Green Bay Packers: Mike Sherman’s Exciting, Disappointing Tenure

After valiantly fighting to earn a home playoff game, the Green Bay Packers disappoint once again.

Thanks mostly to the 25th-ranked defense, the Green Bay Packers started the season 1-4 in 2004.

It culminated in a 48-27 loss at home to the Tennessee Titans. The defense allowed 269 combined rushing yards in that game and the previous week against the New York Giants.

From there, the offense took over. Averaging more than 33 points per contest, the Packers won their next six contests to get 7-4 on the year.

Then on Christmas Eve – an extremely rare Friday afternoon matchup – the Packers traveled to Minnesota. A venerable house of horrors for Favre’s teams.

Through guts and perseverance, the Packers tied the game at 31 on a 4th-down TD pass with less than four minutes to play.

Minutes later, after a stunning defensive stop, Ryan Longwell booted a game-winning field goal for a 34-31 win and the NFC North crown.

That win over the Vikings, coupled with the Packers earlier victory, meant Minnesota was coming to Lambeau for an opening round playoff game.

Five minutes into the contest, the Packers were down 14-0. It was the Falcons’ game from two years earlier all over again.

What sounded great initially ended up being the worst outcome.

The Vikings would score on their first drive, going 76 yards on three plays to start the game. Moe Williams caught a pass and raced 68 yards for a touchdown. After a punt, Minnesota then went 55 yards in four plays for a second TD.

Five minutes into the contest, the Packers were down 14-0. It was the Falcons’ game from two years earlier all over again.

Two Favre interceptions in the first half would lead to 10 Vikings’ points. Longwell shanked a 28-yard field goal that would have trimmed the deficit to 11 at halftime. Everything was going wrong again.

Still there was hope. The Packers would find the end zone on a nine play, 78-yard drive to pull within 24-17 with 13:37 left in the game.

But on the Vikings next possession, the defense was Swiss cheese again. Minnesota went 66 yards in six plays to go back in front by 14. Green Bay would get to midfield, but have to punt back to the Vikings.

Quick note: On that drive, Favre was throwing to Tony Fisher, Antonio Chatman and Andrae Thurman (who?). Apparently there were some injuries too.

Anyway, Minnesota would keep the ball for eight minutes as the Packers’ defense couldn’t get a stop. Save for the final play, the Vikings ran out the clock and handed Sherman his second home playoff loss in three years.