FIRST QUARTER

With that at stake, the Packers opened their 14th game of the 1996 season with Chris Jacke's kickoff. Denver, without injured starters John Elway (QB) and Gary Zimmerman (T) and with back Terrell Davis and tight end Shannon Sharpe nursing ankle sprains, started at its own 29. Davis was stuffed for no gain by linebacker Brian Williams on first down and worked the opposite side for 6 on second. Facing a third-and-4, Bill Musgrave -- making the first start of his 6-year NFL career -- kept the ball on a quarterback draw and churned out a first down at the Denver 41. Sean Jones then made the first big play of the game for the Packers, stripping and recovering Aaron Craver's fumble for Green Bay at the Bronco 41.

Looking to capitalize on an early turnover as the Packers did so many times early in the season, QB Brett Favre went deep on the first play, but overthrew wideout Andre Rison. Favre then went to play-action, but target Mark Chmura slipped on the moist turf and the ball fell incomplete. On third-and-10, Green Bay switched up the Broncos with a draw to Dorsey Levens, who -- coming off a career-game against the Bears -- busted up the middle for 13 and a first down at the 28. Edgar Bennett got the next carry, but was stuffed for no gain. An illegal motion penalty on Antonio Freeman pushed the Packers back 5 yards.

Denver seemed to get the football right back when Steve Atwater intercepted a Favre pass on the ensuing play, but Atwater was flagged for defensive holding against Rison, negating the pick and giving the Packers the ball at the 29. Levens continued his productive running, hitting the hole hard and working outside for 8. Bennett was stuffed for no gain again, making it third-and-4 for the Packers. Favre was able to move the chains, this time hitting Mark Chmura -- making his first appearance since straining his arch against Kansas City -- at the Bronco 13. Looking for his other tight end, Favre misfired to Jackson on first down. On second-and-10, Favre fumbled the snap, but fell on the ball to make it third-and-10. Dropping back for a screen, Favre hit Levens, who was dropped in a fine effort by Alfred Williams back at the 15. Chris Jacke came on for a 33-yard field goal attempt and converted, allowing the Packers to capitalize on the Bronco turnover with three points.
Packers 3, Broncos 0.

Jacke kicked off and Byron Chamberlain returned it to the Bronco 31, where Denver would start its second drive with 7:51 to play. Musgrave completed his first pass in his first start, hitting Ed McCaffrey for 6 on first down. That passing percentage quickly fell to .500 when Santana Dotson batted down Musgrave's second pass. Musgrave then executed a fine pitch fake and hit Sharpe on the backside for first down in Green Bay territory at the 47. An underneath pass to Rod Smith gained 6. Davis, the NFL's leading rusher coming in, was stacked up at the line by George Koonce for no gain on second down. On third-and-4, Denver emptied the backfield and Musgrave hit Anthony Miller on a tough out pattern for another Denver first down at the Green Bay 28. Davis got his first plus-5 run off the game, ripping up the middle for 6 on a trap. Denver's Jamie Brown, starting ahead of Zimmerman at left tackle, jumped early, a motion penalty pushing the ball back to the 27. Musgrave continued a short, rhythm passing game, going to 5-for-6 with an underneath hookup with Miller for 5. On third-and-4, Musgrave again tried the pitch fake, but the Packers stayed home this time and the QB couldn't find Sharpe. Jason Elam came on for a 40-yard field-goal try and converted, tying the game.
Packers 3, Broncos 3.

Howard returned the ensuing Elam kickoff to the Packer 30 with 2:38 to play in the first period. Favre came out throwing again, hitting Jackson for 7. Looking for Freeman on a streak to the left, Favre was foiled by Lionel Washington. Favre tried to audibilize on third-and-3, but Jackson was caught in motion -- trying to adjust to the play call -- and the Packers were backed up 5 yards. Denver paid the Packers back right away, with Williams jumping offsides on Favre's hard count. On third-and-3, Favre hit the motioning Freeman on a quick slant and the Packer wideout -- still wearing that cast on the once-broken left forearm -- ripped off 16. On the first run play of the drive, Bennett went outside for 2 to the Denver 46. The second run play of the drive was worse, with Bennett trapped back to the 49 by cornerback Ray Crockett, a loss of 3 on the final play of the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

