointed out at the beginning of the telecast without support from another wide receiver on the other side of the field he hasn't had all year he is a marked man I mean they have tried to Double cover him and take him out of the ball game that is that I think is what sets him apart from any record that he might establish he really has had to go it alone knowing that he's the guy of course all the Oilers are concerned with Al Smith lying still on the field first half it was Haywood Jefferies who was down for four and a half minutes after a big collision and now Smith has been on the field along it looks like he's got moving watch him coming see him playing his head come in from the left side now he's down on the ground he tries to get up and then he sort of grabs up towards his neck now he is singing up which is the first sign you want to see to make sure there's movement I saw before he was moving his feet as well which is another good sign there he is swinging his neck around everybody's not in their head saying WOW and you notice the concern of the other players this in this situation it truly is one big for Turner this is at the turning you're absolutely right I know with my accident what the way Lawrence reacted in Jimmy Burt and that we saw with Dennis Byrd how everybody cares of course we do send our best wishes out to Dennis Byrd as well who's really progressing and all those prayers I know are coming through and Matt Brock who was his roommate in college sends his best wishes along to him well unfortunately al Smith is up walking good to see and he should be back in the ballgame our situation right here nine seven Packers they have a first and ten at their own 32 53 seconds third quarter for under he's at the shotgun [Music] what the crowd doesn't like it but it was obvious doesn't matter how you throw the ball and they didn't run that play the way they drew it up you know why because the defensive line of the boilers got off so quickly for this they tried to execute it he never really has possession so it's not a reception in the pump second shaft all Matt of Notre Dame just poured through the line so remarkable charge all playing for Doug Smith the huge injured defensive tackle and he played very well sure it's a first down at the 43 Dishman got him around the ankles from behind it's phenomenal Mike they just find him he catches one from the left side he catches one from the right side he catches one from up close this time this Ben tries to jam them and change up does a good job of escaping the coverage and manages to get inside Dishman can just make an ankle tackle for the year 92 catches and Counting for sterling shark and that will be the last play of the third period here at the Astrodome the packers played to a 970 [Music] tis the season to be jolly and also to play very intense football now you can tell it's December you look at the intensity the weight teams play we saw in the cowboy game today Seattle at home is like a playoff team they played Philadelphia tough this one tonight great defensive play great intensity the offense is struggling a little bit that's why every play is so critical you can't afford to let one get away from you and the defense is trying to create the turnovers one touchdown in three field goals that's Chuck Cecil and that's what it's all about intensity in the hitting there's a Christmas card but it's like you get that one in the mail no thanks Thompson on first and 10 in Childress holds him to a beam of a yard it's one of the few times in the second half he has not been double-teamed so he makes the tackle he has such I said it before and I'll say it again watch his explosion off the ball number 79 letting it spin around make the play Jeff Vaughn coming off the ball as well both the inside tackles just penetrating they realize that Favre takes short drive we've seen one sack but that was early in the game now he's getting it off quick and they're getting pressure on quick Packer running backs averaging 1.2 yards Favre in the flatfoot console Jerry Gray came up cut his legs out from under him of course every Sunday is your home for pro football on the ESPN starting at noon Eastern game day with Chris Tom Chris and Joe and there must be another couple of Chris's in there somewhere they'll provide the best pregame show in the NFL for you then back at 7 o'clock Eastern primetime all the highlights all the scores and then at 8 o'clock next week Joe and I will be in sunny Miami at Joe Robbie Stadium the Jets will go against the dolphin to win their division farther than the plant complete to sharpen of defensive play by Kerry cray Gerry graves made some huge plays this year he is also guessed wrong on a few and been burned to a crisp at that time he got it you're absolutely right they blitz him so consequently Dishman does a nice job of not trying to go out there's two veteran corners they switched in man-to-man coverage the throw is a little bit high but a short tackle by Jerry gray 1301 to go in the game Webster slaughter waits at the 10 for the punt of Bryan [Applause] [Music] beautiful pizzas come slaughter fair catch makes the detent of the flag down at the line of scrimmage high soaring punt of 39 no return check the penalty huge penalty because that's a first down what a mistake by the Oilers very great you saw him say I was offsides on the defense lined up welcome lined up over the line of scrimmage the right side of the line so five-yard penalty gives [Applause] and I don't know if Jerry Gray was the guilty party he was just hot because he'd made such a great play the time before I think he