San Francisco 49ers (3-7) 24, Green Bay Packers (5-5) 21
Sunday November 15th 1964 (at San Francisco)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(SAN FRANCISCO) - The Packers became a mystery of sorts in Kezar Stadium Sunday afternoon. Fresh from lopsided victories over the contending Vikings and Lions, the Packers fell apart under pressure from the rough but lowly 49ers. And a rookie quarterback, at that. They rolled up enough yards to win most games, 363; allowed only 139; and recovered four fumbles. But they had no particular zest for combat and the final score was 24-14, a pleasant and shocking surprise to the 38,483 crowd. The Packers received a cruel blow in the second quarter when Bart Starr was knocked cold by an overzealous 49er, but they charged into a 14-10 halftime lead with Zeke Bratkowski at the controls. Only to fizzle in the second half. This was one of those "given" Sundays for the 49res, but the Packers were rolling with the momentum of two straight wins. And the 49ers were experimenting, at it were, with rookie quarterback George Mira and a rookie fullback, Dave Kopay. The puzzling result was murder in the standing, too. The Packers blew a chance to take over sole possession of second place since the Rams, Lions and Vikings lost. The Packers and Vikings now have 5-5, the Rams and Lions are tied with 5-4-1, and the Colt are all but in with 9-1. The Packers won't get a "lowly" opponent next Sunday. They face the best in the Eastern Division in Milwaukee - the Browns, who stopped the Lions Sunday. The Packers fell into an early-season bad habit - the missed and blocked field goals. Paul Hornung missed from the 44 and 26-yard lines in the first quarter, had one blocked from 35 yards and missed from the 17 in the fourth quarter. Max McGee scored the two Packer touchdowns - the first on a 44-yard pass from Starr for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. He took the next on a 33-yard pass from Bratkowski for a 14-10 halftime edge. The 49ers got their first TD on a weird 70-yard return of a punt for a 10-7 edge in the second quarter. The snap-back to Jerry Norton was high, slowing up delivery. The boot was "held" up by a strong wind and it dropped like a wounded duck into Alexander's arms - while three Packer tacklers raced downfield past Alexander to get at
the "intended" receiver. A 22-yard interception of a Bratkowski pass by Jim Johnson to the Packer six set up the 49ers' lead TD in the third quarter - a 2-yard run by Mike Lind. The clincher was set up on a 26-yard punt return by Abe Woodson to the Packer 39 the next time 'Frisco had the ball. The 49ers scored in 10 plays from there, with Rudy Johnson running right end for the final score. The 49ers were real mean and rough, and the Starr injury tipped the 49er hand. Bart had already released the ball when big Roland Lakes belted him. He was throwing to Boyd Dowler on a third down and 18 play. Starr came up with a slight concussion and was led from the field and to the dressing room. Two other players were hurt and one of them, Hornung, wasn't on the playing field. Paul went down like he was shot when his pinched nerve in his shoulder "grabbed" him when he started to put on his helmet early in the fourth quarter. The 49er physician ran across the field to revive Hornung since Dr. Jim Nellen of the Pack was in the dressing room with Starr. Paul later returned for one play - the 17-yard field goal miss. Jim Taylor came up with some bruised ribs. And everybody got their feelings hurt. Other than the Packers' opening nine-play touchdown drive, the game was precisionless, wide and sloppy. There were 11 fumbles and three of them came on successive plays in the second quarter. The Packers fumbled five times and lost two of them and the 49ers fumbled six times, with Green Bay getting six. The Packers were caught for holding three times and the third infraction was the costliest. With the score 24-14, Bratkowski moved the Bays to the 49er six, but a holding penalty moved it back to the 33 and a missed field goal followed early in the fourth quarter. Green Bay won the statistics, including the edge in plays, 68 to 60. The 49ers were held to only 73 yards passing with Mira hitting on 10 of 17 attempts. The 49ers rushed for 139 yards, which is a world's record for them this season, though Mira made 37 of it with his scrambling. The Packers' rushing game was simmered down to 125 yards, but the 49er defense was dishing it out a bit too hard for Packer blockers. The Packers picked up 238 yards in the air, with Bratkowski getting 228 on 16 completions in 25 attempts. Starr hit one of five - the TDer to McGee. Bratkowski hit 8 of 10 before the half for 128 yards. McGee not only scored the two touchdowns but made the catch of the day with a one-handed grab for 27 yards to set up the Pack's chance-to-win midway in the fourth quarter. That put the ball on the 49er 11, but the 49ers slammed the door shut. Boyd Dowler and McGee finished with six catches apiece. It looked so easy at the start. After the 49ers were forced to punt after receiving the opening kick, the Packers moved 82 yards for a touchdown. Running by Taylor and Hornung gained 12 yards and then Starr ran 11 yards on a key third down to the Packer 41. Taylor and Hornung added 15 yards to the 49er 44 from where Starr threw his pass to McGee on the five and Maxie ambled home. McGee had outdistanced Woodson. Hornung made it 7-0 with the conversion at 5:57. The Packers then blew two chances to score after fumble recoveries. Hank Jordan, who recovered two 49er fumbles, grabbed Mira's wild bouncing pitch to Kopay on the 49er 44, but the Bays missed a first down by a yard. Hornung's field goal from the 43 was wide. Two plays later Doug Hart recovered Parks' fumble and this time ditto on the attack and the field goal - from the 38. Both misses were a shade to the right. Early in the second period, Tommy Davis missed a field goal shot from 54 yards out and the Starr disaster followed. Starting on their own 20, the Bays were nicked for holding and then Starr was thrown for a seven-yard loss to the 2. After Taylor picked up 10, Starr was hurt on his pass attempt to Dowler. The 49ers made it 7-3 on Davis' field goal, but then the clubs started playing giveaway. The Packers made two first downs but McGee, while juggling the ball, lost it and Alexander recovered on the 49er 47. 