MVN - Most Valuable Network

Greatest Packers Games: Installment 1, Packers v. Steelers Dec 24th, 1995

Starting today, and every Monday hereafter, The Frozen Tundra will feature an exclusive weekly installment revisiting the “Greatest Packers Games” from the past 25 years (ranked randomly). Share with us your memories – where you were & the emotions you felt.

I’ve been to dozens of Packers games in my 28-year life. Each one becomes a frozen moment framed in green and gold. I’ve seen some incredible plays that can run like an ESPN highlight reel through my mind. There was one game, however, that sticks out like a snow cap on Mount Everest. A season building to one pinnacle match up and one unbelievable play.

It was Christmas Eve 1995. The Pack were on the verge of possibly winning their first NFC Central (now North) title in 23 years, if only they could defeat the tough Pittsburgh Steelers. My young life had been a lead up to this very moment. There wasn’t much more important than Packers’ victories back in those days. These were times when bills and priorities meant how much your game ticket was and whether you were going to have a brat or hamburger. Hell, I had both.

It was chilly. I couldn’t tell you the game time temp without looking it up, but I remember being comfortable in my blaze orange (the third color of the Packers) jumpsuit and Packers hat. The snow fell lightly from above, resembling a pillow fight gotten out of hand in the heavens. This is the perfect Packer weather. Exactly what you wish for.

The game went on as games do. Plays being made that won’t stick out in your mind. The Packers led the whole game. Electricity was beginning to flow through the crowd. All of us a conduit leading from the events playing out on the field. 60,000 plus people, all thinking the same thoughts and registering the same roller coaster of emotion. Could the Packers hold on? Would we face yet another disappointment? Hearts pounded in unison and breath that could be seen in the brisk air was simultaneously held.

The Packers were up by five points with over nine minutes left when the Steelers took over at their own 20. At this point there was still plenty of time on the clock for either team to make a push and finalize this game. The Steelers showed that they were going to shove it down our throats. They bit, scratched and nicked their way down the field. Time melted off the clock one painful tick at a time. It couldn’t move fast enough for millions of Packer faithful around the world.

The Steelers, hell bent on ruining a season for a team on the brink of greatness, splintered the Packers defense and disintegrated nine minutes and 17 seconds off the clock. The face of every Packers fan in the stadium had grown solemn. We were surely showing signs of letting down. The Steelers looked like a team that would not be denied. After Kordell Stewart came in for one shot gun formation bootleg that was dismantled by Packer Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler, the plates and silverware were on the table for one of the most tense plays in Packer lore.

With 11 seconds left on the clock, Steelers quarterback Neil O’Donnell took back the reins of the Pittsburgh offensive beast. It was fourth down on the Packer six yard line, and the only salvation they would have was snow-sprinkled end zone. The crowd had come back from their comatose state. 120,000 lungs pushed air through throats hot enough to raise the stadium had a balloon been floating above. O’Donnell dropped back and looked left. I saw it before it happened. A touchdown pass to Yancy Thigpen. He had blown by Packer corner Lenny McGill and was wide open. Everything went slow motion. The pass floated lightly yet tightly spiraled. I was at the 48 yard line 15 rows up. Thigpen’s back was facing me. The ball went directly into his chest and he slowly turned toward the end zone crowd. As he did, a strange thing happened. I could see the ball go floating away. From my angle it had looked like he caught it, then promptly turned left and just kind of tossed it towards the crowd. His arms outstretched to try and retrieve it but came back with nothing but frozen Green Bay air. That moment had been silent in Lambeau.

The fans had seen him wide open and had expected the worst. Instead what they witnessed appeared at the time to be divine intervention. It came by way of Thigpen’s knee, which apparently hit the ball out of his grasp. As if a wick had finally reached the powder in its keg, the stands exploded with such ferocity that at that moment no one was anything but your brother, sister, father or mother. I remember hugging each fan around me within arms reach. Tears froze to the cheeks of every fan I could see. As I returned to reality I realized We are the Champions was playing over the stadium speakers. I looked up to the sky and snow melted flake by flake on a face streamed with salt. The Packers won the game 24-19, but an entire nation of fans felt as if they were finally champions. A small town and publicly owned team which hadn’t been given a second thought in over 20 years had regained its former glory. The game lives on in the memories of those who experienced it, and it became a cornerstone for a team that went on to become NFL champions the following year.

The game a gift, the memory a blessing.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 9:34 am and is filed under Legendary Games, Packer legends, General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.