Packers fans turn Dome into home away from home
With biting temperatures, snow on the ground and Cheeseheads patrolling downtown, you’d have thought you were in the shadow of Lambeau Field. Sunday’s Rams-Green Bay game was played inside the Edward Jones Dome, but the atmosphere was decidedly pro-Packers.
That fact did not escape the hometown players.
*Running back Steven Jackson: “It’s a joke, simple as that. The whole first level was Green Bay Packers fans. And then we’re allowing them to put up signs. It’s a joke . . . it’s a joke.”
*Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe: “It is what it is. I have no control over the crowd. . . . We can’t force anyone to do anything.”
*Linebacker Will Witherspoon: “That’s a sad story. . . . It was a little surprising to see more people in your house than your team. It just makes it a road game for us.”
*Quarterback Marc Bulger: “Our fans that came, we appreciate them. We know how loyal the Green Bay fans are. . . . (The Packers are) having a great year. Their fans are excited; you could hear them pregame, all the chatter. It looks like an exciting time to play for that team. It reminds you of college a lot.”
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Atogwe had two more interceptions, giving him seven for the season and tying him with Seattle cornerback Marcus Trufant for the NFC lead. Atogwe has picked off passes in five of the last six games.
After his second interception Sunday, he got a congratulatory hand slap from QB Brett Favre. “He just basically slapped my hand and I slapped his hand; it was just like, “good play, good play,’” Atogwe said.
Still, he was thrilled by the gesture. “Brett Favre is one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play this game, so it’s an honor for me to receive an interception from him,” Atogwe said. “I was excited to get one, and to get two, it’s truly a blessing.”
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Outtakes from the 33-19 loss that dropped the Rams to 3-11, with Pittsburgh coming to town Thursday night:
>>TWO FOR THE RECORD BOOKS: On the same day that Brett Favre broke Dan Marino’s NFL record for career passing yards, Rams WR Isaac Bruce moved into fourth place in career receiving yards. Favre, 38, threw for 227 yards, giving him a total of 61,405 for his 17-year career. “I’m honored,” Favre said. “To pass a guy like Dan Marino . . . I’ve never considered myself in the same league as Dan Marino, maybe the greatest passer ever.”
Bruce, 35, had four catches for 72 yards, pushing his total to 13,983 for his 14-year career. He passed Indianapolis’ injured Marvin Harrison. Bruce declined to speak with reporters after the game.
>>PLAY OF THE DAY: Leading 20-14, the Packers faced third-and-10 with just over 6 minutes to go in the third period. The Rams blitzed Favre, and he hurriedly lofted the ball down the middle of the field. Because of miscommunication between Atogwe and CB Ron Bartell, WR Greg Jennings was wide open some 15 yards behind the defense. He hauled in the pass and waltzed into the end zone for a 44-yard score and a two-TD Packers edge.
>>GAME BALLS: Rams - RB Steven Jackson (24 carries, 143 yards, 46-yard TD run; four catches, 27 yards). Packers - LB Nick Barnett (13 tackles, including two sacks, in the unofficial press box stats).
>>HE SAID IT: “When you jump offsides and get holding calls and give up a sack, and you have to overcome that plus go 80 or 90 yards each time, it’s hard to score points.” - Scott Linehan.
All for now. . .
We have to have the worse fans in the league. I’ve been at the dome when the rams were down buy a touchdown with minutes to go and the darn near the whole crowd is filing out of the place. It doesn’t help when there is bunch of lame fans talking on their cell phones during the game. I imagine the atmosphere at other cities blows st.louis away.