Two years after he co-founded the Packers with Curly Lambeau, George Calhoun began writing a piece called The Dope Sheet, which served as the official press release and game program from 1921-24.
Honoring Calhoun, the first publicity director, the Packers are running this weekly feature in their release, which is being made available to fans exclusively on Packers.com.
A complete edition of the Dope Sheet will be available each week in PDF format, located in the Packers.com Game Centers.
Here are some highlights from the Divisional Dope Sheet, which includes pages dedicated to the record achievements of Brett Favre and Ahman Green in 2003:
SUNDAY LEFTOVERS:
- The Packers played only their second overtime playoff game. Kicker Don Chandler won their first, a 1965 NFL Western Conference playoff at Lambeau against the Baltimore Colts, with a sudden-death field goal. Chandler's controversial field goal to send the game to overtime forced the NFL to raise the uprights the following season. Don Shula remains livid to this day.
- The game marked the 18th overtime playoff game in NFL history, the fifth decided by a touchdown and the first decided by a defensive touchdown.
- The Packers had at least one first down on 11 of their 12 offensive possessions (no three-and-outs). The only time Green Bay did not move the chains was just before the half, when Brett Favre took a knee.
- The 20-degree kickoff tied for the third coldest playoff game in Lambeau history, trailing only the Ice Bowl (13-below) and the '96 NFC championship (3).
- The Packers won only their second 2003 game in which their opponent scored first (also vs. Chicago, Dec. 7).
- The team is now 9-3 when scoring first, and 2-3 when opponents deliver the first volley.
1960 TITLE GAME WAS CATALYST: The Packers return to Philadelphia trying to avenge a 43-year-old blemish: Vince Lombardi's only career postseason defeat.
- This marks the teams' first playoff meeting since that game, the 1960 NFL championship, and second overall.
- After losing that title contest at Philadelphia's Franklin Field, Lombardi won a league record nine consecutive playoff games and five championships, culminating with the Ice Bowl and Super Bowl II, his final game on the Packers' sidelines.
- That '60 contest and the teams' 2003 Monday night game share several parallels. The Packers couldn't hold a fourth-quarter lead in each contest, and each game's outcome was in doubt until the final seconds. In 1960, Chuck Bednarik stopped Jim Taylor at the Eagles' 8-yard-line as time expired in a 17-13 final.
IN UNFAMILIAR STADIUMS: The Packers will make their first appearance in Lincoln Financial Field.
- Green Bay has won its last four games playing for the first time in unfamiliar stadiums (renovated Soldier Field 2003, Ford Field 2002, Memorial Stadium in Champaign 2002, Gillette Stadium 2002).
- Over a longer stretch, the Packers have won seven of their last nine (wins at Jacksonville in 1995, St. Louis in 1996 and Carolina in 1997, losses at Tampa Bay in 1998 and Tennessee in 2001).
Click here to download a PDF of the complete Divisional Playoff Dope Sheet.