'Frisco got to the Packer 22 on Mira's pass to Monte Stickles but then Mike Lind fumbled to Jordan on the Packer 23. Taylor hit left end and fumbled, with Woodson recovering. Jim put up a fierce argument because he felt that the play was over when Woodson took the ball. Mira then went around right end and fumbled on the 10-yard line. The ball skittered into the end zone where Gremminger recovered. Four plays later Alexander made his punt return for a TD and the 49ers went ahead 10-7, with Davis converting with three minutes left in the half. The Packers then zoomed 80 yards in seven plays to score. Bratkowski completed four straight passes - to Taylor for 11, Moore for 26, Dowler for 13 and Ron Kramer for 10. After two incompletions, Brat threw a strike to McGee right down the middle between Kimbrough and Woodson for a 33-yard TD. The Packers came out passing in the second half with Hornung missing Mcgee on the opening play - and Max was wide open. Two plays later the Packers were caught holding again and Bratkowski had a third down play on his own nine. He threw to the right but Johnson intercepted and returned 22 yards to the six. Two plays later Lind scored to make it 17-14. Jerry Norton was forced to punt right back and Woodson returned from his 35 to the Packer 39. Mira led off with a 10-yard run and then completed passes to Parks and Bernie Casey, reaching the five. Two plays later Johnson shot off right end for the TD and the final score was set. And, come to think of it, this was the same score by which the Packers whipped the 49rers in Milwaukee earlier. The Packers now proceeded to hold the ball for about seven minutes going into the fourth quarter but came out with nothing but a blocked field goal. The Bays worked from their 23 to the six on two Bratkowski passes to Dowler and another Brat pitch to McGee and Hornung's 10-yarder to Kramer. The payoff was Hornung's 10-yard run to the 49er six, but the Bays were holding. This put the ball all the way back to the 33 and to make it worse Bratkowski fumbled and recovered for a 13-yard loss. On the third play of the fourth quarter, closing the drive, Hornung's field goal was blocked at the 35. The Packers made one more drive and Elijah Pitts led it off with a 27-yard run to the Packer 44. After short gains by Pitts and Taylor, McGee made his picture catch with a 49er, incidentally, on his back to the 49er 11. The next three plays netted only one yard and Hornung was off on a field goal try from the 17. That was the end - with 7:23 left, for Green Bay.
GREEN BAY - 7 7 0 0 - 14
SAN FRANCISCO - 0 10 14 0 - 24
GREEN BAY SAN FRANCISCO
First Downs 20 15
Rushing-Yards-TD 30-125-0 42-139-2
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 33-18-282-2-1 17-10-82-0-0
Sack Yards Lost 5-44 1-9
Net Passing Yards 238 73
Total Yards 363 212
Fumbles-lost 5-2 6-4
Turnovers 3 4
Yards penalized 4-50 2-20
SCORING
1st - GB - Jim Taylor, 1-yard run (Paul Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - GB - Taylor, 84-yard run (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 14-0
2nd - GB - Hornung, 40-yard field goal GREEN BAY 17-0
2nd - GB - Hornung, 19-yard field goal GREEN BAY 20-0
3rd - GB - Max McGee, 27-yard fumble recovery after 55-yard pass from Bart Starr to Ron Kramer (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 27-0
4th - GB - Hornung, 34-yard field goal GREEN BAY 30-0
4th - DET - Gail Cogdill, 23-yard pass from Milt Plum (Wayne Walker kick) GREEN BAY 30-7
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Jim Taylor 19-145 2 TD, Bart Starr 3-40, Paul Hornung 5-17, Elijah Pitts 2-15, Tom Moore 5-15
DETROIT - Nick Pietrosante 6-31, Tom Watkins 5-16, Hugh McElhenny 2-8, Dan Lewis 1-(-2), Nick Ryder 1-(-3)
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 20-14-190
DETROIT - Milt Plum 33-18-219 1 TD 1 INT
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Ron Kramer 4-79, Boyd Dowler 4-70, Jim Taylor 2-34, Tom Moore 2-12, Elijah Pitts 2-5
DETROIT - Terry Barr 6-81, Gail Cogdill 4-59 1 TD, Jim Gibbons 4-43, Nick Pietrosante 2-23, Hugh McElhenny 1-9, Nick Ryder 1-4
MUST 'WANT TO WIN,' VINCE; STARR 'OKAY'
NOV 16 (San Francisco-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - There wasn't much talking above a whisper in the United Airlines waiting room at Chicago's O' Hare Field about 11 o'clock Sunday night. The Packers had just debarked from a commercial jet from San Francisco and were waiting to get on their charter for the trip to Green Bay. "I guess everybody just now realizes what we really lost," said Hank Gremminger, defensive captain. The Packers, needless to say, had blown themselves out of any championship consideration - not to mention sole possession of second place, which this year cuts in a good chunk of championship game money. What's more, there's the Playoff Bowl in Miami! There were no excuses and the Packers were more embarrassed than anything. The defeat could be placed on the loss of Bart Starr, but Coach Vince Lombardi wouldn't buy that. He rated the current Packers on a team basis and "one man shouldn't make the difference," Vince pointed out. The Packers lost Starr a year ago and they went right on winning. And just last Sept. 28, Starr was kayoed in Detroit and the Bays held on. "I guess we're just not an every-Sunday team," Vince said, referring to the Pack's habit this year of alternating a win and a loss before
