Wednesday, November 30, 2011

70 Years Ago

Here is a look at your Green Bay Packers… as they were 70 years ago. The 1941 Green Bay Packers competed in their 21st season in the National Football League. The club posted a 10-1 record under coach Curly Lambeau, earning a tie for first place in the Western Conference with the Chicago Bears. One week after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Packers and Bears played a one-game playoff in Chicago to determine who would play in the N.F.L. Championship Game. The Packers lost 33-14, in the first post-season game ever played between the archrivals. The second post-season game came 70 years later, in the N.F.C. Conference Championship game on January 22, 2011. We all know the outcome of that game, eh?

PACKERVILLE NEWS

• Dietrich-Smith can start for Sitton at right guard
• Lang has turned from life of party to all business
• Dietrich-Smith, Lang matured off the field
• Packers Notes
• Packers Notebook
Scouting Report: New York Giants
• Reeling Giants feel good about chances
• Desperate Giants pose threat to Packers
• Giants have little time to fix ailments
• Packers could wrap up playoff spot
• Former Packer Nolan Lund dies at 90
• Packers to host free pep rally in New York
• Woodson: 16-0 ‘fine’; but Super Bowl is goal
• Shula: Packers can match success of '72 Fins
• Anatomy of the back-shoulder pass
• The value of N.F.L. franchises
• Vikings face first blackout in 14 years

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Quittin’ Time!

Vince Lombardi is leaving the office at the end of the day… or leaving the Packers… or leaving his office in Washington (or…?). The date on the photo is “1969,” so we’re not quite sure where or when it was taken. The artwork on the wall was seen in the film “Paper Lion” that we highlighted not long ago, so maybe it is from 1968 in his Green Bay office. If anyone has a definitive answer, leave a comment.

Monday, November 28, 2011

PACKERVILLE NEWS

• Driver not done yet, but considering next step
• NBC's Dungy thinks Packers are headed for 16-0
• Dec. 11 Raiders game changed to 3:15 p.m.
• Bennett: Ball security is name of the game
• Walden out on bond after changed story
• Packers chase perfection, Colts try to avoid it
Hallowed ground at Lambeau Field
• Tramon Williams returns to form
• N.F.C. North title in sight
Peter King: Monday Morning QB

Watch Inside Lambeau, with guest T Marshall Newhouse here.

Unseen ’61 Championship Photos

These shots were found on an auction site, and we had not seen any of them before. They are from the 1961 N.F.L. championship game in Green Bay, when the Packers thumped the Giants 37-0 for their first title under Vince Lombardi.

PACKERVILLE NEWS

• Would a loss help repeat Super Bowl quest?
• Which Packers team is greatest of all-time?
• Smith, Francois quiet fears after injuries
• Packers' Eayers tries to create mental advantage
• Texans not interested in Favre “circus”... yet

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Bart Starr at Work

It’s probably going to be a slow news time for a few days while our Packers take a “mini-bye week” as this post-Thanksgiving time has been referred to, but we’ll still pass along the stories that we find and think are worthy of sharing. Above, we see QB Bart Starr at work in the Sixties in an unidentified home game. He seems a bit harried in this shot, and there were a few defenses in those days that would make that understandable.

PACKERVILLE NEWS

• Rodgers learns 52 ways to motivate teammates
• Undefeated status doesn't distract Packers
• Edgar Bennett brings RB mentality to WR
• Packers healthy for homestretch

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Paul Hornung for Wilson

Here’s a delightful two-page magazine spread advertisement from the 1960’s, featuring Packers’ RB Paul Hornung for Wilson sporting goods. How lucky was that kid to be in a photo shoot with one of the N.F.L.’s top stars of the day?

• Packers' patience put to the test
• LB Erik Walden arrested on battery charges
• Walden to remain in jail over the weekend
• Sitton likely to miss Giants game
• Packers developing identity on defense
• Bishop, Hawk in doubt for Giants game
• Packers/Lions aftermath
• Packers Notebook
• Packers Notes
• 11-0 Packers glad to have time to get healthy

Coach Mike McCarthy’s Friday press conference is here.

Friday, November 25, 2011

The Lions Play Like Turkeys

We’re late with our update on the Lions’ game, but with the family gathering, and then getting together with friends from out-of-town, the night got too late. So, we’re finally getting this posted on Black Friday, and we know everyone was quite satisfied with the win yesterday. Mr. Rodgers (above) turned in a typically stellar performance and the Packers’ silenced those critics who said the Lions would knock them off. They are 11-0 for the first time in their history, and now we have nine days to wait for the next game in New York against the Giants.

It was good to see RB James Starks back on the field after his scary injury against Tampa Bay. It looks like he dodged a bullet there.

We think this guy has silenced almost all of his critics by now.

