Thanksgiving 2/4 Game
Game Time
I watched Frank aka John Madden make his predictions for the game upstairs before I headed down to the basement for kick off. I like that guy, he’s funny. In fact i enjoyed all of what i saw of the pre-game show. Now there’s something you don’t see in a line at the stadium. Unfortunately these were the last laughs I had for half an hour or so.
The Pack really started off on the wrong foot. Literally. Not only did Detroit score on their first possession after a drive that lasted something like 8 minutes, Brett lost his footing and fumbled on the first play of our first possession giving the Lions a 6 – 0 lead after 10. Thankfully 2 field goals are worth a whole lot less than 2 touchdowns so despite the start we were still well in the game. My face in this pic says happy smile. My stomach however, was more than a tad nervous.
Today’s contest was certainly one of mixed emotions. Nerves in the 1st quarter, elation in the second. Fist pumping yahoos in the 3rd all followed by a little nail biting to finish. Take a guess at which point the next pic was taken.
I wore my Brett Favre jersey for the first time this year and if his performance is anything to measure my future game day attire by I’ll certainly be wearing it again in Dallas. A career day, he broke the NFL record, again held by Dan Marino, for the most games in history passing for 3 or more touchdowns (63). He also broke the team record for most consecutive completed passes previously held by Lyn Dickey and my man Don Majowski (20). Adding to that, it was Brett’s 7th 300 yard game of the season, equalling the team record set by him in 1995 and his 4th consecutive game with a passer rating above 100.
Watching the game on TV sure is different. You actually see what is going on and the whole thing makes alot more sense. At the field you feel the atmosphere, you drink the beer, you eat a brat and you scream yourself hoarse. Plus you come home with a souvenir cup. At home you are spoilt with analysis, replays and a toilet only 12 feet away. I still tried my best with the beer and food though.
I felt pretty crappy in the beginning as I’m sure most did. I almost began to believe the superstition quoted by most that I’m some sort of good luck charm and should have been there regardless of the occasion. Thankfully, as I have always responded to those who make such quotes, it has nothing to do with me. We’ve got a team of 53 men who believe in themselves and their ability to do anything they have to win a game of football.
From doing next to nothing in the first quarter our offense hit their straps and had the most productive 3 quarter stretch in the last 50 years of Packer football. If not for the lack of records prior to 1957 I could say that it was the greatest 3 quarter stretch in history. Most teams this year are lucky to gain 100 yards a quarter, we tallied 464 of them in just 45 minutes.
The only downer for the day was the 4th quarter. Leading 34 – 12 with 14 minutes to go we allowed the Lions 2 late touchdowns to give them and what was left of their crowd a boost going into the last 5 minutes. This freaked me out a little ‘cause we did the same thing last week against Carolina. In the end we were strong enough to kick out to an 11 point lead thanks to Mason’s field goal and that was it for the day.
In going 10 and 1 this team is breaking some serious records. 2 weeks ago against Minnesota our 8 and 1 mark equalled the best start to a season in the Brett Favre era matching the seasons of 2002 and 1996. Last week, at 9 and 1 we had equalled the Lombardi team of 1962 but today we had to go as far back as 1929 to find a start to the season comparable to this one.
I am very lucky, as I have said a number of times, to be here this year of any and not just because we’re winning. History is being re-written this season and that’s something you as a fan, coach or player can’t control. Winning might be planned but everything else that I have been lucky enough to see so far is the icing on what is becoming a very large cake.