winning two in a row before yesterday. Starr started to perk up on the jet flight and experienced nothing worse than a headache. He was due for a good rest today and will be ready for the Browns next Sunday. "I never knew what hit me and I don't remember a thing," Starr said. Earlier in the Packer dressing room, Lombardi told the assembled press that "there are three things you can do in a football game - block, tackle and want. You miss any one of them, you don't win, period. The rest of it you can throw out the window." Vince put the emphasis on want, explaining "the team that wants to win, wins." Lombardi was bombed with questions pinning the defeat on the loss of Starr and he had a flat "no" for an answer. Asked if this was his most disappointing loss, Vince noted, "Oh no. We've had some weird losses this year." Jack Christiansen, coach of the 49ers, said he thought San Francisco "played real good on defense. Of course, we made a couple of mistakes which cost us. After that first touchdown pass, we could have let down, but we didn't." Oddly enough, it appeared that the Packers let down after the easy TD. The 49er coach said the loss of Starr dealt a death blow to the Packers' hopes. "That really hurt their offense. In my estimation, he's probably the greatest quarterback in the league. I was glad he had to go out of the game, but I hope that he isn't seriously hurt." Christiansen had praise for rookie quarterback George Mira, who was making his first start. "He scrambled a lot and got himself out of trouble. I see no reason why he shouldn't start next week after this performance." Mira fumbled three times and commented, "I'm glad the coach left me in. He spoke to me after I fumbled in the first half. He just told me I shouldn't carry the ball like a loaf of bread - out from my body. It's a bad habit and I'm going to lose it. I always carried the ball that way in high school and college and never fumbled. It's different in the pros."...STABBED IN NECK: Hornung, who missed three field goals and had one blocked by Roland Lakes, said, "I felt like I was shot on the sidelines. I was just putting on my helmet when something stabbed me in the neck." He was getting ready to go in after a 49er punt late in the third quarter. Hornung, incidentally, was just a bit off on his field goals and the tricky winds could get part of the blame. There was a stiff breeze blowing off the "bay." Shocked to the teeth, the Packers had to make a rush after the game to catch their 4:55 jet. They received a police escort through the city and reached the airport on time. The big bird was 15 minutes late in taking off but made the trip to Chicago in 3 hours and 20 minutes. This was air speed at its best, but it was a slow, torturous ride home for the Packers.
'PLAY YOUNGER BOYS MORE,' VINCE
NOV 17 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "We'll be playing a lot of the younger boys more from now on." This was pointed out today by Vince Lombardi, as the Packers set their sights on the next assignment - the Browns, leaders of the Eastern Division, in Milwaukee Sunday. The Packers' head coach added that "this doesn't mean that we won't be playing the others, but we want to give the younger boys some experience." Thus, the future becomes a factor in the Packers' charge down the four-game home stretch - the Browns, Cowboys in Dallas, the Bears in Chicago and Rams in Los Angeles. The Bays were eliminated from title consideration in their 24-14 loss to the 49ers in San Francisco Sunday, but second place is still up for grabs between the Lions, Vikings and Packers. The question today is: Can the Packers come back after their unexpected loss? Lombardi answered it emphatically: "We'll try like hell to come back and finish as high as we can." Vince and coaching aides Phil Bengtson, Red Cochran, Bill Austin, Norb Hecker and Tom Fears viewed pictures of the 49er game Monday and it wasn't a pleasant task. The coach generally put the re-run this way: "We really played well on defense, the offense did nothing to take advantage of the opportunities, and the kicking game was atrocious." The 49ers finished with 212 yards, including only 73 on passing, and their three touchdowns were virtually driveless. The first came on a 70-yard punt return, the second was set up from the Bay six-yard line on an interception, and the third came after a punt return gave the 49ers position on the Packer 39. It took the 49ers 10 plays to go those 39 yards. The Packers had an opportunity to take a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. After driving 82 yards for a 7-0 edge the first time they had the ball, Hank Jordan and Doug Hart recovered fumbles to give the offense the ball on the 49er 44 and 26-yard lines. In each case, the attack faltered and Paul Hornung missed field goals from the 43 and 38-yard lines. And that also pointed out the "atrocious" kicking. Bart Starr was knocked cold by Roland Lakes, huge 49er tackle, the next time the Packers had the ball. The pictures didn't show any contact between Lakes and Starr because the camera followed the ball, Vince said, adding "we can see where he gets rid of the ball." Thus, Starr was hit after releasing the ball - an automatic 15 for roughing the penalty, but no penalty was called. And speaking of no penalties, the play that irked this writer was the arm waving (face guarding) by Dave Wilcox on a pass catch attempt by Tom Moore late in the third quarter. Moore dropped the pass from Zeke Bratkowski around the 49er 5-yard line. It's a cold day in you know where when Moore drops a pass, and the pictures revealed the reason. "There was no question of interference," Lombardi said, adding that contact was made. Injurywise, the Packers don't have anything serious. Starr, who received a mild concussion, is okay, Vince said. Jess Whittenton, who had a muscle pull, was held out of the 49er game and Hart played his spot. The
Browns present a new problem for the Packers since they are "strangers" compared to the Western Division teams. This will be the Pack's first league game against Cleveland since 1961 when the Bays whipped the Browns 49-17 in Cleveland.
