Sunday, August 18, 2002
Packers 29, Cardinals 21
By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. — Vonnie Holliday and Green Bay's defense turned up the heat on a sweltering Saturday night as the Packers beat the Arizona Cardinals 29-21.
The temperature at kickoff for Arizona's first home game of the preseason was 105 degrees, the fifth-hottest game in the Cardinals' 15 years in the desert.
Arizona wants to have a big-play attack this season, but the first unit's lone touchdown came after a Packers turnover deep in Green Bay territory. The Packers scored the next 29 points.
Holliday had two sacks and recovered a fumble for the Packers, and Brett Favre played nearly the entire first half, completing 7 of 19 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Donald Driver, starting because of injuries to Terry Glenn and Robert Ferguson, caught five passes for 71 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown.
Fourth-string quarterback Preston Parsons rallied the Cardinals to two fourth-quarter touchdowns against the Green Bay reserves. He connected with fellow rookie Jason McAddley on a 74-yard touchdown play. Rookie Damien Anderson's 1-yard run cut the lead to 29-21 with a minute to go.
The Packers sacked Arizona quarterbacks seven times. They got Jake Plummer twice and backup Chris Greisen once while taking a 13-7 halftime lead.
“I was very pleased with how aggressive we've been on defense,” Green Bay coach Mike Sherman said. “I think after that first drive we really outplayed them defensively.”
Rookie Josh McCown, Arizona's third-string quarterback, fumbled the ball into the end zone for a safety and was intercepted twice, all in the third quarter. Torrance Marshall picked off McCown's pass after it was deflected by an Arizona player and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown.
Holliday's fumble recovery set up the Packers' first touchdown. Na'il Diggs flattened David Boston for a nine-yard loss on a reverse play.
“The defensive line, we played electric tonight,” Holliday said.
Steve Warren forced McCown's fumble into the end zone late in the quarter. Warren nearly recovered it for a touchdown, but the ball popped loose and McCown fell on it for a safety, giving the Packers a 22-7 lead.
Neither Plummer nor Greisen was effective. Plummer completed 4 of 8 passes for 56 yards. Greisen was 4-for-13 for 61 yards and was intercepted once.
Ahman Green fumbled on Green Bay's first play from scrimmage after a 10-yard gain and Arizona's Ray Thompson returned it five yards to the Packers' 21. Plummer threw nine yards to Boston, and Thomas Jones ran two yards for the touchdown to put Arizona up 7-0.
A fumbled snap stalled Green Bay's next drive, and Ryan Longwell's 47-yard field goal cut the lead to 7-3. Jones fumbled on Arizona's next possession, and Holliday recovered at the Cardinals' 24 yard line. Three plays later, Favre drilled a 21-yard touchdown pass to Driver and the Packers led 10-7.
Longwell's 25-yard field goal with 3:05 left in the half made it 13-7.
Backup quarterback Doug Pederson threw 39 yards to a wide-open Charles Lee for a touchdown to put the Packers up 20-13 with 12:33 to go in the third quarter.
Bengals Stories
Astros 6, Reds 1
Reds box, runs
Reds Q&A
Recovering Dessens on track for return
Reds chatter: Rook on a roll
Cardinals 5, Phillies 1
John Fay's MLB Power rankings
Louisville 7, Columbus 1
Major-league baseballs hand-made in Costa Rica
GROESCHEN: Crosstown games mean it's football time
Badminton to the bone
Enquirer Page Two power rankings
Five questions with DJ Bucher
A big move from the little Texan
Crenshaw commits to Kroger
Landing in the soup
Water, water everywhere
Harlem wins Little League WS opener
One year later, Almonte still not acting his age
Russians are back, better for second run at series
Blake overpowers Agassi to reach Legg Mason final
Elliott tries to put streak in perspective
For David Tua, Moorer proves an easy half-million
Junqueira wins CART pole
Matthew leads at Canadian Women's Open
Rule change has some teams griping
Tark has the NCAA on his trail again
Teams walking luxury-tax line
COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2002
Key for Bearcats is winning the close ones
Lorenzen gets in gear at UK
Miami RedHawks football at a glance
Ragone guides Cards through summer
RedHawks' offense shines
RedHawks short on seniors, but long on talent
Weight no longer 'an issue' for Kentucky's Lorenzen
Wildcats hungry to win in SEC
2002 College Football TV Schedule
Boilermakers looking to stay in Big Ten race
Buckeyes brimming with confidence despite questions
Cardinals eyeing next level
Forecasting the season by fours
Heisman hopefuls
Irish wake-up?
Is any team capable of perfection?
Leftwich well-armed
Preseason Top 25 Capsules
Son of Spurrier? Zook hopes to continue Florida legacy
Wait is over for Nebraska QB Lord
ACC Preview
Big 12 preview
Big Ten Preview
Conference USA Preview
MAC preview
SEC Preview
• Return to Bengals front page...
Packers 29, Cardinals 21
