1966 Green Bay Packers season

Infobox NFL_season
team = Green Bay Packers
year = 1966
record = 12-2
division_place = 1st Western Conference
coach = Vince Lombardi
stadium =Lambeau Field,
Milwaukee County Stadium
playoffs = W NFL Championship
W Super Bowl IThe 1966 Green Bay Packers season resulted in a 12-2 record and victory in the inaugural AFL-NFL Championship Game. The team beat the Dallas Cowboys in the 1966 NFL Championship Game. The Packers were coached by Vince Lombardi and led by quarterback Bart Starr.

In 2007, the 1966 Packers were ranked as the 6th greatest Super Bowl champions on the NFL Network's documentary series "".

Offseason

The Washington Redskins made overtures to Vince Lombardi about becoming their new head coach. Lombardi refused their offer and the Redskins had to settle for Otto Graham as their new head coach. [When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss,p. 453, Simon & Schuster, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3]

NFL Draft

In the first round of the 1966 NFL Draft the Packers selected running back Jim Grabowski out of the University of Illinois. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?yr=1966&tm=GNB&lg=NFL 1966 Green Bay Packers draft on Database Football] obtained 18 December, 2006.] The Packers would find themselves in a bidding war for Grabowski. With the first pick overall, the Dolphins selected Grabowskiin the AFL Draft. [ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 396 ] Lombardi's plan was to groom Grabowski so that he could take over for Jim Taylor. Despite being offered more money by the Dolphins, Grabowski said it was an honor to be drafted by the Packers. [When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss,p. 383, Simon & Schuster, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3] Grabowski would sign with the Packers and land on the cover of Sports Illustrated. [When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss,p. 384, Simon & Schuster, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3] The signing of Grabowski upset Taylor. He felt that he was underpaid and made it publicly known that he would leave Green Bay once his contract expired. Taylor had been given an offer by the Atlanta Falcons but would honor his contract before moving to another team. [When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss,p. 385, Simon & Schuster, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3]

Postseason

NFL championship game

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Packers
R1=14
R2=7
R3=7
R4=6
RT=34
Home=Cowboys
H1=14
H2=3
H3=3
H4=7
HT=27Green Bay took an early 14-0 lead on two first-quarter scores; a 17-yard touchdown pass from Bart Starr to Elijah Pitts and a 17-yard fumble return by Jim Grabowski on the ensuing kickoff. The Cowboys tied the score with two touchdowns towards the end of the quarter.

Starr's third touchdown pass of the game gave the Packers a 34-20 lead with 5:20 left in the game, but the Cowboys responded with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Don Meredith to Frank Clarke. Dallas advanced to the Green Bay 22-yard line on their next drive, when a pass interference penalty gave the Cowboys a first down at the Packer 2-yard line. But Green Bay's Tom Brown intercepted a Meredith pass in the end zone with 28 seconds left to play to preserve the victory for the Packers.

With the win, the Packers earned their 10th NFL championship. It was their second in a row and fourth in six seasons.

coring summary

*GB - Pitts 17 pass from Starr (Chandler kick)
*GB - Grabowski 18 fumble return (Chandler kick)
*DAL - Reeves 3 run (Villanueva kick)
*DAL - Perkins 23 run (Villanueva kick)
*GB - Dale 51 pass from Starr (Chandler kick)
*DAL - FG Villanueva 11
*DAL - FG Villanueva 32
*GB - Dowler 16 pass from Starr (Chandler kick)
*GB - McGee 28 pass from Starr (kick blocked)
*DAL - Clarke 68 pass from Meredith (Villanueva kick)

uper Bowl I

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Chiefs
R1=0
R2=10
R3=0
R4=0
RT=10
Home=Packers
H1=7
H2=7
H3=14
H4=7
HT=35The first ever AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl I, was played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Packers faced the Kansas City Chiefs from the AFL who finished their season 11-2-1.

The Packers jumped out to an early 7-0 lead with Bart Starr's 37-yard touchdown pass to reserve receiver Max McGee, who had been put into the game just a few plays earlier to fill in for injured starter Boyd Dowler. Early in the second quarter, Kansas City marched 66 yards in 6 plays to tie the game on a 7-yard pass from quarterback Len Dawson to Curtis McClinton. But the Packers responded on their next drive, advancing 73 yards down the field and scoring on fullback Jim Taylor's 14-yard touchdown run with the team's famed "Power Sweep" play. The Chiefs then cut the lead with a minute left in the half, 14-10, on Mike Mercer's 31-yard field goal.

Early in the second half Dawson was intercepted by defensive back Willie Wood. He returned the interception 50 yards to the Kansas City 5-yard line. On the next play Elijah Pitts rushed 5-yards for a touchdown, giving the Packers a 21-10 lead. Max McGee scored his second touchdown of the game with a 13-yard reception from Bart Starr. The Packers held the Chiefs' offense to 12 yards in the third quarter. Elijah Pitts scored another touchdown for the Packers in the third quarter on a one yard touchdown run. The Packers would win the game 35-10. Quarterback Bart Starr was name the MVP of the game, completing 16 of 23 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

Scoring Summary
*GB - McGee 37 pass from Starr (Chandler kick) "7-0 GB"
*KC - McClinton 7 pass from Dawson (Mercer kick) "7-7"
*GB - Taylor 14 run (Chandler kick) "14-7 GB"
*KC - FG Mercer 31 "14-10 GB"
*GB - Pitts 5 run (Chandler kick) "21-10 GB"
*GB - McGee 13 pass from Starr (Chandler kick) "28-10 GB"
*GB - Pitts 1 run (Chandler kick) "35-10 GB"

eason statistical leaders

* Passing Yards: Bart Starr, 2257
* Passing Touchdowns: Bart Starr, 14
* Rushing Yards: Jim Taylor, 705
* Rushing Touchdowns: Elijah Pitts, 7
* Receiving Yards: Carroll Dale, 876
* Receiving Touchdowns: Carroll Dale, 7
* Points: Don Chandler, 77
* Kickoff Return Yards: Donny Anderson, 533
* Punt Return Yards: Donny Anderson, 124
* Interceptions: Bob Jeter and Dave Robinson, 5 [http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?yr=1966&tm=GNB&lg=NFL 1966 Packers on Database Football] obtained 18 December, 2006.]

Awards and records

*Bart Starr, NFL Leader, Passing Yards, (2,257 yards)
*Bart Starr, NFL MVP
*Bart Starr, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player

References

External links

* [http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?yr=1966&tm=GNB&lg=NFL 1966 Green Bay Packers at database football]
* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb1966.htm 1966 Green Bay Packers at pro football reference]

succession box
title = Super Bowl champion
years = 1966
before = First
after = Green Bay Packers
1967