NFC: St. Louis Rams 45.2C Green Bay Packers 17 2001–02 NFL playoffs
at dome @ america s center, st. louis, missouri
game time: 4:00 p.m. est/3:00 p.m. cst
game weather: played indoors, domed stadium
game attendance: 66,338
referee: jeff triplette
tv announcers (fox): pat summerall (play-by-play), john madden (color commentator), , ron pitts (sideline reporter)
the matchup between 2 of league s highly rated quarterbacks — packers brett favre , rams kurt warner, shared combined total of 5 nfl mvp awards, became lopsided st. louis improved defense, forced 8 turnovers. although favre threw 281 yards, tied playoff record tossing 6 interceptions, 3 of returned touchdowns. packers generated of offense in contest, turnovers gave rams 24–10 halftime lead. rams returned 2 interceptions in second half put game away.
rams defensive aeneas williams opened scoring returning interception favre 29 yards touchdown. next time green bay had ball, turned on again when safety kim herring stripped ball ahman green , rookie adam archuleta recovered it. however, rams unable take advantage of turnover. few plays later, warner s pass intercepted darren sharper on packers 35-yard line. favre completed pair of passes corey bradford , donald driver gains of 27 , 16 yards, before tying game 22-yard touchdown pass antonio freeman. rams stormed right 15-yard completion az-zahir hakim , 38-yard burst running marshall faulk advancing ball packers 11-yard line. 2 plays later, warner completed 4-yard touchdown pass torry holt put rams in lead. on green bay s next drive, herring intercepted pass favre , returned 45 yards packers 4-yard line, setting 4-yard touchdown catch fullback james hodgins in second quarter. allen rossum returned ensuing kickoff 95 yards touchdown, holding penalty on torrance marshall eliminated score. green bay still managed score ryan longwell field goal, rams kicker jeff wilkins responded field goal of own give rams 24–10 halftime lead.
in second half, rams scored 2 touchdowns in span of 92 seconds. on green bay s opening drive, green s 49-yard run moved ball rams territory. 3 plays later, williams stripped ball freeman, dove on it, got , returned touchdown. replay challenge overruled score, showing williams down contact when recovered fumble, 3 plays later, holt s 50-yard reception set 7-yard touchdown run faulk. on green bay s next possession, rams lineman grant wistrom deflected pass favre arms of linebacker tommy polley, returned interception 34 yards touchdown.
in fourth quarter, rams defense scored again interception return williams, making him first player ever return 2 interceptions touchdowns in playoff game. meanwhile, managed pin down packers, allowing meaningless score on 8-yard touchdown pass favre freeman 5:46 left in game.
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