Green Bay Packers (10-3-1) 24, San Francisco 49ers (7-6-1) 24 (T)
Sunday December 19th 1965 (at San Francisco)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(BALTIMORE) - Everybody knows it's tough to win the championship. But this is ridiculous. The Packers were within two minutes of their fourth Western Division title in six years in Kezar Stadium Sunday. But they blew a 24-17 lead and had to settle for a gruesome 24-24 tie. Now the Packers are 60 minutes removed from this elusive championship - just as they were before they kicked off to the eager 49ers. That last 60 minutes of this never-ending season will be played in Lambeau Field next Sunday is what is called a division playoff - Green Bay's first since the Bear-Packer playoff back in 1941. Green Bay must whip the gallant Colts who were the beneficiaries of the Packers' stunning knot. They first gained life by virtue of their amazing win over the Rams in Los Angeles Saturday. The Packers and Colts finished the regulation season with identical 10-3-1 records. Regardless of what happens now, the Packers still have two games left and they could both be in Lambeau Field. If the Bays win Sunday, they'll tackle the Browns for the championship. If they lose, they meet the Cowboys in the Playoff Bowl in Miami.
TIE WELCOME
The Packers' setback was most disappointing - to say the least. Yet, the way the 49ers were roaring and snorting before 45,715 home fans, the tie really was welcome. The Bays very easily could have lost but not they have a championship life going. The Packers came behind twice to pass the best offense in the league. The 49ers got off to a 3-0 lead, but the Bays were in front 7-3 at the half. The 49ers went in front 17-14 in the fourth quarter, but the Bays grabbed the edge again 21-17 and then 24-17 before the 49ers exploded into a tie on a 37-yard pass from John Brodie to a guy you never heard of, one Vern Burke, a sophomore tight end. It is easy to fault the defense as the 49ers flew 58 yards in four pays to grab the knot but the defenders got seven of the Pack's total - on Herb Adderley's 11-yard interception return to make it 14-3 in the third quarter.
MAKE ONE MISTAKE
The whole issue boiled down to the last two minutes, which is all the time that was left when Don Chandlers' 31-yard field goal made it 24-17. Eleven plays and two kickoffs were run off in those eternal two minutes. And this was the game. The Packers made one mistake on the kickoff after the field goal. They were nicked for face masking and the 49ers got good field position on their 44. Then Brodie hit Dave Parks for 13 yards, Gary Lewis for seven, Park for nine and Burke for 27 and the TD. Activated in mid-season, Burke had replaced Monte Stickle at tight end on the previous play. He was well covered by Tom Brown, but Brodie broke out of a trap and caught Burke as he made a second move into the end zone.
49ERS ENRAGED
The 49ers tied it with 1:07 left - enough time for the Packers to win. They started on their 32 and Bart Starr quickly got a first down on the 42 with 52 seconds left. Then three Starr passes went awry - shorties to Boyd Dowler and Eljah Pitts and a bomb to Max McGee with 24 seconds left. With fourth down and 10, the Packers had to punt to protect the tie. And then pray. And they needed a prayer as Kermit Alexander took Chandler's punt on the 16 and snaked 38 yards to the Packer 46 with 7 seconds on the board. Suddenly, the 49ers were in a position to win. Brodie threw a quicky to the left trying to set up a field goal and the ball went out of bounds. About the time the 49er field goal team was going on the field, the gun ended the game, though the clock normally would be stopped by an incompletion. This enraged the 49ers.
BLOODIEST TWO MINUTES
That's the "bloodiest" two minutes the Packers ever experienced. But they went through something worst just before the half, that "late" call-ball of an 86-yard touchdown run by Willie Wood. This removed the Bays from a 14-3 halftime edge. The officials had to be told of an illegal run - by of all people, the 49ers, and Brodie in particular. John David Crow took a pitchout (lateral) from Brodie on the Packer 14 and fumbled it. Wood scooped up the ball and scored. The rule says you can't return a recovered lateral, but the officials never realized it until both teams had their extra point teams on the field, in position, and Brodie made his plea. The Packers were furious, and Coach Vince Lombardi went on the field,
seeking an explanation. This was an aerial game from start to finish, and Brodie's success was surprising since the Bays' defensive strength is against passing. Brodie completed 26 of 34 passes for 295 yards and three TDs. The Bays had allowed only eight TD passes in the first 13 games.
HORNUNG INJURED
The Packers picked up 225 yards in the air, with Starr hitting 13 of 27 for 203 and Tom Moore hitting two of two options passes. The Bays were held to 76 yards on the ground while the 49ers made 99. The 49ers won the main stix, 20-17 in first downs and 392 to 299 in total yards. Paul Hornung, the Packers' five-touchdown her against the Colts a week ago, went out early with bruised ribs. Jim Taylor picked up 55 yards in 17 trips. Dowler was the Bays' chief aerial threat, with six for 117 yards, but the 49ers' skilled Parks caught nine for 149. The 49ers drive 76 yards in nine plays for their 3-0 lead on Tommy Davis' 21-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Then the Packers roared 72 yards in four plays to take a 7-3 edge. It was easy - Taylor 5, Moore threw to Billy Anderson for 12, and Starr hit Carroll Dale for 12 to the 49er 43. Starr faked to Taylor into the line, and Moore on an end run, and rifled a 43-yarder to Dowler in the end zone for the TD. Chandler converted.
EXCHANGE INTERCEPTIONS
Midway in the period, Chandler was short on a 50-yard field goal try and the teams exchanged punts after the Wood fiasco. The teams exchanged interceptions early in the third quarter. Bill Johnson intercepted a long Starr throw to Dale on the 49er seven and Doug Hart intercepted a 40-yard throw aimed at Parks. Then things started to happen after Chandler barely missed a 41-yard field goal attempt...like so. With first and 25, Adderley leaped in front of Bernie Casey, intercepted Brodie's pass and raced untouched into the end zone. Herb held the ball high for all to see, and the Bays had a 14-3 lead. It was Adderley's third touchdown on an interception return this year, tying the league record set by the Giants' Dick Lynch in 1963.
HART FALLS DOWN
The 49ers moved 82 yards in eight plays to cut the lead to 14-10 on Brodie's 32-yard pass to Crow, who broke away from Adderley on the 10. Brodie completed four passes enroute. Chandler punted on a fourth and one situation and the 49ers drove 66 yards in nine plays to go ahead 17-14, the payoff coming on a 13-yard pass from Brodie to Parks, who got a "life" when Hart fell in the end zone. The big gainer was a 28-yard Brodie pass to Willard. The Packers slammed back 55 yards in 10 plays to go in front 21-17 on Taylor's five-yard smash behind good blocks by Forrest Gregg and Fred Thurston. The Bays had to overcome a holding penalty along the way and the big gainer was Starr's 34-yard pass to Long. Wood made the Pack's third interception, grabbing Brodie's pass on the 50, and four plays later, Chandler kicked a 31-yard field goal. And that's where we came in. PS - It could have been worse. The Packers could have lost.
