2001 Green Bay Packers season

2001 Green Bay Packers season
2001 Green Bay Packers season
President	Bob Harlan
General manager	Mike Sherman
Head coach	Mike Sherman
Home stadium	Lambeau Field
Results
Record	12–4
Division place	2nd NFC Central
Playoffs	Won Wild Card Playoffs; (vs. 49ers) 25–15; Lost Divisional Playoffs; (at Rams) 17–45
All-Pros	2 QB Brett Favre (2nd team); RB Ahman Green (2nd team);
Pro Bowlers	3 QB Brett Favre; RB Ahman Green; TE Bubba Franks;

The 2001 Green Bay Packers season was their 83rd season overall and their 81st season in the National Football League.

The Packers returned to the postseason for the first time since 1998 after two years of missing the playoffs in the 1999 and 2000 seasons. They finished with a 12–4 record. In the Wild Card Round the Packers easily beat the San Francisco 49ers 25–15. But Green Bay's season ended with a 45–17 loss to the St. Louis Rams in the NFC divisional playoff game. That game saw quarterback Brett Favre threw a career high six interceptions.^[1]

This remains the last season in which the Packers defeated the 49ers in the playoffs as the Packers went on to lose 5 straight playoff games to them.^[2]

Offseason

Notable transactions

March 31, 2001 – The Green Bay Packers traded Matt Hasselbeck and their 1st round pick to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for the Seahawks 1st and 3rd round picks.

Free agents

Additions	Subtractions
TE Bobby Collins (Bills)	G Ross Verba (Browns)
FS Scott Frost (Browns)	QB Danny Wuerffel (Bears)
DT Jim Flanigan (Bears)	FS Scott McGarrahan (Dolphins)
	LB Brian Williams (Saints)

2001 NFL draft

With their first round pick (10th overall) in the 2001 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers selected defensive end Jamal Reynolds.^[3]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
2001 Green Bay Packers draft
1	10	Jamal Reynolds	Defensive end	Florida State
2	41	Robert Ferguson	Wide receiver	Texas A&M
3	71	Bhawoh Jue	Safety	Penn State
3	72	Torrance Marshall	Linebacker	Oklahoma
4	105	Bill Ferrario	Guard	Wisconsin
6	198	David Martin	Tight end	Tennessee
Made roster

Undrafted free agents

2001 undrafted free agents of note
Player	Position	College
DeVone Claybrooks	Defensive tackle	East Carolina
Donté Curry	Linebacker	Morris Brown
Damian Demps	Safety	Central Florida
Jason Franklin	Wide receiver	Delta State
Kevin Jordan	Tackle	Fresno State
DeAngelo Lloyd	Defensive end	Tennessee
Marques McFadden	Guard	Arizona
Kevin Stemke	Punter	Wisconsin
Brett Sterba	Kicker	William & Mary
Jacob Waasdorp	Defensive tackle	California

Personnel

Staff

**2001 Green Bay Packers staff**
	Front office President and chief executive officer – Bob Harlan Executive vice president and general manager – Mike Sherman Senior vice president of administration – John Jones Vice president of football operations – Mark Hatley Director of Player Finance – Andrew Brandt Director of college scouting – John Dorsey Director of pro personnel – Reggie McKenzie Assistant Director of College Scouting – Shaun Herock Assistant Director of pro personnel – Sean Howard Head coaches Head coach – Mike Sherman Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Tom Rossley Running backs – Sylvester Croom Wide receivers – Ray Sherman Tight ends – Jeff Jagodzinski Offensive line – Larry Beightol Assistant offensive line – Pat Ruel Offensive assistant/quality control – Darrell Bevell			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Ed Donatell Defensive line – Jethro Franklin Linebackers – Bo Pelini Defensive backs – Bob Slowik Assistant Defensive Backs – Lionel Washington Defensive assistant/quality control – Brad Miller Special teams coaches Special teams – Frank Novak Quality Control Assistant/special teams-Offense – Stan Drayton Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Barry Rubin Strength and Conditioning Assistant – Mark Lovat Weight Room Assistant – Vince Workman

^[4]