The Broncos went to some trickery right away, a flea-flicker that Musgrave converted into a 28-yard pass to McCaffrey at the Denver 48. Denver the penetrated Packer territory with a 4-yarder inside. A quick hook to Sharpe went for another first down, this time at the Green Bay 39. Musgrave, 7 for 9 passing, handed to Davis for 2. A swing pass to Craver on the right flat was nearly picked off by Brian Williams, who instead buried Craver for a 5-yard loss. Denver continued in the wrong direction when, on third-and-11, Doug Evans blasted in untouched on a cornerback blitz and dropped Musgrave at the Bronco 49. Tom Rouen came in for the first punt of the game. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Denver's Darius Johnson for running out of bounds and not making an effort to return to the field forced a Bronco re-kick after a 15-yard penalty. That worked to Green Bay's advantage with Rouen shanking the second kick for 24 yards and giving the Packers possession at their own 42 with 10:53 to play in the half.

Freeman was Favre's first-down target again, but juggled the ball and the play was ruled incomplete. Favre, just 4 of 10, misfired again when he was pressured by Williams and couldn't hit Freeman over the middle. On third-and-10, Favre escaped the Bronco rush, but overthrew a streaking Rison. Rookie tackle John Michels was flagged for holding on the play, but the Broncos refused the penalty and forced Craig Hentrich's first punt. Rod Smith made the fair catch at the Denver 13 with 10:21 to play in the half.

Davis tried to work off tackle on first down, but was wrapped up by Eugene Robinson after 2 yards. Musgrave's quick slant to McCaffrey was tipped by Wayne Simmons and fell incomplete. On third-and-8 from the shotgun, Musgrave hit Sharpe at the 20, but LeRoy Butler stopped the big tight end shy of the marker, prompting another Rouen punt. Howard returned the ball from the Packer 34 to midfield with 8:53 left in the half.

Green Bay, unable to get on track offensively, stepped back on first down when Michael Dean Perry sacked Favre for a 4-yard loss. Favre was able to get Green Bay in Denver territory with a quick hook to Freeman at the 47. Flushed from the pocket, Freeman was pulled down by Perry for 2. However, Denver's Jumpy Geathers was called for offsides (though replays showed he clearly didn't move early). On third-and-3, Favre threw the blitz-beater to a slanting Rison for a first down at the Denver 37. Favre tried a similar play to Freeman, but Lionel Washington knocked the ball away. Levens, on the first run of the drive, scratched out 2. Favre went back to the air and drilled a line drive to Jackson at the 18 for a Packer first down, making Favre 7 of 16 passing. Bennett tried to work the Denver left side and pushed the ball to the 16. A holding penalty on center Frank Winters, however, backed up the Packers 10 yards to the 29. Officials debated a motion penalty before the next play and finally called Andre Rison, another 5-yard loss. Working from the 34, Favre underthrew a diving Freeman at the 18. On second-and-25, Levens took the inside handoff on a draw and was stopped by Johnson at the 31. Got a third-and-22 call in the playbook? Green Bay got a chance to devise one when the Broncos called timeout. It worked. Favre had protection and ripped a pass to Freeman on the skinny post for a first down at the Bronco 8. Faking the sweep, Favre hit Jackson for 3. A Bennett run put the ball at the 4 just prior to the 2-minute warning. On third-and-goal, Favre audibilized and threw to Freeman in the end zone, but the ball went in and out of his hands with contact from Washington. Jacke came on for his second field-goal try, a 22-yarder, and converted with 1:54 left in the half.
Packers 6, Broncos 3.

Vaughn Hebron returned the ensuing kickoff to the Denver 37. Musgrave tried a quick out to Sharpe on first down, but the ball was a touch late and Butler swatted it away. Musgrave was able to complete an underneath pass to Sharpe at the 40, but Butler was draped on him and dropped him for a 3-yard gain. On third-and-7, Musgrave threw incomplete to Mike Sherrard, with the ball broken up by Tyrone Williams. Howard made a fair catch of Rouen's punt at the 27 with 51 seconds left in the half.

