Dome over Lambeau?

[milani]

Or not. I haven't resolved that loss in my mind yet.

A sense of overconfidence on the Packers. We actually lost to the 0-10 Colts in the regular season 41-38 because of a poor defensive game plan and just a lazy defense. Winning appeared easy throughout 1996 and 1997. We had just shutdown the mighty 49ers in their own backyard. Even Madden said that he thought the Broncos had only had a small chance of winning 2 weeks earlier. We had beaten them a season earlier 41-6 albeit without Elway. KC was supposed to be our competitive opponent in 1997 but Schottenheimer could not get there. Too many underestimated the coaching staff of Denver. The Broncos did not use a wide array of plays. They just played D and rammed the ball down the throat of a great run defense. And Favre had his 2 turnovers that cost us 10 points. That team was largely veterans so unlike the Packer roster of today. Sometimes age produces complacency whereas youth is very hungry. As Dorsey Levens said, " They just wanted it more. "

 

[milani]

Yeah, especially since we were heavily favored to win. Still, it wasn't as bad as that playoff collapse in Seattle. For me, anyway. I still wake up screaming sometimes over that.



AND both times they beat us at Lambeau. And both times we were favored to win. We've had a lot of painful losses over the past 30 years.

It hurts. Ironically, the last SB win was as a WC on the road each week.

 

[milani]

Thanks milani. That 15-1 team was, if I recall, dominated by offense but with a weak D. And yeah, that was a huge let down.

I get it. I had nightmares the following week. Maybe turning Wolf's comment into something humorous is my way of coping. I'll ask my therapist at our next session. I may have some processing to do here weeds.

Or another theory, that 2014 NFCCG loss to the Hags was so traumatic, it wiped all other heartbreaking losses. Now THAT game could easily induce nightmares.

The one team this year that must be feeling the oats of disbelief is Detroit. I wonder how they will respond in 2025. Their loss to Washington was very similar to our Giant losses except for the weather conditions.

 

[rmontro]

Too many underestimated the coaching staff of Denver. The Broncos did not use a wide array of plays. They just played D and rammed the ball down the throat of a great run defense. And Favre had his 2 turnovers that cost us 10 points. That team was largely veterans so unlike the Packer roster of today. Sometimes age produces complacency whereas youth is very hungry. As Dorsey Levens said, " They just wanted it more. "

I always say that Bronco team was underrated. They did repeat the next year, after all. I was looking at Denver as the Super Bowl approached, and I thought the two teams looked pretty even matched. I still think that. I think the reason we were so heavily favored was because we had won the year before, and the NFC had won 13 straight. Of course, we had to be the team that broke the streak.

It hurts. Ironically, the last SB win was as a WC on the road each week.

I was actually kind of expecting it. I thought well, we won it as the #1 seed, where we got better each year. What was another way to win? Unexpectedly as a wild card. Other teams had won as a wild card, why not us? But we had three #1 seeds after the Super Bowl and couldn't get it done.

 

[gopkrs]

For me, we lost that game because Holmgren would not keep a back in for pass protection.

 

[rmontro]

For me, we lost that game because Holmgren would not keep a back in for pass protection.

I always thought we lost that game because we couldn't stop Terrell Davis. He chewed yardage and clock.

 

[gopkrs]

I always thought we lost that game because we couldn't stop Terrell Davis. He chewed yardage and clock.

Well, that too.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Yeah, especially since we were heavily favored to win. Still, it wasn't as bad as that playoff collapse in Seattle. For me, anyway. I still wake up screaming sometimes over that.



AND both times they beat us at Lambeau. And both times we were favored to win. We've had a lot of painful losses over the past 30 years.

Up until the horrible, unthinkable loss to the Hags in the 2014 NFCCG, the loss to the Broncos in the SB had impacted me the most. It sounds weird but I remember where I was, how numb I was, the Packers allowing the Broncos a TD so they could get the ball back in the last 2 minutes - yeah, the stuff of nightmares.

But for true horror, the 2014 NFCCG is by far and away the winner. I seem to recall that wth something like 6 minutes left, the probability of a Hags' win was less than 2%.

Most people blame Bostic for trying to field an onsides kick he had no business doing. But there are so many other gaffs it's not fair to pin it all on that play. For my money, the worst play was a 2 point conversion where Wilson had been flushed out of the pocket, no receivers open. He lofts a ball weekly into the end zone. Clinton-Dix stands at the goal line and doesn't even jump to easily block or pick off the pass, and the Hags make the 2 point conversion.

But maybe the lions' share of blame rests with MM. He played not to lose for the entire 4Q. He took the ball out of Rodgers' hands and started running. Even that probably should have been enough, but it demoralizes players when coaches do that ****.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I always thought we lost that game because we couldn't stop Terrell Davis. He chewed yardage and clock.

Davis had an outstanding game. The Packers just didn't take the Broncos seriously. But credit for the win goes to the Broncos. They believed in themselves and believed they had a game left to play. The Packers were waiting for the confetti from the opening kickoff.

 

[rmontro]

Most people blame Bostic for trying to field an onsides kick he had no business doing. But there are so many other gaffs it's not fair to pin it all on that play. For my money, the worst play was a 2 point conversion where Wilson had been flushed out of the pocket, no receivers open. He lofts a ball weekly into the end zone. Clinton-Dix stands at the goal line and doesn't even jump to easily block or pick off the pass, and the Hags make the 2 point conversion.

But maybe the lions' share of blame rests with MM. He played not to lose for the entire 4Q. He took the ball out of Rodgers' hands and started running. Even that probably should have been enough, but it demoralizes players when coaches do that ****.

Yeah, I always say everybody worked together to contribute to that loss. It was a full team effort. Except for Mason Crosby. Even earlier in the game we left too many points on the board. Don't forget Julius Peppers telling Morgan Burnett to get down instead of returning the punt. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion and not being able to do anything about it.

 

[milani]

I always say that Bronco team was underrated. They did repeat the next year, after all. I was looking at Denver as the Super Bowl approached, and I thought the two teams looked pretty even matched. I still think that. I think the reason we were so heavily favored was because we had won the year before, and the NFC had won 13 straight. Of course, we had to be the team that broke the streak.



I was actually kind of expecting it. I thought well, we won it as the #1 seed, where we got better each year. What was another way to win? Unexpectedly as a wild card. Other teams had won as a wild card, why not us? But we had three #1 seeds after the Super Bowl and couldn't get it done.

The Broncos should have been the AFC representative in 1996 instead of the Pats. Denver lost to the upstart expansion Jaguars at home led by Coughlin ironically.

 

[Thirteen Below]

For me, we lost that game because Holmgren would not keep a back in for pass protection.

I think we lost the game because ol' Goo-Goo-Ga-Joob let the Broncos score from the 1 yard line with 1:47 to go, because he thought it was 1st down but it was actually 2nd. Had we held the Broncos, he could have used time-outs to get the ball back with the score still tied.