GREEN BAY - 0 7 7 10 - 24
SAN FRANCISCO - 0 3 7 14 - 24
GREEN BAY SAN FRANCISCO
First downs 17 20
Rush-yards-TDs 28-76-1 24-99-0
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 15-30-225-1-1 26-34-295-3-3
Sacked-yards 1-2 1-2
Net pass yards 223 293
Total yards 299 392
Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-2
Turnovers 1 5
Penalties-yards 3-45 9-87
SCORING
2nd - SF - Tommy Davis, 21-yard field goal SAN FRANCISCO 3-0
2nd - GB - Boyd Dowler, 43-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick) GREEN BAY 7-3
3rd - GB - Herb Adderley, 13-yard interception return (Chandler kick) GREEN BAY 14-3
3rd - SF - John David Crow, 32-yard pass from John Brodie (Davis kick) GREEN BAY 14-10
4th - SF - Dave Parks, 12-yard pass from Brodie (Davis kick) SAN FRANCISCO 17-14
4th - GB - Jim Taylor, 5-yard run (Chandler kick) GREEN BAY 21-17
4th - GB - Chandler, 31-yard field goal GREEN BAY 24-17
4th - SF - Vern Burke, 27-yard pass from Brodie (Davis kick) TIED 24-24
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Jim Taylor 17-55 1 TD, Elijah Pitts 5-9, Bart Starr 1-8, Tom Moore 2-6, Paul Hornung 3-(-2)
SAN FRANCISCO - Gary Lewis 10-46, John David Crow 12-44, Ken Willard 2-9
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 28-13-203 1 TD 1 INT, Tom Moore 2-2-22
SAN FRANCISCO - John Brodie 34-26-295 3 TD 3 INT
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Boyd Dowler 6-117 1 TD, Bill Anderson 3-34, Jim Taylor 2-8, Bob Long 1-34, Carroll Dale 1-12, Paul Hornung 1-10, Elijah Pitts 1-10
SAN FRANCISCO - Dave Parks 9-149 1 TD, Bernie Casey 4-28, John David Crow 3-48 1 TD, Ken Willard 3-33, Monty Stickles 3-21, Gary Lewis 3-(-11), Vern Burke 1-27 1 TD
'DEAD' COLTS COME TO LIFE VIEWING GAME, CHEER 49ERS
DEC 20 (Baltimore) - Given up for dead a week ago, the Baltimore Colts suddenly find themselves with a chance to win their second consecutive Western Conference title in the NFL. "As long as you're alive, you have hope," Coach Don Shula said after the Green Bay Packers were tied 24-24 by the San Francisco 49ers Sunday and tumbled into a first-place deadlock with the Colts. That left the conference leaders with identical 10-3-1 records after regular season play, with the playoff game scheduled in Green Bay next Sunday. "The 49ers played a great game," Shula said after watching them tie Green Bay on closed circuit television at a local studio. "They have it everything they had, and aside from a couple of fumbles, they could have won."...PLAYER CHEER: Shula, many of his players and their wives, and former Colts such as Gino Marchetti and Art Donovan watched the broadcast. They showed as much enthusiasm as raucous Colt spectators in the stands. Linebacker Don Shinnick, lifting high some potato salad, toasted the 49ers as the game got under way. Out of his seat man times during the contest, Shinnick finished with a flourish. When San Francisco's Vern Burke caught the tying touchdown pass with only 67 seconds left, Shinnick rushed up to the television monitor and placed a kiss on the image of the 49ers' offensive end. Tom Matte started at quarterback in Baltimore's 20-17 upset victory over the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, filling in for injured John Unitas and Gary Cuozzo after five years as an NFL halfback. And, Matte may have to play in the spot all the way against Green Bay...BROWN OUT: Under NFL rules, a player is not eligible for playoff or championship games unless he was on the roster for the last two regular season games. That would make veteran quarterback Ed Brown, picked up on waivers from Pittsburgh last week, and rookie George Haffner, added from the Colts' taxi squad last week, ineligible for Sunday's game. However, Baltimore General Manager Don Kellett said he would seek a special ruling from NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, because of the extraordinary conditions involved, to make Brown and Haffner eligible. Even if Brown is available, Shula said he would start Matte, "and work Brown into certain situations." That's what happened against Los Angeles when Brown threw one touchdown pass during his brief stint after only one day of practice. "We'll have t spend a lot of time with the offense," Shula said. "We'll have to work them hard, without taking too much out of them. Anything we add to the offense will be more than we had last week," he said.
EFFORT 'FAIR' BUT VINCE HAPPY OVER NOT LOSING
DEC 20 (San Francisco-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "Disappointed we didn't win; happy we didn't lose," was the capsule comment of a man who obviously wasn't as happy as the last half of his statement might have indicated. Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi had just seen the San Francisco 49ers come back for a 24-24 tie that forced his team into a playoff for the Western Division title with Baltimore next Sunday in Green Bay. "But I'm happy to be where I am," Vince
continued. "We could have lost it." Mindful of official unhappiness on the past of NFL hierarchy when it comes to coaches commenting in a negative vein on officiating, Lombardi at first was reluctant to speak out on the recall of Willie Wood's 82-yard runback of John David Crow's fumbled pitchout that apparently had put the Packers in front 13-3 late in the third quarter. The official ruling was that it was a "muffed" ball and, as mark Duncan, the NFL's commissioner of officials, later explained it, you cannot run with a fumbled lateral unless the man on the receiving end has had full possession before dropping the ball. "I said my piece on the field," he grumbled. Pressed about the call later in his postgame interview, Lombardi said a little more. "In my opinion, he had possession. But some official on the opposite side of the field called it." Lombardi's opinion, however, was not echoed by Crow, who admitted he muffed the play and wasn't ready for the ball when quarterback John Brodie tossed it to him. "It bounced off my hands," he stated. "I never had control of it." But getting back to the Green Bay dressing room, the head coach was slightly displeased with what he called "only a fair effort." "And today, fair was just enough to tie. We weren't as sharp as we were last week (in winning 42-27 over Baltimore, next Sunday's foe thanks to identical 10-3-1 records). " "The only one suffering is me. I have to coach another week," he quipped in a somewhat lighter vein. Reminded that he has tw3o more games, hopefully, ahead, he added. "I mean an extra week." Paul Hornung, who last week scored five touchdowns against Baltimore and has scored 110 of his career 700 points against these same 49ers, gained only minus two yards in three carries Sunday, leaving the field early in the game with some apparently bruised ribs. He should be ready for the playoff with the Colts. Lombardi admitted that the Packers left themselves open for a possible loss by not running the clock out after the final 49er touchdown with 13:53 left to play. "I was playing for the win all the way," he declared. Jack Christiansen, whose 49ers wound up with their first winning record since 1961, 7 wins, 6 losses and 1 tie, thought Lombardi's desire to go all out for the win might have given the 49er a chance to get their eighth victory. After a 38-yard return by Kermit Alexander of Don Chandler's punt with 24 seconds left had put the hosts on the Packer 46, the clock showed seven seconds to play. On the first play, Brodie tried a sideline pass to Vern Burke to move the ball within field goal range. The pass was incomplete, however, and Chris sent the field goal team into the game with two seconds showing on the scoreboard clock. The gun went off after the team was lined up. Christiansen hedged at predicting the playoff game's outcome. "I didn't think there was any doubt that Los Angeles would beat the Colts, with Unitas and Cuozzo hurt," he admitted, "but Baltimore used Tom Matte to the fullest extent."...SIMILAR CALL: "Green Bay at the present time seems to be a more solid club and has a good defense unit. But so does Baltimore." Finally, he concluded that "it will depend on the team that gets a couple of breaks and can capitalize on them." Ironically, Christiansen saw a call like the one that nullified Wood's long jaunt once before. "The only thing I could think of while the officials were discussing it was that I did it against Green Bay (when he was playing for Detroit). They called it back then and I was the first one at the official. I'm glad they read the rulebooks today."
PACKERS SIGN JIM GRABOWSKI
DEC 20 (Chicago-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers have landed Jim Grabowski. Signing of the Packers' No. 1 draft choice and the first player chosen in the AFL was announced with plenty of fanfare at a press, radio and television conference at the Drake Hotel at noon today by Coach Vince Lombardi. Grabowski ranks as the Packers' next Jim Taylor. The Illinois fullback stands 6-3 and packs 219 pounds. Chosen No. 1 by the new Miami Dolphins, who received the first pick in the AFL draft, Grabowski was formally introduced as a Packers to members of the midwest media. Grabowski, a power runner on the order of Taylor, broke Red Grange's rushing records at Illinois and established new Big Ten rushing marks. He is the first Packer first choice signed in two years. The top choice last year, Larry Elkins of Baylor, wound up with Houston. The last first choice grabbed was tackle Lloyd Voss of Nebraska two years ago. The signing means that Lombardi has one-half of a potential Taylor-Hornung backfield in the sock. The "Paul Hornung" is Donnie Anderson, who was chosen as a future a year ago. Anderson is an all-around back, like Hornung, but the Bays will have to fight with Houston for his services. No salary figures were announced on Grabowski - a standard Packer policy. Lombardi stopped here early today enroute back from San Francisco where the Packers played a tie with the 49ers. Due to a late start out of San Francisco, what with traffic delays coming from Kezar Stadium, the Packers' jet was more than an hour and a half late getting into O'Hare Field at 1 a.m. The team then boarded a United Airlines charter for Green Bay. As if the tie wasn't bad enough, a swirling snow greeted the Packers upon arrival in the Windy City. It was sunny and 55 during the game. The Packers were docile on the jet ride home. And everybody felt the same about the game. Voss said it for all hands - "The way the game was going the tie looked pretty good up there. We have another chance now." Writers following the Colts came up from Los Angeles for the game and they had some of their wishes come true. They had been in LA to cover the Colt victory over the Rams Saturday. The Packers will be off Monday and then go back to work Tuesday.