PACKER OFFENSE DID THINGS IN BUNCHES VS. 49ERS...BUT
NOV 17 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packer offense did things in bunches against the 49ers. Five of them. The offense had the ball 13 times, which is about normal, compared to 11 vs. the Lions and 14 against the Vikings on the previous two Sundays. But the Packers were rare birds out in San Francisco. They wrapped more than 90 percent of their offense in those five bunches, getting 19 of their 20 first downs and 334 of their 363 yards. The Bays ran off 43 of their 68 plays in those five bunches. Only two of the bunches produced touchdowns and therein, of course, rests part of the Packers' misery. Here's what happened in the five-bunch offense: First - 82 yards in 9 plays, Bart Start to Max McGee touchdown pass for 44 yards. (First quarter) Second - 23 yards in 4 plays, lost ball on fumble (Second quarter) Third - 80 yards in 7 plays, Zeke Bratkowski to McGee touchdown pass for 33 yards (Second quarter) Fourth - 50 yards in 13 plays, Paul Hornung missed field goal from 35 (Fourth quarter) Fifth - 73 yards in 10 plays, Hornung missed field goal from 17 (Fourth quarter). Here's what happened when the Packers didn't bunch their plays: First - 8 yards in three rushes, Hornung missed field goal from 43 (First quarter). Second - Minus 5 yards in three plays, Hornung missed field goal from 38 (First quarter). Third - Minus 16 yards (holding penalty, plus loss on rush) in three plays. Jerry Norton punted (Second quarter). Fourth - Jim Taylor fumbled, Abe Woodson recovered on first down (Second quarter). Sixth - Minus 14 yards (holding penalty) in three plays, Bratkowski pass intercepted by Jim Johnson (Third quarter). Seventh - 8 yards in three plays, Norton punted (Third quarter). Eighth - 1 yard in five plays (including automatic first down on 49er defensive holding penalty and loss of 4 on Bratkowski pass attempt) (Fourth quarter). The Packers put the ball in the air 33 times, via passing, and it became virtually a necessity when the 49ers started cutting down Packer blockers and ball carriers. The Bays settled for 125 yards rushing, which is 20 less than Taylor gained (in 19 attempts) against the Lions the previous Sunday. Jim boiled down to 44 in 15 trips vs. the 49ers. Elijah Pitts turned in the longest rush of the day - 27 yards, but finished with 29 in three attempts. This yakkity-yak could go on for hours. But, as Coach Vince Lombardi points out, "If you don't hae the want to win, you can throw the rest of it out the window."
STARR, PITTS GRAB NFL LEADS
NOV 18 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers came up with two (count 'em) individual statistical leaders today. Bart Starr and Elijah Pitts. The circumstances are unusual because both saw limited service in their specialties in the 24-14 loss to the 49ers Sunday. Starr completed only one pass in five attempts before going out with an injury in the second quarter. And Pitts actually never caught a punt. He fumbled his only punt-catch attempt. But Starr was at the head of the passing class with the top percentage based on percent of completions, touchdown passing, interceptions percentage and average yards gained. And Pitts' average punt return of 13.1 ranks as the best in the league. Starr's lone completion was a 44-yard touchdown pass to Max McGee in the first quarter and he now has 11 TD passes. Bart's completion percentage of an even 60.0 is tops in the league and he is tied with John Unitas with the fewest interceptions, four. Unitas dropped off to second and Sonny Jurgensen moved into third, beating out Fran Tarkenton. Frank Ryan, the Browns' brain who will be hurling and thinking vs. the Packers in Milwaukee Sunday, ranks ninth in passing. He's pitching an even 50 percent and has 15 touchdown passes. The Packers defense already had noticed, to be sure, that Ryan has been touched for 14 interceptions. It is interesting to note that Starr and Ryan both have the same number of completions, 117. However, Ryan attempted 235 against Starr's 195, which accounts for the 10-point difference in completion percentage. The Browns also have two individual leaders. Thus, half of the eight individual categories will have their top representatives in Milwaukee. Cleveland's topsters are Jim Brown, the fullback and the 175-pound rookie flanker from San Jose State, one Walter Roberts. Brown, the league's leading rushing leader, needs no introduction. He has picked up 1,081 yards on 203 attempts for an average of 5.3. Thus, he is averaging
over 100 yards in the first 10 games. Roberts tops the kickoff returners with his average of 30.1 on 15 returns. The Packers' Tom Moore is third with 28.1. The Packers' Jim Taylor is second in the rushing race but has the edge of Brown in touchdowns and longest rush. Taylor's best one-runner was the 84-yard scamper here vs. Detroit, still best in the league, and he has eight touchdowns. Brown's longest gain was 71 yards and has had six TDs. On a team yardage basis, the Packers are right up there - first in defense and second to the leading Colts in offense. The Packers lead in seven defense categories topped by fewest yards allowed, 2,320, and opponents' first down, 143. The Browns, by comparison, have allowed 191 first downs and 3,406 yards. And they rank 14th in the league in defense. This is enough to make a saint wonder since the Browns are leading the Eastern Division with a fancy 8-1-1 record while the Packers have 5-5. Offensively, the Packers have gained 3,252 yards and their aerial total passed the rushers for the first time this week - however, close. The Bays gained 1,631 yards in the air and 1,621 on the ground. Zeke Bratkowski chipped in a 225-yard total with his passing in San Francisco. Cleveland is third in offense, with 3,138 yards, including 1,609 by rushing and 1,529 passing. The Packers worked lightly Tuesday morning and then heard a report on the Browns from Scout Wally Cruice.