Roster

2001 Green Bay Packers roster

Quarterbacks

4 Brett Favre
18 Doug Pederson

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

59 Na'il Diggs OLB
55 Bernardo Harris MLB
56 Rob Holmberg OLB
51 Torrance Marshall MLB
54 Nate Wayne OLB
50 K. D. Williams OLB

Defensive backs

Special teams

Injured Reserve

36 LeRoy Butler S (IR)
24 Antuan Edwards S (IR)
57 Chris Gizzi LB (IR)
78 Kevin Jordan T (IR)
32 Rondell Mealey RB (IR)
91 John Thierry DE (IR)
96 Steve Warren DT (PUP)
16 Travis Williams WR (Military)

Practice Squad

10 Henry Burris QB
35 Chris Gall FB
17 Mike Horacek WR
70 Ed Kehl DE
46 Paris Lenon LB

Rookies in italics
53 active, 8 inactive, 5 practice squad

Preseason

Date	Opponent	Result	Game site	Record	Attendance
August 11, 2001	at Cleveland Browns	L 3–10	Cleveland Browns Stadium	0–1	71,218
August 20, 2001	Denver Broncos	W 22–7	Lambeau Field	1–1	59,177
August 25, 2001	Miami Dolphins	W 17–12	Lambeau Field	2–1	59,547
August 31, 2001	at Oakland Raiders	L 13–24	Network Associates Coliseum	2–2	38,783

Regular season

Schedule

The second game in 2001 was the first time since 1988 that the Packers played the Washington Redskins.^[5] because before the admission of the Texans in 2002, NFL scheduling formulas for games outside a team’s division were influenced much more by table position during the previous season,^[6] and there was no rotation of opponents in other divisions of a team’s own conference. The Packers finished 12–4 overall, placing 2nd in the NFC Central Division (behind the Chicago Bears), and qualifying for a wild card playoff spot.^[7]

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 9	Detroit Lions	W 28–6	1–0	Lambeau Field	59,523
2^[A]	September 24	Washington Redskins	W 37–0	2–0	Lambeau Field	59,771
3	September 30	at Carolina Panthers	W 28–7	3–0	Ericsson Stadium	73,120
4	October 7	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 10–14	3–1	Raymond James Stadium	65,510
5	October 14	Baltimore Ravens	W 31–23	4–1	Lambeau Field	59,866
6	October 21	at Minnesota Vikings	L 13–35	4–2	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	64,165
7	Bye
8	November 4	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 21–20	5–2	Lambeau Field	59,861
9	November 11	at Chicago Bears	W 20–12	6–2	Soldier Field	66,944
10	November 18	Atlanta Falcons	L 20–23	6–3	Lambeau Field	59,849
11	November 22	at Detroit Lions	W 29–27	7–3	Pontiac Silverdome	77,730
12	December 3	at Jacksonville Jaguars	W 28–21	8–3	Alltel Stadium	66,908
13	December 9	Chicago Bears	W 17–7	9–3	Lambeau Field	59,869
14	December 16	at Tennessee Titans	L 20–26	9–4	Adelphia Coliseum	68,804
15	December 23	Cleveland Browns	W 30–7	10–4	Lambeau Field	59,824
16	December 30	Minnesota Vikings	W 24–13	11–4	Lambeau Field	59,870
17^[A]	January 6	at New York Giants	W 34–25	12–4	Giants Stadium	78,601

Game summaries

Week 1: vs Detroit Lions

Week 1: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	3	3	0	0	6
Packers	21	0	7	0	28

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Date: September 9
Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C)
Game attendance: 59,523
Referee: Aster Sizemore
TV announcers (FOX): Curt Menefee, Brian Baldinger, Drew Smith
Box score

Game information

First quarter

GB – Ahman Green 31-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick), 12:27. Packers 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards, 1:36.
GB – Bill Schroeder 23-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 6:08. Packers 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards, 2:46.
GB – Ahman Green 83-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick), 4:29. Packers 21–0. Drive: 1 play, 83 yards, 0:14.
DET – Jason Hanson 49-yard field goal, 2:12. Packers 21–3. Drive: 6 plays, 42 yards, 2:17.