500 FANS GREET PACKERS WITH 'BEAT THE COLTS' PLEA
DEC 20 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "Beat the Colts...Beat the Colts...Beat the Colts." This urgent plea, chanted by an estimated 500 of the weary but boisterous faithful, and a swirling snowstorm greeted the Packers as they deplaned from their United Airlines charter at Austin Straubel Field just after 2:30 this morning. Wailing sirens and rockets added to the din as the luggage-laden players and coaches (save for Headmaster Vince Lombardi, who was in Chicago to acquire Jim Grabowski's valuable autograph), wended their way through the crowd, the terminal lobby, and eventually to their snow-covered cars in the parking lot. The Packer "bird," originally scheduled to arrive at 1 o'clock, finally hove into sight at 2:30, eliciting a raucous cheer from the hardy fanatics lining the fence along the wind-swept runway, many of whom had been waiting in the terminal since shortly after midnight. The reception "committee" included Mayor Donald Tilleman, who consumed an unusual number of ice cream bars (they were being given away by local businessmen to help while away the vigil) to oblige photographers, Chairman Al Schneider of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Sports Committee, No. 1 Fan Howie Blinder, and, for comic relief, a slightly bored Boxer dog, property of George and Kenneth Swerdlow. There was also a small but highly vocal Sheboygan Falls delegation, all of them wearing signs proclaiming with supreme, black-lettered confidence, "Packers Will Win." Another fervent night owl sported a banner, obviously fashioned from the corner of an over-age bed sheet, which urged our heroes to "Jolt the Colts." Yet another, one of the snow-spattered few still remaining, voiced the general sentiment as Jim Taylor, among the very last to depart, strode through the gate. "Two more, Jim," he hopefully reminded. The impromptu civic salute rekindled a few memories for Verne Lewellen, Packer business manager, who wore a broad smile as he deplaned. Did it remind him of '29 (the Packers' first championship year, when their train was met by cheering fans at De Pere)? Lewellen grinned and replied, "Very much."...The coaches' wives, used to these night watches, proved resourceful. Four of them, the Mmes. John (Red) Cochran, Tom Fears, Dave Hanner and Phil Bengtson, struck up a bridge game in the terminal's upper lounge, seemingly oblivious of a backdrop of nodding heads, semi-animated conversation and munching of ice cream bars, not to mention flash bulbs of enterprising photographers...The airport's P.A. system kept the waiting loyalists posted on the estimated hour of arrival, the last time at 2 o'clock, when it announced: "Your attention, please; the Green Bay Packers' estimated time of arrival is now 2:35." The word was greeted by a blend of good-natured bass and treble groans...Surprisingly enough, considering conditions were hardly conducive, the ice cream bars "moved" briskly. The businessmen sponsoring the project provided 1,500 for the occasion and most of them were distributed.
GRABOWSKI EXPECTS YEARS OF PACKER CHAMPIONSHIPS
DEC 21 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The first two questions asked Vince Lombardi and his new fullback prize, Jim Grabowski, at the press, radio and TV party at the Drake Hotel Monday noon were: "How much?" and "Why Green Bay?" For a moment we thought Green Bay was poverty-stricken and a sort of Siberia. But only for a moment. Lombardi answered the first question: "It has always been the policy of the Packers not to reveal anyone's salary. It is also our policy not to reveal whether it is a no-cut contract. I can say that his contract is for three years, and this is the first time a three-year contract ever was given by the Packers. We have given some two-year contracts. I can think of only one team that publicizes its salary figures, but I think that it's nobody's business but mine and Jim's." Lombardi was referring to the New York Jets, whose owner, Sonny Werblin, a show-biz buy, makes quite a fuss about how much he plays. In fact, it revealed that Werblin, who had acquired rights to Grabowski from Miami, made a personal call to the Illinois fullback two days ago. It was pointed out by both Lombardi and Arthur Morse, a Chicago attorney who handled Grabowski's affairs, that "negotiations between Miami and Green Bay were completely clean. At no time did eighter club seek to fun out the other's offer." Lombardi stressed the point that "this was not a bidding war." As to the query on "Why Green Bay" and more specifically "why the NFL over the AFL," Grabowski started out this way: "Green Bay will be winning championships for many years, and they're going to win it this year" to which Lombardi smiled and said "thank you." Grabowski added: "I wanted to play in this area, which is really home to me. I had a luncheon date with Dick Butkus (former Illinois teammate and now a star with the Bears) a couple of weeks ago and we discussed the two leagues. He made no effort to try and convince me on Green Bay." The 22-year-old B-plus commerce student, whose arrival was delayed by an hour due to "an important test bright and early Monday morning," was asked what he thought his chances would be to nudge Jim Taylor or Paul Hornung out of a starting position next year. "I think I'll learn a lot from them, and I'll do my best to get a starting job. I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't play too much," Grabowski said, adding: "I've watched Taylor and Jim Brown many times on television, and I try to do the things they do." Grabowski, a 215-pounder who stands 6-3, has enough power for fullback and enough speed to play the halfback spot. Lombardi said 'we have no fullback and halfback as such. They are running backs and interchangeable. It is possible for him to break into the starting lineup as a rookie - especially at his position. Running backs are not taken to adjustment like other positions." The Packer coach, flooded with questions, had only this advice for Grabowski: "Come to camp in excellent physical condition." He said he expects Grabowski to add about 10 pounds and play at 225. Grabowski broke 16 rushing records at Illinois, including those owned by the immortal Red Grange, and four Big Ten rush marks. He was the first to surpass 1,000 yards for two straight years in the Big Ten. One of his Big Ten marks, 239 yards in a single game, was set against Wisconsin a year ago. His personal highlight last season was 125 yards against the Big Ten champion Michigan State team, which has the best rush defense in the circuit...GARBO AND GRABO: Grabowski was known as "Garbo" as an all-stater at Taft High School in Chicago. At Illinois, they call him "Grabo," and the chant at Illinois was "Go Go Grabo." Lombardi was delighted to note that "besides being an All-American he is also a member of the All-American Academic Football team." Grabowski was chosen co-player with Donnie Anderson, the Texas Tech star and also a Packer choice, in the annual Sporting News backfield. And that's the next chore for Lombardi...getting Anderson into the Green Bay backfield. "But we can't talk with Anderson yet. He's in a bowl game."
MATTE TO CARRY PEEP SHEET AGAINST PACK
DEC 21 (Baltimore) - Tom Matter, carrying a list of plays on a wristband for easy reference, will quarterback the Baltimore Colts in their decisive game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday. The plastic-covered "peep sheet," suggested by Baltimore Coach Don Shula, was used by Matte last Saturday when he started his first NFL game at quarterback and helped direct a 20-17 upset victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Matte, a converted halfback, was guaranteed the starting job in Sunday's playoff for the Western Conference title when NFL owners declined Monday to make quarterbacks Ed Brown and George Haffner eligible for the Green Bay contest. The winner will play Eastern Conference champion Cleveland for the NFL title on Jan. 2. "At least I know where I stand now...all alone," Matte said. "But I can't have any more pressure on my than I had last week, so what difference does it make?" "I guess the pressure will be on Bobby Boyd," Matte said. "He'll have to learn what to do in case I get hurt." Boyd, like Matte, was a quarterback in college - Boyd at Oklahoma and Matte at Ohio State. Boyd, a defensive halfback, has never played the position in the NFL and Matte didn't until Dec. 2 when substitute Gary Cuozzo followed No. 1 quarterback John Unitas to the sidelines with an injury which required surgery. Matte, an NFL halfback for five seasons, used his running ability to advantage against the Rams and was the game's leading ground gainer with 99 yards rushing...LEAGUE STANDS PAT: Brown, acquired on waivers from Pittsburgh last week, tossed one touchdown pass against the Rams while Haffner warmed the bench after being activated from the Colts' taxi squad. Since they were not on the Baltimore roster for the final two regular season games, Brown and Haffner were not eligible for the playoff. Colts' President Carroll Rosenbloom tried unsuccessfully to have the league rule waived. There was no indication who opposed Baltimore's request, but Matte said he would have objected, too, if he had been voting for either Cleveland or Green Bay. "I didn't think the request would go through," he said. "I guess they would rather play against somebody like me."...TAKE A PEEK: With another week of practice to sharpen his timing and accuracy, Matte figures to pass more than two aerials he tried last Saturday. Shula probably will call the plays from the sidelines, and if Matte gets in a jam he can look at the crib note on his wrist. "If I'm grasping for something to do, I can take a peek," Matte said. "Even if the Packers see the list, it won't help them. They already know our plays. But they still have to guess which one is coming next."
