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.

 

[rmontro]

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.

Well, at least he admitted the mistake. Nice Beatles reference, by the way.

 

[Heyjoe4]

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.

Interesting point. I don't remember how many TOs GB had. I always thought Holmgren let them have the TD to get the ball back and play for a tie.

 

[Thirteen Below]

Interesting point. I don't remember how many TOs GB had. I always thought Holmgren let them have the TD to get the ball back and play for a tie.

We had 3, and yeah, that was Holmgren's intention. Denver had it on the 1 yard line, 2nd and goal. Somehow, Holmgren lost track of the down, and thought it was 1st down - which would mean that he could only stop the clock on 3 out of Denver's 4 downs, and also make it 33% more likely that they were going to score. So he judged it wiser to just let them score, and give Favre 1:45 to engineer a tying drive.

But actually, it was 2nd down, and even if they did punch it in on that series, Favre would have had a minute and a half or so to do his Favre-stuff.

It was a fitting mental error to end a generally poor effort on the part of the team and the coach. That one really hurt.

 

[gopkrs]

I remember we were running out of time and they could run down the clock and make a chip shot for the win with very little time left on the clock. So Holmgren let them score in order to have some time to tie the game. Made a lot of sense to me.

 

[milani]

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.

The way Terrell Davis was running the ball that day I am not so sure we could have stopped the Broncos anyway. And could Favre take them down the field with 1 timeout left? Not so sure that day. We played that season by putting a load on Dorsey Levens. When Edgar Bennett went down in preseason we never really found a complementary back to replace him. Despite being strong and deep in other areas we could have used someone there to add another component.

 

[rmontro]

The way Terrell Davis was running the ball that day I am not so sure we could have stopped the Broncos anyway.

Yeah, if it's any comfort I doubt we would have stopped them anyway. Holmgren took a lot of heat for that decision, but he probably felt the same way.

 

[smacker]

I am fairly certain putting a dome over Lambeau may be impossible or at least cost far more than building a new stadium with a dome.

With that new highrise section they built I don't even see how you could doom the stadium anyone more

 

[Heyjoe4]

We had 3, and yeah, that was Holmgren's intention. Denver had it on the 1 yard line, 2nd and goal. Somehow, Holmgren lost track of the down, and thought it was 1st down - which would mean that he could only stop the clock on 3 out of Denver's 4 downs, and also make it 33% more likely that they were going to score. So he judged it wiser to just let them score, and give Favre 1:45 to engineer a tying drive.

But actually, it was 2nd down, and even if they did punch it in on that series, Favre would have had a minute and a half or so to do his Favre-stuff.

It was a fitting mental error to end a generally poor effort on the part of the team and the coach. That one really hurt.

Thanks for the clarification 13. I do vaguely remember a report that Holmgren had the downs mixed up before allowing the score.

I don't think it was the determining factor in the loss. As you note, it was just a lackluster effort on everyone's part. Seemed like the Packers started to believe the press and that this would be an easy win for them. Nope. And the Broncos were legitimately good. Elway found himself and Davis was a terror.

 

[milani]

Thanks for the clarification 13. I do vaguely remember a report that Holmgren had the downs mixed up before allowing the score.

I don't think it was the determining factor in the loss. As you note, it was just a lackluster effort on everyone's part. Seemed like the Packers started to believe the press and that this would be an easy win for them. Nope. And the Broncos were legitimately good. Elway found himself and Davis was a terror.

As good a run defense as the Packers had in 96 and 97 stopping the Broncos that day from the 1 was unlikely 3 times in a row. Earlier when Terrell had his migraine the Broncos faked it to him and scored. Had they stopped them 3 times Denver would kick the FG and with 0 timeouts we would hope to get across midfield and maybe Longwell ties it. Favre had 2 first half turnovers that cost us 10 points. We recovered a Davis fumble on the first drive of the 3rd quarter deep in Bronco territory but only got 3 out of it. Ironically, Favre got his revenge against Denver a decade later on MNF with a home run ball to Greg Jennings on the first play of OT.

 

[lambeaulambo]

In todays NFL Donkeys do not win that SB. Chop block Fest.

 

[Thirteen Below]

I don't think it was the determining factor in the loss. As you note, it was just a lackluster effort on everyone's part.

I can't disagree. The best spin I can put on it is that it cost the Packers the last shred of hope they might have had to win the game. Denver came to play for the championship; Green Bay came expecting to celebrate another championship.

Seemed like the Packers started to believe the press and that this would be an easy win for them. Nope. And the Broncos were legitimately good. Elway found himself and Davis was a terror.

Davis was a force of nature; if I recall correctly, it was 157 yards and 3 TDs, and the MVP. Denver's game plan was to pound the rock down Green Bay's throat snap after snap after snap, and that depended on Davis carrying the team. And he did it. Elway did what he had to do, too, but Davis drove that train.

Rumors were rampant after the game that Favre had been partying up a storm the night before, with Chewy and Winters, which he later denied... but there were some rumblings from teammates after the game that maybe he'd have played better if he hadn't been so busy vomiting in the locker room before the game.

Considering how many spectacular games he played in his career when he was probably hungover as hell, I'm not sure that Saturday night in the Onyx Room or the Cheetah Gentleman's Club had much to with what happened Sunday night in Qualcom Stadium. I think the more likely explanation is simply (as either Holmgren or Wolf said, depending on which source you believe) "they just wanted it more than we did."

About as good an explanation as you can ask for to explain a decisive 11-point upset.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I can't disagree. The best spin I can put on it is that it cost the Packers the last shred of hope they might have had to win the game. Denver came to play for the championship; Green Bay came expecting to celebrate another championship.



Davis was a force of nature; if I recall correctly, it was 157 yards and 3 TDs, and the MVP. Denver's game plan was to pound the rock down Green Bay's throat snap after snap after snap, and that depended on Davis carrying the team. And he did it. Elway did what he had to do, too, but Davis drove that train.

Rumors were rampant after the game that Favre had been partying up a storm the night before, with Chewy and Winters, which he later denied... but there were some rumblings from teammates after the game that maybe he'd have played better if he hadn't been so busy vomiting in the locker room before the game.

Considering how many spectacular games he played in his career when he was probably hungover as hell, I'm not sure that Saturday night in the Onyx Room or the Cheetah Gentleman's Club had much to with what happened Sunday night in Qualcom Stadium. I think the more likely explanation is simply (as either Holmgren or Wolf said, depending on which source you believe) "they just wanted it more than we did."

About as good an explanation as you can ask for to explain a decisive 11-point upset.

I didn't hear the rumor about Favre out the night before - but it's certainly believable (especially throwing in Chewy and Winters). I don't think that would or could happen today - way too much press, prying eyes, social media, iPhones - but Favre was a throwback to the high-life days of Hornung and Max McGee. It was just a different time, and there was even less publicity in the 60s (and McGee still came to be known as a hell raiser, and Hornung a gambler and ladies' man.)

 

[gopkrs]

I think Davis had a migraine the 1st half and it miraculously went away for the 2nd half when he did the damage. Also, there was some personal problem with Eugene Robinson before the game. Not keeping a back to block the blitz really hurt