This past Sunday, I watched in pain as my Packers fell to 1-3 and to some critics, were officially eliminated from playoff contention. With the haunting image of Brett Favre confined to the sidelines and the offense attempting to rally around the ageless Doug Pederson still fresh in my memory, I began to fall asleep.
Now while my normal dreams consist of me stepping in for Stocco and giving life back to the Badger's pass attack, this dream was a direct response in my need to raise my level of Packer confidence. As my thoughts began to condense in my head, I soon found myself in County Stadium, covering an epic classic between the '96 Green Bay Packers and the '75 Pittsburgh Steelers.
It was uncharacteristically hot on this particular day in Milwaukee, as temperatures on the field reached over 100 degrees. A slight wind grazed over the sellout crowd, as two past Super Bowl Champions began to take part in an unbelievable battle for the ages.
Packer greats Brett Favre and Reggie White prepared to meet legendary Steelers Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris face-to-face on the 50-yard line to decide the coin toss. As the coin slowly glided through the humid air, I began to realize that I was about to witness one of the greatest conceivable sports games ever played.
To the displeasure of the pro-Packer crowd, the Steelers win the toss and elect to receive. The defenses dictate the play in the first quarter as both giants feel each other out in the opening minutes. The Packers, however, are able to draw first blood as an 11-play, 80-yard drive is capped off with a touchdown pass from Favre to Keith Jackson in the back of the end zone. With the extra point by Chris Jacke, the Packers lead by seven at the end of the first.
On the ensuing drive, the Steelers strike right back, pounding the ball deep in Green Bay territory. Then on fourth and two on the Packer five, Bradshaw finds Lynn Swan on a crossing route to tie the score at seven.
After an Edgar Bennett fumble on the following possession, Bradshaw capitalizes on the turnover, and hits Franco Harris out of the backfield for a 34-yard touchdown strike. The score heading into the half: Steelers 14, Packers 7.
Green Bay receives the ball to begin the third, and hands the Steelers 'D' a steady dose of their ground attack-, spearheaded by Bennett and Dorsey Levens. The drive leads to a Jacke field goal to pull to within four.
Forcing the Steelers to punt on their next possession, Green Bay gets great field position, but Favre receives pressure in the pocket from Mel Blount and throws an errant pass that is intercepted by Mike Wagner, who returns the pick 62 yards for another Pittsburgh score.
As the Packers enter the fourth down 11, I slowly began to see my dreams dictate my reality. Little did I know the Packers and the County Stadium crowd were not ready to give up to the champs that easily.
Head coach Mike Holmgren delivers an intense and passionate speech during the break, and his team responds as Favre connects with Antonio Freeman to close the gap to within four. But as the football world was well aware, the '75 champs were lead by their daunting \Steel Curtain"" defense piloted by hard hitters Blount, Wagner and Donnie Shell. The unit was able to hold the Pack to punt on four consecutive occasions as the fourth quarter quickly began to tick away.
With 3:12 remaining in the game, Bradshaw and the Steelers' 'O' looked to drain the rest of the clock and exit Milwaukee with a classic victory. However, Sean Jones sacked Bradshaw, causing a fumble scooped up by Lamont Hollinquest. With 2:11 remaining, Favre gathers his troops in the huddle, as 74 yards stand in his way of victory. Clutch catches by Don Beebe and Robert Brooks leave the Packers on the Pittsburgh 17, with seven seconds remaining.
On the final play of the game, the Packers dive into the depths of the playbook as Favre delivers a screen pass to Jim McMahon, who is lined up at receiver.
Jimmy Mack scrambles in the backfield, avoids D-tackle Joe Green, and delivers a perfect pass to none other than a wide open Favre crossing the goal line as time expires. Final: Packers 24. Steelers 21.
As I awoke, it took me a long time to digest the magnitude of the game I had just witnessed. Also, I took a glance at my computer screen and found I had again hit up www.whatifsports.com in the middle of the night.
The Pack/Steelers simulation page fell on top of my attempts to create an all-time Badger basketball team headed by Mike Kelley/Finley at the guard spots with the two-headed monster of Rashard Griffith and Joe Franklin down low. That team led by head coach Dick Bennett has an upcoming showdown with the '92 Duke squad headed by Christian Laettner and Bobby Hurley.
But for now, all I wish for is to wake up and find myself witnessing the 2004 Packers imitate the same performance of the '96 Pack, even if I do have to simulate the rest of their season.
Jon is a journalism and English major and can be reached at jrmacnamara@wisc.edu