PERSONALITY PARADE
NOV 18 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - It being that every man has at least a modicum of ego, soft-spoken Edmund Raymond (Zeke) Bratkowski - most frequently to be found pacing the sidelines with a headset clamped to his thinning mane has to be pro football's ideal No. 2 quarterback. As all of the faithful are well aware, the 33-year-old veteran moved the Packers with admirable but fruitless factility in behalf of the immobilized Bart Starr at San Francisco last Sunday. Yet he willingly accepts the fact that Bart, expected to be hale again, will be back at the throttle in Sunday's long-awaited collision with the Cleveland Browns at Milwaukee County Stadium. Even more surprising, the ex-Bear and ex-Ram field general not only accepts the situation, he recommends it. This despite the fact he fired 16 completions in 25 attempts for 228 yards and one touchdown - certainly impressive credentials in any company - against the 49ers. "Coach Lombardi can't afford to substitute," Zeke says with rare understanding. "It's a matter of having one quarterback. I've played under the two-quarterback system (with both the Bears and Rams) and I know what it is - it's almost impossible. "There are exceptions, I know, but generally it just doesn't work. I think you have to go with one quarterback," says the strong-armed University of Georgia alumnus. "The thing is to be ready - as Coach Lombardi always phrases it - whether you're a guard or a tackle, or a quarterback." In this connection, he explained, "Bart and I see a lot of movies and talk together on the sidelines frequently. I try to pattern myself off him, although all of us call our games differently." Despite his frank espousal of the one-quarterback system, Bratkowski admitted Sunday's prolonged stint, his first since preserving a 14-10 decision over the Lions when Starr was shaken up at Detroit Sept. 28, "felt pretty good." "The timing seemed pretty good, too, even with the way the ground was for the receivers," Zeke was happy to note. "It was real difficult for them to move - it was so soft. They (the 49ers) had the same thing, of course, so it's no alibi, but the receivers had to be careful what they ran on their cuts and moves." His only problems with the 49er rush, he volunteered with engaging candor, stemmed from "a couple of errors on my own part. That caused 'em to get me back there, not a breakdown in the protection. My protection was real good. The times they got to me came on a particular pattern, and if I had been thinking, it wouldn't have happened." He paused and added, "You can practice a lot, but in a game you're not aware of it." The Brat also shouldered the blame for an early third quarter interception, although he prefaced it with, "I'll have to see the movies to be sure what happened. I was anticipating a 'dog' (a blitz) and I wanted to use something to beat it and also give our punter some room. I knew they wouldn't give us anything long, so I called a deeper-type turn-in pattern. I didn't anticipate the receiver's move (it was Boyd Dowler), at least that's what I think happened, and threw the ball a little early." Although he was permitted to call his own game for the most part, in keeping with the Lombardi philosophy, Zeke revealed, "We got together - Coach Lombardi and I - on the touchdown to Max (McGee). We had noticed something earlier - how they were moving - and it really worked well, considering how far we had to go. It was something like third and 29." Touched by the sense of togetherness that developed in the wake of Starr's injury, the Brat confided with quiet pride, "The whole team was just great for me. You could feel it on the sidelines - they all wanted me to do a good job."
TAYLOR, BROWN SPOTLIGHTED - BUT NITSCHKE HOLDS KEY
NOV 19 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Three people come to mind - almost instantly - when the Packers and Browns meet. They are, in alphabetical order, Jim Brown, Ray Nitschke and Jim Taylor. These gents need no formal presentation but briefly they carry these credentials for Sunday's encounter in Milwaukee. Brown - The best all-around fullback in pro football and many call him the greatest back in football history. Taylor - The strongest and most determined fullback in pro football and many rate him the greatest short-yardage back in football history. Nitschke - Our Ray doesn't possess such fancy ratings but he's stellar in his field, middle linebacking, and he'll be the middleman in the Packers' defense against the Browns' elusive and powerful running. There's something similar about a fullback and a middle linebacker for a couple of reasons. The oldtimers might recall that the old fullbacks always went to the "fullback" position on defense, which was the middle linebacker. The ML, in the Taylor and Brown era, glues in on the fullback and serves as a balance between the outside linebackers - in the Packers' case, Dan Currie and Lee Roy Caffey. Nitschke is looking forward to Sunday's assignment. "It's very challenging," Ray says, "because you know he's a great ball carrier and a smart one. He'll look at you and you know he's trying to figure you out. He breaks a lot of tackles himself and many times he makes it on his own." How to stop him? "You have to gang tackle him, just like Taylor, and then make sure he's down. He's such a clever runner that it's hard to bring him down alone. You have to be careful with him because he anticipates the move of the defensive man. The best thing to do is just swarm all over him." It's rare, of course, when the two best fullbacks meet since the Packers and Browns are in oppositive divisions. They have met only three times - in a league game in 1961, the Playoff Bowl in Miami last January, and in an exhibition in Cleveland last August. In the three games, Taylor and Brown came out in a virtual dead heat. Taylor gained 243 yards in 44 attempts against Brown's 258 in 46 trips. Brown's average is 5.6, Taylor's 5.5. At the moment, Brown has 1,081 yards in 10 games while Taylor is 230 yards shy of hitting the 1,000-yard goal for a record fifth straight year. Actually, the biggest problems for Taylor and Brown Sunday won't be each other. Our Jim's middle linebacking opponent is Vince Costello, one of the Browns' great defensive stars, while Brown will be viewed by the aforementioned Mr. Nitschke. Brown put it this way: "Ray Nitschke, for example, will have more to say about what I do than Taylor. The ones I have to prove something to are my teammates and myself. Taylor is a fine back and I have nothing against him." Brown, in recent magazine article under his by-line, said he felt that Taylor disliked him, but Jim said, "I have no resentment whatsoever against Brown," adding: "My ambition is to play the best football I can. Brown may bring out a little extra, though, but both of us have had a pretty good game against each other."...FIRST TO CARRY 2,000: Brown's comment on Taylor came as a surprise since the Packers' Jim is the happy type and likes people, at least off the football field. On the gridiron, he doesn't like anybody in an enemy uniform for 60 minutes. Brown figures to become the first man in NFL history to carry the ball 2,000 times somewhere during Sunday's game. The figure will be reached on his seventh run from scrimmage. He already hold the record for lifetime attempts. He had 1,790 at the start of the season, and thus far he has carried 203 times. Brown now has gained 10,403 yards in his eight-plus seasons, and he has had six 1,000-yard seasons. Taylor has chalked up four four-figure seasons. The 1,000 yard feat has been accomplished only 21 times in NFL history, and Taylor and Brown own 10 of them. Brown also can break a record owned by the Packers' immortal Don Hutson. He needs only two more touchdowns to tie the mark of 105 set by Hutson. All except four of Hutson's TDs were on pass receptions. Brown scored his 102nd and 103rd TDs against the Lions last Sunday. While Brown is a major threat to the Packers, the Browns have a strong aerial attack. But that's another story.
