Doctor Joe Kopcha—An Overlooked Great

By John Turney 

It's possible that in the first decade of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, voters succumbed to Packers' and Bears' fatigue. I say that because they excluded a few notable players from those two franchises, clubs that not only dated back to the league's creation but had the most early success.

For the Packers, it was Verne Lewellen and Lavie Dilweg, both perennial All-Pros on winning teams. For the Bears, it was a a 6-0, 220-pound guard named Joe Kopcha.

Never heard of him? Get in line.

Kopcha is one of the greatest players from the league's first two decades and someone who's been overlooked by Hall-of-Fame selectors. He's never been discussed as a finalist.

But that should change, and here's why: Kopcha was a decorated lineman, three times named a first-team All-Pro and once a second-teamer. He was also part of a championship team. Two, in fact. The 1932-33 Bears.

But his football resume goes beyond playing the game and strikes at something bigger in today's NFL -- player safety. He redesigned players' shoulder pads, with his basic designs still in use today -- an accomplishment that can't be overstated. It helped to change the game.

No, he'd didn't get a patent or fee for his invention, but Kopcha didn't care.

"There's a lot of guys walking around today without banged up shoulders who otherwise might be crippled," he told the PFRA's Bob Carroll in 1980. "That's a terrific reward!"

Kopcha was a guard out of Chattanooga (now the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Terrell Owens' school) and played on the Southern Conference champions in 1927 and 1928. In addition to being a two-time all-conference football star, he lettered in basketball, baseball, track and swimming and was the Templeton Award winner as the school's outstanding all-around athlete

He began his NFL career with Chicago in 1929, playing both ways, but then stepped away from the game for two years to attend the University of Alabama's School of Medicine to earn his M.D. He returned to the NFL in 1932, passed the tryout, made the team and regained his starting position at right guard for coach Ralph Jones while finishing his M.D. at Rush Medical College in Chicago (Halas' idea).

It was a good move for both parties. Kopcha (known as "Doc" to teammates) became a three-time All-Pro (1933-35) and a second-team All-Pro in 1932, while the Bears won two NFL championships and were a runner-up in 1934.

In 2019, the Chicago Tribune named Kopcha No. 45 on its list of the 100 Greatest Bears. He blocked for Hall-of-Famers Red Grange, Bronko Nagurski and "Paddy" Driscoll and was a top blocker for Beattie Feathers, the NFL's first 1,000-yard rusher. He was also one of two opponents whom Hall-of-Fame tackle Cal Hubbard named as the toughest he faced. The other was Hall-of-Famer Link Lyman.

"Dr. Joe Kopcha," a United Press reporter wrote in 1934, "a ripping, slashing terror on offense and defense."

Kopcha played in four of the most historically significant games in early NFL history. The first was when the Chicago Cardinals' Ernie Nevers scored 40 points. The second was the 1932 indoor game against the Portsmouth Spartans on a short field. The third was the first official NFL championship game, and the fourth was the "Sneakers Game," the NFL title contest when both teams wore gym shoes to get better traction on a frozen field.

That last one is somewhat controversial because newspaper accounts record that Kopcha was injured and missed the "Sneakers Game." But, in an interview with Stan Grosshandler of the Pro Football Researchers Association (PFRA), Kopcha disputed that account, saying he played in it.

It wouldn't be the only time Kopcha demonstrated toughness. Prior to a 1934 Thanksgiving Day game, he tried to play with a broken hand.

"Nobody loved to play the game more than Kopcha," the Bears' George Halas said then.

But even Kopcha saw limits to playing injured. After he used a meat cleaver to shave off parts of the cast on his right hand, Halas intervened and convinced him to sit down.

"Kopcha didn't play," he said. "I would not take a chance on ruining on what has since developed into a distinguished medical career."