Favre went right to work, finding Freeman on a crossing pattern at the 44. A quick hitter to Chmura pushed the ball all the way to the Denver 28, with Favre beating the blitz and Chmura breaking three tackles. A screen to Levens gained 9 and the Packers called timeout with 29 seconds left in the half. Bennett got the handoff on a draw, reached the 14 and stopped the clock with a timeout at the 23-second mark. Denver defensive back Tyrone Braxton, a Madison native, was injured on the play. Because of the injury, a twisted ankle, the timeout was not charged to the Packers. Favre made the most of the opportunity, avoiding the rush of Perry and finding Freeman in the back of the end zone for the first touchdown of the game, a 14-yarder. Freeman beat former Packer safety Tim Hauck to complete Favre's 32nd TD pass of the season. Jacke converted with 17 seconds left in the half.
Packers 13, Broncos 3.

Chamberlain fumbled the ball on the ensuing kickoff, but recovered at the Denver 35 with 11 seconds to play. Davis ran off right tackle for 2 on the final play of the half.

THIRD QUARTER

Davis picked up 5 on first down and worked the right side for 3 more, setting up a third-and-2. Davis tried the left side for a first down but met nothing than Gilbert Brown at the 20. Elam came on for a 39-yard field goal and converted with 11:56 left in the quarter.
Packers 13, Broncos 6.

Howard returned the ensuing kick just 8 yards to the Packer 12. Favre audibilized and again, on a check off, the Packers were flagged for motion. This time it went against Chmura (after Jackson had a similar miscue in the first half). Working from the 7, Favre went over the middle to Freeman on a post for 13. William Henderson busted up the gut for 20 on a quick opener, but the play went for naught when Michels was flagged for holding for the second time in the game. On second-and-12, Favre's pass was deflected by John Mobley and nearly intercepted by Allen Aldridge. Favre again came up big on third down, working again to tight end Mark Chmura for a 24-yard gain. Favre went on top toward Freeman on a streak, but Crockett knocked the ball away just as it hit Freeman's hands. Crockett was slow to rise after the play. With the ball at the Green Bay 35, Favre threw incomplete to Freeman, but Denver's Ernest Jones jumped offsides. Favre gunned the ball to Freeman -- over the 100-yard receiving mark again -- for a first at the Packer 49. A blitz-beater for short yardage then turned into a 51-yard touchdown when Favre fired quickly to Freeman and the big-play wideout spun left, broke the leg tackle of Tory James and raced 40 more yards for his second TD catch of the game. It was Favre's 33rd TD pass of the season. Jacke converted with 8:48 to play.
Packers 20, Broncos 6.

Hentrich kicked off for Green Bay this time, replacing Jacke, and hit a knuckler that Hebron returned to the 25. Musgrave's first throw of the second half went incomplete out of bounds. Ditto for the second pass of the half, an overthrew of Craver to the opposite side. On third-and-10, Musgrave was pressured and nearly intercepted by Mike Prior. Rouen came on to punt after the three-and-out. Howard returned the kick to the Packer 48 with 8:15 to play in the third quarter.

Bennett reached midfield on a sweep right on first down. Favre overthrew Rison on the near boundary on second down, but Denver jumped offsides, making it second-and-3. Jackson couldn't handle Favre's out pass, setting up a third-and-3. Favre did a lot of work for little gain on third down, circling around the offensive backfield twice, avoiding two tackles and then throwing incomplete to Jackson. Hentrich came on for just his second punt. Rod Smith returned it to the Denver 18 with 7:03 left in the third.

Musgrave was avalanched by a blitzing Butler for a 5-yard loss on first down. A toss to Davis was negated by a false start by Sharpe, making it second-and-20. Musgrave woefully overthrew McCaffrey, setting up a third-and-20. Musgrave, throwing from his own end zone, found Sherrard at the 11, prompting another Rouen punt. The ball rolled dead at the Packer 49 with 5:21 left in the quarter.

