Packers Huddle

Dan Devine has gotten a lot of grief for sticking with the running game in the 1972 NFC Semi-Final playoff game versus the Redskins..........a game the Packers lost 16 to 3. The game was held on Christmas Eve December 24, 1972 at RFK Stadium.

What I never realized is that earlier in the regular season on November 26th the Packers went to RFK and also lost. Redskins rushed for 132 yards that day.

In that regular season game at RFK the Packers rushed 35 times and gained 120 yards. Passing stats were dismal ....... 21 attempts and only 7 completions.

In the NFC Semi-Final playoff game versus the Redskins the Packers rushed 29 times for 78 yards. Packers passing stats were again dismal ........ 24 attempts and only 12 completions. Redskins rushed for 138 yards in the NFC Semi-Final versus the Packers. The following week the Redskins went on to defeat Dallas 26 to 3 in the NFC Championship (Redskins rushed for 122 yards), and then subsequently lost to the Dolphins 14-7 (Redskins rushed for 141 yards). Redskins had a great defense that year. And the 1972 Redskins had a very productive running game.

LDE Ron McDole
LDT Bill Brundige
RDT Diron Talbert
RDE Verlon Biggs
LLB Jack Pardee
MLB Harold McLinton
RLB Chris Hanburger
LCB Pat Fischer
RCB Mike Bass
SS Brig Owens
FS Rosey Taylor

The Redskins had 4 offensive players make the Pro Bowl that season (Billy Kilmer, Len Hauss, Larry Brown and Charley Taylor). Chris Hanburger was All-Pro.

So in retrospect the Packers were simply the inferior team that season. No reason to fault Devine for losing that playoff game. Most of the angst is probably more about Devine haters, than the outcome of that game or season. Hey........we all know Scott Hunter was not a Super Bowl QB. Billy Kilmer was a better QB than Scott Hunter. Hail To The WTFs!!

GO PACK GO!!

APB wrote: ↑

22 Nov 2020 10:31

It's almost as if there is some Professor of Packers history who resides on this board and of whom nobody but Ringo is aware. He occasionally assigns essays on a random Packers related topic of his choice. And it's posted for our enjoyment.

Good post Ringo!

Captain_Ben wrote: ↑

23 Nov 2020 17:09

APB wrote: ↑

22 Nov 2020 10:31

It's almost as if there is some Professor of Packers history who resides on this board and of whom nobody but Ringo is aware. He occasionally assigns essays on a random Packers related topic of his choice. And it's posted for our enjoyment.

Good post Ringo!

I've got another random one for you Captain. Upon Paul Hornung's death I was poking around Ebay and other sites looking for Hornung stuff. I found this great photo from the 1962 game at Milwaukee County Stadium versus the St. Louis Cardinals. Absolutely a treasure with Hornung, Starr and Nitschke captured in action on the field at the same time during a field goal or extra point attempt.

If you look closely at the jersey numbers in the photo you will see the vertical region on the numbers 5 and 6. In that era other Packers players jerseys had vertical regions on other numbers besides 5 and 6 including 3 and 7. This number style was on the 1961, 1962 and 1963 Packers jerseys. Not on the 1959, 1960, 1965, 1966 or 1967 jerseys or any years thereafter. I don't know about 1964.

See: https://jecforum.com/product/paul-hornu ... gKGFfD_BwE

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ZsIAAOSw ... s-l500.jpg

Tangentially related, been hunting for a John Brockington throwback, Mitchell and Ness makes a nice one but not sure I want to spend 200 dollars.

Willink wrote: ↑

05 Dec 2020 14:52

Tangentially related, been hunting for a John Brockington throwback, Mitchell and Ness makes a nice one but not sure I want to spend 200 dollars.

John Brockington was my first Packer memory growing up.

Willink wrote: ↑

05 Dec 2020 14:52

Tangentially related, been hunting for a John Brockington throwback, Mitchell and Ness makes a nice one but not sure I want to spend 200 dollars.

I haven't seen a Brockington throwback. Those Mitchell and Ness jersey prices are always high. Very unique though. Have never seen a MacArthur Lane either.

APB wrote: ↑

13 Dec 2020 11:40

Willink wrote: ↑

05 Dec 2020 14:52

Tangentially related, been hunting for a John Brockington throwback, Mitchell and Ness makes a nice one but not sure I want to spend 200 dollars.

John Brockington was my first Packer memory growing up.

Along with the late great MacArther Lane.

42 and 36 rushed for over 1800 yards that season. Twas a shame the Packers couldn't dominate on the ground in the playoff game at RFK.

RingoCStarrQB wrote: ↑

31 Dec 2022 18:26

42 and 36 rushed for over 1800 yards that season. Twas a shame the Packers couldn't dominate on the ground in the playoff game at RFK.

Put the pipe down.