–This is the second of a four-part series on the first four pre-merger Super Bowls and their historical significance in shaping America’s Game–
The ranting, the raving, the tirades, and the tantrums had reached their climax for Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi during the 1967 season. The aging and injury-plagued Packers were aiming for a third consecutive NFL championship. The drive and pressure ate away at Lombardi as the season progressed, as chronicled by Packer guard Jerry Kramer’s epic classic, Instant Replay, which remains the gold standard of sports books and an immensely addictive read that details Green Bay’s memorable ’67 season.
Noticeable Drop
The Packers were 12-2 in 1966 and went on to win the first Super Bowl 35-10 over the Kansas City Chiefs. The 1967 NFL season would prove to be far more difficult. Teams such as the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys were improving and taking dead aim on Lombardi and the Pack. An opening day 17-13 home loss to the Detroit Lions was a portent of struggles to come.
The Packer offense was held at 17 or fewer points in seven out of their 14 regular season games. Quarterback Bart Starr struggled to fight off injuries all season and was in and out of the lineup. Starr finished with an abysmal 64.4 quarterback rating with an eye-popping and uncharacteristic nine to 17 touchdown to interception ratio. The Packers survived to win the relatively weak central division, thanks to defense that was still among the best in the game.
In Kramer’s book, the many moods of Lombardi are revealed, including the strain and pressure he endured in trying to lead Green Bay to that third NFL title. As the season progressed, Lombardi lost his temper more frequently. He was a classic burn out candidate before such a term was even created. Speculation increased that 1967 would be Lombardi’s final season as coach.
[related_post_one]
Pack Benefited from Archaic System
The NFL alternated home field advantage on an annual basis between conferences instead of rewarding it to the team with the better record. If timing is everything, it certainly was for that Packers team, who would host the 11-1-2 Los Angeles Rams at County Stadium in Milwaukee in the first round of the NFL playoffs.
Green Bay had lost a 27-24 thriller on a blocked punt at Los Angeles two weeks before. Under today’s rules the Rams would have had home field advantage. Green Bay took advantage of that archaic way of doing business with a 28-7 win in the rematch with the emotionally flat Rams. A date with the Dallas Cowboys and Destiny then beckoned.
Ice Bowl
The 9-5 Dallas Cowboys next visited Lambeau Field in Green Bay for the NFL Championship Game and what has become known as the Ice Bowl. In 1966, the Cowboys lost a heartbreaking 34-27 NFL Championship Game loss to the Packers as they stalled at the Green Bay five-yard line at game’s end.
That next season, the heartbreak would be even worse for Dallas. In a wind chill of around minus-48 degrees Fahrenheit, the Cowboys rallied from a 14-0 deficit to take a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Packers then went on a drive for the ages, with under five minutes to play, that ended with a Starr quarterback sneak on third down and one with 16 seconds to play and no timeouts remaining. It was a gutsy play call by Lombardi in that time would have expired had Starr not gotten a perfect wedge block from Kramer to fall into the frozen end zone. Lombardi told Starr it was too cold to play into overtime with a game-tying field goal and to send everyone home a winner with a touchdown instead.
Super Bowl II
With their third consecutive NFL title, the Packers went on to the second Super Bowl against the 13-1 Oakland Raiders of the American Football League. The game took place at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
Much like the AFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs from the year prior, the Raiders were talented and explosive but also young and without the championship experience of the Packers. The Raiders boasted a ferocious pass rush on an AFL-leading defense known as the Angry Eleven. Oakland quarterback Daryl Lamonica was known as “the Mad Bomber” and was managing general partner Al Davis’ all-time favorite Raider signal caller. Lamonica threw 30 touchdown passes on the season and best epitomized Davis’ famed vertical passing game.
The most memorable aspect of Super Bowl II was speculation about Lombardi and his potential retirement. In a final team film session, the coach began with a speech about how this game might be the last time that they would all be together. Lombardi broke down and began to weep. The room went dark and the film flickered. Not one word was said as the film played through without interruption.
Green Bay was a two-touchdown favorite for the second Super Bowl and was never threatened in a 33-14 win. The veteran savvy Packers made no turnovers while forcing three by Oakland.
At half time of Super Bowl II, Kramer urged the Packers to, “play the last 30 minutes for the Old Man.”
Kramer hoisted Lombardi on his shoulder after the game for a final ride of glory. Lombardi would relinquish his coaching duties one week later. It was the end of an incredible era of Green Bay dominance. The Super Bowl Trophy was later named the Lombardi Trophy. No tribute was ever more perfectly fitting in the history of sports.