PLAYOFF BONUS FOR MOST FANTASTIC SEASON IN PACK HISTORY
DEC 21 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "I come to praise Caesar, not to bury him." Mark Anthony said it years ago. And Vince Lombardi repeated it today, with the following laugh: "That ought to make you a good lead." The famous passage out of history can be applied many ways to the Packers' present position. So the Packers tied the 49ers in San Francisco, forcing a division playoff against the Colts in Lambeau Field next Sunday? They're still alive, which means that they're not ready to be buried - by a long shot. And now is the time for praise. In view of the way the Packers fought, struggled, prayed, scrimped, saved and gritted during the past season, their 10-victory, 3-loss and 1-tie finish deserves a loud salute. Perhaps the playoff here can be viewed as a sort of bonus for the Packers' most fantastic season in history. There are many ways to measure this. And Coach Lombardi noted one: "This is the greatest publicity in the world for the City of Green Bay." Green Bay will have the nation in the palm of its hands Sunday since the game will be carried on nationwide television. And it will be the only game Sunday. Until the AFL championship starts at 3 o'clock. But this isn't all. If Green Bay wins, the Packers will become Western Division champions and the spotlight will again be on Green Bay the following Sunday when the world title will be at stake. The Packers were a disappointed crew after the game in Kezar Stadium. It was a tremendous letdown after a week of intense practice and anticipation. But today the Packers, as they went out to loosen up a bit, were pleased to find that they weren't really buried. Coach Lombardi was in a happy frame of mind today and willing to praise. "As long as things turned out like they did, we're happy to play again Sunday," he said. Having spent Monday in Chicago for the signing of Jim Grabowski, Lombardi missed viewing the pictures of the tie game, though members of his staff, Phil Bengtson, Norb Hecker, Red Cochran, Ray Wietecha, Tom Fears and Dave Hanner, viewed them thoroughly in his absence. "I feel that we played a good ball game," Lombardi stated, and noted: "Remember, we once had a first and 31 situation and came through to take that lead (21-17) in the fourth quarter." Behind 17-14, the Packers had a first down on the 49ers 43-yard line, but the Bays were nicked 15 yards for holding and that put the ball back on their own 36. The Packers needed 31 yards for a first down and they go 47 in two plays with Bart Starr throwing 13 to Boyd Dowler and 34 to Bob Long on the 49er 17. Five plays later Jim Taylor scored from five yards out to make it 21-17. The Packers added a Don Chandler field goal but, as Lombardi put it, "they (the 49ers) went in to score and tie it up. It hurts but that's National League football. Anything can happen." The Packer Administration building was a real beehive today - what with the team at work in the dressing rooms and Merrill Knowlton and his ticket staff laboring up front. "Those ticket people are doing a real job. It looked like it will go all the way." Actually, this is the seventh game in Green Bay and a sellout of 50,842 would be another first for our crazy community. The Packers played two non-league games here this year for the first time and then the four league matches. And who knows? There could be an eighth game here. Jan. 2. The stadium field will remain covered with the tarpaulin and hay the rest of the week and the team will work on the Oneida Street field. The turf in Lambeau Field should be in good condition for the contest. The "far'" forecast is for temperatures in the mid-30s but possible snow. Which is okay. We all way a White Christmas anyway. The Packers came out of the 49er game with two injured - Paul Hornung, ribs, and Ray Nitschke, leg. Lombardi said today he thought both of them would be ready for Sunday.
SENTIMENTAL FAVORITE
DEC 21 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Little Ol' Green Bay, always the darling of the nation's pro football fans because of its size, may find itself in a strange position Sunday. Baltimore, because of its uninspired performance last Saturday without Unitas and Cuozzo and because those two key cogs will not be around this week either, will probably be the sentimental favorites everywhere except in Wisconsin. The 49ers' final touchdown drive brought out again why we have always felt that the player responsible for a penalty in football should be officially designated just as in other sports. Getting a 15-yard face mask penalty in that situation is inexcusable and nobody knew whom to blame. We've seldom seen Coach Vince Lombardi as nervous on the sidelines or on the tube afterwards as he was Sunday (with good reason, of course). If the Packers beat the Colts Sunday, they will not have backed into the title, as many people seem to feel they are doing. But they certainly will have edged into it sideways. Sure, the Packers have been lucky all year, but luck is always a big factor in a championship. And give the team credit for making it as far as a playoff despite the many lackluster performances. It proves the Pack still has something. The 49er game was simply a normal game for the Packers in this not normal year. The offense stumbled just as it has virtually all season for one reason or another and the defense, although giving up 24 points to the league's statistically strongest offense, provided the tie. The idea that the offense had gone over its head in Baltimore was a haunting fear all last week and it proved to be justified...Football News, a Detroit publication which runs a prediction contest, listed all the post season college bowls and the NFL championship game, Green Bay vs. Cleveland, in its Dec. 16 issue...That rule which nullified Willie Wood's great "touchdown" run is one that could use reconsidering along with the while idea of running with fumbles. Muffing a lateral is a fumble in my book, but being able to pick up a fumble and run with it is injected an unneeded element of pure luck into the game. Fumble recoveries are basically being in the right place at the right time and having the ball bounce so you can not only recover it but grab it and run is the most fortunate play in football. It detracts from the skill required in all other plays...It was TV announcer Ray Scott's flat statement of fact on Jim Johnson's interception: "The ball hit the ground and bounced up, but the official was screened the official from the play." And did genial Tony Canadeo lose a bit of his "Friendly Tony" image when he was roaring at someone through an open mike before realizing the telecast has started?
TITLE WOULD BE 'MOST SATISFYING WE EVER WON,' DAVIS
DEC 22 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - If the Packers beat the Colts..."it will be the most satisfying championship we ever won." Thats's how Willie Davis sizes up what could happen in Lambeau Field Sunday. The Packers' sterling defensive end, a guest at the weekly luncheon meeting of the Mike and Pen Club at The Stein Tuesday noon, explained: "We have been on the brink of no return so many times this season. And now we have this one last chance to win it. Our whole season is wrapped up in this one game. We'll be ready; that's for sure." Davis, the former Brown, who played in the last division playoff in 1958 when the Giants whipped Cleveland 13-0, said that "the coaches have taken us as far as they can. It is now a matter of the individual players - all 40 of us. And that goes for the special teams (punt, kickoff, etc.) too." Big Willie was amazingly frank and realistic in his offhand remarks, pointing out: "If we can't win a must game against a team as handicapped as the Colts, then we don't deserve to win the championship. They've already lost Unitas and Cuozzo and are down to a boy (Tom Matte) who hadn't played quarterback as a pro until two weeks ago." It was pointed out that Matte, a hard-running halfback, was especially effective on his rollouts against the Rams last Saturday and the Mike-Penners wanted to know about defensing this. Willie had a ready explanation: "We're very conscious of his rollouts and after watching the Ram game (he ran 16 times for 99 yards), we're convinced that this one play we'll have to stop. But we'll have to play our usual tight overall without any particular adjustment to this particular type of run. If we concentrated on Matte's
rollouts, it would be difficult for us to adjust in case they changed their attack. The best thing we can do is to be prepared for anything they throw at us and the best way to do this is to play a real hard-knocking game." Davis said he is not bothered by the fact that "we're playing them a third time." When Willie was with the Browns in 1958, the Giants beat the Browns twice during the regular season and then New York won the playoff to set up the famous Colt-Giant sudden death championship game. Davis was asked what he thought the Colts' approach would be to Sunday's game and he smiled: "I'm sure they'll try to stymie our offense, hope for a few breaks and maybe get three or four field goals from Michaels. Their defense has to hope for a low score and our defense must make a supreme effort to make sure there will be a low total for Baltimore. Our defensive job is to give the offense enough chances." With tongue in cheek, one of the Mike-Penners asked Willie how the Packers would do against the Browns...to which Davis grinned: "Well, I'll tell you...I'd be glad to be back here with you next week." Davis was halfway out the door when he turned around and laughed, "Sorry, we goofed up your Christmas, fellas." The Packers plunged into the "heavy" portion of their preparation for the Colts with a long meeting this morning and then the outdoor drill at the Oneida Street fields. Coach Vince Lombardi will conduct a regulation league-game drill week, although Friday events will be shortened to permit the players and coaches to prepare for Christmas and be home Christmas Eve. The usual light warmup will be held Saturday. The aforementioned Matte is the major talking point in Packer defensive plans and Lombardi noted that "although Matte had not passed much, this does not mean he can't pass. He can throw, probably a lot better than many people expect." Matte has attempted five passes in his two appearances - vs. Green Bay and Los Angeles. He had one intercepted against the Packers and tried two pitches against the Rams. Vince wasn't having any part of predictions. "No predictions," he said yesterday, "we're just happy to be where we are."
SUDDEN DEATH, 50-50 SPLIT SET FOR PLAYOFF
DEC 22 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Championship rules, including sudden-death overtime if necessary, will prevail when the Packers meet the Colts in the Western Division playoff at Lambeau Field Sunday. A spokesman for the NFL said today that each team will receive $100,000 from television and a 50-50 split of game receipts after expenses. The players will receive 1-13th of their salaries, an extra game's play. If the game is tied at the end of regulation time, the team that scores first in the extra period will win. The 50-50 split is a departure from the regular league game which provides a 60-40 split - 60 percent to the home team and 40 percent to the visiting team, with the option of a $30,000 guarantee. With most games being sellouts, the guarantee has become almost obsolete. The extra game is a bonanza for CBS, which will televise the game nationwide to more than 200 stations. It will produce some $1,080,000 worth of television commercials. The 18 sponsors will pay $60,000 per commercial minute. CBS is getting off easy on the playoff. The TV form pays 1.8 million dollars for rights to carry the championship playoff, but a division playoff game calls for a price of only $200,000.