said I was and of course they're trying to get in here to put pressure on the punter [Applause] Jack Pardee when we sat down to visit with and he said the first thing he said about this season he said the mistakes we made have been glaring we saw Dumas drop an interception Ryan's own two offside penalties have hurt them tonight oh what a quality coach Jack Harvey is one everywhere he's ever been new set of downs for the Packers you could see the indecision by Brett Favre on that plot as soon as he let it go you knew he wanted it back great job what they're doing is they're just playing sterling sharp short and deep he's he Dishman with the gym okay ugh back up back up back up he tries to running out and up he pulls up in the area bar thinks he's going to go up the field Jerry Craig great one-handed tip team practice see how he's bracketed one behind one in front fires got nowhere to go he should have put that one in the cheap seats fourth interception of the year for gray hit twenty six of his career and Farah came into the shame of the second lowest interception percentage in the NFL this year persons of Duncan and kink and evil extending the corner out of bounds at the 30 it's interesting Mike just like any offense has to settle in to running plays I think it's happening for the play calling of Chris Palmer transferring down to coach Warren Moon I really think Chris Palmer now is starting to see a lot better the things he has to getting it down to Warren you can just get a feel okay I left him two times forced the ball I'm gonna take under this place well you made the point earlier he's not used to calling the place hasn't done it in years [Applause] girl we plant the last white the disappearing Lorenzo white across the 38-yard and Tim Hawkins Johnny Holland made the tackle fault very busy tonight [Applause] number four quarterback in the NFL coming in has really been handled tonight only a hundred five yards in that one interception and Jerry Gray the veteran who said he was happy for a new lease on life after the Rams wanted to cut him loose and he's made the most of it in Houston second and a yard white will get the first down well they've got it going in the air and they've got it going on the ground Lorenzo white now over 50 yards up day something else too Lorenzo a it's tough for the Houston oiler offense to prepare for any kind of a defense because nobody else in the league plays their style so every week they come in it's sort of like let's feel it out let's see what we've got now they're into the game plan they've got a chance to stay for him you seen down by two points fourth quarter for the offensive one doing a great job through water another first down is to the factory you can write that down you that's not the last time you've seen a six-yard crossing pattern but look at the great job Cody Carlson is getting from his offensive line with protection we stop it right there here's the cup and see how he has a chance to step up in he's got throwing lanes in different places to make the delivery nice job in fact Bruce man see he's just sort of hanging out in the middle looking for somebody to hit Carlson performs under pressure 77% completion rates in the pool the fumble couldn't come up with a snap the packers say they haven't no official indication yet just never got the snap from Bruce Matthews and in this situation strongest guy win and the Packers have the strongest guy they have been very opportunistic that is their seventeenth fumble recovery tied for second in the NFL and Bryce pop came out with it so Houston finally moving the ball but they turn it over again ESPN's Sunday night NFL is brought to you by Molson the call comes down from Canada crisp clean refreshing wholesome and service call and by Gillette and the revolutionary Gillette sensor shaving system Gillette the best a man can get 9/7 Green Bay leads with 1003 to go in the game and Cody Carlson has committed the turnover that gives the ball back to the Packers their fourth of the night goosh Matthews his center looking at pictures trying to figure out what went wrong Packers take over at the 37 Favre rifles one a great catch at the 49 Ron Lewis who they picked up on waivers from San Francisco coming into this game Ron Lewis only had seven catches where sterling had 88 Favre with a little play-action Lewis just goes down does a little quick turn plants on Jerry Gray gets his hands up nice reaction and farm does put a little heat on the ball to it that's me the kid has a gun first down at midfield [Music] far too Lewis we'll get three maybe four out of that Ray makes the stop again there was a case where Favre saw everybody at the line of scrimmage instead of going through he doesn't even heart he hardly takes us he takes one step back that's a one step drop and fire it out to the wide receiver Jim Eddie hoping his defense can do it again they bailed the Packers to three field goal but maybe they need to avoid a fourth one here down by two and Rachel Russia has had a typical big night for the Houston defense dish Lynn who has drawn the job most of the night on sterling and Shawn Jones set the let it rip on second and sick carving the flat - hairy Sydney pull or chase them down but it may be another Green Bay first now you know sterling can catch the football but what happens with him on the field is he can create voids in an area Dishman 'he's got a man the man underneath he's being backed up by the safety it creates a soft spot on the right side so he Dishman go back out where Sharpe is now you force house smith to try and make a play who's back in the game