Halas must have grown fond of his All-Pro guard. When Kopcha in 1936 wanted to study obstetrics and gynecology at Harper Hospital in Detroit (one of the best programs in the nation), Halas accommodated him -- allowing him to play one more year in the NFL as Kopcha wanted by trading him to the Lions, where he started his final season under Potsy Clark.

Kopcha's playing career would be enough to merit Hall-of-Fame consideration, but there's another side to his story that makes his case so intriguing. And that's his role as an inventor.

When he suffered an injured shoulder in 1929, he altered his shoulder pads to prevent further damage by adding an extra layer of padding to the front of the equipment. The idea was to protect his chest, and the results were cups over the shoulders that became standard for almost a century.

How that happened was a mystery to Kopcha. When he worked on his pads, he said a salesman for the Spalding Athletic Company, a Chicago-based sporting goods firm, saw him and asked what he was doing. Kopcha told him and thought nothing more of it. But when he returned to the Bears in 1932, he worked with a Spalding salesman (he didn't recall if it was the same individual) and the design was revised and perfected by the next year.

By then, they were everywhere.

Ever concerned about player safety, Kopcha was a pioneer of shin guards, too, and always toyed with extra padding for his helmet.

"A lot of guys got hurt needlessly in the old days," he said. "I like to think that my ideas helped change some of that."

After football, he served for nearly two years in the Pacific during World War II and was Dr. Joe Kopcha, M.D., achieving his dream of becoming an obstetrician. Kopcha died in 1986, having lived a full life as a football player, all-around athlete, inventor, physician, trainer (he earned extra money for helping with players' injuries while he played), U.S. military veteran and football enthusiast (he was a charter member of the PFRA).

He was one of the best football players of his era and one of the most overlooked of all time. That's why it's time Hall-of-Fame voters take a look at "Doc" and refuse to make the same mistake their predecessors did in the nascent years of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Don't let him fall through the cracks again. At the very least, Joe Kopcha deserves to be the subject of a Hall-of-Fame conversation.

TUESDAY TIDBITS: "Craggy-Faced, Savvy Pro Football Leader"

By TJ Troup 

Charley Conerly. Art Credit: Merv Corning

How many of us have heard that the NFL is controlled by young talented quarterbacks? Yes, there are some veterans in the position who have retained their skills and can lead a team to victory, but so much is written about the youngsters and their passing and running skills. 

That will take me (us)back in time to detail a man who not only achieved success at quarterback in his rookie season.....he also achieved success in his final season at age 40. The title of today's saga comes from Lew Freedman's book on the history of the New York football Giants, and the subject is Charley Conerly. This past week have dug deep and refreshed myself on him, and of course, have spent many hours watching film—thank you Steve Sabol. 

When the Giants plummeted in 1947 there was no doubt what coach Steve Owen and the Mara family needed to address first. A tailback who could pitch the pigskin and a trade was engineered with Washington to get Conerly. Since the Giants shared the Polo Grounds with the baseball Giants they began the season on the road with a victory over Boston. Have the complete game film of New York at Washington in week two and Conerly is the left halfback (tailback) in the Giants' A-formation. 

He is not polished, and though he demonstrates that he has a strong enough arm to pass; the Giants are blown out by the 'Skins. Adding to the learning curve for Conerly is that he rotates in at the position with a free agent named Emlen Tunnell. Yes, folks my boy Emlen began his career on offense, and though he is an exceptional athlete he is by no means a difference-maker on offense. 

The two rookies with very different backgrounds become friends, and much like Piccolo and Sayers they actually spent time together away from the field. Emlen would take Charley into the Harlem nightclubs to hear jazz. Why has this story never been developed further? 

Now back to football. 

Seven weeks into the year and the Giants are 2-5 and though Conerly has had his moments both running and passing, he is a work in progress. The overall personnel of New York also needs an overhaul, and as such the fateful question arises:  Are the Giants ever going to be a league power again. 

