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Packers rally to blitz Seahawks

Jan 13, 2008 - 3:29 AM GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- The Green Bay Packers uncharacteristically stumbled on the "Frozen Tundra" before storming back to torch the Seattle Seahawks.

Brett Favre threw three touchdown passes as the Packers erased an early two-touchdown deficit and routed the Seahawks, 42-20, in an NFC divisional playoff game Saturday at Lambeau Field.

Ryan Grant rebounded from a pair of costly first-quarter fumbles to rush for 201 yards and three touchdowns as Green Bay (14-3) advanced to next Sunday's NFC championship game against either the Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants.

Favre was 18-of-23 for 173 yards and no interceptions, improving to 12-9 for his career in the postseason as Green Bay reached the conference title game for the first time since 1997 - under current Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren.

"Number one, I thought Brett was extremely sharp," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "He threw the ball very well. When we got behind, 14-0, I was concerned that the weather was going to turn bad because there were some things in the passing game that we wanted to get to and we were able to accomplish that.

"The line of scrimmage, I felt like we controlled that on both sides throughout the contest and Ryan Grant had a big day after a tough start. I can't say enough about the performances. That's the performance you're looking for and our guys definitely stepped up."

It was a magnificent performance by the second-seeded Packers and their three-time MVP quarterback, who refused to be rattled by the disastrous start that saw them fall into a 14-0 hole just over four minutes into the contest.

The 42 points were a playoff record for one of the league's most storied franchises.

"I didn't know that was a record," Favre said. "I think the fact that we were able to score 42 after spotting them 14 right away, you know I don't think you can make a living doing what we did today.

"When we were down 14-0 I have to admit I was not very optimistic."

As snow started to blanket Lambeau Field, the Packers unleashed a flurry of points on the Seahawks (11-7), scoring touchdowns on six consecutive possessions to turn the contest into a blowout en route to their first postseason victory since beating Seattle, 33-27, in overtime in 2003.

"We were up 14 and we were thinking it couldn't be any better," Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said. "They settled in and responded beautifully and then we just could not stop them. We couldn't stop them very well today."

After building a 28-17 halftime lead, Green Bay continued to pour it on in the second half, scoring touchdowns the first two times it touched the ball to build a 42-20 lead with 13:26 still to play.

Grant showed amazing resilience after his early meltdown, running like a man possessed and setting franchise records for postseason yards and touchdowns. Green Bay converted on its first seven third down chances and didn't punt until there was under 10 minutes to play.

"I've been playing football for a long time and I understand there are ups and downs, and I've got to keep fighting no matter what," Grant said.

Even the Seahawks were surprised at the way Grant managed to regain his composure.

"It was his first playoff game and it would get anyone rattled," Seattle defensive end Patrick Kerney said. "But you have to hand it to the guy, he came back and cut well on a bad surface and used his feet to make us look bad."

Seattle, meanwhile, managed just a pair of field goals by Josh Brown after its early outburst and look completely out of sorts in the snow. The second came after tight end Marcus Pollard's drop of a wide-open touchdown pass in the end zone in the third quarter that could have cut the deficit to 11 points.

"Our surehanded tight end dropped a ball because he could not see the ball in the snow so it did have an impact but it was the same for both teams," Seahawks wideout Nate Burleson said.

"We cannot blame the weather," added strong safety Deon Grant. "They did stuff that we were ready for. They just out-executed us."

Hindered by the absence of a running game, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck finished 19-of-33 for 194 yards and a touchdown for the Seahawks. Shaun Alexander led Seattle with 20 yards rushing on just nine carries.

"It stings quite a bit right now," Hasselbeck said. "We are just scratching our heads on a couple of things. Whatever team you are on and you don't win the Super Bowl, it is tough. It is a real hollow feeling."

"Well the thing with them is they're a passing team anyway," Green Bay cornerback Charles Woodson said. "So for us to go out there and take them away from what they do, that's going to win games for you."

The Seahawks had stunned the Packers and the crowd, capitalizing on the two fumbles by Grant to take a quick 14-0 lead.

Grant's first fumble came on the very first play from scrimmage, leading to Shaun Alexander's 1-yard touchdown one play later and a 7-0 lead after just 20 seconds had elapsed.

On the Packers' next possession, Grant fumbled on the second play and Seattle easily moved downfield 49 yards in six plays, capped by Hasselbeck's 11-yard scoring pass to Bobby Engram to make it 14-0 with 10:59 left.

In dire need of a score, Favre guided Green Bay on a 69-yard drive that he finished off with a 15-yard pass to Greg Jennings to halve the deficit with 7:08 still remaining in the quarter. Favre completed all four pass attempts for 65 yards.

"Oh, it was exciting, it was fun," said Jennings, who had six receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns. "That's what football is all about, the 'Frozen Tundra.' It reminded me of the 'Ice Bowl.' All the ground was covered in snow, it was great. It was a great atmosphere out there today."

Grant then atoned for his huge miscues on the Packers' next drive, carrying five times for 49 yards and plowing in from 1 yard out to deadlock it at 14-14 with 1:02 left in the quarter.

A fumble by Pollard on the first play of the second quarter deep in Seattle territory set up Green Bay's third TD, a 2-yard pass to Jennings to put the Packers ahead, 21-17.

The Seahawks briefly stemmed the momentum and pulled within 21-17 on Brown's 29-yard field goal, but Green Bay answered with a 14-play, 70-yard march, highlight by Favre's underhand toss to Donald Lee on 3rd-and-8 at Seattle's 14-yard line.

"They were running the ball well and with the extra time Favre was able to find some guys open," Seattle free safety Brian Russell said. "He made that great underhanded throw ad-lib play and he had some real short curl routes that we would have liked to have covered better. They protected well and we did not cover well enough."

Grant rumbled in from 3 yards out on the next play as Green Bay assumed a 28-17 lead with 26 seconds left in the opening half. Grant finished his eventful first half with 91 yards on 14 carries.

"Brett had a good game, he really did, but I think the key game was their rushing," Holmgren said. "Passing yards were pretty close, but they ran the ball very very well and to me that was the difference."