WARFIELD KEYS BROWN SURGE TO TOP
NOV 20 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Browns, like the Packers, finished second in 1963. The Browns, unlike the Packers, are now a first-place team. This would indicate, among other things, that the Clevelands have improved over a year ago. How come? Nate Wallack, publicist for the Browns, stopped in our town the other day and provided some answers: "The main reason is Paul Warfield, our rookie flanker. We haven't had a flanker in two years - since Ray Renfro retired. We just operated without a flanker. This year with Warfield and secondly Ernie Green, who has been running exceptionally well, we have something to go with Jim Brown." Actually, Warfield isn't the Browns' flanker. He plays the split left end - like Max McGee, and the Browns' version of flanking Boyd Dowler is Gary Collins. "Collins is a great clutch player," Wallack continued, "and we'll throw to him if we need big yardage. We were behind the Cardinals earlier this season with 1:05 to go. It was fourth and 19 on the Cardinal 45 and Ryan threw to Collins on the two." The Browns have a five-game winning streak going. And how about that Mr. Wallack? "We have been impressive in our last three games (wins over Pitt 30-17, Washington 34-24, and Detroit 37-21) and we looked like a good team. Before that, we were good and lucky." There is a suspicion that the Browns can be scored on and that their best defense is their offense. "Our opposition has scored lots of point in the last four games, but remember this. A lot of those scores came when the game was out of reach. Only the Colts have scored more points than us," Wallack explained. The Browns have scored 285 points (the Colts 331) for an average of 28.5. They allowed 193 - an average of 19.3. The Packers, by comparison, have scored an average of 22.8 and allowed 17.6. What does the visitor from Cleveland have to say about Jim Brown?...DOING IT HARD WAY: "Brown is having a great year, but I don't think he'll hit his record 1,863 yards in a single season. He's actually doing it the hard way this year because he has had only one long run over 28 yards. In previous seasons, he's had many long runs and in one game last year he went 80 yards twice." Here are some other interesting items from Wallack: Lou Groza - "He's liable to be the first playing grandfather in the league. He's going strong at 40 and he sees no reason to retire. His field goal gave us a 9-point lead on Detroit with 3 1/2 minutes to go and that set us off. Against Washington on a kickoff, he broke his nose guard and nose making a tackle. A few plays later, with his face smeared with blood, he kicked a field goal." Dick Modzelewski (obtained in a trade with the Giants) - "What a big help he has been for us and he's the only physically sound tackle we've had since the first game." Walter Roberts - "He's our lightest man at 163 pounds and he's also our
and he's the only physically sound tackle we've had since the first game." Walter Roberts - "He's our lightest man at 163 pounds and he's also our fastest. He was a sensation at Hiram College last year. He brings back punts with Walter Beach, our 29-year-old 'rookie' defensive back." Packers? - "We feel the Packers might be the best team in the league, but we never thought they'd be five and five. If the Packers had reversed the score in the two close games with the Colts, they'd be in first place right now." First Game - "We beat the Packers in the exhibition (20-17), but we're also aware that the first stringers played very little that night."...The Packers got in a good practice session Thursday despite a cold northwest wind. "That may be our last practice," Coach Vince Lombardi laughed Thursday, "because it's supposed to be a lot of snow tomorrow." Vince said the squad is in good shape physically and motioned to linebacker Dave Robinson: "Big Dave is ready to go Sunday." Robinson has been bothered with a bad knee the last three weeks.
THE 'OTHER' BROWN RUNNERS? KELLY, SCALES - AND RYAN
NOV 21 (Milwaukee-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Quick now, without calling the Press-Gazette sports department, who are the Browns' "other" running backs? Who plays behind Jim Brown and Ernie Green? These two gents are virtually indestructible, having gone through the first 10 games without that proverbial scratch. Just suppose Brown and Green got shook up a bit when they run into the Packers in Milwaukee Sunday. Who goes in? Did you hear of Leroy Kelly? Or Charley Scales? Kelly, a rookie from Morgan State, has carried the ball one time. He plays behind Green at left half. He made a yard in his debut. Scales, a five-year veteran who was obtained from Pittsburgh, has yet to carry the ball. Brown just doesn't come out of the game and Charley just sets on the bench. Brown and Green have rushed for 1,459 yards between 'em. The Browns have rushed for a total of 1,609 yards. Who got the difference? The only one left is the quarterback, Mr. Frank Ryan, the egg head, who had rushed 20 times - a big figure for a quarterback. He turned his runs into 157 yards - an average of 5.4. We thought Bart Starr was running a lot this year with 16 carries, but Ryan has almost doubled that. Starr has the best rushing average on the two clubs - 8.9, next to that rare bird from Texas, Jerry Norton. Jerry ran one time and made 24 yards - off a punt...The Packers put in quite a little time this week on punt coverage, with all hands running down under the ball as Norton punts and then cornering the receivers. Walt Roberts, the 165-pound rookie, and another rookie, the aforementioned Kelly, are the Browns' punt returners. Roberts ran nine back for 110 yards and Kelly seven for 153. They called for five fair catches between 'em. These two also do the kickoff returning.