Watching film of the Rams 52-37 victory over the Giants Conerly can be seen on the kick-off return team as a fullback and even returns a couple kick-offs in this game. Conerly looks sharp on the delivery of his passes but is inconsistent, and there is a lack of speed at the end position for the Giants. 

Since the Rams are an explosive passing team the Giant secondary aligns in a 5-2-4 at times and Emlen Tunnell after being benched earlier in the campaign records the first two interceptions of his career. New York journeys to Wisconsin and destroys the Packers 49-3, and Tunnell intercepts three times, returns one for a touchdown, and nails Indian Jack Jacobs with a hit that knocks him over the Packer bench. 

Oh, this saga is about Conerly, apologies for the digression. 

So how did Conerly do against Green Bay you ask? He completes 20 of 29 for 291 yards with three going for touchdowns. Charley at one point in the game completes 10 in a row (how many passers had ever done that before?) and his confidence is soaring with game experience. The Giants now have a 4-6 record with a victory over Boston in late November and head to the Steel City to take on Pittsburgh. 

Conerly fires a bullet to end Ray Poole vs Eagles, 1948

Charley Conerly will set a record in this game that stood for many years and never received the aclaim it deserved—Chuckin' Charley completes 36 passes! He gains 363 yards with his completions and New York moves the chains 31 times. 

Sure wish I had film of this game to give all of you a more complete breakdown, yet research tells us he completed passes to eight different receivers (none gained over 100 yards)and his longest completion was for 28 yards. Much like Sammy Baugh he utilized everyone, and was becoming adapt at the intermediate routes, and flipping passes to his backs. 

A young Conerly gets a first down with his feet vs Eagles in 1948

Joe Sulaitis is the blocking back for the Giants in the A-formation and he caught 7 for 44 yards. Though New York is on the short end of a 38-28 score, the rookie has finally arrived. The Giants also are defeated by Baugh and the 'Skins the last week of the season, but Conerly also plays well in this game. Even with his slow start during his rookie season Conerly finishes third in the league with a passer rating of 84.0. The last four games of the year he completed 94 of 149 for 1,106 yards with 10 touchdowns, and only two interceptions. 

Yes, folks, he is now Chuckin' Charley Conerly. 

Two-platoon football is the biggest change/adjustment for the '49 season, and Allie Sherman is brought in to teach Conerly how to be a T-formation quarterback. Being an excellent athlete and doggedly determined to succeed he is beginning to master the faking needed, the footwork on his passing delivery. Conerly is not as efficient in '49 as he was in 1948 as he finishes 4th in the passer rating with a mark of 64.1, but the team improves slightly to 6-6. 

Conerly does though have a game that year that stands out when he torches the contending Chicago Bears 35-28 at the Polo Grounds as running back Choo Choo Roberts has a game for the ages as a receiver out of the backfield. Duke Mara continues to build the roster and give Steve Owen enough talent to contend with the new kids on the block. Who might that be you ask? Why none other than the well-coached champions entering from the AAFC the Cleveland Browns. 

The Browns will have a sparkling 10-2 record in 1950 and you guessed it—the two loses are to the Giants. Conerly again finishes fourth in the passer rating system in 1950 with a mark of 67.1 and he sure has his moments, but the Giants of 1950 are known for their powerful ground attack and a stingy defense. Conerly might have shared the quarterback position with Travis Tidwell in '50, but Conerly is adept enough to still block when he is tailback in the A-formation, and then quickly adapt to the footwork, and faking needed when Steve Owen has the Giants in the T-formation. 

The season ends on a sour note with the loss to Cleveland in the playoffs, and Conerly struggles on the frigid day on the icy field. Charley was able to complete a pass to McChesney for a touchdown that would have given New York the lead, but Mote was offside. The Giants continue to play strong football in 1951, but talented rookie Kyle Rote had injury problems, and so did Mr. Conerly. Charley would never complain and was a game rooster who played through injury when he could but he was not near as efficient as a passer and finishes tenth in the passer rating category with a mark of 49.3. The fans are also voicing their opinion of Conerly, and it is sure not a positive one. 