GREGG, DAVIS, WOOD, ADDERLEY AP ALL-PRO
DEC 22 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers, who put the Stop and Go into Chicago's NFL comeback this season, have made the jump to superstar billing in their first pro fling. Sayers, the breakaway flash from Kansas, and Butkus, bruising linebacker from Illinois, were the only first-year pros named Tuesday to The Associated Press 1965 All-NFL squad. A 42-man panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from the 14 NFL cities named Sayers to an all-league backfield that includes holdovers Johnny Unitas of Baltimore and Jim Brown of Cleveland while placing Butkus in the middle of a defensive array dominated by veteran standouts...ORR, PARKER PICKED: Baltimore and Green Bay, heading for a Western Division showdown Sunday, each landed four players on the All-NFL team while the Bears, who captured third place in the rugged West after a next-to-last finish in 1964, placed three men on the first unit. Besides Unitas, who retained his quarterback berth despite being beset by injuries most of the season, the Colts placed swift flanker Jimmy Orr and mammoth guard Jim Parker on the offensive team and interception king Bob Boyd at defensive cornerback. The Packers named were offensive guard Forrest Gregg, defensive end Willie Davis and defensive backs Herb Adderley and Willie Wood. Sayers, who set a league record of 22 touchdowns and won the scoring title with 132 points, topped Philadelphia's Tim Brown for the running back spot alongside Jim Brown. The Cleveland fullback was the only unanimous selection after capturing the rushing crown for the eighth time in nine years. The 240-pound Butkus edged another Illinois alumnus, Green Bay's Ray Nitschke, for the middle linebacker position while Chicago teammate Joe Fortunato and Detroit's Wayne Walker took the corner linebacker spots. Cleveland's Eastern Division champions also landed Dick Schafrath at one of the offensive tackle positions. His running mate is second-year man Bob Brown of Philadelphia. The Eagles' Pete Retzlaff captured the tight end post and San Francisco's Dave Parks, the league's No. 1 receiver, outpolled Gary Collins of the Browns and Los Angeles' Tommy McDonald for split end honors. Mick Tingelhoff of Minnesota won the center berth in a wide-open race over Cleveland's John Morrow, Philadelphia's Jim Ringo and Bob DeMarco of St. Louis. Joining Green Bay's Davis in the defensive front four are three potent pass rushers - end Dave Jones of Los Angeles and tackles Bob Lilly of Dallas and Alex Karras of Detroit. Washington's Paul Krause, one of 11 repeaters on the squad, completes the defensive secondary.
PEPPLER, ANDERSON GO INTO $$$ CONFERENCE
DEC 22 (Lubbock, TX) - Pat Peppler, director of player personnel for the Green Bay Packers, went into a closed door conference with Donnie Anderson, his parents and his lawyer, State Senator H.J. (Doc) Blanchard, here Tuesday night. Anderson was chosen as the Packers' first draft choice as a junior eligible last year. He was also named by the Houston Oilers. K.S. (Bud) Adams, owner of the Oilers, met with the Andersons and Blanchard Monday. Peppler arrived Tuesday and watched Texas Tech drill in preparation for its Gator Bowl game against Georgia Tech Dec. 31 before the meeting. Neither Adams nor Peppler had any comment and Anderson would give no inkling of his preference or what was being offered by the two clubs. Blanchard would only say that "we are ironing out tax problems." Since Anderson can sign a contract Dec. 31, it will help him in his tax situation. He can spread bis bonus money over 1965 and 1966. The local paper, Avalanche-Journal, said Anderson would sign for the biggest money package in pro football history, claiming that it would exceed the publicized $400,000 given Joe Namath by the Jets last year.
OFFICIALS RIGHT ON PACK-49ER FINISH
DEC 22 (San Francisco) - The officials acted correctly last Sunday, in ending the Green Bay-San Francisco game with two seconds showing on the scoreboard clock, according to Mark Duncan, chief of NFL officials. The 49ers had taken over the ball with seven seconds showing on the clock after a punt return went out of bounds on the Green Bay Packer 46-yard line. The 49ers tried a pass that sailed out of bounds incomplete. The gun went off as the San Francisco field goal team shuffled onto the field. The game ended in a 24-24 tie that forced a playoff this Sunday between the Baltimore Colts and Green Bay for the right to meet the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Browns for the NFL championship. "The reason the gun blast was delayed," explained Duncan, who was at the game, "was that our rules provide for no firing until the play is dead and it is determined that no foul has been committed." The delay was caused because Line Judge Charles Heberling, who fired the gun, had to fund referee Art McNally to make sure there was no penalty on the pass play, Duncan said. Players and fans were milling around and on the field. "The scoreboard clock is not official in the NFL. Time is kept at a table near the sidelines. The
fourth quarter had ended with the pass in the air. You can see what would happen if there was a rule infraction," Duncan said. "There's no telling what would happen if we tried to clear the field for one more play." If the 49ers had made a field goal, Baltimore would have won the Western Conference title outright. But Tommy Davis would have had to put it through from about 51 yards away with a strong wind blowing against him.
PSYCHOLOGY FAVORS COLTS: VINCE; FIGURES 'OUT'
DEC 23 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Psychology. Caution to the wind. Statistics out the window. Injuries. Retirements. A 1,000-yard threat. Dennis Matte. Or you name it. These are among the "headlines" that present themselves today - just about 72 hours from the Packer-Colt Western Division playoff at Lambeau Field. Let's take each and examine the story contained thereunder: Coach Vince Lombardi brought up the "psyche" bit, explaining to press people Wednesday. "Psychologically, the Colts have something going for them," he said, referring to the Colts' 20-17 victory over the Rams and the Packers' tie with the 49ers last weekend, and adding: "They've been reprieved. They've got to think they're reprieved. This has got to give them, psychologically at least, a little bit of an edge." The Colts' loss of quarterbacks John Unitas and Gary Cuozzo could help Baltimore, and Vince compared it to the Packer championship club of 1962, which grew better despite a damaging rush of injuries. "Adversity made that club a better team but," he added, "in war and in football the teams with the guns are usually the winners." With an inexperienced QB, Tom Matte, there is always speculation on what the Colts might spring on the Packers. It was pointed out to Colt publicity chief Harry Humes Wednesday that the Colts apparently threw caution to the wind vs. the Rams - what with the safety blitz, etc. "It is debatable that we'll use the same caution to the wind tactics against Green Bay," Humes said, adding: "In that game, we have everything to win and nothing to lose. We knew we had to set up breaks such as fumble recoveries or interceptions, and we did most of the blitzing deep in LA territory. It is hard to say what we'll try Sunday." It is interesting to note that the Colts had 47 rushes and only 7 passes against the Rams. This is a direct reversal of the Colts' great aerial tradition, which, of course, evaporated when Unitas and Cuozzo bit the dust. Not counting the lost QBs, both of whom went under the knife after their hurts, the game will feature three known hurtees - Paul Hornung and Ray Nitschke of the Pack and tackle Bob Vogel of the Colts. All three are expected to play. Hornung has some sore ribs, Nitschke an injured leg, and Vogel a gimpy ankle injured in the Packer game two weeks ago. Vogel could give way to Dan Sullivan, a four-year veteran who rarely gets a chance to play but, as Humes put it, "he did a good job on Lundy and he's anxious to play against Green Bay." The Colts have two veterans who told Coach Don Shula that this definitely be their last season. They are George Preas, 11-year offensive right tackle, whose main worry is Willie Davis; and offensive right guard Alex Sandusky, a 12-year man who toils against Ron Kostelnik. One of the Packers' big problems Sunday will be containing the fly-away sophomore, Alvin Haymond, the 190-pounder, who has returned punts and kickoffs a total of 1,017 yards during the 14-game campaign. He returned 20 kickoffs for 614 yards and 41 punts 403 yards. Haymond has such a desire to return punts that "sometimes he gets himself really snowed under - and that's dangerous," Humes said. The Packers have a reasonable facsimile of Matte. That would be Dennis Claridge, the strong-arm sophomore pitcher who performed Matte's pet play, the rollout run, in practice against the Packers' defense Wednesday. Matte ran 10 times and threw only twice against the Rams. Claridge also threw short and long passes and ran inside as well. He was hampered by the slick, hard ground. Most of the Packers wore sneakers in practice, but the stadium turf should be in excellent mid-season condition for the game. It is covered by 18 inches of hay and a tarpaulin
and will be unfrozen. Statistics are always a favorite mid-week way of discussing a game, but the Colts' offensive figures are just about worthless since they were compiled chiefly by Unitas and Cuozzo. Defensive figures loom as the most critical and the main "stix" is the points allowed total. Green Bay gave up a league low of 224 while the Colts permitted the fourth-best in the league, 284. The "catch" to the Packer total is that the Green Bay defense allowed 70 points in the last three games - 19 to the Vikings, 27 to the Cuozzo-led Colts and 24 to the 49ers. The Colt defense had only one real tough day all year - against the Packers and Hornung, in particular, who scored five touchdowns in Baltimore two weeks ago.
