Packers vs. Browns and More

It’s time for us to share the Packers-Browns experience from last Sunday afternoon. It was a 3:25 p.m. game start, so we did not have to leave before the crack of dawn as we would for a Noon game. Just north of Milwaukee, we passed this gentleman tooling along in his Green Bay “Packard,” which was in great shape.

Heading up Interstate 43 into northern Wisconsin. 

In case you’ve never been to Wisconsin, or you don’t have an actual Autumn where you live, here’s a look at some late Fall colors along the way. 

Fans are well into their pre-game rituals as we take a walk to the Packers Pro Shop. 

This was the yearly “throwback” game, and there was plenty of retro merchandise in the Pro Shop. 

 Fans mill about the Lambeau Field Atrium hours before game time.

WTMJ’s Jeff Falconio does some early preparation for the pre-game show on the Packers Radio Network. 

Another Atrium view. 

Getting into the tailgating outside Lambeau. 

As always, there is a small amount of visiting team fans that want to experience Lambeau once in their lifetime. We had four of them sitting behind us at the game, but they were nice, funny, and very vocal about how bad their team is.

The streets around Lambeau fill up early. 

And so do the front, side, and back yards and empty lots. 

Once inside, here’s the view as you go out to see the field. 

Coming out of the tunnel. 

Fans who don’t want to miss anything come out early to watch pre-game warm-ups. 

The Packers are expecting rain, so the important stuff is under protective tarps or canopies. 

Watching pre-game warm-ups. 

The Cleveland Browns warming up on the field. 

People who don‘t belong on the sideline are milling around the sideline. 

Lambeau starts to fill up as the rain begins. 

The game is underway in wet conditions, which prevented us from using the better camera equipment for the game. 

The majority of the fans came prepared for a wet day. If not, it was a long day for them. 

Watching from the Packerville, U.S.A. seats. 

The Packer offense at work. 

The fans enjoy the game in the rain. 

The Packers attempt to score in our North End Zone. 

Vertical view down the field. 

The cheerleaders perform during a time out. 

Cleveland comes down to attempt a score. 

Doesn’t everyone bring a giant Johnny Jolly head to a Packer game? 

The game is over. 

The final score. 

The official game program cover for the Cleveland game. 

We forgot to share the official game program cover for the Detroit game...

... and also for the Redskins’ season opener. 

We picked up another addition to the Packerville, U.S.A. reference library: Packers Pride: Green Bay Greats Share Their Favorite Memories. From Amazon.com: “For more than 90 years, the Green Bay Packers have been the model of excellence across the National Football League. Now, LeRoy Butler — a 12-year veteran and one of the most popular Packers ever to don the uniform — teams up with Rob Reischel to tell the stories of the Packers’ most memorable players and coaches, including Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, Forrest Gregg, Jim Taylor, Herb Adderly, Willie Wood, James Lofton, Sterling Sharpe, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Donald Driver to name but a few. Packers Pride looks at the favorite games, favorite moments, and behind-the-scenes stories of the men who played and coached for the team with 13 World Championships, more than any other team in football.”

The front and rear flaps. 

The back cover.

Find your copy here.

Packers Pride: Green Bay Greats Share Their Favorite Memories

By LeRoy Butler, with Rob Reischel

Triumph Books (2013)

352 pages 

Lastly, we picked up a clearance copy of the recent comic book based on Curly Lambeau and the birth of the Packers. That’s all for now. Thanks for visiting.

Packers vs. Browns Retro

We’re looking forward to Sunday’s game, and looking back as well. When we think of the Green Bay Packers vs. the Cleveland Browns, our mind goes back instantly to the 1965 NFL Championship game. On that cold, sloppy day — January 2, 1966 — the Packers bested the out-of-town challengers by a score of 23-12 at newly-named Lambeau Field. It was Vince Lombardi’s third title, and the first of three in a row. It was also Cleveland Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown’s last game in the league.

Here is the team that won that day. As we said, we’ll be there on Sunday to see the 2013 appearance of the Packers’ “throwback” uniforms. We’d rather see them feature Lombardi Era uniforms with the long sleeves as seen above. Since they’re playing Cleveland, why not wear 1965 “throwbacks” and have Cleveland do the same? But they don’t listen to us. 

Sunday also marks our 100th Green Bay Packers game that we’ve attended. Through the years, this has meant games seen at Lambeau Field, Milwaukee County Stadium, and Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. We’ve never been to an away game (yet), but with family in Minneapolis, San Diego, Houston, and Phoenix, who knows? We’ve also never paid more than face value for tickets to a Packers game. Coverage of Sunday’s contest will follow early next week. Go Pack!

Packers and Browns in History

We’ve been neglecting the old blog here lately, but it’s not from a lack of interest. Rather, it is from a lack of time and the pressures of work and travel. We thought that you might enjoy this selection of historical photos from the Packers’ website depicting the Packers-Browns games through the years. We’re showing the Lombardi Era images here, but there are many from more modern times which can be seen here. The Green Bay Press-Gazette also has some great ’65 championship game galleries here, here, here, and here.

Also, if you’re lucky and live in the upper Midwest, you’ll be able to see the Packers-Browns game at 3:25 p.m. GBT this Sunday afternoon (the areas in green on the map above). Unfortunately, a large portion of the country will not see the game. Map courtesy of 506 Sports.

We will be there in person to see the team wearing their “throwback” uniforms — a look and concept we’ve never been that excited about.