Vikings at Packers

With the last two home games being rainy days, it ’s been a while since we shared photos from Lambeau Field. Sunday night’s Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers game was cold but dry, so we were able to get back to taking photos from the Packerville, U.S.A. seats in the north end zone. Above, walking to Lambeau from the west along Brookwood Drive. 

The view from the north end zone, as you walk in from the concourse level. You may not know that about half of the seating in the bowl is below ground level. 

A Mr. & Mrs. Packerville, U.S.A. selfie at the concourse level. 

Someone’s helmet, awaiting the action. 

Out-for-the-season WR Jordy Nelson during pre-game warm-ups. He was catching passes, but we noticed that he did not run, jump, or put any stress on his knee. He let balls go that a player normally would jump or stretch to catch. 

NBC’s Sunday Night Football crew doing the pre-game broadcast from the visitors’ sideline. And in case you’re wondering, yes, they did take the tent down before the game started, so as to not block the view of the fans seated in that area.

Newly-acquired LS Rick Lovato and P Tim Masthay during warm-ups. 

WR Jared Abbrederis and a Packers’ staff member. 

The Packers coming out for warm-ups about 45 minutes prior to kick-off. 

Team huddle outside the tunnel, with the NFL Films crews documenting the action. 

QB Aaron Rodgers going through his pre-game drills along the Packers’ sideline. 

There were a lot of these people in the stands, but seemingly not as many as in recent years. 

Getting to the game action images, here RB Eddie Lacy (#27) gets some early yardage. 

QB Aaron Rodgers and the offense coming our way in the first half. 

And a closer view of the same subject matter as above. 

QB Aaron Rodgers (#12) scrambles out to his left, trying to find an open receiver, with G Josh Sitton (#71) providing protection. 

On a time out, QB Aaron Rodgers watches something on the HD video board. 

The Packers’ offensive huddle, heading south on the field. 

Panoramic view of the offense with QB Aaron Rodgers handing off to RB James Starks (#44). 

A fake handoff to RB James Starks, setting up a pass play. 

QB Aaron Rodgers eludes Vikings’ DT Tom Johnson. 

QB Aaron Rodgers making sure that adjustments are made prior to the snap. 

The offense warms up on the sideline after another unsuccessful drive. 

Vikings’ QB Teddy Bridgewater looks over the Packers’ defensive alignment. Rookie LB Jake Ryan (#47) is at right. 

QB Aaron Rodgers gets protection for a few seconds deep in his own territory.

P Tim Masthay is back and ready for a punt. 

The Vikings’ bench area. 

DB Micah Hyde (#33), S Morgan Burnett (#42), DT Mike Daniels (#76), and an unidentified player make a stop on Vikings’ RB Adrian Peterson.

WR Jeff Janis back for a kickoff return. 

QB Aaron Rodgers making a throw.

It’s time out time again, with discussion on the next plays to come. 

Vikings’ QB Teddy Bridgewater looking to throw as LB Julius Peppers breaks free from his blocker. 

DB Micah Hyde (#33) makes a fair catch on a Vikings’ punt. Probably a good idea with the enemy standing right there. 

The Vikings’ offensive huddle. 

Vikings’ QB Teddy Bridgewater is hit by an unidentified pass rusher as he tries to get rid of the ball. 

A good hole for RB James Starks. 

Unfortunately, the final score as the Minnesota Vikings leave the field as NFC North Division champions. 

Our last look as we leave Lambeau Field for the final time of the 2015 season.

First Packers Pro Shop — Sunday’s Game

HAPPY NEW YEAR, PACKERVILLE READERS! 
While going through some stuff in our holiday down time, we came across this photo of the first Packers Pro Shop. It was located in a small room off the main lobby of the old administration building at Lambeau Field. It seemed cool at the time, because just about the only other place in Green Bay where you could find Packers merchandise was down the street at the Montgomery Wards in the Bay Square Park Mall. This little shop has of course evolved into the mega-store we know today underneath the Lambeau Field Atrium, and the Montgomery Wards store is long gone.

We’re heading up Green Bay late tomorrow night for Sunday night’s divisional showdown with the hated Minnesota Vikings. Thanks to so many ticket holders choosing to sell tickets to Vikings’ fans, we expect a sea of purple in the stands. There should be a way to penalize season ticket holders who sell indiscriminately to those people. Vikings games are always the worst for arrests and ejections, so figure in that they now have all day to drink beforehand, and the Green Bay Police Department should be very busy. Out of eight home games, only two were Noon starts this year. And we think that stinks for everyone who goes to the games. But on the NFL totem pole, the ticket-buying fan is the lowest of the low in importance.

Hopefully, the Packers can put in a solid performance and win the division. Then we’ll see if we have to play this same team next week in the playoffs.