PACKERS EYE SPOILER ROLE, SECOND PLACE VS. BROWNS
NOV 22 (Milwaukee-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The championship game is early this year. The Packers and Browns were heavy favorites to collide in the 1964 championship game in Cleveland on Dec. 27. But the battle won't materialize, though the Browns are a cinch to gain the big playoff. The next big thing for Green Bay shapes up today when the Packers get a shot at the Eastern Division champions-to-be. Along with the satisfaction of kayoing a champion, the Packers can take a big step toward winning second place money and a berth in the Playoff Bowl in Miami Jan. 3 by beating Cleveland. The Packers, who blew a chance to take undisputed possession of second place by losing to the 49ers, could move into a second place tie with the Vikings today. Green Bay is now tied with Minnesota at 5-4. Detroit and Los Angeles are tied with 5-4-1 marks. The Vikings take on the Lions in Detroit and the Rams host the leading Colts (9-1). The Vikings and Packers could gain a second place tie by winning, thus setting their records at 6-5 for .545. If this happens and the Rms lose, the Lions and Rams would settle into third place with .500 on 5-5-1 marks. The only problem for Green Bay at the moment, however, is Cleveland and the business will come to a head in County Stadium starting at 1:05. Despite the prospect of cold weather, a record crowd of over 47,000 will attend. The Packers' big jobs today are wrapped around the two best fullbacks in pro football. They must (1) provide Jim Taylor with some good blocks and (2) stop Jim Brown. If Taylor gains, the Packers win. And it goes without saying that stopping Brown removes the heart from the Browns. Brown will become the first man in NFL history to carry the ball 2,000 times. He will reach the milestone on his seventh rush. Brown can also break a record owned by the Packers' immortal Don Hutson. He needs two more touchdowns to tie the mark of 105 set by Hutson in 11 seasons. Yardagewise, Brown is averaging 100 stripes a game this season. It will be up to the Packer defense to choke off yards and touchdowns by Brown - or any other Brown...SECOND TO COLTS: The Packer defense faces the second-highest scoring offense in the league. The Browns have scored 285 points - second only to the Colts' 331. A real brain will be looking over the Packer defense, spearheaded by middle linebacker Ray Nitschke. Frank Rayn, the scientific egg head, not only has Brown and Ernie Green at his command, but he can throw to the best rookie pass receiver in the league, Paul Warfield, and his clutch catcher, Gary Collins. Warfield is at left end, Collins at flanker. The Packer offense must make a comeback today. Starr's boys averaged 35 points in whipping the Vikings and Lions before settling for two touchdowns in the loss to the 49ers. Starr, victim of a mild concussion in the second quarter at San Francisco, is completely recovered, but Zeke Bratkowski, who passed for a touchdown in relief of Bart Starr last Sunday, will be ready. The rest of the Packer offensive cast is in good physical condition. Taylor, who scored four touchdowns on the Browns in 1961, apparently isn't handicapped by the ribs he bruised in 'Frisco. Also on the ready list are Paul Hornung, who has been having trouble with his shoulder, and his left-half partner, Tom Moore. The only other injured player, Jess Whittenton, still is bothered by a muscle pull but he should be ready. Doug Hart did well in Jess' spot last Sunday. This will be the third Packer-Brown Browns in 1961, apparently isn't handicapped by the ribs he bruised in 'Frisco. Also on the ready list are Paul Hornung, who has been having trouble with his shoulder, and his left-half partner, Tom Moore. The only other injured player, Jess Whittenton,
still is bothered by a muscle pull but he should be ready. Doug Hart did well in Jess' spot last Sunday. This will be the third Packer-Brown game this year, but the first for keeps. The Bays walloped Cleveland 40-23 in the Playoff Bowl in Miami last January, and in an exhibition in Cleveland in August the Browns scored a 20-17 victory...BRIEFS: The Packers found County Stadium covered with snow for their brief drill Saturday afternoon. But the tarpaulin was removed and the turd was soft and green. The field was recovered and should be excellent for the game. But there was a slight problem. Water pipes were frozen and there was no water for showers after practice. Bill Anderson, Stadium manager, said Saturday he hoped to have water Sunday. If not, the players of both teams may have to dress in their hotels after the game...Henry Aaron was out for practice Saturday despite the zero weather.