and Harry Sidney picks up almost a first down or possibly a first down definitely a first down well you had that one power covered on one in one I want to hedge my bets a little bit just had Earl Campbell stop by the booth the five-time thousand yard rusher and in his prime there was nobody better maybe nobody better ever and he is in the Hall of Fame here here any camp oh what a load any place you need all the fame you want he's in it he still looks like he kept boy former Heisman Trophy winner of course Ty get her another one on the field far freeze them out on first [Music] and they'll whistle this one dead as as far around the shoulder pad either Joe Sims or Ron hellström the right guard or right tackle just got up a little bit early on that one it's gonna be five against the pack [Applause] that's the first penalty on Greenbay since the opening kickoff and that is the way they are coached by Mike Holmgren who as you put it is intolerant yes it's not a question not liking them he just is intolerable he's really instilled this team is so young he said they're overachievers but the good thing is they don't know it yet ask other coaches around the league who has done a brilliant coaching job this year they'll tell you Mike Holmgren Thompson for three well we've already had some great college basketball games on ESPN we have some more coming your way a smorgasbord on Saturday number nine Louisville against number 17 Georgia Tech that's a 12:30 start then at 3:00 13th ranked UCLA takes on Georgia number 19 Cincinnati the Bearcats will go up against Bobby Knight in Indiana the fourth ranked team in the country if you're not done by then at 7:30 Iowa State against number six Michigan and then at 9:30 Ohio State visits West Virginia now we'll all get bleary-eyed sadly second and 13 complete to the sideline first down Lois down to the 22 yard line I think it was Dishman where he had the pick Cris Dishman I mean they will jump routes both corners will overplay the patterns Jerry Gray and Cris Dishman this one here he just gets their a shave late but that gives you an indication of Favre's arm I mean he sets and fires this thing this been a finger it got a fingernail on it or a little piece of glove that's all he could get on it and things just seemed right by and this Drive is doing more than possibly set up another scoring opportunity it's taking a lot of time off the field not only that Mike homeland wanted to shorten this game in a 45 second pocket on the field 606 on the game clock Johnson ran into his own man struggled forward inside the Toyota maybe the 19 yard line Lee Williams made the stop by Coleman when we talked to him said because of the potency of that Houston offense we want to shorten this game and by that he's going to take his time getting the plays in now it's 45 seconds as soon as the play is over that's when they start to clock they can see the lower left-hand side of your screen normally Favre has got the play he could step into the huddle any time make the call you don't want to ruin the pace of the offense but you want to bleed that and keep on believable it's right in front of them you see him taking his time at the line of scrimmage secondly Thompson on the swing first down and that looked like 1966 didn't it the old greedy Main Street Tim Taylor leading Paul Hornung around the corner Jerry Kramer out front throwing a block oh my goodness we're back well it wasn't those hall-of-famers but they got it done we talked about Thompson not necessarily running very well to his latterly but here he does a nice job as setting it up Frank winter leading the way does a good job of pushing it out Thompson picking up the first down the clock down to 451 first and ten Green Bay at the Houston 11 yard line Thompson gets to the nine [Applause] Green Bay came into this game number two in the NFL in time of possession and look what they've done to Houston 31 minutes and Counting and when you can keep it and move it you're doing some well if you're gonna draw up a game plan as a coach which Mike did he this was the main thing he tried to drive home through his ballclub particularly to his quarterback was Favre is the one in control lead that clock keep an eye on it and keep the pace of the game going for [Music] [Applause] minutes Thompson again near the 5 what an impressive drive by the Packers if they do get a field goal out of this drive they would only be up 12 7 Houston to choose a timeout here with 3:38 to go the Green Bay would love to have the touchdown and force Houston to score twice [Applause] 3:38 left from the astrodome green bay by - both of these teams came into the night's game with a chance to get within one game of the lead in their respective divisions and it's still on the line I want to point it out here in the five minute mark of the fourth quarter you go back to the old rules of stopping the clock so if there's an incompletion Greenbay would have to kick the field goal they're playing time on the clock far for sure it was the pump-fake that beat Cris Dishman no one it was it was that it was that's one thing Mike but also this ball is not thrown perfectly this ball is actually thrown behind Chris dish that Cris Dishman has this thing defense but far throws it behind Dishman see look it's behind him he's got it defense tup the field where he anticipated it to be little quick fake inside now chris is looking he knows but he throws it behind him Stirling nephew Justin where's Jackie for the point after knocks it through and the Green Bay Packers have taken a 67 lead in the dome Thursday night one of the most