Thursday, November 08, 2007

Down Go the Goalposts!


Today’s posting of the ol’ Blog is an image of the Lambeau Field goal posts being torn down by jubilant fans after the end of the 1965 NFL Championship game, played on January 2, 1966. The Packers defeated the Cleveland Browns 23-12.

After four inches of snow softened the Lambeau surface, the Packers used their running game to rally past Cleveland, and a crowd of 50,777 celebrated the team's third championship in five years. Jim Taylor (27 carries for 96 yards) and Paul Hornung (18 carries for 105) amassed 201 yards rushing helping the Packers overcome an early 9-7 deficit.

Packers defenders, meanwhile, allowed only 50 yards to Cleveland's Jim Brown, the league's leading rusher with 1,544 yards during the year.

In the third quarter, Bart Starr finally settled the see-saw battle, escorting the Packers on a 90-yard, 11-play drive, ending when Hornung scored on a 13-yard sweep around the Browns' right perimeter. Kickers Don Chandler and Lou Groza booted five total field goals.