The Giants led the league in '51 in the defensive passer rating category with a mark of 33.9. New York has a defensive lineman in Arnie Weinmeister who is as dominant as Ford & Willis are in Cleveland. The lockdown secondary and Cannady at linebacker keep New York in every game. 

Cleveland scores only 24 points in the two Browns victories over the Giants—thus all fingers are pointed at the offense and Conerly. Tonka Truck fullback Eddie Price lugs the leather all year and moves the chains, but the passing attack is just not where it needs to be. Drafting multi-talented Frank Gifford in '52, and having Rote at least partially healthy, brings optimism for '52, but after eleven weeks the Giants are 6-5. Conerly is injured again, and the 63-7 loss to Pittsburgh is of course the low point in the season. Watching Conerly masterfully deliver victory over the Browns in December 37-34 on film just enhances his reputation. 

Legendary announcer Marty Glick delivers a candid and accurate summation of Conerly and the '52 Giants in the highlight film of that season. Charley strong performance to end '52 enables him to finish 3rd in the league in the passer rating category with a mark of 70.4. The cliche "all the wheels fell off the cart" aptly describes the '53 Giants. Conerly again fights through injuries and finishes a woeful 9th in the passer rating system with a mark of 44.9. 

The once powerful rushing attack cannot move the chains, and the defense has suddenly become porous. Conerly after six seasons, and being older than his bio lists, decides it is time to farm in Mississippi. Steve Owen is forced out, and Jim Lee Howell is assigned the task of convincing Conerly to return. Howell not only succeeds, but he has a new offensive coordinator in West Point assistant coach Vincent T. Lombardi. 

Though Lombardi and Conerly have very different backgrounds, and their personalities would seem to clash—they don't. They work very well together, and the Giants improve in '54 and Conerly finishes fifth in the passer rating category with a mark of 76.7. 

Lots of play-action passing, power sweeps, fullback slants, yes the Lombardi playbook. Conerly also hits the century mark as he now has 100 touchdown passes in his career. 

Bet you can name the other men who had at least 100 in their careers at this point in time? Come on guys, give me the list. 

 Five weeks into 1955 the Giants are 1-4, and though it is a story for another day, the "run to daylight" concept is built. Though Conerly does not have a strong season, the team wins down the stretch to finish with a winning record. 

Yankee Stadium is just not like any other ballpark in America, and as the Giants become a power again, the fans respond. Landry is now a full-time defensive coach, and again Duke Mara has strengthened the roster. Lombardi attempts some "out of the box" thinking by having Don Heinrich start the game and probe the opponents' defense. 

Lombardi maps out what he sees with Charley and he enters the game ready to attack the flaws the opponent's defense. Does this work you ask? Hell yes! 

A strong o-line that does not allow Conerly to be sacked, while opening holes for a revitalized run game. Conerly finishes second in the passer rating category with a mark of 75.0, and New York is back in the title game for the first time in over a decade. 

The tie game against the Bears earlier in '56 left a bitter taste for the Giants team, and as you can imagine Landry will not let Harlon Hill run past his secondary again, while Lombardi blueprints a masterful game plan to expose the Shaughnessy defense. My father a man of few words (unlike his oldest son) would never detail the game to me—only state emphatically 47-7. 

Conerly pitches his passes to perfection to Gifford and Webster for long gains and Charley Conerly is now a champion. The Giants of '57 and the first half of '58 just do not always play like champions, and Conerly is now viewed as an elder statesman and not a top quarterback. Ah, but like fine wine Chuckin' Charley is not done yet. The strong New York defense keeps the Giants in every game as they claw their way into a tie with Cleveland. 

The playoff game against the Browns is as must-see as the fabled game against the Colts. New York is on the Cleveland 18-yard line; Gifford on a misdirection play bursts into the Cleveland secondary, and then laterals to his close friend Charley Conerly and the ancient warrior takes the lateral and manages to score. 

