Dan Campbell (left), Matt Eberflus (right) |
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
TUESDAY TIDBITS: "This Was a Victory for Pro Football"
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Green Bay: A Fourth to be Reckoned With
By Eric Goska
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(photos by Eric Goska) |
Better late than never.
Sunday at Lambeau Field, the Packers waited until the fourth
quarter to score. Then, in those final 15 minutes, the Green and Gold awakened,
rallying past the Saints 18-17 to win their 11th straight home opener while
matching the greatest fourth-quarter comeback in franchise history.
Such dramatics would not have been necessary had Green Bay’s
offense shown up for 60 minutes. But down four starters – WR Christian Watson
(hamstring), RB Aaron Jones (hamstring), T David Bakhtiari (knee) and G Elgton
Jenkins (knee) – the Packers managed to do little beyond the 50-yard line in
the opening three quarters.
Four of Green Bay’s first eight possessions ended with
punts. The other four were derailed by failed fourth-down attempts (two), the
end of the first half and quarterback Jordan Love’s first interception of the
season.
The Packers moved the ball during those eight advances: 204
yards in 46 plays (4.4 average). But in 15 pokes in New Orleans territory, the
team produced just 22 yards and one first down.
Furthermore, not until running back Patrick Taylor gained
four yards rushing on the second-to-last play of the third period did Green Bay
pierce the Saints’ red zone. And that drive ended two plays later when Love
threw incomplete for Taylor on fourth down with the Pack in arrears 17-0.
A week ago in Atlanta, Love and Co. went nowhere in the
fourth quarter. At home in front of a partisan crowd, the first-year starter
and his mates hit their stride.
Not counting Love’s three kneel-downs to end the game, Green Bay gained 139 yards on 23 plays (6.0 average). The team picked up 78 yards on 17 snaps from beyond the 50.
Love, who was 0-for-6 in the final 15 minutes against the
Falcons, hit on 7 of 17 throws for 104 yards and a touchdown against the Saints.
His 8-yard scoring strike to Romeo Doubs put Green Bay up 18-17 with 2 minutes,
59 seconds left.
Rookie kicker Blake Grupe then missed wide right on a
46-yard field goal attempt that would have given New Orleans the lead with 1:05
to go.
Going scoreless through three quarters is no way to win. Last
season, teams in that position went 0-9.
Similarly, until edging New Orleans, the Packers had been a pitiful
2-59 in regular-season games since 1940 in which all their points had come in
the fourth quarter. And those two wins occurred more than 60 years ago.
Down 14-0 in late October 1957, Green Bay outscored
Baltimore 24-7 in the fourth quarter to squeeze by the Colts 24-21. In 1959, Vince
Lombardi’s club put up nine points in the fourth to down the Bears 9-6 on
opening day.
Being down by 17 or more heading into the fourth quarter is
no way to win either. Last season, teams that far behind went 2-41-1.
Until Sunday, Green Bay had been 1-113 when trailing by such
a large margin in games dating to 1921. That lone victory happened on opening
day 2018 when Green Bay fell behind Chicago 20-3 after three quarters and Aaron
Rodgers fired three fourth-quarter TD passes in a 24-23 win.
A Show of Fourth
Since 1921, Green Bay is 12-87-11 in regular-season games in which it only scored points in the fourth quarter. Listed below are those victories in which the Packers scored the most points.Pts. Date Opponent Score after 3 Result
24 Oct. 27, 1957 Colts 0-14 GB won, 24-21
18 Sept. 24, 2023 Saints 0-17 GB won, 18-17
17 Oct. 19, 1924 Badgers 0-0 GB won, 17-0
14 Nov. 12, 1922 Marines 0-6 GB won, 14-6
9 Sept. 27, 1959 Bears 0-6 GB won, 9-6
Did the Miami Dolphins Set a New Record for Most Yards Gained in a Single Game? Yes and No.
Here is the entry from the Record & Fact Book—
But 1950 and 1951 were different. No telling why, they just were. Here is a shot of a 1951 play-by-play summary with the note that reads "Yards lost attempting to pass are not deducted from Rushing or Passing yardage - NFL Ruling"
So, according to the rules at the time the Rams mark of 735 offensive yards gained is accurate. And if you take that play's yardage away, as would be done now -- or even prior to 1950 as a running play -- the Rams' total offensive yardage output would be 722, not 735. And that would be accurate.
Dolphins Hang a Seventy Burger on the Broncos
Tyreek Hill scores the first six of the Dolphins' 70 points |
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Giants Linebacker Micah McFadden Joins Elite Group
However, there is enough to learn about some great performances going way back and fans of the NFL can appreciate some great names and great performances that otherwise might not be known and that is why I've undertaken this project.
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Bill Hewitt |
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J.J. Watt |
Hugh "Bones" Taylor — Hot Starting Deep Threat
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Hugh Taylor |
Friday, September 22, 2023
Rosey Grier: Showing Deacon Jones How to Perfect the Headslap
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These are a couple of shots in 1961—Rosey Grier left-handed slap |
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A couple shots of Grier in his first season with the Rams note that he is the only one using the headslap |
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In Game One of 1964 Deacon Jones, the left DE, is using the move and used it more and more over the next decade—making it his signature move |
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Later in 1964, again, both Jones and Grier slapping lids |
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In 1964 Deacon Jones used the more often than Grier, and had a lot of success with it—going to a Pro Bowl for the first time. The eight shots above illustrate that fairly well. |