Heartbreak in Regulation for Packers in Cleveland

 By Eric Goska

Packers kicker Brandon McManus
(photos by Eric Goska)

For 60 minutes of game time, the Packers never trailed.

For 60 minutes of game time, the Browns never led.

Yet three hours and three minutes after initiating play, Cleveland – not Green Bay – claimed victory when its kicker, Andre Szmyt, nailed a 55-yard field goal as time expired to secure a 13-10 win.

This was going to be a story focused on Green Bay's pass defense. How it is allowing the fewest yards per completion in the league. How its efforts have been the best by the team in well over 50 years.

And we’ll still do that. But first we have to address yet another creative way in which the Green and Gold snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Early on, this game between Green Bay and Cleveland had the earmarks of being a defensive struggle. Neither the Packers (230 yards) nor the Browns (221) mustered much yardage.

Scoring did not come easily or quickly, at least not at first. Green Bay counted on a 39-yard Brandon McManus field goal (13 plays-43 yards; 7:23) and a 3-yard TD pass from Jordan Love to tight end John FitzPatrick (14-71; 7:41). Cleveland got its initial score – a 35-yard field goal by Szmyt – on a 12-play, 63-yard advance that took 5:48 off the clock.

Throughout, Green Bay never trailed.

Jordan Love

No matter. Cleveland rose to the occasion in the final minutes turning a Love interception into a touchdown and a blocked McManus field goal into Szmyt’s game winner.

Only once previously have the Packers gone 60 minutes without trailing only to lose in regulation. On Sept. 11, 1988, Tampa Bay’s Donald Igwebuike booted them into the loss column with a 28-yard field goal on the game’s final play.

Green Bay’s breakdowns on offense and special teams with the game on the line cannot take away from another fine performance by its defense. Jeff Hafley’s unit again kept completion yards to a minimum.

In opening 2-0, the Packers had allowed a league-low 7.73 yards per completion, nearly a yard better than the second-place 49ers (8.71). The Browns (8.61), meantime, were one of four clubs to average fewer than nine yards per completion.

As one might suspect, the Green and Gold clamped down on the Browns. Cleveland quarterback Joe Flacco completed 21 of 36 passes for 142 yards, an average of just 6.76 yards per success. He completed but two passes of more than 14 yards – a 17-yarder to Isaiah Bond and a 17-yarder to Jerry Jeudy.

To date, the Packers have given up 567 yards on 76 completions. That’s an average of 7.46 per, the lowest allowed by the team through the first three games of a season since 1967 (6.83).

But that club – which went on to win Super Bowl II – wasn’t tested to the extent of this current group. Coach Vince Lombardi’s last team in Green Bay allowed 164 yards on 24 completions through its first three games.

That season – 1967 – was also the last time the Pack limited each of its first three opponents to fewer than 250 yards. In going 2-1 this year, Green Bay held the Lions (246), Commanders (230) and Browns (221) below that mark.

Heartbreak in Regulation

Regular-season games in which the Packers trailed for less than 45 seconds but lost in regulation.
 
Seconds
Trailing   Opponent        Final          Date
0                  Browns                10-13            Sept. 21, 2025
0                  Buccaneers         10-13            Sept. 11, 1988
5                  Eagles                  17-20            Sept. 12, 1993
8                  Vikings                 7-10              Oct. 15, 1967
*                  Bears                    7-10              Oct. 22, 1933
**                Bears                    7-14              Sept. 24, 1933
35                Bears                    14-17            Sept. 25, 1960
 
*second-to-last play of the game
**third-to-last play of the game

TUESDAY TIDBITS: "We've Got to Play Better, Simple as That"

By TJ Troup

Two weeks so far in what is going to be a very interesting season filled with compelling drama and excitement. Going to begin by praising McCaffrey of the 49ers, any player that can join Faulk, and Moore as the only three players in history to rush for 50 touchdowns, and catch 30 touchdown passes is an outstanding achievement! Especially when you consider how many outstanding versatile backs we have seen in league history. 

Shifting gears to prognostication, no doubt there are folks who enjoy predicting the team won/lost records each year. This is certainly a daunting challenge, yet there is a "writer" named Adam Rank who foolishly predicted the outcome of the NFC North as follows: Bears 11-6, Packers 10-7, Lions 8-9, and Vikings 7-10. 