1967 Official NFL Illustrated Digest

 

Today we bring you the section on the Green Bay Packers from the first NFL Illustrated Digest, published prior to the 1967 season. In the book’s introduction, then commissioner Pete Roselle said that it “represents an eloquent tribute to the men responsible for its contents — the public relations directors of the sixteen National Football League teams.” This is how the 1967 Packers were previewed: 

Christmas Gift; Week 16 TV Map

 

Green Bay Packers season ticket holders received a little gift from the team today — a Brett Favre commemorative metallic trading card. So nice of them to think of us at Christmas time.

Map courtesy of 506 Sports
And here is the Week 16 NFL TV Map for the FOX late games on Sunday. The RED areas will see the Green Bay Packers vs. the Arizona Cardinals at 3:25 p.m. (CT). The blue markets will see Seattle vs. St. Louis, while the New Orleans area will not get a FOX game since the Saints are playing at the same time on CBS. Hopefully, you’re one of the fortunate to live in the red areas.

Packers Beat Raiders!

 

No, this is not a prediction for Sunday’s game, but a look back at the Milwaukee Sentinel’s coverage of Super Bowl II. These are the pages from the Monday, January 15, 1968 edition, covering the game between the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders — the last Packers’ game coached by Vince Lombardi. And the last championship for the team until January 1997.

The last page of their coverage is not of the game, but either an earlier example of the team licensing automobile sales, or an example of how you could just use the Packers’ name and logo without fear of legal action.

Week 15 TV Map

Map courtesy of 506 Sports
The Week 15 NFL TV Maps are out, and it’s bad news for many fans throughout the country. Unless you live in the ORANGE areas shown above, you will not see the game. CBS has the double-header broadcast, and most FOX markets will choose to carry only the Noon (CT) game instead of the Packers vs. Raiders late game. If you have the Sunday Ticket™ or access to a “Packers bar,” you’re all set... for the rest, there’s always the Packers Radio Network broadcast on WTMJ Milwaukee (non-mobile devices only).

Post-Cowboys This ’n That

 

As expected, Sunday’s Packers-Cowboys game was as wet as predicted. If it had been snow, it would’ve been a big mess for those traveling to Green Bay. One of the biggest drawbacks of a rain game is that we can’t provide photography from the game, as the camera equipment stays at home. Above, this is our view of Lambeau Field while walking to the stadium about 1:30 p.m.

This is a view of the field from the Northwest corner of the stadium. The players had not come out yet and they were still removing the tarp. The game itself was fine... although Dallas could’ve tied up the game through the third quarter. Thanks to the Packers’ rejuvenated running game and defense, they were able to pull out to and maintain a three-TD lead.

It’s always good to see this on the scoreboards as the fans file out into the evening darkness. At this game, they were playing classic Christmas music and everyone was in a good mood (compared to the last two home games).

Your Packerville, U.S.A. editor just before filing out of Lambeau. It was damp, but with the proper rain gear, the rainy weather doesn’t really make it too miserable. Hopefully, the Minnesota regular season finale will be dry. The cold is easy to prepare for. We’ve also paid the playoff tickets invoice, so we’ll see if that ends up with at least one game at Lambeau Field.

The program cover for the Packers vs. Cowboys game on December 13, 2015. 

The program cover for the Thanksgiving Packers vs. Bears game on November 22, 2015.  

We picked up this book while in Titletown over the weekend. 

The Packerville, U.S.A. Christmas tree is up in the archives, as it is each year.

Week 14 TV Map & New Book

Map courtesy of 506 Sports

Well, it’s good news for most everyone in the country who wants to watch the Packers vs. Cowboys this Sunday at 3:25 p.m. (CT). The bad news is that fans in Denver and other parts of Colorado and Wyoming are out of luck, due to the Broncos playing at 3:05 p.m. on CBS. We’re heading to Green Bay on Friday afternoon, and hope to share some photos of the weekend. Unfortunately, the forecast calls for an 80% chance of rain during the game, so we won’t be using the good camera equipment for the second game in a row. I think we’ve just recently dried out from the Thanksgiving night game. Sorry for the lack of regular posts... holiday preparations are in full swing.

While we were in Green Bay last weekend, we picked up “Green and Gold Memories,” which was just recently released. If you’re a fan of Packers history, and by extension the history of Green Bay, you’ll like this book. We’re only a few chapters in and have learned many things we did not know before. And we’re pretty much obsessed with the Lombardi era — the era of your editor’s youth.

The Old Ticker Can't Take Too Much of This

That was one exciting, historic end of the game last night, eh? We know you have seen the highlights, but seeing them again can’t hurt. Here is the “Hail Mary” play.

QB Aaron Rodgers was like a little kid who just won his first football game following the miraculous finish. His post-game interview is here.

For those who went to bed when the Packers were down 20-0, here are the full game highlights. Where do the Packers go from here? Will this spark something for the remaining four games? Will the final game against the Vikings be for the Division? Stay tuned...

Birthday Wishes...