dangerous scorers in the game today Brett Hall powers the Blues against Mark Messier and the Rangers on ESPN national hockey night [Music] [Applause] 3:33 left in the ballgame Greenbay leading Houston now 16 7 if Houston loses this ballgame they'll be dancing in the street in Pittsburgh because the Steelers will clinch the division and Brett Farve on the pulling upstairs Chris Jack he set to kick it away Coleman before back to the 22 and the Oilers need a touchdown and a field goal a precision drive for the Green Bay Packers who are number one number two in the NFL in time of possession six minutes and 30 seconds on that drive 63 yards they were superb and Sterling Sharpe got the score and it's turnovers how often two coaches say it's all turnable that's what it is I mean that's what this game boils down to if you don't give the opponent the football and make him beat you you've got a whole lot better chance of winning Cody Carlson has brought Houston from behind before particularly when the game against the line they add raggedly it's a Jeffery's at the sideline now think along with it Houston I know it's hard on the fan sites the Houston can get a school any kind of squirrel before the two-minute mark they get within striking distance of winning at 1716 with a touchdown they'd have two timeouts left plus the two-minute warning and that's something to think about if you're an oiler fan and you're on offense defensively the packers they've got to make them eat up the clock somehow and burn some of those timeouts play clock already down to 10 and some confusion on the Houston sideline and they have to use one of their timeouts to avoid a five-yard penalty boy it can't happen and that's about as much emotion as you'll see out a jack party you know something if I tell you what I might have done I lost his chin strap but it doesn't I'd have taken the five-yard cuz right now distance is not that important you're right you've got them I've got the ball at the 35 so I go back to the 30 so what great it's more important to me as a timeout not whether or not I got my chin strap or whether or not I can use I mean timeout you can't get back George you can't right point because that down the road if they score will cost them 45 seconds by not being able to stop the clock party's over in that case leave Williams on your right William fuller on your left Oh's men have played their hearts out tonight the Houston Oilers defense unbelievable [Applause] the Cody Carlson's actually holding his chin strap on now it drops down he still makes a completion with his chin strap flapping so do it again whatever the confusion was it wasn't worth it it still doesn't work instead they're down to one timeout three minutes 18 seconds to go in the game in the need to score [Applause] [Music] these sideline Geoffrey's one up after look like things out of balance oh no oh my goodness and between two defenders this is sensational he's a one-man highlight film right part of your screen watch this he's got somebody in front of him somebody in back of him catches it he's been beat up then lying on the field for four hours or for four minutes and seemed like four hours deal I'm sure [Music] what a great catch by Jefferson the feet down [Applause] [Music] [Applause] gain of 36 would be a bad idea to get up and just grounded the clock is your friend you're going to use anyway you're going to need two scores you got to stop the clock somehow down to 242 throw it over the middle short complete but they're not going to be able to stop the clock ask water game maybe [Applause] so frustrated sometimes you got to think these things out and I will say Cody hasn't been in this situation a lot in his defense but you gotta play this thing out in your mind when you're standing on the sidelines you gotta say what are my options it's not gonna do you to do this [Applause] he does a great job a great catch by hey with Jefferies terrific throw here and this one that Curtis Duncan he looks to safety off fires it in Duncan just extends Connecticut Marivic it up he got 250 left his leader down at Nick - the - he's about a yard shy of a first down and this will be fourth he's got to make a decision quick but let it go to two minutes take your time Cody good uh good idea [Applause] would you call it timeout the clock stopped with 202 somebody called the timeout and I doubt if it was the Green Bay Packer and now they'll run it down to two minutes as nobody did take the timeout so the Oilers when we come back forth and one from the 216 seven with two minutes to go the Oilers fourth and one from the Packer two yard line the Oilers by using the timeout on this drive when they didn't need to have put themselves in the situation that even if they score here they've only got one timeout left and if they don't recover her onside kick green basement run out the clock you know you know what the call is here in my mind Lorenzo white he got him spread out pop him to a priest [Applause] opps in the life [Applause] low light he be smelly and he's having a great year he's not gonna be p9 they call an option great execution by Cody Carlson just a great piece of execution and now we'll be up to the defense more specifically it will be up to special teams yeah but it's a defense it's not stopping them it's trying to strip them get the football on the ground so you got a shot at del greco for the point after that would make it a two-point game [Applause] coming right at you our reverse angle Cody Carlson on the option does a good job of reading all right what white is just not going to be from four yards out there's