PACK WOULD HAVE VOTED ON BROWN REQUEST AS TEAM
DEC 23 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - A team vote is the way the Packers would probably have responded to a request that the quarterback-poor Colts be allowed to use Ed Brown against them in Sunday's playoff. But Packer Coach Vince Lombardi said no such request was ever made by the League. The Colts acquired Brown from Pittsburgh recently after injuries had stripped them of Johnny Unitas and Gary Cuozzo, their number one and number two quarterbacks. Under NFL rules, Brown joined Baltimore too late to play in any postseason game. Lombardi said he didn't have the slightest idea how his players would have voted.
PACK 'COMES UP WITH MORE CASH' FOR ANDERSON?
DEC 23 (Houston) - Bud Adams, owner of the Houston Oilers, said Wednesday he though the bidding for Donny Anderson, Texas Tech's All-America halfback, would go as high as $800,000. "Whatever it is, it will exceed the $400,000 that Joe Namath got from the New York Jets," Adams was quoted by the Houston Chronicle. Anderson is the No. 1 draft choice of the AFL Oilers and also is No. 1 with Green Bay of the NFL. "Our original bid was higher than the Packers, but they've been rummaging around Green Bay, and they've come up with some cash," Adams said.
COLTS WON'T BE RUNNING FROM WEAKNESS
DEC 23 (Baltimore) - The Baltimore Colts, a passing team without an accomplished passer, will have to emphasize their ground game in Sunday's playoff battle with the Green Bay Packers. But that doesn't mean the Colts will be dealing from weakness as they try to nail down the NFL's Western Conference title. Not with three former Ohio State University players in the offensive lineup. Quarterback Tom Matte, tackle Bob Vogel and guard Jim Parker were brought up under Woody Hayes, who contended "a ball in the hand is worth two in the air." Matte, a converted halfback, threw only two passes last Saturday in his first NFL start at quarterback. But he ran for 99 yards and joined with veteran Ed Brown in directing a 20-17 upset over the Los Angeles Rams. With passers John Unitas and Gary Cuozzo sidelined with injuries and Brown ineligible for the playoff, matte will have to go the distance against the Packers. Baltimore is not expected to do much passing, but that doesn't upset Vogel. "Running is all we ever had at Ohio State," Vogel said. "You can't play ball there and not believe in it." "As for the Colts," he said, "I'm certain that if Unitas weren't as good as he is, we would have a great running game. When he passes, our risk factor on interceptions is very low. So our game naturally is built around him." "But we have the backs for a sustained running attack," Vogel said, comparing Colt runners with Green Bay. "You can't convince me that Paul Hornung is any better than Lenny Moore. Or that Jim Taylor is better than Jerry Hill or Tony Lorick - not enough to make that much difference anyway. With a maximum of errors and a maximum of effort of blocking and ball carrying, we can run as well against Green Bay as we did against the Rams." Vogel described Baltimore's offense under Matte, with a limited number of plays, as being "as basic as in training camp, with no frills." "With the emphasis on running, there will be a greater burden on everybody not to make mistakes," Vogel said. "There will be more pressure on the defense to hold, because the offense might only make two touchdowns or so. With Unitas or Cuozzo, we could make a mistake and recover with a quick touchdown. Now, we've got to control the ball." But that's what Vogel likes. "An offensive lineman would 10 times rather block on a run than on a pass." he said. "It may not be easier physically, but you have more chance of executing the block. On passes, you can beat while off balance and backing up." Hayes, who undoubtedly relished Matte's victory last Saturday with a pass completion, has a rooting interest in the outcome. He sent Matte a telegram before the Rams' game, telling his former star: "I know you can do the job. Good luck."
ALL 40 PACKERS WILL BE 'HOME' FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER
DEC 24 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - This is Christmas Eve. Let's forget about football for a moment - and talk about, well, like: The 40 Packer players will be "home" for Christmas dinner - at least in somebody's home. The married players have invited the unmarried players into their homes for that traditional feast. Other married players will have their families come in for the weekend. Willie Davis' wife is coming up from Chicago with their two children. So is Mrs. Elijah Pitts, who will bring along their youngster. The Bart Starrs, year-around residents of Green Bay, will host the Zeke Bratkowskis, including their three children, as well as singletons Marv Fleming and Tommy Crutcher. Tom Brown, whose family stayed out in Maryland during the season, will join a teammate. But, get this, he's having the wife come in the day after the playoff. Which is real confidence in the Packers' ability to beat the Colts Sunday. The "daddy" of the Packers - and, in this case, Chief Santa Claus - is Bob Skoronski, also a year-around resident here, who has the most children - Bobby 8; Steve 6; Ron 5; and Patti 3. "I'll be playing Santa Claus," Skoronski said, "and they can't wait." Henry Jordan, who lives in the same area with Skoronski and Jerry Kramer, will make a departure from past Christmas practices. Most of the kids in the neighborhood are at his door on Christmas morning asking "can Henry come out and play today," but this time he'll have to go to practice. Jordan plays cowboys and Indians and a little football with the kids and, as he puts it, "the only time I get to get a back is against the
kids." The Colts will spend Christmas Eve on their chartered airliner. They are scheduled to leave Baltimore at 7:30 Friday night, Green Bay time, and arrive at 10:30. The team will headquarter at the Northland Hotel. Carroll Rosenbloom, owner of the Colts, will take his players and coaches out to Christmas dinner - at The Spot at 5:30 Saturday evening. Little did the Colts think three weeks ago that they'd be spending Christmas in Green Bay. This is their first trip here this year since the 1965 Colt game out this way was played in Milwaukee. Both teams will practice Christmas day, but they'll work briefly - the usual Saturday warmup. The Packers will drill about 10 o'clock and the Colts will take the Oneida St. fields at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. The Colts - and all of folks who live here - may be treated to the traditional White Christmas. There could be snow flurries tonight. Newspaper, radio and television people started to arrive in town today. And, like the Colts, they'll miss Christmas at home. Most of them will stay here next week - if the Packers win. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle is due in Saturday along with Jim Kensil, the NFL publicity chief, and Mark Duncan, chief of the league's officials. Tom Miller, the Packers' public relations director, said the game will be covered by more than 80 newspaper people - from all league cities, and a third "row" will be built in the lower section of the pressbox. It will be the largest coverage here since the title game here in '61. CBS will telecast the game nationally in color and will use six cameras - one in the scoreboard at the south end of the field, one of the field, and four above the pressbox. A game normally is covered with four cameras. A noted guest Sunday will be Blanton Collier, coach of the Eastern and world champion Browns. He'll be fighting Vince Lombardi or Don Shula the next Sunday. PS - Merry Christmas.
PACK COACH FEARS EYES 3RD PLAYOFF
DEC 24 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Tom Fears, the Packers' end coach, is looking forward to his third division playoff game - and first in the non-player category. Fears, former feared offensive end of the Rams, was in the Ram-Bear playoff in 1950 and in the Ram-Lion sawoff in 1955. He caught four touchdown passes in the two games. The Rams whipped the Bears 24-14 with Fears getting three touchdowns on pass catches of 43, 68 and 27 yards from Bob Waterfield. Los Angeles lost to the Lions 31-21 and he caught a 14-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin for one TD...PLAY NULLIFIED: The Bears used Johnny Lujack and George McAfee to defense Fears, who knocked off a number of Don Hutson's records in his career. Tom still can't quite forget the losing playoff vs. the Lions. The Rams were leading 13-0 just before the half, and Vitamin Smith, a left-handed halfback, threw a 37-yard touchdowns pass to Fears for what would have been a 20-0 lead. "But our tackle on the backside was caught holding and it nullified our chance to take charge."
PARKING TICKETS GOOD FOR PLAYOFF; HAY REMOVAL SET
DEC 24 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Reserved parking tickets for Section C at Lambeau Field sold by the Stadium Commission for the regular Packer season will be good for the playoff game Sunday, and the normal parking charge of 50 cents will apply in the stadium parking lots. If the Packers win Sunday, the commission will put reserved parking tickets for the Jan. 2 championship game on sale at the ticket windows on the west side of the stadium immediately after Sunday's game. The tickets will be $2. In anticipation of snow removal costs, the commission has set a $1 charge for stadium parking lots if there is a game Jan. 2...Depending on the weather, a crew of about 50 men will starting baling and removing the 40 tons of hay covering the playing field Saturday afternoon or before dawn Sunday. If the Packers win, the crew will go back to work right after the game to cover the field again for the Jan. 2 championship...Because the game Sunday is an "extra event" under terms of the city's contract with the concessions operator, the city will receive 20 percent of the gross concession receipts as an addition to the season contract.
