Packers/Colts games worth mention

[74_75_78_79_]

In light of the upcoming HOF game, what games between these two franchises in their histories come to mind? I'm sure Bratkowski/Matte '65 is the first. This could be a game while both were good (which seems to not have been too common an occurance historically) or something like a win-less Colt squad upending SB-caliber Packers in '97; or 15 years earlier, Colts averting 0-9 with...a tie. Or maybe a GB/Colts matchup that never was such as SBXXX.

[Ronfitch]

The November matchup of the 5-4 Colts visiting the 9-0 Packers turned into a near-upset as the Colts defense held Green Bay's offense in check for much of the game and the Colts offense out-gained the Packer offense 382-116 in yards and 19 first downs to Green Bay's 8 (the Colts had also out-gained the Packers in yards and converted more first downs in the first game that season). With under a minute remaining, Tom Moore ran the ball 23 yards into the end zone to put Green Bay up 16-13, to which Jerry Kramer added the extra point to make it 17-13 for the final score to go to 10-0 going into the Thanksgiving game with Detroit.

Of note is that the '62 rosters included 18 future Hall of Famers, including both head coaches (Weeb Ewbank and Vince Lombardi).

On the '62 Colts roster headed for the PFHoF: QB Johnny Unitas, RB Lenny Moore, FB Joe Perry, WR Ray Berry, T Jim Parker, DL Gino Marchetti. On the Packer roster: QB Bart Starr, RB Paul Hornung, FB Jim Taylor, T Forrest Gregg, C Jim Ringo, DLs Henry Jordan and Willie Davis, LB Ray Nitschke, CB Herb Adderley and S Willie Wood.

But, the lone '61 matchup between the teams may have had more PFHoFers involved, adding S Em Tunnell to the Packers and DL Art Donovan to the Colts.

[conace21]

That 1997 Packers Colts game was shocking. The biggest upset I can recall in my lifetime. The Colts were the worst team in the regular season. The Packers were widely considered to be the best. There was talk in the preseason that they may go undefeated. (Alas, Ryan Longwell slipped in the rain and pushed a late chip shot FG wide right in a 10-9 loss to the Eagles in Week 2.) The Colts couldn't score an offensive touchdown for the first three weeks, and when they did, they blew a 26 point lead. Jim Harbaugh was out for the Packers game with an injury. Marshall Faulk had been injured and ineffective for 2 calendar years. (His 100 yard game the week before the Packers game had been just his second 100 yard performance in 25 months.)

What happens? The Colts offense is nearly unstoppable, at least untIL they get near the red zone. They punt once and lose one fumble. Every other possession ends in a FG attempt or touchdown. They score back to back defensive touchdowns. And they kneel at the 1 as time runs down to make sure Brett Favre doesn't get the ball back. For the third year in a row, Cary Blanchard knocks off the defending champions with a late FG. Colts 41, Packers 38.

[JWL]

...or 15 years earlier, Colts averting 0-9 with...a tie.

That tie is interesting to me. I like ties in football. We can read about it here-http://www.packershistory.net/1982PACKERS/GAME7.html.

[Todd Pence]

The 1967 meeting in which the Colts pulled out a miraculous 13-10 win over the eventual SB champs by scoring two late TDs.

[CSKreager]

The 2004 shootout between Brett Favre and Peyton Manning.

Favre: 30-44, 360 yards, 4 touchdowns (Javon Walker had 11 catches for 200 yards and 3 touchdown receptions)

Manning: 28-40, 393 yards, 5 touchdowns

[Rupert Patrick]

The November matchup of the 5-4 Colts visiting the 9-0 Packers turned into a near-upset as the Colts defense held Green Bay's offense in check for much of the game and the Colts offense out-gained the Packer offense 382-116 in yards and 19 first downs to Green Bay's 8 (the Colts had also out-gained the Packers in yards and converted more first downs in the first game that season). With under a minute remaining, Tom Moore ran the ball 23 yards into the end zone to put Green Bay up 16-13, to which Jerry Kramer added the extra point to make it 17-13 for the final score to go to 10-0 going into the Thanksgiving game with Detroit.

Of note is that the '62 rosters included 18 future Hall of Famers, including both head coaches (Weeb Ewbank and Vince Lombardi).