Now in his 11th year and having blocked, punted, returned kick-offs, ran, and passed he is now taking laterals to score the only touchdown of the game. Much has been written and rightfully so about the '58 title game, and though it is Unitas and the Colts' time to shine, Charley Conerly has a fine game also. 

The 1959 New York Giant highlight film is sure fun to watch, and the key players are of course the defense or as Conerly describes them "as reliable as an old hound dog", Pat Summerall and his field goal kicking, and Chuckin' Charley. During the year he overcomes injury again and leads the league in the passer rating system with a mark of 102.7—that is not a misprint. 

Film study shows he is delivering his passes with more velocity than in previous years, his touch passes are on the money. He has retained the ability to throw the most important route in being able to deliver a strike on the square in, and he throws just 4 interceptions. 

In his last three games of the year he completed 35 of 56 for 556 yards with 8 touchdowns, and nary an interception. New York leads the woeful Redskins 38-0 at half-time on Charley Conerly day, and he is getting all kinds of gifts. His wife Perian is on the TV show "What's My Line" in December, and has written a book called the "Backseat Quarterback". 

What more could a man ask for? Wait there is more? 

Yes, folks Conerly's season of '59 he was voted the league MVP by NEA, which was a vote of the players themselves. How was he able to steal that award from Johnny Hightops who just threw 32 touchdown passes and led his defending champion Colts back to the title game. They should have been co-MVPs—and actually were with Unitas taking home the AP Player of the Year Award. 

Since Johnny is the man to be measured against by the late '50s and has by far the best fundamentals in the game, let's take a moment and if you watch both men they are masters, I repeat MASTERS in their passing delivery; shoulder rotation, footwork, and hand pronation. 

Art credit: Robert Riger

They are matched again in the title game, and as strong a season as New York, and Conerly had no one was going to beat the Colts. Lipscomb and Marchetti rushed the passer, the best zone coverage secondary in the league, and a passing offense of Moore, Mutscheller and Berry latching onto Johnny Hightops passes. Jim Lee Howell retires, and again the Giants are in transition. 

Conerly finished fifth in the passer rating category in 1960 with a mark of 70.9, but he will return in '61 for his 14th season. Duke Mara again pulls off masterful trades, and though he is also a veteran of many campaigns Y.A. Tittle and Conerly treat each other with respect and shine at the quarterback position. 

Charley begins the year as the starter, but this will become Tittle's team, and it is ironic that after all the years where Conerly had to deal with young passers coming off the bench, now he comes off the bench in his final season. Twice he delivers when needed the most, as he does against the Rams and more importantly the Eagles in December. 

Chuckin' Charley one last time as he completes 6 of 13 for an impressive 153 yards and three touchdowns (two to Shofner). The season ends in Green Bay with a loss to the powerful Packers, and Lombardi. Has Charley Conerly been overlooked for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Seven times he was a finalist from 1971 through 1980. 

How many of the voters have seen him play in person?  Or even film for that matter? He may be remembered for being the Marlboro man as much as he is remembered for being a quarterback for the Giants? Being known for evaluating what stats really mean, this is a passer who threw 173 touchdown passes in his career. 

Look at where he was ranked then, and the names of the men also on the list. Today is Charley Conerly's birthday. Let's celebrate this truly "Craggy-faced, savvy pro football leader".

Offense Goes Missing, Packers Lose in Atlanta

 By Eric Goska

Until Sunday, Matt LaFleur's Packers had been
24-0 in regular-season games in which they led
by 10 or more points after three quarters.
(photos by Eric Goska) 

Put out an ABP. The Packers’ offense has gone missing.

In possession of a solid lead after three quarters in Atlanta, Green Bay pulled up lame. Offensively impotent in the final 15 minutes, the Green and Gold dropped a 25-24 decision to the Falcons in a game it should have won.