VINCE SAYS HE HAD SERIOUS TALKS ABOUT FALCON JOB
DEC 24 (Green Bay) - Coach Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers says it was "common knowledge" that he and the new Atlanta Falcons of the NFL spoke seriously about the head coaching job in Atlanta. "The talks were quite serious on both sides," Lombardi said Wednesday. The fact that Lombardi was under consideration for the job had been rumored for some time, but there never had been confirmation to lend substance to the rumors, at least not by Green Bay spokesmen. The rumors stopped when Lombardi signed a new long-term contract as coach and general manager at Green Bay. The new contract runs for another eight years.
HAWKINS, HAYMOND SPARK COLT 'TEAMS'
DEC 24 (Baltimore) - The Baltimore Colts will be looking for an extra special effort from their special teams Sunday in the playoff for the Western Conference championship of the NFL. The special teams are used by the pros to receive or defend on punts and kickoffs. Baltimore's special teams, captained by Alex Hawkins, have set up several victories this season and helped preserve a 24-24 tie with Detroit. With the Colts using converted halfback Tom Matte as quarterback in the playoff with the Packers at Green Bay, Baltimore's offense can use all the help it can get. "The special teams will be more important than ever this week," Coach Don Shula said. "We hope they can give us good field position, or ever put some points on the board." Hawkins typifies the play of his squad members. When the Colts are kicking, he dashes full throttle down the field, and more often than not makes the tackle. On the receiving end, he usually advises Alvin Haymond whether to make a fair catch and then mows down the first opponent to come his way. "Field position is always important against Green Bay," Hawkins said. "The Packers have a controlled, disciplined defense. You don't get rich quick against them." For the season, Baltimore's special teams have outgained the opposition on punt returns, 11.7 yards to 7.6 yards per carry, and on kickoff returns 24.3 yards to 21.4. Haymond is the chief difference. He has averaged 30.7 yards on 20 kickoff returns and 9.8 yards on 41 punts. "This might be the week Alvin goes all the way," Hawkins said. "He almost broke loose a couple times. Once he was open, and I ran into him." The Packers kept the ball away from Haymond while whipping Baltimore 42-27 Dec. 12. When he did have a chance to run, Haymond said the Packers "swooped down on me like eagles." But Haymond promises to "try a wee bit harder" this week, as he still seeks to run a kick back for a touchdown...CAN'T GET MARRIED: "If I do, the referee might as well go and get another football," he said. "The one I carry over is going to my girlfriend." Haymond has waited as long to get married as he had for the scoring runback. Shula asked him to postpone the original wedding date, which was one day before the recent Packer game. The new date, Dec. 26, didn't quite fit in with the playoff game plans. Now, Alvin and Jo Ann Winchester have a choice. If the Colts win Sunday, the wedding will be Jan. 9. If Baltimore loses, it'll be Jan. 2.
PACKERS OUT TO PROVE RIGHT TO WESTERN TITLE
DEC 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - This is the day the Packers go out to prove their right to the Western Division championship of the NFL. This is a strange day, indeed. It was set up by a weird set of circumstances one week ago when the Colts nipped the Rams 20-17 and the Packers tied the 49ers, producing identical 10-3-1 records for Green Bay and Baltimore. It's the last chance for the battlingest clubs in the league. Each had two chances to wrap up the Western title in the final weeks of the campaign but blew 'em. There will be no tied, no tomorrow. If the scored is in knots at the end of regulation time, the decision will be decided in sudden death. The winner meets the Eastern champion Browns in the world championship game next Sunday - in Green Bay or Baltimore. The loser meets Dallas in the Playoff Bowl in Miami Jan. 9. Kickoff in Lambeau Field is set for 1:05 and a capacity crowd of 50,582 is expected, although 1,000 remaining tickets went on sale at 10 o'clock this morning. The temperature will be around 30, but there will be no snow. While a division playoff is a sort of stranger (only eight were played since 1933 before today), the circumstances surrounding the Colts are equally strange. The Packers will play the Colts in a third different location and the visitors will have a third different quarterback. Green Bay beat John Unitas and the Colts in Milwaukee 20-17 Sept. 26, and then Gary Cuozzo and the Colts in Baltimore 42-27 Dec. 11. And now the scene shifts to Green Bay and a third new quarterback, Tom Matte, a converted halfback, who was pressed into service when Unitas and Cuozzo both went out for the season with injuries. Matte is a real pro and he proved it in the Colts' victory over the Rams. The 215-pounder, who hadn't played quarterback since his college days at Ohio State, has a raft of star receivers in Raymond Berry, Jimmy Orr, John Mackey and Lenny Moore, but he figures to be particularly dangerous with his running. The Packers' case is clear cut. They want the title - their fourth in their last seven seasons under Coach Vince Lombardi. And they're all willing and ready to pay the price. Which means something above an all-out effort. The Packers beat the Colts the first time with a sterling defensive effort and a 37-yard pass from Zeke Bratkowski to Max McGee - plus two field goals by Don Chandler. They beat 'em the second time with an offensive explosion, featuring five touchdowns by Paul Hornung. Today they'll have to combine the two, Bart Starr will be opposing a fierce, wild Colt defense that will be hell bent to keep Matte's spirits up. The hard yards will have to be chewed up by the determined Jim Taylor. Hornung is something of a mystery. He came out of nowhere in Baltimore. The Colts have to be wondering about him. Starr's passing could be the hatchet and the principal men on the other end are Boyd Dowler, Carroll Dale, Bob Long and McGee. Billy Anderson has been tabbed the starter at tight end - a new experience for the Colts, who saw Marv Fleming there in Baltimore. The Packer defense more than likely will have to watch for some sort of surprise. The Colt offense, the scourge of the league passingwise until Unitas departed, undoubtedly will scratch and claw for everything. The Colts will want to control the ball and they figure to (1) keep the throws short and accurate and (2) make all blocks on rushes count double. Ray Nitschke, sidelined with a leg injury late in the 49er game, will be back at his middle linebacker post, flashing the stop signs. The Bay linebackers did a strong job of nailing the skillful Mackey to the line of scrimmage two weeks ago and Willie Wood and Tom Brown did the cleaning up. A tight rein on Mackey - not to mention Berry and Orr, will be a must. Bot how much will the Colts pass? That's the mystery. Against the Rams, the Colts rushed 47 times and hurled only 7 passes. What today? The type of game can't be predicted but this one, for sure, is the most important Colt-Packer smash. The championship is at stake!
PACKERS' LAST PLAYOFF ('41) MARRED BY PEARL HARBOR SPECTER
DEC 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Professional football had not yet grasped the nation's sports fans with the death lock it now holds when Dec. 14, 1941, was born bright but frigid. But the day proved to be an accurate forecast of what was to develop in the next 25 years. It was only one week since the Japanese had shattered the Pacific calm with its attack at Pearl Harbor and the news broadcasts were still carrying names of the thousands killed, the ships and planes destroyed, and the emergency preparations being made for retaliation. In Green Bay, relatives of John Holloway, now Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena administrator, received word that he had been seriously wounded rather than killed, as previously reported, in the bombing of Hickam Field. Yet 43,425 people took time out from the fear-provoking bulletins of war that afternoon to pack Chicago's Wrigley Field for what many considered the NFL championship game. Actually, it was only the championship of the NFL's Western Division that was at stake as the potent, powerful and swift Bears took the field against the strong, air-minded Packers from Green Bay. But it was the first divisional playoff the league had seen since its split into Eastern and Western Conferences in 1933. The Bears, truly Monsters of the Midway that year, were rated 11 to 5 favorites, but there were those who wondered why. After all, the two teams were entering the game with identical 10-1 record. The only blemish on each record was administered by the other. Strangely, the Bears had trimmed the Packers, 23-17, in Green Bay and the Packers, wound up like brand new watches, had bounced the Bears, 16-14, in Chicago. Comparative statistics from the two games gave the Packers 529 yards to Chicago's 454, the Packers 31 first downs to Chicago's 21. And the Bears had been forced to rally in winning their last two games of the season and tying Curly Lambeau's small town crew for the title. But this was a power-packed Bear team, operating out of pro football's only T-formation, and put together by the wily George Halas, a team that has come to be rated as one of the greatest of all time. The Packers were obviously not lacking in horsepower, either, although they had squeezed through to a couple of narrow wins while fighting into the Wrigley Field championship scene. Now, if all of this seems a bit too fresh to have been the picture as far back as 1941, it is probably because of the close alliance to this year's Packer season. This is the first time the Packers have been involved in a divisional playoff since that original playoff and again the Pack, this time under Vince Lombardi, has had to squeeze its way into the title game. And again there is a war offering serious distraction. But back in 1941, a young Packer rookie halfback was sitting on the bench having a little trouble keeping his mind on the action before him as the Packers kicked off to start the game. "It was just a week after the war started, and we had a lot of things of our minds besides football. Like where we would be next week," Tony Canadeo recalls. Canadeo, who later got into the game for about 1 1/2 quarters, has also been closely allied with the 1965 Packers as the television "color" voice for CBS. And he also sees the similarity between 1941 and this year. "We felt it was the league championship game that day" he says, remembering that both teams felt they could take the Eastern Division champion New York Giants, who had an 8-3-0 record. And the general feeling is that the Western Division can take the Eastern Champion Cleveland Browns this year. I both cases, the overall title game was slated for the Western Division city. As the kickoff flew past Canadeo, the ball settled in the arms of Hugh Gallarneau, who fumbled it in the bone-chilling cold. Ray Riddick fell on it for the Packers, and Green Bay took possession on the Bear 18. Five plays later, Hall of Famer Clarke Hinkle bucked over the goal line from one foot away. Don Hutson converted, and the Packers led 7-0 with only 1:50 gone in the game. Two minutes later, the Bears' Norm Standlee fumbled on the Bear 35 and Green Bay's Larry Craig recovered. Memories of the previous 73-0 walloping of the Redskins by the Bears in the NFL championship game began rumbling through the stands. But it was not to be. Hutson, who a week later was rated among the top several athletes in the nation for that year. dropped a Cecil Isbell pass in the end zone and the Packers had to settle for a field goal try, which was blocked. Ray Pagel, then Press-Gazette sports editor, wrote for the next day's paper, "From that moment on, the Packers were a beaten team." And Canadeo agrees. "It could have been 14-0 and would have changed the whole game," he claims. "But the cold made passing and pass catching awfully difficult, and Don also had to look right into the sun on that play." It was only a couple minutes later than Gallarneau, making up for his earlier muff, took a Hinkle punt, cut behind a Scooter McLean block that took a pair of Packers, and rambled 81 yards
for a touchdown. Lee McLaughlin blocked Bon Snyder's kick and the Packers still hung onto a 7-6 lead but on the fourth play of the second period, Snyder toed a 23-yard field goal to put the Bears ahead. And that kick triggered a 24-point blast in the second quarter that demolished the Packers hopes and sent Green Bay skidding to a 33-14 defeat. Standlee cracked for two touchdowns on two and three yard line smashed and Bob Swisher darted nine yards and Joe Stydahar kicked three extra points to make the score 30-7 at that half. Isbell pitched a 10-yard touchdown pass to Hal Van Every, and Hutson converted for the Packers in the third quarter and a 27-yard Bear field goal in the graying fourth period finished the scoring. And, as expected, the Bears went on from that triumph to whip the Giants, 37-9.