What did he base his predictions on, especially since he is off to a horrendous start. Coach TJ has the advantage of two weeks into the season, so this should be easy, right? Well, lets look back at the end of the season and see who did better, me or Adam Rank. The Vikings will finish 9-8 for the year, the Lions will finish 11-6, and the Packers 12-5, oh need to predict the cuddly soft little Bears? Let's take a quick look at what the defense has accomplished, shall we. Have allowed 73 points in the last five quarters of play. Their defensive passer rating is 136, which if they continue would be the worst in league history (league average is about 93). 

Had no expectation that the Bears secondary of 2025 would exceed the '63 or '85 Bears in efficiency, yet when a team is forced to play Stevenson, they are going to be a) shredded, b) torched c) destroyed, of d) all of the above! Against Detroit, they allowed 5 plays of over 30 yards, the most of any team in the last 10 seaons. Would relish all of you sharing the worst coaches in the last 55 years, and some of you might have Eberflus & Gibron on your list. Ben Johnson will not join those two as he has too many positive qualities, yet he is sure dealing with a learning curve, and the title of this week's saga is a quote from him. Oh, the final record for the this woeful pathetic excuse of a team? The Bears will finish 6-11, and with the Adam Rank's brilliant expertise, the Bears need to go 11-4 the rest of the way for him to be correct. 

Mike Haffner with a fingertip touchdown catch

How many of you see hell freezing over right now? When that happens the Bears will go 11-4 the remaining games of 2025. Every team has a history, and some teams have an interesting story to tell, and will end with the Denver Broncos and their game against the Jets on September 21st, 1969. 

All-AFL DE Gerry Philbin takes down Steve Tensi

All-AFL DE Rich Jackson sacks Joe Namath

Though they had never had a winning season, this early-season clash with the champion Jets draws a record crowd to Mile High! Over the course of the last 53 games Denver had played their record against everyone except the Jets was 12-35, but against New York 3-3! 

Could they possibly beat the defending champs on this crisp day in Denver? New York builds a 13-0 lead, but Floyd Little's 52-yard punt return sets up his 1-yard score to put points on the board (Little pounds out 104 rushing yards against the tough Jets defense). Tensi is injured and Pete Liske (former Jet) enters the fray.

Steve Tensi

Lou Saban had him on the Buffalo roster in '64 but since he had Lamonica and Kemp he left for Canada, where he played outstanding football, and now Saban needs a backup to Tensi and brings Liske back. Pete lofts a pass to a wide-open Mike Haffner who stretches and makes a fingertip catch for a touchdown, and later Liske finds Denson open and the Broncos now lead. 

The Jets respond and score, and must go for two to gain a tie, but fail. Though they are outgained, the Broncos have knocked off the Super Bowl champs to have a record of 2-0. No, Denver does not have a winning season in '69 ("they're killing me Whitey, they're killing me"), there is continued excitement in Denver for years to come. 

This coming Sunday the Broncos play the Chargers in a key AFC battle, for me a game to watch. See ya next week.

History for the Taking at Lambeau Field

 By Eric Goska

Commanders fans visited Lambeau Field on Thursday.
(photos by Eric Goska)

Making history, denying history – the Packers of 2025 are off to a flying start.

Offense, defense – Green Bay flashed an abundance of both in running its record to 2-0.
 
As they did against the Lions in the season opener, the Packers jumped in front of the Washington Commanders and never trailed in securing a 27-18 victory at Lambeau Field. Green Bay rolled to 404 yards while allowing just 230 in notching a second straight win over a playoff team from a year ago.
 
Jordan Love and his offensive mates uncorked touchdown drives of 96 and 92 yards in building a 14-3 halftime lead. The first advance consisted of seven plays while the second utilized ten.
 
Go ahead. Scour the scoring summaries from every one of the more than 1,400 regular-season games the Packers have played since 1921. Not once will you find two Green Bay touchdown drives of 90 or more yards occurring in the same half.
 