Second quarter

DET – Jason Hanson 39-yard field goal, 4:06. Packers 21–6. Drive: 10 plays, 31 yards, 4:49.

Third quarter

GB – Bubba Franks 1-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 3:54. Packers 28–6. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 6:47.

Fourth quarter

No scoring plays

Top passers

DET – Charlie Batch – 20/39, 276 yards, 2 INT
GB – Brett Favre – 22/28, 260 yards, 2 TD

Top rushers

DET – James Stewart – 13 rushes, 39 yards
GB – Ahman Green – 17 rushes, 157 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

DET – Johnnie Morton – 5 receptions, 111 yards
GB – Bill Schroeder – 4 receptions, 104 yards, TD

Week 3: at Carolina Panthers

Week 3: Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	0	6	15	7	28
Panthers	0	7	0	0	7

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Date: September 30
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
Game attendance: 73,120
Referee: Tony Corrente
TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Bill Maas, Paul Butler
Recap

Game information

First quarter

No scoring plays

Second quarter

CAR – Wesley Walls 3-yard pass from Chris Weinke (John Kasay kick), 13:44. Panthers 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 3:51.
GB – Ryan Longwell 42-yard field goal, 8:26. Panthers 7–3. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 3:50.
GB – Ryan Longwell 46-yard field goal, 0:58. Panthers 7–6. Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 5:11.

Third quarter

GB – Bill Schroeder 12-yard pass from Brett Favre (Antonio Freeman pass from Brett Favre), 12:20. Packers 14–7. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:18.
GB – Bubba Franks 6-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 8:30. Packers 21–7. Drive: 8 plays, 38 yards, 2:36.

Fourth quarter

GB – Corey Bradford 5-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 12:23. Packers 28–7. Drive: 8 plays, 48 yards, 3:46.

Top passers

GB – Brett Favre – 25/39, 308 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
CAR – Chris Weinke – 18/30, 160 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

GB – Ahman Green – 19 rushes, 53 yards
CAR – Richard Huntley – 5 rushes, 19 yards

Top receivers

GB – Ahman Green – 6 receptions, 75 yards
CAR – Donald Hayes – 4 receptions, 52 yards

Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings

Week 6: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	0	0	7	6	13
Vikings	0	20	0	15	35

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date: October 21
Game time: 3:15 p.m. CDT
Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
Game attendance: 64,165
Referee: Ron Winter (14)
TV announcers (FOX): Pat Summerall and John Madden
Recap, Game Book

Game information

First quarter

No scoring plays.

Second quarter

MIN – Cris Carter 43-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper (Gary Anderson kick), 8:18. Vikings 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 68 yards, 3:47.
MIN – Kailee Wong 27-yard interception return (Gary Anderson kick), 7:56. Vikings 14–0.
MIN – Gary Anderson 42-yard field goal, 3:29. Vikings 17–0. Drive: 7 plays, 22 yards, 3:31.
MIN – Gary Anderson 36-yard field goal, 0:04. Vikings 20–0. Drive: 7 plays, 62 yards, 1:30.

Third quarter

GB – Bubba Franks 2-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 10:20. Vikings 20–7. Drive: 8 plays, 73 yards, 4:40.

Fourth quarter

MIN – Daunte Culpepper 14-yard run (Daunte Culpepper–Jake Reed pass), 14:07. Vikings 28–7. Drive: 11 plays, 63 yards, 6:33.
MIN – Jim Kleinsasser 2-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 2:47. Vikings 35–7. Drive: 14 plays, 73 yards, 9:34.
GB – Charles Lee 3-yard pass from Brett Favre (pass failed), 0:45. Vikings 35–13. Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 2:02.