LOMBARDI SAYS: BUD ADAMS COMMENTS 'UNFOUNDED'
DEC 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Bud Adams, owner of the Houston Oilers, did some more crying on behalf of himself and the AFL Saturday. And Packer Coach Vince Lombardi promptly said "whatever statements Adams gave out are completely unfounded." Apparently riled over the loss of Tommy Nobis to the Atlanta Falcons and the AFL's loss of 30 of the country's top college players to the NFL, Adams said in part: "I feel sure Nobis signed for in excess of $600,000 because the offer we had agreed on was for $650,000. It was all cash, payable in three years. And I would have raised the ante, but I didn't get the chance. Reports that Illinois' Jim Grabowski signed with Green Bay this week for $250,000 are a good deal short of the mark. It was more than twice that. I was in close contact with officials of the Miami team. I asked them if they got to where they thought they would lose Grabowski to let me take pass at him. I learned from a source close to the Anderson family that Green Bay Coach Vince Lombardi told Anderson the Packers planned to trade veteran running backs Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor if they succeeded in signing both Anderson and Grabowski." Lombard didn't mince any words: "Adams has enough trouble running his own team without trying to run anybody else's. (Vince referred to the business of trading Hornung and Taylor.) What Grabowski got for signing with Green Bay is nobody's business but Jim's and the Packers. Grabowski was traded to every team in the AFL, but he did not wish to play with anybody but Green Bay. We have not as yet made an offer to Anderson." It is obvious that Adams feels money can buy everything, but Grabowski is Exhibit A against that theory. Grabowski, of course, said at his signing last Monday that he very much wanted to play with the Packers. This could be a factor in Anderson's decision. Several of the country's top stars, who joined NFL clubs, expressed the opinion that if they had gone to the AFL, they would always wonder how they would have made out if they had picked the stronger NFL. While the Packers have been in close contact with
Anderson, they have refrained from "offering" since he is playing in the Gator Bowl Friday. Adams said he will be Jacksonville, Fla., Friday to sign Anderson after Texas tech's game against Georgia Tech. "It is not beyond the realm of possibility that Anderson will receive $800,000," Adams said. "It will be an all-cash transaction, too, payable in three years." Does he think he'll be able to outbid the Packers and get the Texas Tech All-America? "It's all questionable," he said. "There's no practicability to what's being done."
COLTS ARRIVE WITH MINIMUM OF FANFARE
DEC 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Baltimore's Colts arrived in wintry Green Bay with a minimum of fanfare Saturday afternoon, the meager Austin Straubel Field reception committee including Colt publicist Harry Hulmes, two reporters and two photographers. Things improved ever so sightly a half hour later when they checked in at the Hotel Northland, where they were greeted by manager Harry Huebner, two bellmen, to New York sportswriters, Milton Gross and Dave Eisenberg, and one young fan, seeking Lenny Moore's autograph. Apparently unconcerned over the lack of attention, the invaders and their entourage appeared in high spirits for today's Western Division title showdown with the Packers in Lambeau Field, despite the fact they will be minus the competitive presence of the fabled John Unitas and talented understudy Gary Cuozzo at quarterback. Not one to wring his hands in the face of adversity. Head Coach Don Shula epitomized the Hosses' positive approach. Appearing relaxed and confident, he asserted, "We're real thankful to have the opportunity to play again. We felt going into last week's game with the Rams that we had to win and then cheer for the 49ers. We're grateful to the 49ers for giving us another chance." "When you play a team three times," he added significantly, "you expect to win one to get into the big one (the Packers have claimed 20-17 and 42-27 decisions in two previous encounters with the Colts)." How did he think his Steeds would react, with Tom Matte, a hastily converted halfback, at the throttle in the absence of Unitas and Cuozzo? "I hope they react the same way they did in Los Angeles last week," Shula said, without hesitation. "We went into that one backed up and the guys really picked themselves up and played a helluva football game. I can't say enough about Matte. Although he had practically no experience at quarterback (seven plays against the Packers in Baltimore a week earlier), he probably was the coolest guy out there and he really did a job." Holding forth in the Northland lobby while watching his players wend their way out the doors to waiting buses and a brief workout at the Packers' slushy South Oneida Street practice field, the 35-year-old former Colt defensive back further volunteered, "Defensively, we feel we have to do much better than we did in Baltimore against the Packers (Dec. 12)." "That probably was our worst defensive game of the season," he appended. "We didn't do anything right defensively." "Offensively, I was really proud of the way Cuozzo brought us back in the second half. And he was hurt," he pointed out. "He hurt his left shoulder - he went in and got a shot to kill the pain - then came back out and played." Matte must have profited somewhat from last week's experience against the Rams, it was suggested. Shula, who undoubtedly would have been a strong candidate for coach-of-the-year honors if the vote had been taken after the embattled Hosses' conquest of LA, smiled wryly and replied, "Yes, he's had one week's experience. You work from spring training camp on with your quarterbacks, gearing them to your methods and thinking, then suddenly find you don't have any. When things like this happen, you just do the best you can. And that's what we're going to do tomorrow." Quarterback is not the Colts' only personnel problem it develops. Asked about his walking wounded, the youthful headmaster reported, "We've got a couple of guys who will be question marks. Vogel (offensive tackle Bob) did not play last week, and he hasn't practiced this week. He'll suit up and we'll see what kind of a warmup he has before deciding. Tony Lorick (sophomore fullback) also has been hampered for about three or four weeks, and he hasn't had much practice time at all." Asked if he had ever seen a worse injury epidemic, Shula forthrightly responded, "I haven't thought back about it. But we've had our share." But again," he summed up, "you don't look back. You just try to do the best you can with what's available."...As is his long-standing custom, the Packers' Vince Lombardi is making no forecasts. He established his position early in the week, announcing, "No predictions. I'm just happy to be where we are." But the erstwhile Block of Granite has made one pertinent point, noting that a third victory over the Colts will be the most difficult of all. "They've got to think they're reprieved," he said earlier in the week. "This has got to give them, psychologically, at least, a little bit of an edge." It may or may not have been a key to his outlook, but Lombardi was relaxed, almost jovial, as he put the Packers through their final paces Friday and announced that his athletes would be at full strength for today's imbroglio...Although their arrival received little notice, the Colts were not forgotten by the Baltimore faithful, shortly after they began trouping into the Northland lobby. General Manager Don Kellett exhibited a king-sized telegram for Shula's smiling approval. "It's from Westinghouse employees in Baltimore," Kellett confided, "I don't know how many names are on it, but there are eight pages of them."