On the '62 Colts roster headed for the PFHoF: QB Johnny Unitas, RB Lenny Moore, FB Joe Perry, WR Ray Berry, T Jim Parker, DL Gino Marchetti. On the Packer roster: QB Bart Starr, RB Paul Hornung, FB Jim Taylor, T Forrest Gregg, C Jim Ringo, DLs Henry Jordan and Willie Davis, LB Ray Nitschke, CB Herb Adderley and S Willie Wood.

But, the lone '61 matchup between the teams may have had more PFHoFers involved, adding S Em Tunnell to the Packers and DL Art Donovan to the Colts.

A few years back there was a thread where we tried to figure out which game (non-Pro Bowl) had the most future Hall of Famers either in the game or on the sidelines, and we reached the conclusion that it had to be the 1961 Packers Lions games with a total of 20 Future HOFers who were on the rosters.

[Gary Najman]

The 1982 contest at Memorial Stadium when the Colts tied the Packers (who won their division in the strike-shortened season) and avoided an entire winless season.

EDIT: Ooops, it was already mentioned above, sorry.

[Gary Najman]

That 1997 Packers Colts game was shocking. The biggest upset I can recall in my lifetime. The Colts were the worst team in the regular season. The Packers were widely considered to be the best. There was talk in the preseason that they may go undefeated. (Alas, Ryan Longwell slipped in the rain and pushed a late chip shot FG wide right in a 10-9 loss to the Eagles in Week 2.) The Colts couldn't score an offensive touchdown for the first three weeks, and when they did, they blew a 26 point lead. Jim Harbaugh was out for the Packers game with an injury. Marshall Faulk had been injured and ineffective for 2 calendar years. (His 100 yard game the week before the Packers game had been just his second 100 yard performance in 25 months.)

What happens? The Colts offense is nearly unstoppable, at least untIL they get near the red zone. They punt once and lose one fumble. Every other possession ends in a FG attempt or touchdown. They score back to back defensive touchdowns. And they kneel at the 1 as time runs down to make sure Brett Favre doesn't get the ball back. For the third year in a row, Cary Blanchard knocks off the defending champions with a late FG. Colts 41, Packers 38.

The Packers were 13 point-favorites (for the record, in 1982 they were 7 point favorites, and couldn't win either game). By the way, Paul Justin started at quarterback for the Colts (even that they were a bad team they had future Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Marvin Harrison, and both had a good game).

[Ronfitch]

The November matchup of the 5-4 Colts visiting the 9-0 Packers turned into a near-upset as the Colts defense held Green Bay's offense in check for much of the game and the Colts offense out-gained the Packer offense 382-116 in yards and 19 first downs to Green Bay's 8 (the Colts had also out-gained the Packers in yards and converted more first downs in the first game that season). With under a minute remaining, Tom Moore ran the ball 23 yards into the end zone to put Green Bay up 16-13, to which Jerry Kramer added the extra point to make it 17-13 for the final score to go to 10-0 going into the Thanksgiving game with Detroit.

Of note is that the '62 rosters included 18 future Hall of Famers, including both head coaches (Weeb Ewbank and Vince Lombardi).

On the '62 Colts roster headed for the PFHoF: QB Johnny Unitas, RB Lenny Moore, FB Joe Perry, WR Ray Berry, T Jim Parker, DL Gino Marchetti. On the Packer roster: QB Bart Starr, RB Paul Hornung, FB Jim Taylor, T Forrest Gregg, C Jim Ringo, DLs Henry Jordan and Willie Davis, LB Ray Nitschke, CB Herb Adderley and S Willie Wood.

But, the lone '61 matchup between the teams may have had more PFHoFers involved, adding S Em Tunnell to the Packers and DL Art Donovan to the Colts.

A few years back there was a thread where we tried to figure out which game (non-Pro Bowl) had the most future Hall of Famers either in the game or on the sidelines, and we reached the conclusion that it had to be the 1961 Packers Lions games with a total of 20 Future HOFers who were on the rosters.

Yeah, that was a fun thread - I was hoping it was one that Phil (Olde Cape Cod) had saved, but I cannot find it. It was referenced on the new forum at least once: http://www.profootballresearchers.com/f ... nell#p8939 .