SURPRISE! SPRY OLD PACKER FAN VISITED BY FAVORITE - DAVE HANNER; RECALLS EARLY DAYS
NOV 22 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "Surprised? I'm sure I was surprised. I knew him but I sure didn't expect him here this afternoon." His leathery face aglow, wiry little Frank Powell, a Packer diehard since the team's sandlot days, smiled shyly at a beaming Dave Hanner as he spoke Friday afternoon, still not quite able to believe his good fortune. And he could be pardoned for pinching himself ever so slightly. Minutes earlier the 86-year-old Allouez resident's favorite Packer had tapped upon the front door at 1030 McCormick Street, unannounced...'HEALTH SONOFAGUN': When ushered in, he promptly congratulated the unbelieving head of the house and his 80-year-old better half, Carrie, on their 64th wedding anniversary, being observed that day. He also presented them with an autographed Packer football, arranged for by a "committee" of friends, headed by Win Thomas, Jr. "Frank didn't say a thing when he found Dave at the door," Mrs. Powell, a still spirited senior citizen, laughed. "But I did. I had never seen him before in my life, but I said, 'I know you - I've seen you on TV lots of times.'" She turned to Hanner, enjoying it all hugely from the depths of the Powell's living room sofa, and informed him with a merry twinkle, "I've always said he was the healthiest
sonofagun on the whole team." The Packer patriarch beamed...TOMATOES FOR DUCATS: Earlier, the ruddy-cheeked defensive tackle told Powell with a sly smile, "You're pretty spry. I think I feel older today than you look." Frank's Packer partisanship had begun in the early 1920s, Carrie was explaining, pointing out, Curly Lambeau's yard and our yard were back to back those days." Taking over at this point, Powell said, "I had a big garden than - lots of tomatoes and lots of corn. Curly use to come over every Sunday morning and give me a couple of ducats for the game, and I would give him some tomatoes and corns."...SLOWED BY TRAFFIC: "After the Packers got through playing, they had a party at Curly's house one night and my wife and I heard some noise out in our backyard. We didn't got out, but my wife looked out the window and saw Curly and two other players in the garden with a flashlight. The next afternoon, Curly said, 'Did you miss any tomatoes?' I said, 'no.' He said, 'Did you see anybody in the garden?'" Powell, chuckling at the memory, said, "I told him, 'Yes, I saw you with my flashlight.' I told him it was all right, though, to come over and pick tomatoes any time he wanted." Frank, a retired chauffeur and night watchman, proudly reports, "I saw every home game for more than 40 years, until they moved to the new stadium. I was only in it once, and I got sick, although I'm not blaming that on the stadium." "The traffic is so bad," Carrie interposed. "He's too old to drive in such traffic."...'DON'T QUIT YET': Why, Frank was asked, had he settled upon Hanner as his current favorite? Powell, who recalled "I saw my first Packer games when they used to take up the collection at Hagemeister Park," had an admirably logical reason. "I think he's a darned good player, that's all," he said, pulling deeply upon his ever-present pipe. All of which prompted him to ask, "By the way, Dave, how long have you been with the Packers?" "This is my 13th year," Hanner replied, adding wistfully, "Haven't got too many more seasons left." "Oh, you don't want to quit yet," exclaimed Powell, obviously dismayed at the suggestion. "You can't play always," Dave replied, perhaps a little sadly. "That's something every player has to face."
BUTKUS LIKELY 1ST PICK AT ANNUAL DRAFT; PACK TO GET 25 CHOICES
NOV 22 (New York) - The most expensive dollar war in pro football history will be touched off Saturday when both the National and American Football Leagues, with television millions behind them, will draft the pick of the college talent. Chances are the first to be named will be Dick Butkus, the Illinois linebacker. Both the NFL and AFL will conducted their draft by telephone and telegraph with representatives of the clubs checking the home office before making their picks. The NFL will hold its draft at the Summit Hotel and the AFL at its Fifth Avenue office with a press information setup at the Waldorf Astoria. Each says it plans to start at 9 a.m. EST. The NFL will draft 20 rounds, while the AFL will use up 30 rounds on the seniors and then select non-seniors - or futures - in a special seven-round draft. NFL owners may select futures in any round. In the past, the AFL has drafted a couple of days before the NFL. This will be the first time they have selected on the same day. The Chicago Bears, last year's NFL champion, will have three first-round picks and Green Bay and San Francisco two each. In addition to their own, the Bears have picked up first round choices from Pittsburgh and Washington by trades. Green Bay acquired Philadelphia's and San Francisco owns Cleveland's. The teams will select in inverse order of the combined league standings after all games of Sunday. Any ties will be resolved by a flip of a coin. Going in Sunday's games, New York would have first pick if it loses to Pittsburgh. If Pittsburgh loses to New York, the Steelers would be tied for last with the loser of the San Francisco at Chicago game. It could wind up with the Bears getting both the No. 1 and No. 2 NFL picks. A total of 280 players will be drafted in the 20 rounds by the 14 NFL teams. Due to trades, all clubs do not have the same number of picks. Here is the breakdown: Green Bay 25, Detroit 24, Baltimore 23, Cleveland 23, San Francisco 21, Chicago 20, Los Angeles 20, Minnesota 20, Philadelphia 20, St. Louis 20, Dallas 18, New York 17, Pittsburgh 15 and Washington 15. The only AFL team that traded away its No. 1 choice was Denver, which gave it to Houston in the deal for quarterback Jacky Lee. Houston could wind up both the first and second picks and is sure of two of the first three. The breakdown on AFL selections in the regular draft: Houston 23, Kansas City 23, Buffalo 21, New York 21, San Diego 20, Boston 19, Denver 18 and Oakland 15. After the drafts, there will be a period before the wide-open rush got most signatures. A boy can't be signed until he's completed his season's football competition, including bowl games, and several will have to wait even longer if they wish to take advantage of remaining eligibility in winter and spring sports. With the 5-year-old AFL striving mightily to catch up with the 45-year-old NFL, it can dip into the cash from the $36 million, five-year television contract with NBS which starts in 1965. The NFL is just finishing the first year of a two-year $28.8 million deal with CBS. When they get around to drafting, Butkus is expected to be among the first to go. Others with big-name tags, sure to be taken early, are quarterbacks Craig Morton of California, Joe Namath of Alabama, John Huarte of Notre Dame, Bob Timberlake of Michigan, Archie Roberts of Columbia and Bob Schweikert of Virginia Tech; halfback Gale Sayers of Kansas; and fullbacks Jim Nance of Syracuse, Brian Piccolo of Wake Forest, Cosmo Iacavazzi of Princeton, Jim Grisham of Oklahoma and Joe Urbanik of Penn State. There is a solid backlog of some 80 players who already have been drafted as futures. Among the more prominent are Jerry Rhome, Tulsa's brilliant passer, Dallas and New York Jets; Roger Staubach of Navy, Dallas and Kansas City; Bob Hayes, the Olympic sprint champion from Florida A & M, Dallas and Denver; and quarterback Bob Berry of Oregon, Minnesota and Denver.