Digging into the past yields four games in which the Green and Gold twice rang up touchdowns on drives of 90-plus yards. But in all four instances, those end zone excursions were separated by halftime festivities.
 
Two chunk plays aided Green Bay on its first two six-point payouts. Love connected with tight end Tucker Kraft for 57 yards on the first long-distance salvo and he found Malik Heath for 37 on the second.
 
Just twice did the Packers encounter third down, once on each advance. Love erased a third-and-nine with a 14-yard scramble and Josh Jacobs overcame third-and-one with a 3-yard rumble.
 
Love completed six of eight passes for 148 yards and a TD (156.25 passer rating) on the two drives combined. Jacobs rushed for 26 yards on eight carries including the score that put Green Bay ahead 14-0 midway through the second quarter.
 

Former Packers kicker Chris Jacke signed autographs before the game.

While the Packers’ offense cruised to a franchise first, their defense prevented Jayden Daniels from making history of his own. Green Bay defenders held the elusive quarterback to 17 yards rushing on seven carries, leaving him 24 short of 1,000 for his career.

 
Had Daniels gotten to 1,000, he would have done so in his 19th regular-season game. That would have been two games faster than any quarterback who ever suited up in the NFL.
 
Seemingly forever, dual-threat passers – those who can run as well as throw – have been the bane of the Packers.  Think Jalen Hurts grabbing 157 on the ground in the Eagles’ 40-33 win in 2022. Or, Michael Vick reeling off 103 in the 2010 opener.
 
For you old timers, harken back to Bobby Douglass producing an even 100 as the Bears prevailed 31-17 in 1973. Or, Greg Landry gliding his way to 76 on a quarterback sneak – yes, a sneak – as the Lions pounced 40-0 to kick off the 1970 campaign.
 
Nothing of the sort happened on Thursday. Colby Wooden, Edgerrin Cooper (twice), Javon Bullard (twice), Quay Walker and Kingsley Enagbare each tackled Daniels before the 24-year-old could inflict serious damage.
 
Daniels’ long gain was eight. He was held to one or fewer yards on five occasions.
 
Not once did he earn a first down with his feet.
 

As a rookie last season, Daniels helped revitalize Washington’s rushing attack. The Commanders gained 1,027 more yards in 2024 (2,619) than they did in 2023 (1,592).
 
Six times did the club surpass 200 yards rushing. Six times did the club win.
 
In limiting Daniels, Green Bay continued its run-stifling ways. Through two games, its opponents have managed 97 yards on 41 tries (2.37 per attempt).
 
Though Daniels didn’t boost his career total above 1,000 against the Packers, he can do so when Washington hosts Las Vegas in Week 3. If the second-year veteran does so against the Raiders – in his 20th regular-season game – he will have gotten there faster than record-holders Robert Griffin III, Lamar Jackson and Justin Fields, all who needed 21 games to surpass 1,000 career rushing yards.
 
In a Rush
Quarterbacks who needed the fewest regular-season games to attain 1,000 career rushing yards. Jayden Daniels has gained 976 in 19 games.
 
G       Quarterback               Year
21       Robert Griffin III           2013
21       Lamar Jackson               2019
21       Justin Fields                    2022
22       Michael Vick                   2002
23       Cam Newton                   2012
23       Josh Allen                        2019
24       Kyler Murray                  2020
 
Driving 90
The five regular-season games in which the Packers engineered more than one touchdown drive of 90-plus yards.
 
No    Date                     When
2        Sept. 11, 2025       2 first half
2        Oct. 8, 1939          1 first half, 1 second half
2        Oct. 5, 1952          1 first half, 1 second half
2        Oct. 21, 1984        1 first half, 1 second half
2        Dec. 23, 2018       1 first half, 1 second half

TUESDAY TIDBITS: The Best QB's Anticipate, They don't react"

By T.J. Troup

Cedrick Hardman

One week in the books, and no doubt one of those weeks that will have lasting memories since there were so many exciting games. Always relish all of your thoughts and opinions on the games, so folks , please share! 

Could go hours on four games; the Steelers vs. Jets (seven lead changes), the Lions vs. Packers (passion at Lambeau), Ravens vs. Bills (the game is never over till it's over), and the Bears vs. Vikings (4th quarter surge by a team that knows how to win). 