Favre misfired in Freeman's direction on first down. The classic Favre play-fake on the inside handoff to Levens held the defense and worked for 9 yards. Favre kept the ball on the sneak for a first down at the Bronco 39. Levens rammed his way to the 34 behind Winters and Aaron Taylor -- and smashed the umpire at the end of the play. Adam Timmerman was flagged for a false start before the ensuing play. Levens got near the first down again with a 5-yard pickup, making it third-and-1. Levens kept the drive alive with a 5-yard burst to the 26 and a first down. Levens carried again, snapped off two tackle attempts and pushing the ball for 11 to the 15. Bennett got the call this time, slicing off tackle for 5. Favre got another first down with a dart to Chmura to the Denver 5 on the final play of the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

Hebron was pasted by Bernardo Harris at the Denver 22 on the ensuing kickoff. Davis worked for 3 on first down -- just the 10th offensive play of the second half for the Broncos. An offsides penalty on Green Bay and a 2-yard Davis run set up third-and-1. Musgrave went to the air and found McCaffrey on play action for the first down, Denver's first of the half. Working from the Denver 35, Davis swept left for 4. On second-and-6, Musgrave faked the toss and was hit on the backside by a blitzing Doug Evans, who stripped the football free. Reggie White recovered for Green Bay -- the second time in the game the Packers claimed a Bronco fumble.

Starting from the Bronco 35, Levens went off left tackle for 6. Levens carried again, running right behind Henderson, just shy of a Packer first at the 26. Levens' third straight carry was good for another Packer first at the 24 -- and gave Levens a career-high 84 rushing yards. Bennett tried to sweep left and was stopped for a loss of 3 at the 27 -- dropping Bennett's game totals to 9 carries, 5 yards. On second-and-13, Levens turned the right corner for 2. Favre dropped back for the first pass of the drive and made it count, rifling a 25-yard TD pass in the end zone to Freeman -- the third of the game for Freeman, fourth for Favre. Jacke converted.
Packers 34, Broncos 6.

After an illegal block on Glenn Cadrez on the ensuing kickoff, Denver started at the 17. The drive -- if you can call it that -- lasted just one play when Brian Williams recovered Detron Smith's fumble at the 15, giving Green Bay possession after a Denver fumble for the third time in the game.

With the game sealed, Doug Pederson replaced Favre at quarterback -- meaning Favre ended the day with another 4-touchdown effort, his fifth such outing of the season. Travis Jervey worked off the right side for 2 on first down. Jervey got the call again and reached the Bronco 11. Proving the theory that when you're hot you're hot, Green Bay scored again on a bizarre play. Jervey carried the ball to the 8 and fumbled when he ran int a pile, but as the ball bounded into the end zone, Don Beebe recovered for the Packer touchdown. Jacke converted.
Packers 41, Broncos 6.

Jeff Lewis replaced Musgrave at quarterback on the ensuing Bronco drive and, on a second-down play, dived to the 26, setting up a third-and-4. Lewis found a cutting Hebron for his first NFL completion, a gain of 6 for a first down. Hebron carried for the Broncos again, slicing off the left side for 8. From the 37, Hebron moved the chains again with a 3-yard push on the last play prior to the 2-minute warning. On first-and-10, Lewis was pressured and lost the ball forward on what was ruled an incomplete pass. Hebron carried on second down and reached the Denver 49. Hebron penetrated Packer territory with a 4-yarder to the Green Bay 47. Lewis threw incomplete to Hebron with 11 seconds to play in the game. On the final play of the game, Hebron ran for 4 yards.

The victory, Green Bay's 15th straight at Lambeau Field, clinched the Packers' second straight NFC Central Division championship -- the first time since the Super Bowl seasons of 1966 and '67 the Packers won back-to-back division crowns. Snapping a nine-game winning streak by Denver (12-2), the Packers (11-3) were in position to clinch a first-round playoff bye, pending the outcome of the Dallas-Arizona game later Sunday. A Dallas loss or tie and Green Bay would have a first-round bye. Either way, the Central champions play just two more regular-season games -- at Detroit at noon next Sunday and at home against Minnesota at noon Dec. 22.

FIRST QUARTER
Green Bay -- Jacke, FG, 33
Denver -- Elam, FG, 40

SECOND QUARTER
Green Bay -- Jacke, FG, 22
Green Bay -- Freeman, 14, pass from Favre (Jacke, kick)

THIRD QUARTER Denver -- Elam, FG, 39
Green Bay -- Freeman, 51, pass from Favre (Jacke, kick)

FOURTH QUARTER
Green Bay -- Jackson, 1, pass from Favre (Jacke, kick)
Green Bay -- Freeman, 25, pass from Favre (Jacke, kick)
Green Bay -- Beebe recovered fumble in end zone (Jacke, kick)

-- Pat Stiegman