Sports Then and Now

The Arizona Cardinals pulled out a victory for the ages with a 51-45 win over the Green Bay Packers

During the last week, Sports Then and Now ran a series featuring the 50 greatest games and moments in the history the NFL conference playoffs. The game Sunday evening between the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers will certainly move near the top of that list.

Ironically, in a game that featured NFL Playoff records for points, total yards and first downs, it was a defensive play that proved to be the difference.

The Packers rebounded from a 31-10 second half deficit to send the game into overtime tied at 45-45.

Considering that Green Bay had scored five touchdowns in the second half it seemed logical that when they won the coin toss for overtime it would lead to a quick score.

However, the score proved to be for the Cardinals. On third down, Aaron Rodgers was sacked and stripped by Michael Adams with the ball bouncing right to Karlos Dansby, who returned the ball 17 yards for the game-winner.

The 51-45 final score set a new record for point in a postseason game. The previous record was 95 set by the Eagles and Lions in 1995.

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Aaron Rodgers threw 348 yards and 3 touchdowns on Turkey Day.

Yes Fantasy Football ruined my Turkey Day.

My opponent didn’t give me any thanks at all. I guess that’s what happens when you go against Donald Driver, Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, and Miles Austin when they play the pathetic Lions and lowly Raiders.

No favorable matchups for me!

After a painful loss last week by 2.3 points, I am now only 1 game up in the division at 7-4 after losing 2 out of 3 games.

Thanks to Kris Brown for botching his tying field goal versus the Titans. If you made it, I would have won and could have enjoyed my holiday more.

Kickers even ruin fantasy football when they miss a kick!

Thanks for nothing!

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Josh Freeman made his first start a memorable one as the Buccaneers rallied to defeat the Packers.

On a day when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers brought back their original orange creamsicle uniforms, first year head coach Raheem Morris and first time starting quarterback Josh Freeman got the Bucs in the win column for the first time this season with an improbable 38-28 comeback victory against the Green Bay Packers.

Tampa Bay wore the uniforms that they regularly donned from 1976-1996 to honor the 1979 Buccaneers, which were the first playoff team in franchise history. They also honored LeRoy Selmon, the first member of the Bucs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, by making him their initial honoree in the teams’ Ring of Honor.

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Each week, Sports Then and Now picks one NFL matchup and looks through the history books to find an intriguing past meeting between the two teams. We recap the game and hopefully help reintroduce (or introduce for you younger readers) you to some of the greats (and in some cases not so greats) from the history of professional football.

The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers have played a lot of good and important games since the Vikings entered the NFL in 1960, but there may not have ever been a more anticipated meeting than the one this coming Monday night. Though the game is being played in Minnesota and Brett Favre will not make his return to Lambeau Field until November 1st, this game officially cements the divorce between Favre and the Packers.

When Favre steps on the field to face the Packers wearing the purple, gold and white of the Vikings, there is no turning back.

This is the game that Favre has been waiting to play since the Packers called his bluff and escorted him to New York more than a year ago. This is the game the Packer fans have been waiting for since Favre showed his true colors and intentions by orchestrating his release from the Jets and then signing with the Vikings.

In preparation, I thought it would be fun to look back at one of Favre’s better outings for the Packers against the Vikings. Indeed, the quarterback feasted on the Vikings throughout his career. In 31 games against the Vikings, Favre led the Packers to 17 wins while completing 62% of his passes for 7,379 yards and 54 touchdowns with 33 interceptions.

For our Classic Rewind, we go back to September 21, 1997 and a game in which Favre and the Packers lit up the scoreboard and then held on to defeat the Vikings.
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Clarke Hinkle

The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete is an all-time football great who was the NFL’s career rushing leader at the time of his retirement.

Considering that the NFL career rushing yardage record today stands at 18,355 yards, it might seem strange to know that when Clarke Hinkle retired in 1941 he was top runner in NFL history with 3,860 yards.

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Despite winning two National Championships and a Heisman Trophy, many still question whether Tim Tebow is an NFL caliber quarterback.

Regardless of whether you are a fan of the Florida Gators, it is hard not to like and appreciate the drive and talent of their star quarterback, Tim Tebow.  Yet, even as he enters his final season guiding the preseason national championship favorites, Tebow continues to have detractors that question whether he can be successful at the next level.

While there may be better college football players, Tebow epitomizes all that is positive about college athletics.

A solid student, he is the son of missionaries and has spent time participating in mission trips to the Philippines.

On the field, he plays the game with the type of passion and determination that hearkens back to days gone by.

In his three collegiate seasons, Florida’s number 15 has risen to a level where he is rightfully being compared to the all-time greats in college football history.

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