After a hard-fought first two quarters, the Packers finally got on the board with WR Greg Jennings’ TD catch. Everyone had predicted a high-scoring affair, so it was surprising that we almost ended up with a scoreless first half.

TE Jermichael Finley had some nice plays.

One thing you don’t need to see is any of your starting linebackers on crutches.

CB Tramon Williams had his hands full covering Calvin Johnson all day.

’Twas a nice catch and run for a TD by WR James Jones.

You guys can push and shove all you want above, but FB John Kuhn has already scored down below.

A great snag of an INT for LB Robert Francois.

You can argue all you want, but you’re still the dirtiest player in the N.F.L., mister.

You’ve got a long way to go before you’re like No. 12, No. 9.

PACKERVILLE NEWS

REGULAR SEASON GAME #11 WRAP-UP:
Game Story: Green Bay Press-Gazette
Game Story: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Game Story: The Detroit News
Game Story: The Detroit Free Press
Game Story: Associated Press
Game Story: Packers.com
Game Story: ESPN-Milwaukee
• Official Statistics
• Official Box Score
• Official Play-By-Play Summary
• Scoring Summary
• Photo Galleries: Here, here, here, and here
• Packers Replay
• Game Notes
• Packers Notebook
• Packers Notes
• Packers Insider
*****
Instant Analysis: Packers vs. Lions
• Packers motivated by others' doubts
Tramon Williams holds Johnson in check
• Williams proves he's up to challenge
• Packers reserves came to play
Little-used backups deliver for Packers
Division title at Packers' fingertips
• Packers keep poise against Suh
• Suh's conduct proves costly
• Suh gets plenty of TV commentary
• Packers on Suh: “His explanation is crap
• Lee ejected after scuffle on punt
• Promoted Saine hopes to impress
• Packers turn Lions' roar into a meow
• Lions melt under the spotlight
• Packers bemused by Suh's ejection
• Lions Notebook
• Lions are their own worst enemy
• Lions Notes
• Packers’ post-game quotes

N.F.L. Network game highlights can be seen here.

Aaron Rodgers talks to the media after the game, here.

Rodgers’ game highlights can be seen here.

Coach Mike McCarthy talks to the media here.

Charles Woodson’s post-game comments are here.

Tramon Williams’ post-game comments are here.

Ryan Pickett’s post-game comments are here.

Evan Dietrich-Smith’s post-game comments are here.

Bryan Bulaga’s post-game comments are here.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Buccaneers Game — Part II

On this Thanksgiving, we’re thankful for being the reigning World Champions, and for the 10-0 start to the season. We hope that the win streak continues, but think the Packers have a battle on their hands today in an unfriendly environment. At least all Packer fans can enjoy watching the game, as it will be broadcast everywhere. Now back to Part II of our feature on last week’s Tampa Bay game, which we attended. Above, here’s a look at the Packers’ bench area at game time.

On the opposite end of the field from our North end zone seats, QB Aaron Rodgers goes to work against the Tampa defense.

The Packers come toward us, ready to snap the ball.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens at the game while you’re watching a “T.V. Time Out” at home, well… nothing happens, as evidenced by this photo.

The top arrow denotes the location of the Packers Radio Network booth, while the bottom arrow shows the location of the broadcast booth for whichever network is carrying the game. In this case, it was the FOX Network. Do you wonder how that is determined? It’s simple: the visiting team’s conference determines which network (A.F.C. teams are carried by CBS; N.F.C. teams by FOX). This doesn’t apply, however, to Sunday, Monday, or Thursday night games.

A closer-up view of Mike McCarthy and his sideline during the game.

QB Aaron Rodgers hands off to RB James Starks.

Rodgers meets with McCarthy during a timeout.

Rodgers takes a shotgun snap from center.

Under this pile somewhere is NT/FB B.J. Raji, scoring a TD as indicated by Rodgers.

Above and below, a couple of views of the Packers’ defense at work.

Whether on the road or at home, Packer fans love to yell out “KUUUHHHHNNNN” whenever the situation calls for the FB to score or get a first down. In this case, they fans not only yell — they spell out his name.

K Mason Crosby kicks an extra point down at the South end zone.

Rodgers hands off to RB Ryan Grant.

Look at that opening for Rodgers to run through should he find no open receivers!

The scoreboard celebrates a touchdown. Next year, the video screen will be four times this size — and in HD.

Rodgers runs for some yardage between G Josh Sitton and T Bryan Bulaga.

WR/KR Randall Cobb awaits the ball in the North end zone.

RB James Starks runs for some significant yardage. He would be injured later in the game.

The fans get into the “10-0” mood near the end of the game.

Above and below, a look at both end zone scoreboards when the game was final.

We thought that our games were maybe over for the year, but we received our “Gold Package” Playoff tickets invoice today. That will mean, if all goes well, a Divisional game and the N.F.C. championship. If all goes well...