Since taking over as coach in 2019, Matt LaFleur’s Packers have been outgained in the fourth quarter more often than not. In the 68 regular-season games he’s helmed, the competition has outearned Green Bay by more than 600 yards (6,475 to 5,814).

That disparity was on steroids in Atlanta. The Falcons piled up 166 yards to 11 for the Packers in the fourth quarter.

Desmond Ridder shredded Green Bay for 119 passing yards, hitting on 6 of 8 throws. Atlanta produced seven first downs to zero for the Pack. The Falcons held the ball for 11 minutes, 41 seconds.

One reason LeFleur’s charges have often been outgained: they have led after three quarters in 43 of 68 regular-season games. Opponents have been busy making up ground while the Packers have been willing to bend but not break.

Sunday, the Falcons snapped Green Bay’s resolve. A 6-yard TD run by Ridder and two field goals from Younghoe Koo – the last with 57 seconds remaining – erased what had been a 24-12 Green Bay advantage.

Prior to that implosion, LaFleur’s Packers had been 39-3 in regular-season games when leading after three quarters. Those losses came in Indianapolis in 2020 (up 3; lost 31-34), in London against the Giants in 2022 (up 7; lost 22-27) and against the Lions in the 2022 season finale (up 3; lost 16-20).

Never had LaFleur’s team squandered a double-digit advantage. The 43-year-old had been 24-0 when in such an enviable position.

History bears out how Green Bay had little business losing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Since 1921, the team had been 317-7-1 (.977) when ahead by 10 or more after three periods.

Blame the offense – or lack thereof – for this nose dive. Jordan Love failed to complete a pass in his last six attempts. A.J. Dillon produced the Packers’ only yards in the fourth quarter, picking up 11 on four rushing attempts.

The Pack never advanced beyond its own 34.

A.J. Dillon gained 11 yards rushing
for the Packers in the fourth quarter.

Green Bay’s 11 fourth-quarter yards were the fewest since it gained the same number against the Bears in a 21-13 win on Dec. 15, 2019. As with Atlanta, Chicago produced a huge edge (176 to 11), but was unable to overcome an 18-point deficit.

Love’s late struggles overshadowed what had been a solid effort from him. Through three quarters, the first-year starter had completed 14 of 19 throws for 151 yards and three TDs (136.2 passer rating).

Normally, three scores without a pick all but guarantee victory. Since 1921, the Packers had been 116-11-0 (.913) in games where its passers threw three or more TD passes without an interception.

But that positive trend and others went out the window in Atlanta. Instead, another tendency took hold: teams rarely emerge victorious when their offense sits out the fourth quarter.

Fourth-Quarter Flameouts
Matt LaFleur’s Packers are 39-4 when leading after three quarters.  Listed below are the four losses.
 
Lead     Date                           Opponent                Result
+12         Sept. 17, 2023            Falcons                         GB lost, 24-25
+7           Oct. 9, 2022                Giants                           GB lost, 22-27
+3           Nov. 22, 2020            Colts                              GB lost, 31-34 (OT)
+3           Jan. 8, 2023               Lions                             GB lost, 16-20

Bud Carson, 1979—Interesting Cover-3 Rotation

 By John Turney

A few years ago we posted about Bud Carson and his Cover-2 which was the predecessor to what is referred to now as "Tampa-2" and gave a couple of examples of the coverage including an inverted Cover-2. 

Today we thought we'd show a twist on Cover-3 he ran in 1979—

This version of Cover-3 was run with nickel personnel and from a pressure look with the nickel safety (Eddie Brown) at the line of scrimmage and the strong safety five yards off the ball.

The defensive formation was not unusual for the Rams' nickel defense that year. Jack Reynolds would leave the field and was replaced by Eddie Brown who'd play free safety (usually but not always--see Super Bowl IV) and Nolan Cromwell would play the third corner spot, either in the slot or like he is here outside. He'd also play in the middle when they ran a Cover-2 from nickel.

