Wednesday, March 10, 2010

First Defeat of the Giants in 1961

The Packerville staff is back from a fine vacation, well-rested and somewhat ready to resume life as normal. We are also back to the blog here with a photo taken just after the final gun of the game on December 3, 1961 at Milwaukee’s County Stadium. The Packers defeated the New York Giants by a score of 20-17 in front of 47,012 fans in their second “home” field that day. Twenty-eight days later, they would meet for the NFL title in Green Bay.

New Year’s Eve was a fine celebration in Titletown that year, as it was the Packers’ fifth championship overall, but the first to be won at home in Green Bay (the 1939 title game — the only one not played on the road — was played in Milwaukee). The Packers steamrolled the New York Giants 37-0 in front of a then-record 39,029 at City Stadium. The Green and Gold erupted for 24 points in the second quarter, and scored seven times overall against the NFL’s top-ranked defensive team. Green Bay’s own defense intercepted four passes and recovered one fumble, and held New York to six first downs and only 130 total yards. Head coach Vince Lombardi, being hoisted here by his jubilant players, had his first championship over the team he previously served as offensive coordinator before coming to Green Bay.