The week two slate might have answers, but since it's so early in the season, we know so much can happen over eighteen weeks, yet for me the Monday night game between the Raiders and Chargers is a must-see, especially since almost 45 years to the day was a dandy in the long-time rivalry. 

The Raiders, after back-to-back 9-7 seasons of not going to the playoffs, have made significant roster additions, and the Chargers after earning a playoff berth in '79, are at home on September 14th to take on the silver & black. When Cedrick Hardman sacks Fouts and forces a fumble that Willie Jones returns 11 yards for a touchdown, the Raiders have the lead 17-10, but San Diego is very resilient. 

Jim Plunkett's touchdown strike to Raymond Chester down the middle in the end zone ties the game, but in overtime, the Chargers win as Fourts delivers an accurate pass to John Jefferson for 24 yards for the winning score. 

Jim Plunkett

The title of today's saga is a quote from Fouts and in this game, he is sacked and throws five interceptions, but he keeps pitching. Jefferson and Kellen Winslow combined for 18 catches and 242 yards in the game. For the season, he will break his own record by gaining 4,715 yards passing and the division title. 

Dan Fouts

At the time, not sure how many would have surmised these two rivals would meet for the right to go to the Super Bowl? Oh, they do? Well, that is a story for another day.

Matt LaFleur's First Season Opener at Lambeau Field is Worth the Wait

 By Eric Goska

Behind the Desk: Bill Cowher (left), Nate Burleson (center) and Matt Ryan (right)
were on the scene at Lambeau Field as CBS broadcast Sunday's Packers-Lions game.
(photos by Eric Goska)

The wait is over.

For six consecutive seasons, Matt LeFleur and his Packers had opened on the road. Sunday, finally, the 45-year-old head coach kicked off a campaign within the friendly confines of Lambeau Field as his team hosted division rival Detroit.

In general, NFL schedule makers grant first-time head coaches an opener at home within a year or three of their hire. But since 2019, those charged with arranging dates, times and locations apparently overlooked Green Bay.

While fellow NFC North coaches Dan Campbell (Lions) and Kevin O’Connell (Vikings) began their careers at home in 2021 and 2022, respectively, LeFleur had to sit tight. While Arthur Smith (Falcons) and Matt Rhule (Panthers) stayed put in each of their first three seasons as head coaches, LeFleur traveled out of state.

LeFleur’s patience paid off.

Steve Owen’s never did.

In LaFleur’s first five seasons, his Packers initiated play at Chicago (2019, 2023), at Minnesota (2020, 2022) and at New Orleans (2021). Last year, they flew to Brazil to get the ball rolling against the Eagles.

Logging so many miles is unique in team history. Every other Packers head coach – from Curly Lambeau (Hagemeister Park, 1921) to Gene Ronzani (City Stadium, 1950) to Vince Lombardi (New City Stadium, 1959) to Bart Starr (Milwaukee County Stadium, 1975) – opened their first season at home.

Biding time as LaFleur did is rare. Only three coaches in NFL history had to wait longer.

Owen, head coach of the New York Giants from 1931 through 1953, never opened a season at home. He spent 23 years initiating play on foreign soil.

The other two: Roy Andrews (8 years; 1924-31) and Jim Lee Howell (7; 1954-60).

Fans wait in line to gain admission into Lambeau Field.

Jim Nantz, who handled the play-by-play for the Packers-Lions matchup, noted the significance of the opener.

“They (the Packers) have not had a home opener in Week 1 since 2018,” he announced after Green Bay had scored its first touchdown. “So it’s the first time Matt LeFleur has been given that courtesy as well. And what a way to start your season with a touchdown drive ending with (Jordan) Love hitting six different targets including (Tucker) Kraft at the end for the score.”

Motivated, focused, LaFleur’s charges controlled the Lions from the outset, registering a convincing 27-13 win over the reigning NFC North Division champs.

Pass defense played a major role in the victory. Jared Goff rarely had time to get comfortable in the pocket or take a shot downfield. The Lions quarterback launched 39 throws and completed 31 for an underwhelming 225 yards. He averaged a meager 7.3 yards per completion.