Here is one of the times he played outside and the right cornerback is in the slot and the left cornerback is in his usual spot.

What we like here is because of the safety is so close to the line and the Rams not playing man, as is so often the case with a blitz, they drop out of the blitz but neither of the safeties can get to the coverage Carson wants -- 3-deep  -- so the slot corner, Rod Perry, rotates there.

Here are a couple of stills—

It is always kind of fun to look back and see coaches like Carson doing things that are still being done now and this was a pretty god example of that.

TUESDAY TIDBITS: One Week, and What Did We Learn?

By TJ Troup

Gonna be a short column today, and always like feedback from all of you who follow my column. What stood out in the games played in week one? 

Saw bits and pieces of some of the games, but focused on three games. Mr. Eric Goska did his usual superb job on the Packers in his column and the stat that stood out to me concerns pass defense. Coach TJ actually pays attention to team pass defense? What a shock? 

Green Bay 22 touchdowns, and zero, ZERO! interceptions, and the Bears eight touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Until that changes the Green & Gold will continue to dominate this so-called rivalry. 

Next Sunday for me is one of the handful of truly intriguing, and historically entertaining rivalries—when the Niners go to Los Angeles to play the Rams. Is Seattle not as strong as predicted, did the Rams sneak up on them, or has McVay continued to confound the experts on the strength of his team, and his coaching ability? 

That takes me to San Francisco, and even took notes in the sports bar as I watched the Niners open the season with a powerful performance. The Pittsburgh front seven struggled to shed blocks, and with a back as tough, and gifted as McCaffrey the Niners made a statement. 

Three sacks Sunday

Of all the Steelers including Mr. Watt, the player that stood out for the Black & Gold was Roberts. Having taught wide receivers how to block (a real challenge at times) the long touchdown run was textbook on the 65-yard score by McCaffrey. 

Always enjoyed watching the Browns play the Steelers, and should be intense on Monday night. Speaking of Monday night, last night had to be very painful for the Bills and their fans, yet what stood out to me was the poise in the Jets players. 

In the past, they would fall apart when they were behind against a strong team, maybe this is the year for them to return to the playoffs? 

Have done extensive research and film study for my next column on the 19th of September—as I will attempt to detail a legendary player's career. 

See ya round campus.

New Era, Same Result for Packers in Chicago

 By Eric Goska

Jordan Love posted a passer rating of 123.2
in Green Bay's 38-20 victory over the Bears
(photos by Eric Goska)

He passed the first test.

Jordan Love, waiting in the wings for three years, successfully kicked off his first season as the starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.
 
The organization and its fans can only hope his performance is a sign of another long run of excellence at the position.
 
Love passed for three touchdowns with nary a turnover as the Packers shrugged off the Chicago Bears 38-20 at Soldier Field. The win was the ninth in a row by Green Bay over its longtime rival.
 
Drafted 26th overall in 2020, Love has been under scrutiny since Day One. The questions surrounding his talent and leadership only intensified after Aaron Rodgers was traded to the Jets in April.
 
With but one start and 157 regular-season snaps under his belt, Love was something of an unknown. He had shown flashes – leading Green Bay to 10 fourth-quarter points against the Eagles last season – but no one could predict how he would fare once the training wheels came off.
 
Against the Bears, Love displayed poise, patience and an ability to bounce back from a relatively slow start. Lukewarm early, Love improved as the game progressed and finished with the highest passer rating for any Green Bay quarterback starting a season opener for the first time.
 
Nineteen players have started at quarterback in a season opener for the Packers since 1947. Love became the ninth to notch a win in his first season-opening start and just the third (Scott Hunter at Cleveland in 1972; David Whitehurst at Detroit in 1978) to have that victory come on the road.
 
In toppling Chicago, Love extended some trends that have arisen since Matt LaFleur became head coach in 2019. He found the end zone, connecting with receiver Romeo Doubs (twice) and running back Aaron Jones. He avoided throwing an interception. And he finished with a higher passer rating (123.2) than his Bears counterpart: Justin Fields (78.2).
 
