1980 IN REVIEW

The Green Bay Packers' Board of Directors gave head coach Bart Starr a vote of confidence in Week Five of the season, but the speculation that Starr's tenure was coming to an end was rampant. At the end of the dismal 5-10-1 season, the Board stripped Starr of his role as general manager. The entire year was filled with soap opera-like drama. First round draft choice Bruce Clark elected to play in Canada. The exhibition opener in Canton, Ohio was called in the third quarter due to lightning. Green Bay went winless in the exhibition season for the first time since 1946. Defensive line coach Fred von Appen quit after a 38-0 pre-season loss to Denver, when lineman Ezra Johnson was seen eating a hot dog on the bench in the second half. On defense, John Meyer took over for Dave Hanner, and the team gave up 5,782 yards, the second most in franchise history. On the bright side, Lynn Dickey became the first Packer quarterback to pass for more than 3,000 yards (3,529), but the team only scored 231 points, worst among the 28 teams. A record-setting 61-7 loss to the Bears late in the season sent the team into the off-season with many more questions than answers.

CANCELLED GAMES IN NFL HISTORY

At the Hall of Fame game in 1980, the Packers and San Diego Chargers were tied 0-0 with 5:29 left when then-commissioner Pete Rozelle called it because of lightning. It was the first weather-related cancellation in NFL history. Other notable weather-related cancellations/postponements:

AUGUST 1996 - In the Bears' final preseason game against the Chiefs at Soldier Field, the heavens opened up with a deluge of rain and massive bolts of lightning striking perilously close to the stadium. The NFL officials called the game before its conclusion for safety of the fans.

AUGUST 4, 2003 - Kansas City had just taken a 9-0 lead over the Packers on a 27-yard field goal by Jose Cortez with 5:55 left in the third quarter when several lightning bolts hit near Fawcett Stadium. Play was halted for nearly one-half hour before NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue decided to cancel the remainder of the game with 5:49 remaining in the third.

2005 - The Saints played 2 pre-season games in the Louisiana Superdome before being forced to evacuate New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina. They played the rest of the season on the road, splitting their games between their temporary headquarters at San Antonio's Alamodome, and Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, and even playing their first home game at Giants Stadium.

NOVEMBER 2005 - To accommodate preparations to deal with the approach of Hurricane Wilma, the Miami Dolphins' home game against the Chiefs was moved from Sunday to Friday night. Miami had moved a 1992 game with the Patriots due to Hurricane Andrew, their 2003 game in San Diego was moved to Tempe, AZ due to wildfires, a 2004 game with the Titans was re-scheduled due to Hurricane Ivan, and later that season, a game with the Steelers was moved from 1 p.m. ET to 8:30 p.m. due to  Hurricane Jeanne.

AUGUST 25, 2007 -  The stadium lights dimmed while Kyle Boller's throw was in mid-air. The pass was incomplete -- just like the game. With more lightning on the way, officials decided enough was enough. The preseason game between the Ravens and Redskins was halted with 11:38 remaining in the third quarter, giving the Redskins an abbreviated 13-7 win.

SEPT 2008 - The devastation caused by Hurricane Ike forced the NFL to reschedule season opener between the Ravens and Houston for a second time, postponing the game to November 9. Ike severely damaged the roof of Houston's Reliant Stadium, making it unsafe to play. With the threat of Ike, the NFL originally pushed back the Ravens' game at Houston from Saunday afternoon to Monday night.

AND IN CANADA - 1962 GREY CUP - The game started normally on Saturday, December 1. However, by the second quarter, a thick smog started to roll in over the field, a combination of cold, moist, humid air from Lake Ontario and Toronto's pollution. The fog was thick enough that fans could not see the action on the field, receivers lost sight of the ball after it left the quarterbacks' hand, and punt returners could not find punts until they hit the ground. The fog became worse as the afternoon wore on, and with 9:29 left in the fourth quarter, the game was suspended with Winnipeg leading 28–27. The game continued the following afternoon, but there was no further scoring.