One measure of Detroit’s ineffectiveness is the number of short completions it had. The majority of them – 25 to be exact – netted fewer than 10 yards each.

That’s a lot of baby steps. Only twice before have the Packers forced so many short aerial gains in one regular-season game. The Giants (Kerry Collins) fired 25 in a 34-25 loss on Jan. 6, 2002, and the Bears (Mitch Trubisky) had 26 in a 35-16 setback on Jan. 3, 2021.

Declaring a defense successful because of a near record number of short throws may seem counter-intuitive. But every one of those modest gains had the potential to morph into something more, yet Green Bay refused to allow it.

The Packers and Lions have been tangling since the 1930s.

Consider Jahmyr Gibbs Exhibit A. The running back – often a last resort when nothing materialized downfield – served as Goff’s top target hauling in all 10 passes thrown his way.

But – and this is a biggie – the three-year veteran only gained 31 yards on those 10 connections.

Translation: Gibbs went virtually nowhere before or after the catch.

According to Stathead at Pro Football Reference, there have been just over 1,750 instances of a player snagging 10 or more passes in a regular-season game. Only one of those double-digit dippers – Alvin Kamara of the Saints in 2023 – averaged fewer yards per catch (2.5) than Gibbs’ 3.1.

More than a third (11) of Goff’s completions went for fewer than five yards. Two wound up as negatives.

Goff’s longest hookup was a 32-yarder to tight end Sam LaPorta early in the third quarter. That, and that alone, was the Lions’ only pass play of 20 or more yards.

While the recently acquired Micah Parsons played a role in this uptick in Green Bay’s pass defense, the improvement appeared to be a team effort. The question then becomes: Can the unit duplicate its stinginess against Jayden Daniels – a younger, more elusive quarterback than Goff – and his Commandeers come Thursday.

The Waiting Game
NFL head coaches with the longest wait before opening a season at home.
 
Years    Coach                    Team(s)         Years
  23         Steve Owen              Giants            1931-1953
    8         Roy Andrews           many              1924-1931
    6         Matt LaFleur           Packers          2018-2024
    6         Tom Flores              Raiders          1979-1984
    6         Joe Walton              Jets                 1983-1988
 
Coming Up Short
Teams with the most completions of fewer than 10 yards in a regular-season game against the Packers.
 
No.   Date                 Team                  Result
26     Jan. 3, 2021       Bears                    GB won, 35-16
25     Sept. 7, 2025     Lions                    GB won, 27-13
25     Jan. 6, 2002      Giants                  GB won, 34-25
24     Nov. 29, 1981    Vikings                GB won, 35-23
23     Dec. 19, 2021    Ravens                 GB won, 31-30
22     Oct. 18, 2015     Chargers             GB won, 27-20
22     Oct. 6, 2024      Rams                    GB won, 24-19

TUESDAY TIDBITS: "He is a Sharpshooter, with a Live Arm and Soft Touch"

By TJ Troup

The season is upon us, and sure am looking forward to the contests and battles that make the NFL so captivating. Before going any further, want to explain the above picture and how it fits with today's saga. Play Senior Softball here in Louisville, and am having a season for the ages. With a month to go raised my batting average from .731 to .738 by going 18 for 23 last week (including eight extra base hits). The only sad aspect is that my glove finally tore in the webbing after many restringing efforts. 

Lynn Dickey started just 10 games for Oilers and battled injuries. The trade by the Packers was masterful as Hadl had regressed, and Dickey though still dealing with injuries at times began to show his talents. The success of the '82 Packers convinced many that they were viable contenders in the NFC Central. 

Opening day for Green Bay takes them to Houston to play his former team. Could this veteran sharpshooter, with his live arm and soft touch, continue to torch secondaries and have the Packers return to the playoffs? The Packers drive 71 yards on eight plays to score first. Paul Coffman's quick inside release from tight end right gets him open down the middle on a 25-yard strike from Dickey. A Kempf field goal puts Houston on the scoreboard, but on the next series Coffman fumbles as safety Mike Reinfeldt recovers. 