Top passers

GB – Brett Favre – 21/35, 169 yards, 2 TD, INT
MIN – Daunte Culpepper – 18/27, 184 yards, TD

Top rushers

GB – Ahman Green – 11 rushes, 73 yards
MIN – Doug Chapman – 22 rushes, 90 yards

Top receivers

GB – Antonio Freeman – 5 receptions, 57 yards
MIN – Randy Moss – 8 receptions, 73 yards

Week 9: at Chicago Bears

Week 9: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	0	10	7	3	20
Bears	6	3	3	0	12

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Date: November 11, 2001
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: Overcast, 48 °F (9 °C)
Game attendance: 66,944
TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston, and Pam Oliver
[1]

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

Top passers

GB – Brett Favre – 19/32, 268 yards, 2 TD, INT
CHI – Jim Miller – 28/47, 201 yards

Top rushers

GB – Ahman Green – 18 rushes, 93 yards
CHI – Anthony Thomas – 22 rushes, 45 yards

Top receivers

GB – Bill Schroeder – 4 receptions, 100 yards, TD
CHI – Marty Booker – 8 receptions, 81 yards

Week 13: vs Chicago Bears

Week 13: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	0	0	0	0
Packers	0	0	0	0	0

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Date: December 9, 2001
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: Overcast, 33 °F (1 °C)
Game attendance: 59,869
TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston, and Pam Oliver
[2]

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

Top passers

CHI – Jim Miller – 18/33, 139 yards, INT
GB – Brett Favre – 10/25, 96 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

CHI – Anthony Thomas – 15 rushes, 54 yards, TD
GB – Ahman Green – 29 rushes, 125 yards, TD

Top receivers

CHI – Dez White – 5 receptions, 36 yards
GB – Antonio Freeman – 2 receptions, 36 yards, TD

Week 16: vs Minnesota Vikings

Week 16: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	0	3	3	7	13
Packers	0	7	0	17	24

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Date: December 30
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Partly cloudy, 19 °F (−7 °C)
Game attendance: 59,870
Referee: Larry Nemmers (20)
Recap, Game Book

Game information

First quarter

No scoring plays.

Second quarter

MIN – Gary Anderson 44-yard field goal, 8:16. Vikings 3–0. Drive: 5 plays, 43 yards, 1:47.
GB – Donald Driver 31-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick), 3:18. Packers 7–3. Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 4:58.

Third quarter

MIN – Gary Anderson 42-yard field goal, 5:07. Packers 7–6. Drive: 4 plays, 8 yards, 1:14.

Fourth quarter

GB – Ryan Longwell 24-yard field goal, 11:57. Packers 10–6. Drive: 6 plays, 19 yards, 2:55.
MIN – Byron Chamberlain 47-yard pass from Spergon Wynn (Gary Anderson kick), 10:03. Vikings 13–10. Drive: 5 plays, 59 yards, 1:54.
GB – Ahman Green 4-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick), 6:28. Packers 17–13. Drive: 7 plays, 79 yards, 3:35.
GB – Mike McKenzie 38-yard interception return (Ryan Longwell kick), 5:25. Packers 24–13.

Top passers

MIN – Spergon Wynn – 11/30, 114 yards, TD, 3 INT
GB – Brett Favre – 18/29, 169 yards

Top rushers

MIN – Michael Bennett – 25 rushes, 104 yards
GB – Ahman Green – 16 rushes, 31 yards, TD

Top receivers

MIN – Byron Chamberlain – 3 receptions, 66 yards, TD
GB – Antonio Freeman – 3 receptions, 43 yards

Week 17: at New York Giants

Week 17: Green Bay Packers at New York Giants – game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	14	3	17	0	34
Giants	7	3	0	15	25

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Date: January 6
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: Overcast, 39 °F (4 °C)
Game attendance: 78,601
Referee: Johnny Grier
TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston and Pam Oliver
- Original announcers for September 16, 2001: Pat Summerall, John Madden and Ron Pitts^[8]

Game information

First quarter

GB – Bill Schroeder 26-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 11:04. Packers 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 62 yards, 2:13.
GB – Ahman Green 25-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick), 8:33. Packers 14–0. Drive: 3 plays, 44 yards, 1:02.
NYG – Ike Hilliard 8-yard pass from Kerry Collins (Morten Andersen kick), 3:43. Packers 14–7. Drive: 8 plays, 67 yards, 4:50.

Second quarter

NYG – Morten Andersen 27-yard field goal, 11:54. Packers 14–10. Drive: 5 plays, 66 yards, 1:15.
GB – Ryan Longwell 44-yard field goal, 0:00. Packers 17–10. Drive: 6 plays, 59 yards, 1:04.

