Remembering Antonio Freeman and His First 100 Yard Receiving Game for the Packers

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman made his mark with the team in the 1990s and early 2000s and was an integral part of the team’s Super Bowl winning team in 1996. The former Virginia Tech star started his career primarily returning punts and kicks before gradually gaining a bigger role in the offense. He eventually became a Packers Hall of Famer. Today, we remember Antonio Freeman and his first 100-yard receiving game for the Green Bay Packers.

Remembering Antonio Freeman and His First 100-Yard Receiving Game for the Packers: The Leadup

The Packers started the 1996 season on fire. The team was expected to be Super Bowl contenders and the team lived up to the hype early. They dominated in their first three games, winning them all and outscoring their opponents 115-26. They lost their Week 4 meeting with the Vikings in Minnesota 30-21. The Seahawks entered the game 1-3.

Freeman finally established himself as a starter, but he had yet to become an integral part of the offense. He caught a total of 11 passes in the first four games and had only one game with more than 34 receiving yards.

The trip to Seattle was a challenge. The Packers struggled on turf under Mike Holmgren. Their regular season record entering this game on fake grass was 4-16 despite the team having a winning record every season.

They also wanted to get back on track after losing to the Vikings and re-establish their dominance.

An Injury and a Strong Defense

The game did not start well for the Packers offense. Starting flanker Robert Brooks, who had been Brett Favre’s primary target in 1995 and the first four games of 1996, was knocked out cold on the Packers first offensive play from scrimmage on a hard hit by Seattle’s Darryl Williams. As a result of the injury, Freeman moved from split end to flanker and became Favre’s go-to receiver.

The Packers got on the board first midway through the first quarter. Veteran safety Eugene Robinson intercepted Seattle’s Rick Mirer and ran it back 39 yards to the Seattle 46.

“It was a slant and go,” Robinson recalled. “I just read Rick on the slant, I went to the go area, and I was hoping he was going to throw it to that side.” This was an emotional homecoming for Robinson who spent more than a decade playing for the Seahawks.

After two runs by Edgar Bennett gained 24 yards and Dorsey Levens gained 11 more up the middle, Favre found Freeman on a 13-yard touchdown pass to put the Packers ahead 7-0.

The Packers defense continued to force turnovers. On Seattle’s next drive, Reggie White intercepted Mirer and returned it 46 yards before he fumbled the ball out of bounds. Sean Jones forced Mirer’s errant throw. The Packers took over the Seattle 21.

“The ball hit me in the head, and I actually thought I dropped it,” White said. “I really thought I would [get into the end zone].”

The White interception set up a 36-yard field goal by Chris Jacke and the Packers led 10 after one quarter of play.

Remembering Antonio Freeman and His First 100-Yard Receiving Game for the Packers: Trading Scores

While Favre was struggling with his accuracy, the Packers defense kept making big plays to create scoring chances. Linebacker Wayne Simmons sacked Mirer and forced a fumble which Santana Doston recovered and returned to the Seattle 28. Seven plays later, Favre found Levens for a four-yard touchdown pass and the Packers lead was 17-0.

The Seahawks responded. A 23-yard completion to Mike Pritchard set up a 37-yard touchdown run by Chris Warren. The Pack led 17-7 at the half. Favre was struggling and completed just 9-of-20 passes in the first half.

Holmgren addressed the slow start with Favre at halftime. “He did a couple things in the first half that I didn’t like,” Holmgren said. “And we chatted at halftime. He’s a talented young man, but he’s young, and he’ll make young mistakes. But, as I told him, I just don’t have time for young mistakes and neither do you.”

The Packers Pull Away

In the second half, the Packers scored the first time they got the football. Favre mixed runs by Bennett with some accurate passes including a 14-yard catch by Freeman that got the ball deep into Seattle territory. The drive culminated with a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Keith Jackson. The score was 24-7, Packers.

After the Seahawks kicked a field goal to make it 24-10, the Packers defense caused another turnover early in the fourth quarter to end any doubts about the outcome. Cornerback Doug Evans intercepted Mirer and returned the ball 63 yards to the Seattle 28.

Favre found Freeman for 22 yards to get the Packers to the one-yard line. After a penalty, he found Freeman again for a four-yard touchdown pass. The Packers led 31-10 and that was the final score.

Freeman was happy with his performance but concerned for his friend and teammate. “I knew I had to step up,” Freeman said after the game. “Robert’s our guy. I had to play to the level Robert is at. I played flanker all last year, so it’s second nature to me. I got my hands on the football today. It was very satisfying. Robert was a little cloudy, but he’ll be back.”

Freeman finished the game with seven catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Bennett added 94 yards rushing on 22 carries and Favre threw four touchdowns without an interception.

Remembering Antonio Freeman and His First 100-Yard Receiving Game for the Packers: The Aftermath

The Packers were excited about this win. They reasserted their dominance, had won the game on artificial turf and had quieted the usually raucous Seattle crowd in the process.

“Listen,” Holmgren said tongue in cheek. “I want that to be the headline in every paper in the country: ‘Holmgren does it on turf.’”

“This is a dominant team,” Santana Dotson said. “It doesn’t matter where we play. Indoors, outdoors, behind a junk yard, whatever.”

The Packers five takeaways in this game gave them 22 in just five games. During the previous season, they had finished last in the league with 16.

“The only thing good about bad luck is that it has to change,” Sean Jones added. “After having so much bad luck last year it had to change. We were really working hard, but the turnovers weren’t coming. This year, they seem to be coming.”

Meanwhile, the Kingdome was filled with roughly 40 percent Packers fans, and they made their voices heard throughout the game.

“It could have been a hornet’s nest,” linebacker George Koonce said. “But we had around 35% or 40% for us. That nullifies a lot of crowd noise.”

“This is incredible,” White said when asked about the crowd. “We’re from the other side of the country and people are coming to support us.”

Freeman Looks Ahead

Freeman built on his strong play. Despite missing four games at midseason due to injuries, he led the team with 56 catches for 933 yards and seven touchdowns. He added a 105-yard performance in the Super Bowl win over the Patriots that included a record-setting 81-yard touchdown catch.

After this game, he looked ahead with confidence. “I know my capabilities,” he said. “I know that, given the opportunity, I’ll do well. Whether it’s blocking or doing the little things in this offense, there is no doubt in my mind about my abilities. It was just great to go out and show my peers and coaches what I can bring to the table.”

Freeman was just getting started. In eight seasons with the Packers, he caught 431 passes for 6,651 yards and 57 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2009.