After three running plays Archie Manning drills Tim Smith over the middle and he dashes 47 yards to score and now an Oilers team that won only 1 game in '82 has the lead. The ensuing Packer dirve is halted by an Oilers sack and a clipping penalty on Dickey as he tried to block for Lofton on a reverse. It is 2nd down and seven on the Oilers nineteen-yard line when Manning misfires and strong safety and defensive captain Johnnie Gray intercepts. He had long been one of my favorite players (yes will be buried in navy blue & burnt orange, but even Bear fans can cheer for a man that plays the game the way Gray does). 

When I transferred to CSU, Fullerton in the spring of '74 took one semester of physical education classes, and one of the classes was a track & field class. Johnnie Gray and myself would both give maximum effort and compete each day. We talked about playing defensive back and all the nuances of the position. He shared that he "just wanted a chance" to show what he could do in an NFL training camp. 

Though the Titans again struggled with a 4-7 record in '74, Gray was signed by the Packers as a free agent, and won the starting free safety job over Jim Hill. He has been a starter now for eight years, and has given the ball to Dickey and the offense on the Oilers twenty-eight-yard line. 

The Packer media guide stated that offensive co-ordinator Bob Schnelker was "daring and imaginative", and on first down Lofton after gaining 13 yards on a reception laterals to Gerry Ellis for 8 more! Ivery gains two, and using a creative formation with John Jefferson in motion Dickey connects with him for 5 yards and the go-ahead touchdown. Houston punts, but so does Green Bay. We are inside of two minutes left in the half when James punts. 

Dickey continues his masterful accuracy with completions to Jefferson and Lofton and now has completed 18 in a row! Two straight incompletions, but on 3rd down, Ivery bolts for 21 yards to the thirteen-yard line. Again, Dickey finds Jefferson open for the score and with 51 seconds remaining in the half, Green Bay leads 21-10. Manning's first down pass is intercepted by John Anderson! 

Could the Packers score again? Only 30 seconds remain, yet Dickey finds Ellis open and rifles the completion for another score and a commanding 28-10 halftime lead. Dickey has sure demonstrated the trade should never been made by pitching four touchdown passes! Houston drives 84 yards in thirteen plays to start the 2nd half as Manning mixed his plays well. Earl Campbell scores on a 7-yard run. 

Will Dickey and the Packers respond? Is there a Fox River in Wisconsin? You betcha....and on first down Dickey completes to Lofton for 23, but when the drive stalls Jan Stenerud delivers a 46-yard field goal. Both teams punt, and early in the 4th quarter, Houston advances 53 yards in just 5 plays, and again Campbell scores! When a Dickey pass is tipped and intercepted by Abraham, the Oilers have the ball and score again on a five-minute drive again mixing run and pass. 

Who carries for the Oilers at the Packer one-yard line? No doubt you give the ball to the Tyler Rose, and Campbell scores again. We are tied at 31. Since this game was a showcase for NFL Films as their Game of the Week, fans all across America are seeing one helluva dandy barn burner of a game. Dickey is faced with 3rd and 10, and when Brown slips, Lofton is wide open (isn't he always?)and the 74-yard touchdown has Green Bay back in front. Can they hold off the Oilers? NO! Manning pitches strikes to Smith for 34 and Dressel for 17, and from the one, Larry Moriarty bangs over. We are headed to overtime! 

Lynn Dickey struggled with back spasms earlier in the week, and he stated after the game that he did not remember "half the game" after he hit his head on the Astrodome turf. Enter David Whitehurst and he completes three straight passes, but Schnelker, anticipating nickel coverages, has the Packers run the ball seven straight plays! 

Jan Stenerud kicks a 42-yard field goal and the Packers prevail 41-38. The last time Green Bay scored at least 41 points on opening day was in 1965 when the beat Pittsburgh. The Packers, led by Dickey, scored a team record 429 points during '83, but inconsistent defense kept Green Bay from winning the division in an 8-8 campaign. 

Dickey led the league with 32 touchdown passes and 4,458 yards, but he also still would force throws into coverage and was intercepted 29 times! He would play two more years and in his last game in December of  1985 he completed 22 of 36 for 299 yards in a 21-0 whitewash of Tampa Bay. 

All us "veterans" still want seasons in the sun playing ball, and having success.