Third quarter

GB – Ahman Green 1-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick), 12:07. Packers 24–10. Drive: 5 plays, 31 yards, 2:53.
GB – Ryan Longwell 43-yard field goal, 7:52. Packers 27–10. Drive: 7 plays, 57 yards, 2:44.
GB – Corey Bradford 54-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 4:35. Packers 34–10. Drive: 3 plays, 53 yards, 0:55.

Fourth quarter

NYG – Tiki Barber 10-yard run (Morten Andersen kick), 12:45. Packers 34–17. Drive: 6 plays, 57 yards, 1:58.
NYG – Ron Dayne 1-yard run (Dayne run), 2:50. Packers 34–25. Drive: 19 plays, 99 yards, 5:18.

Top passers

GB – Brett Favre – 15/30, 315 yards, 2 TD
NYG – Kerry Collins – 36/59, 386 yards, TD, 2 INT

Top rushers

GB – Ahman Green – 23 rushes, 101 yards, 2 TD
NYG – Ron Dayne – 10 rushes, 81 yards, TD

Top receivers

GB – Corey Bradford – 3 receptions, 111 yards, TD
NYG – Joe Jurevicius – 8 receptions, 82 yards

Standings

NFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
⁽²⁾ Chicago Bears	13	3	0	.813	338	203	W4
⁽⁴⁾	12	4	0	.750	390	266	W3
⁽⁶⁾ Tampa Bay Buccaneers	9	7	0	.563	324	280	L1
Minnesota Vikings	5	11	0	.313	290	390	L4
Detroit Lions	2	14	0	.125	270	424	W1

Playoffs

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Game site	TV Time	Attendance
Wild Card	January 13, 2002	San Francisco 49ers	W 25–15	Lambeau Field	FOX 12:00 pm	59,825
Divisional	January 20, 2002	at St. Louis Rams	L 17–45	Dome at America's Center	FOX 3:15 pm	66,368

Notes

^ ^a ^b The Packers were originally scheduled to play the New York Giants during Week 2 of the original NFL schedule (September 16) at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford. However, due to the September 11 attacks, the game was rescheduled to Week 17.

References

^ "Packers lose 45–17". Packers.com. January 20, 2002. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved February 9, 2002.
^ Fleury, Amy (January 21, 2024). "Heartbreaker in San Francisco: Packers fall to 49ers again in the playoffs". WISN. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ "Draft History – Green Bay Packers". NFL. Retrieved February 9, 2007.
^ "Staff Directory". 2001 Official Media Guide. Green Bay Packers. p. 4.
^ "Team Game Stats Finder - Football". Stathead.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ "History of the NFL's Structure and Formats". Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ "NFL History – 2001 NFL standings". NFL. Archived from the original on February 13, 2007. Retrieved February 9, 2007.
^ Sandomir, Richard (September 14, 2001). "TV SPORTS; On Weekend of Reflection, Airwaves Will Be Quiet". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2023.

[GB-NYG-8] The Packers were originally scheduled to play the New York Giants during Week 2 of the original NFL schedule (September 16) at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford. However, due to the September 11 attacks, the game was rescheduled to Week 17.

[6int-1] "Packers lose 45–17". Packers.com. January 20, 2002. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved February 9, 2002.

[2] Fleury, Amy (January 21, 2024). "Heartbreaker in San Francisco: Packers fall to 49ers again in the playoffs". WISN. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[2001draft-3] "Draft History – Green Bay Packers". NFL. Retrieved February 9, 2007.

[4] "Staff Directory". 2001 Official Media Guide. Green Bay Packers. p. 4.

[5] "Team Game Stats Finder - Football". Stathead.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[6] "History of the NFL's Structure and Formats". Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[2001standings-7] "NFL History – 2001 NFL standings". NFL. Archived from the original on February 13, 2007. Retrieved February 9, 2007.

[9] Sandomir, Richard (September 14, 2001). "TV SPORTS; On Weekend of Reflection, Airwaves Will Be Quiet". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2023.

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