Superior passing has been one reason why the Packers have taken nine straight from Chicago. Over that span, Green Bay has fired 22 TD passes to zero interceptions (118.8). Chicago’s numbers: 8 TD passes against 13 interceptions (71.5).

Love and receiver Christian Watson.
Watson did not play in Chicago. 

Love didn’t come out blazing at Soldier Field. He completed 7 of 16 first-half passes for 81 yards and a TD (80.5). Aside from a 30-yarder to rookie receiver Jayden Reed, his longest completion was 16 yards.
 
But when the Packers turned to Jones at the start of the third quarter, Love’s game improved. His 51-yard collaboration with the running back ignited a touchdown drive that put Green Bay ahead 17-6. His 35-yard toss to Jones pushed that advantage to 24-6 and sent his passer rating above 100 for good.
 
Love hit on 8 of 11 passes for 164 yards and two TDs in the second half. His rating after intermission (154.4) was nearly 75 points higher than in the opening two quarters.
 
Love compiled a perfect passer rating (158.3) on third and fourth down. He found six different receivers in completing 8 of 10 passes for 141 yards and two scores as Green Bay converted 10 of 18 third and fourth downs.

Number-wise, Love bettered the work of his two predecessors when they opened a season for the first time. Rodgers posted a 115.5 rating in his first season-opening start against the Vikings in 2008. Favre checked in at 103.2 in downing the Rams 36-6 in 1993.
 
Next up for Green Bay: the Falcons in Atlanta. There, Love will become only the second Packers quarterback to be subjected to back-to-back road games to start a season.  Rodgers was the first in 2016 with the Green and Gold prevailing 27-23 at Jacksonville before falling 17-14 in Minnesota.
 
Off to a Good Start
Since 1947, highest passer ratings posted by Packers quarterbacks in the first season opener in which they started (minimum 15 pass attempts).
 
Rate    Quarterback      Att-Com-Yds-TD-Int    Date                    Opp.      Result
123.2    Jordan Love           27 – 15 – 245 – 3 – 0       Sept. 10, 2023     Bears        GB won, 38-20
117.7    Anthony Dilweg     32 – 20 – 248 – 3 – 0      Sept. 9, 1990       Rams        GB won, 36-24
115.5    Aaron Rodgers       22 – 18 – 178 – 1 – 0       Sept. 8, 2008       Vikings     GB won, 24-19
112.4    Scott Hunter           17 – 7 – 150 – 2 – 0         Sept. 17, 1972      Browns     GB won, 26-10
103.2    Brett Favre             29 – 19 – 264 – 2 – 1       Sept. 5, 1993       Rams         GB won, 36-6

1947 marked the first year in which the Packers embraced the T formation; that is, with the quarterback under center. 

Puka Nacua Sets Rams Rookie Debut Receiving Records

 By John Turney 

Puka Nacua

Carroll Dale on September 23, 1960, caught 5 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. 

That is significant because those are the most-ever for a Rams rookie making his NFL debut. The touchdown record is tied with Cooper Kupp who caught one in 2017 in his first game. 

Caroll Dale

Today Puka Nacua out of BYU broke the reception and yardage mark with ten catches for 119 yards in the Rams' open versus the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle's Lumen Field—A game the Rams won 30-13.

Nacua got his playing time due to an injury to Kupp who went on injured reserve late this week. Without that, he does not get the chance to get so many snaps.

His day was not flawless, there were a couple of drops and maybe route errors—one pointed out by FOX analyst Mark Sanchez but there were a couple of misfires by quarterback Matthew Stafford or the numbers might have been even bigger.

Additionally, Nacua is now one of four NFL players to catch ten passes for 100 yards in his first career game along with Keke Coutee, Anquan Boldin and Sid Blanks per ESPN Stats and Information.

Nice job, rook.

Stats via Stathead