the ball that's all it has to cross the line it's all it matters great effort this one's from the back end what great power what what a year he's having on his way to the Pro Bowl gee whiz maybe you talked about the Pro Bowl backs to like obviously Thurman [Applause] richard smith team's coach power the Oilers on onside kicks they've only tried one and they did not recover one [Music] but of course on the other side the special teams coach for the Packers Nolan Cromwell with only one timeout left if the Packers recover they can run out the clock without having to punt now we'll take it to the next step let's say they don't become okay you don't afford a handle I believe you there's only one exchange it should be made from the center to the quarterback right kneel down kneel down that's all you have to do we told you all for one hackers have ten and now an 11th man walking up to ten yards within the line that it has to reach which is the 45 and del Greco we'll need the magic this time Cody Carlson this half was 11 4:13 178 yards sterling sharp on the hands team with 92 catches why not the hands team let's go let's go Angie it looked like Robertson had a chance to get it in his hands and he didn't come up with it sunjai beats the backup wide-receiver bought it I found Robertson had a bead on it that was a perfect kick ball by Devlin watches it runs along I want you to take the high hop right there it goes up they've got a shot at it I mean one thing he actually did but beats does a better job and get it away from them Sanjay Beach took it away watch three guys are going to be blockers there you see him create the movement they knock the receivers away and allow the trailer to try and make a play on the ball huge play by Sanjay Beach that could give the Packers their fifth win in a row it hasn't happened since 1966 when they went and won Super Bowl one these are all kneel down Houston with one timeout all I'm trying to strip the ball can't do it there's the last timeout with 150 to go alright so here it's going to be 150 you're going to go to 45 it's down to 105 down to 105 ringing down to 15 seconds Sterling Sharpe came in chasing art monk single-season record of a hundred six catches he has 94 right now 12 behind Art Monk leading the NFL in catches and yards he's just had an exceptional season [Music] [Applause] following our telecasts SportsCenter Keith over to Bill Patrick standing by they'll catch you up on everything including that wild finish the Redskins and the Cowboys also the 49ers and the Vikings a battle for first place in a conversation with Michael Irvin that will be followed by prime time hope you'll stay with us some great highlights [Applause] part of the offensive Oilers of Oilers offensive line Dave Williams - hoping for a miracle right now Houston can no longer stop the clock they keep handing off the miracle could happen for the Oilers wisely cuts it back inside did not want to go out of bounds and give him a free one that could leave him in the ballgame and Houston powerless right now Mike Holmgren accomplished a few things tonight he got his ballclub in a night game for the first time it was a slim close game it was a defensive game where his young quarterback had to make some plays and he did and he proved that no matter what you try and do to Sterling Sharpe he's still going to get him the football Mike Holmgren said one of the reasons he was so excited his mother in a wheelchair in California had not seen him on television so he had to get a haircut look sharp there's bruce matthews on the sidelines we're down to 106 [Applause] Sydney straight up the middle this would be fourth in about nine from the 46 54 seconds on the clock [Applause] keep playing the games got to be the exchange between Cody Carlson and Bruce Matthews snap comes up wall just gets away from Cody I mean Bruce normally you see an exchange problem when the center has to step hard left or right for a cut-off flop that case looked like the ball got up somehow or other they miss connected there is an 11 second difference between the play clock and the game clock see if the Packers take the five-yard penalty then they would have about 12 seconds to go in the game and you run a play or do you punt but Green Bay calls a timeout with 12 seconds left you better believe Houston will have the punt block on it's their last shot well number one it's your last shot and remember you have to almost decapitate the kicker to get a roughing the kicker what you get is a running into the kicker penalty it's a five-yard penalty and not an automatic first down Bubba McDowell had a great college career with nine blocks Dumas holds the school record at Indiana for punt block so they've got some guys with history on their side [Music] [Applause] the clock will start on the snap nobody back 11 men on the line of scrimmage when the only job Wagner has is to kick it anywhere this is the ballgame and Wagner did his job [Applause] five seconds in the get it down here with one second time is expired is that it yep Zen and Mike Holmgren has won a huge cave for the Green Bay Packers they will go to eight and six an amazing night and it leaves Houston in the thick of the wild-card race but the Pittsburgh Steelers win the AFC Central our final score from the dome the Green Bay Packers 16 the Houston Oilers 14 for Joe Theismann our entire ESPN crew this is Mike Patrick good night from Houston SportsCenter is Dec after this

Channel: CMB Alt Chanel

Views: 1,816

Rating: 5 out of 5

Keywords: sports

Id: YSHmkqDgYo0

Length: 134min 56sec (8096 seconds)

Published: Mon Jun 01 2020