Jack Christensen |
Steve Van Buren |
Jack Christensen |
Steve Van Buren |
By Eric Goska
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The 1940 Packers |
If a football game consisted solely of first quarters, your Green Bay
Packers would be undefeated.
For the fourth time this season, the Packers dominated early. But in Dallas, as in Cleveland, Green Bay could not sustain that effort and had to settle for a 40-40 overtime tie with the Cowboys Sunday night.
In the spirit of “if you can’t say something nice …,” we’ll focus on Green Bay’s historic first-quarter run. We’ll leave the unpleasantries that played out in the heart of Texas for others to sort through.
Historic, when invoked here, is not hyperbole. The Green and Gold have outgained their competition in first quarters by a wide margin, breaking a record that had stood for 85 years.
Green Bay’s early-bird ways were on display for all to see at AT&T Stadium. Jordan Love and his offensive mates posted 149 yards on 17 plays in the first quarter. The Cowboys managed 26 on eight snaps.
The Pack possessed the ball for 10 minutes, two seconds. They earned six first downs to the Cowboys’ one. They ran six plays beyond the fifty to zero for Dallas.
And, of course, Love hit Romeo Doubs with a 2-yard TD pass that put Green Bay up 7-0 heading into the second quarter.
The first quarter in Dallas was typical of what the Packers did against the Lions, Commanders and Browns in Weeks 1 through 3. Here’s how Green Bay fared in the first quarter against those teams – in order – in the opening 15 minutes.
Let’s pretend these first quarters made up one game. How would that look statistically?
Much of Green Bay’s early superiority has come through the air. Love has 29 completions in 39 attempts for 385 yards and three touchdowns (130.8 rating). His counterparts – Jared Goff, Jayden Daniels, Joe Flacco and Dak Prescott – combined for 14 completions in 17 attempts for 70 yards (83.8).
Love’s favorite targets have been Doubs (6-68-2) and Tucker Kraft (5-109-1). No. 10 has connected with 10 different receivers in the first quarter.
In clamping down on those it has faced while running rampant itself, Green Bay has amassed 326 more yards in the first quarter than its opponents. That differential is a team record, 35 better than the 1940 squad that previously held the mark.
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Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and Jared Verse. |
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Source: Pro Football Reference. The current Rams squad has a chance to climb higher. Their next game against the Indianapolis Colts, led by Daniel Jones, replaces a 2024 game against the New York Jets where they managed just one sack on Aaron Rodgers. Adding more than one sack in this matchup could push them into the top five—or even higher—on the franchise’s all-time list. However, the Colts’ offensive line has been stingy, allowing only two sacks this season, presenting a tough challenge. Historically, the top three spots for sacks in an eight-game span belong to the 1988 Rams (with some games from late 1987), who notched 39 sacks. That year, injuries decimated the defensive line, prompting coordinator Fritz Shurmur to deploy his innovative “Eagle/Hawk” scheme, using two defensive linemen and five linebackers. Led by Kevin Greene’s ferocious blitzes, this unit overwhelmed quarterbacks and secured the franchise record. Tied with 39 sacks is the legendary Fearsome Foursome from late 1968 to early November. Featuring Hall of Famers Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen, alongside Pro Bowler Roger Brown and Lamar Lundy, this front four was relentless, achieving their sack total against fewer pass attempts than modern teams. They also stifled the run, allowing just 3.3 yards per rush attempt, showcasing their all-around dominance.
The 1999 St. Louis Rams, the Super Bowl-winning “Greatest Show on Turf” team, rank fifth with 34 sacks over eight games. Often overshadowed by their explosive offense, this defense—led by Kevin Carter, D’Marco Farr, Ray Agnew, and Grant Wistrom—topped the NFL in sacks that year. Other notable Rams defenses on the upper regions of the list feature icons like Jack Youngblood, Olsen, Larry Brooks, and Fred Dryer, cementing the franchise’s legacy of elite pass rushing both in late 1973 early 1974 as well as the last half of 1979 (sans Olsen). Last year, the 2024 Rams, powered by young stars Verse, Fiske, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner, totaled 38 sacks—a strong but not jaw-dropping figure. However, their current pace suggests they could reach 50 or 60 sacks in 2025, a mark that would place them among the franchise’s all-time greats. Note: Ignore the yards per rush allowed for the op team and the current Rams. Stopping the run is a work-in-progress. To a degree, the 1988 teams got it under control and if the last three games are an indication, the 2025 Rams won't be pushed around too often and not give up piles of yards to the likes of Saquon Barkley and others. What to Watch For Tomorrow: One sack against the Colts keeps the Rams tied for tenth in franchise history for an eight-game span. Two sacks tie them for seventh. Five sacks matches the franchise record of 39. Six sacks would give the 2025 Rams sole possession of the record with 40 sacks in eight consecutive games. With their young talent and relentless momentum, the Rams are poised to continue climbing the ranks of the franchise’s storied pass-rushing legacy. Keep an eye out. UPDATE: 9/28/25—Rams sacked Daniel Jones twice in a 27-20 win, so they are tied for seventh in Rams hisotry for sacks over any eight-game span. |
By Nick Webster
Calais Campbell, the 39-year-old defensive lineman for the Arizona Cardinals, has already recorded three sacks through the first four games of the 2025 NFL season. He started in every one of those games, and with 13 games still left on the schedule, Campbell is on pace to finish the season with 12.5 sacks if he maintains his current level of production. This would surpass all previous records for players in his age bracket. Of course, it’s a long season and injury, opponent matchups and the rise of youngsters on the roster could dramatically impact outcomes.
Whether considering official sacks, tabulated since 1982, or unofficial sacks compiled back to 1960, no player aged 39 or older has ever reached 10 or more sacks in a single NFL season. The leaders in this age group are Doug Atkins of the Saints with nine sacks in a 14-game season at age 39 in 1969 and Bruce Smith of the Redskins who notched nine sacks in 16 games at age 39 in 2002.
Other notable performances feature Andy Robustelli, with 6.5 sacks for the Giants in a 14-game season at age 39 in 1964 and Clay Matthews with 6.5 sacks at age 40 in 1996 for the Atlanta Falcons, appearing in 15 games but starting just one. Jim Marshall recorded four sacks in 14 games at age 39 in 1976 and another four in 16 games at age 41 in 1978 for the Minnesota Vikings
An interesting case is Coy Bacon who tallied three sacks in just the first three games of 1981 at age 39 for the Redskins. After repeated tardiness and missed meetings and practices, young Joe Gibbs sent Bacon home after a Thursday meeting before week four, the next day Bacon was released and never played another down in the NFL, prompting the AP to publish the following:
Joe Kapp |
By Eric Goska
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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.
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Jordan Love |
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
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Mike Haffner with a fingertip touchdown catch |
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All-AFL DE Gerry Philbin takes down Steve Tensi |
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All-AFL DE Rich Jackson sacks Joe Namath |
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Steve Tensi |
By Eric Goska
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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.
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Cedrick Hardman |
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Jim Plunkett |
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Dan Fouts |
By Eric Goska
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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).
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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.
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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.