Season-in-review team reports — NFC
Central
As published in print Feb. 6, 2002
2001 record: 12-4 |
| Overview |
| The Packers picked up where they left off in 2000, when they finished the
season with four straight wins. Green Bay jumped out to a 3-0 start and was in contention
for the NFC Central title until the last week of the regular season. QB Brett Favre
recaptured his old form, RB Ahman Green continued to assert himself as a Marshall
Faulk-like weapon and the defense made strides under the direction of coordinator Ed
Donatell. The Packers returned to the playoffs for the first time since the 1998 season
but ran into a buzzsaw in the Rams in the divisional round. Though Green Bay had a
successful season, it might have been even better if not for upset losses to the Falcons
and Titans — both of which followed wins over the archrival Bears. |
| Turning points |
| After gaining an edge in the division race with a Week Nine win over the
Bears, the Packers suffered a letdown in a loss to Atlanta, their only home loss of the
year. Chicago won that week and regained a one-game lead. In Week 13, Green Bay won the
tiebreaker over the Bears with another win, but a loss to Tennessee the following week,
coupled with a Bears win, dropped the Packers a game back again. Though Green Bay won out,
so did the Bears, and Chicago won the division crown. |
| Offensive MVP |
| It was like old times for Favre, who threw more than 30 TD passes for the
first time since ’98, the last of a five-year run with 30-plus scores. Though he
didn’t have a top-notch receiving corps to work with, Favre made each pair of hands
better with his ability to buy time, his rocket arm and his veteran savvy. Favre became
the first quarterback in NFL history with 10 consecutive 3,000-yard seasons, surpassing
Dan Marino’s nine. |
| Defensive MVP |
| CB Mike McKenzie has developed into one of the league’s steadiest
cover men. During the regular season, McKenzie was never beaten on a long pass play (30
yards or more), and he finished second on the team with 21 passes defensed. McKenzie is a
competitor and a hard worker who’s known more for his physical play than his speed.
The Packers rewarded McKenzie late in the season with a five-year, $17.1 million contract
extension. |
| Biggest surprise |
| Few people knew much about DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila entering the season.
Fewer could pronounce his name. But everyone knew who "KGB" was after he
recorded nine sacks in the first four games of the season. Though he had only 4½ more
sacks the rest of the season, Gbaja-Biamila boosted a pass rush that finished with 14 more
sacks this season than in 2000. |
| Biggest disappointment |
| DE Jamal Reynolds, the Packers’ No. 1 pick in the 2000 draft, had a
subpar training camp and was inactive for the first 10 games of the season.
Gbaja-Biamila’s emergence meant the Packers didn’t have to rush Reynolds into
the lineup, but they would have liked the rookie to catch on quicker. |
| Rookie recap |
| Reynolds failed to live up to expectations as the 10th overall pick. WR
Robert Ferguson also contributed little, dressing for just one game. CB Bhawoh Jue bailed
the Packers out by moving to safety in place of LeRoy Butler (shoulder). But Jue
struggled, and his play worsened down the stretch. Next year he’ll move back to
cornerback, where he’s more comfortable. LB Torrance Marshall produced little but
will have a chance to start next season. OG Bill Ferrario was inactive all year. TE David
Martin showed a lot of promise early but was demoted when Tyrone Davis returned from
injury. |
| Free-agent/trade review |
| The Packers traded QB Matt Hasselbeck to move up in the draft and select
Reynolds, but so far the deal hasn’t paid off. NT Gilbert Brown re-signed with the
team and looked like his old self at times. DT Jim Flanigan added to the team’s DL
depth. Green Bay lost OG Ross Verba to Cleveland in free agency and replaced him with Mike
Wahle, who performed well. |
| Team leaders |
Rushing — Ahman Green, 1,387 yards on 304 carries, 4.6 avg., 9 TDs.
Passing — Brett Favre, 314-510 attempts for 3,921 yards, 32 TDs, 15 interceptions,
94.1 rating.
Receiving — Ahman Green, 62 receptions for 594 yards, 9.6 avg., 2 TDs.
Scoring — Ryan Longwell, 104 points on 44 PATs and 20 FGs.
Kickoff returns — Allen Rossum, 23 for 431 yards, 18.7 avg., 0 TDs.
Punt returns — Antonio Freeman, 17 for 114 yards, 6.7 avg., 0 TDs.
Punting — Josh Bidwell, 82 for 42.5 avg., 36.5 net, 10 TB, 21 inside 20, 0 blk., 68L.
Interceptions — Darren Sharper, 6 for 78 yards, 13.0 avg., 0 TDs.
Sacks — Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, 13½. |
| Results |
Pointspread Shown Refers to Green Bay.
| Date |
Opponent |
Spread |
Score |
| Sept. 9 |
Detroit |
(-7) |
28-6 |
| Sept. 24 |
Washington |
(-10) |
37-0 |
| Sept. 30 |
At Carolina |
(-4) |
28-7 |
| Oct. 7 |
At Tampa Bay |
(+2.5) |
10-14 |
| Oct. 14 |
Baltimore |
(+1) |
31-23 |
| Oct. 21 |
At Minnesota |
(-3.5) |
13-35 |
| Oct. 28 |
BYE |
|
|
| Nov. 4 |
Tampa Bay |
(-6) |
21-20 |
| Nov. 11 |
At Chicago |
(-2.5) |
20-12 |
| Nov. 18 |
Atlanta |
(-10.5) |
20-23 |
| Nov. 22 |
At Detroit |
(-6.5) |
29-27 |
| Dec. 3 |
At Jacksonville |
(-3.5) |
28-21 |
| Dec. 9 |
Chicago |
(-5) |
17-7 |
| Dec. 16 |
At Tennessee |
(-3) |
20-26 |
| Dec. 23 |
Cleveland |
(-8) |
30-7 |
| Dec. 30 |
Minnesota |
(-13.5) |
24-13 |
| Jan. 6 |
At New York Giants |
(-3) |
34-25 |
| Postseason |
|
|
|
| Jan. 13 |
San Francisco |
(-4) |
25-15 |
| Jan. 20 |
At St. Louis |
(+11) |
17-45 |
|
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