{"id":854296,"date":"2018-10-28T08:22:51","date_gmt":"2018-10-28T12:22:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesportsdaily.com\/?p=854296"},"modified":"2018-10-28T21:49:52","modified_gmt":"2018-10-29T01:49:52","slug":"packers-road-to-third-straight-championship-started-against-rams-html-bkurt11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesportsdaily.com\/news\/packers-road-to-third-straight-championship-started-against-rams-html-bkurt11\/","title":{"rendered":"Packers Road to Third Straight Championship Started Against Rams"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Packers road to their third straight championship in 1967 started with a playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams at Milwaukee County Stadium. Vince Lombardi\u2019s Packers entered the game with a 9-4-1 record and had dropped their last two contests after clinching their division title. Meanwhile, the Rams, coached by Hall of Famer George Allen, finished the season with an 11-1-2 record and were on a 10-game winning streak.<\/p>\n
The Rams were led by quarterback Roman Gabriel and a fierce defense headed by one of the greatest defensive lines of all time. Merlin Olsen, Lamar Lundy, Roger Brown and Deacon Jones were dubbed \u201cThe Fearsome Foursome\u201d and spent the season decimating opposing quarterbacks. The Rams were a powerhouse and led the league with the most points scored (398 in 14 games) and the fewest points allowed (196).<\/p>\n
The 1967 Packers were an aging group of veterans hoping to win an unprecedented third straight championship despite an injury-plagued season. Bart Starr was banged up for most of the season. While he missed only two games, he played through some tough injuries and threw only nine touchdown passes and an uncharacteristic 17 interceptions.<\/p>\n
Both Hall of Fame running backs Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung left the team before the season started and injuries decimated the position over the course of the campaign. Both Elijah Pitts and Jim Grabowski missed almost half the season. The Pack was forced to rely on backups like Ben Wilson, rookie Travis Williams and newly signed journeyman Chuck Mercein to compliment Donny Anderson at the position.<\/p>\n
Few people expected the Packers to beat the Rams. In fact, a fan poll in the Green Bay Press-Gazette <\/em>during the week leading up to the game showed that most local fans had picked the visitors to end the Packers title defense. It angered a proud group of veterans. \u201cThey had picked us to lose,\u201d linebacker Dave Robinson recalled<\/a>. \u201cThese were out local people. Our slogan in our meeting was \u2018How can they expect to be a lion in the lion\u2019s den?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Lombardi also found a dramatic way to motivate his players. Before the game, he gave one of his most famous pregame speeches. Hall of Fame guard Jerry Kramer remembered <\/a>it well. \u201cHe gave us this wonderful speech of St. Paul\u2019s epistle, about when all the runners are running the race, only one can win, and we run, not just to be in the race, but we run to win. That got us pumped up pretty good.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the inspiration, it was the Rams who got off to an early lead. The Packers turned the ball over and Gabriel made it 7-0 Los Angeles on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Bernie Casey.<\/p>\n The Rams put together another drive and tried a field goal, but Robinson blocked the kick and the game\u2019s momentum turned.<\/p>\n Rookie RB Travis Williams was pressed into a starting role due to injury. He was nicknamed \u201cThe Roadrunner\u201d for his speed and like many of Lombardi\u2019s veterans, he came through with a pair of touchdowns. The first was a 46-yard dash in the second quarter that tied the game at 7-7.<\/p>\n