TUESDAY TIDBITS: "We're World Champions"

By TJ Troup

Last weekend all of us were treated to another boatload of exciting, consequential games! Let's sure hope that continues, yet since the standings show probably which teams will make the play-offs, yet with not all of the division champions being decided there are plenty of games of meaning. Let's start with the strongest most competitive division the NFC West. Would relish all of your opinions, who wins the West? 

The Houston Texans & Los Angeles Chargers rank 1-2 in the key defensive passer rating category. Does this mean that the game will be low scoring and the passers will struggle? 

My friend Mr. Eric Goska is one helluva talented writer/historian (bet you knew that) and his column on the Bears vs. Packers discussed how long Green Bay had a lead in a game against the Bears before they surrendered the lead. Are you ready to go back to October 4th, 1953? 

Here we go. 

After Ed Sprinkle recovers a Packer fumble, the Bears run the ball six straight plays, and on 4th and 6 on the Packer thirty-four Blanda drills home a 40-yard field goal at 10:25. Green Bay drives 70 yards to score on nine plays when Rote delivers a strike to Bob Mann. Gib Dawson weaves and dashes 60 yards with a Fred Morrison punt halfway through the 2nd quarter thus the Packers lead at the half. 

The Bears with Romanik at quarterback now (O'Connell started) drive 39 yards but Blanda misses a 50-yard field goal attempt. Romanik is replaced by O'Connell, who throws an interception that Romanik returns to throw an interception early in the 4th quarter. 

Midway through the 4th, Blanda is now in at the triggerman position but he is also intercepted. Green Bay has 3rd down and twelve to go as Rote pitches to Breezy Reid on a circle route with Don Kindt in coverage -- the ball is tipped and George Figner latches on to the ball for the only interception in his short career. 

Blanda leads the Bears 51 yards to score as he lofts to Dooley for 16 yards in the left corner of the end zone at 3:35 of the 4th quarter. Thus, Eric's saga of the Packers having a lead for over 40 minutes before victory escapes their grasp. Having the accurate stats and the play-by-play of every game sure would serve the league well. 

Why the NFL has not reached out to historians who have this vital information mystifies me. This coming Sunday, the 28th, is one of those historical days all Baltimore Colts fans relish. Was the Championship game the greatest game ever played as Klein wrote about in his book? 

We all have opinions, yet no doubt the game captured the imagination of so many with not only compelling drama, but with iconic characters and Johnny Hightops long drives against the NYG defense. When Buzz Nutter enters the locker room he hands the ball to the team captain Gino Marchetti and proclaims, "We're World Champions!"

Gino Marchetti
Credit: Merv Corning

See ya next week!