Greatest Pack: 1966 or 1996? (Part II)

By Os Davis  |   Tuesday, July 11, 2006  |  Comments( 5 )

Green Bay Packers
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The dilemma is still on my hands: I've got the Madden 2006 version of the Os Davis Mega Football League raring to go, except...

The ODMFL is my Madden league, proof of another fan's wanton craving for football in the long, long preseason. Each team's roster is filled with players from the best season that franchise ever had; 31 of the 32 slots are filled. Only the Green Bay Packers - and one tough question - remain: 1966 or 1996? Please allow me to think (or is it write?) aloud for a few moments.

Last time, I ran through some key players from the offense; this time, it's the defense under the looking glass, a much more daunting task. In football, defensive contributions often defy statistical measure, exceptions like tackles, sacks and interceptions aside. Most of the "information" is abstract, and many of today's taken-for-granted stats weren't in play back in, say, 1966. I'll try to stick to the facts, though.

The team statistics kept on these two squads scream one identical fact about both: These were bruising, crushing, all-around defenses. In 1996, while the offense was running up scores like a pinball machine, the defense was No. 1 in the league in points and yardage allowed. The 1966 Packers were tops in points allowed and grabbed a neat 28 interceptions in a 14-game season. (By comparison, the 1996 unit finished with 26 in 16 games in the much more pass-happy '90s.)

Also of note are the five Hall of Famers listed on the 1966 Packer defense, all of whom contributed much in the year of Super Bowl I. History speaks well of 1966; only time can tell about the '96 names.

And now some head to head. A few standout examples have been chosen for each area.

Defensive backs: Herb Adderly and Willie Wood vs. Leroy Butler and Eugene Robinson. Butler and Robinson both posted excellent years in the Packers' championship season in 1996, with the former getting a Pro Bowl nod. Butler notched 87 tackles and five interceptions, one of which he returned for 90 yards and a score. Robinson was in his 12th year when he played his first for the '96 Pack and added six picks.

30 years earlier, though, Hall of Fame members Adderly and Wood were spectacular. The All-Pro Adderly totaled four picks and a 68-yard touchdown interception return; he leads the Packers all-time list of interceptions returned for touchdowns. Wood was at the peak of his nine-year run as a top-flight NFL cornerback and got three interceptions for the stingy defense. Plus, Bob Jeter added five for 142 yards and two scores. Edge: 1966 Packers.

Linebackers: Ray Nitschke and, say, Dave Robinson vs. ...oh, does it matter? Nitschke was named best the linebacker of all-time by the NFL back in 1969, and made the All-75th anniversary time as well. Robinson apparently did a bit of staying back in the secondary while Nitschke tortured quarterbacks, getting five interceptions in the process. No matter - Nitschke is enough. Edge: 1966 Packers.

The line: Reggie White and a couple of mortals vs. Willie Davis and Henry Jordan. To be fair, many others contributed to either Packer squad (Santana Dotson and Sean Jones bagged 5 1/2 and five sacks, respectively, for the 1996 version), but these are the guys we pay money to see. After chewing over this one for a bit, I still can't swallow going against the Minister of Defense, one of the most dominant players at any position in my lifetime. The 75th Anniversary Teamer did have a bit of an "off" year in 1996, with "only" 8 1/2 sacks to his credit (in 1995, White totaled 12 and in 1997, 11). Nevertheless, he was an All-Pro and has been universally credited as a key to Green Bay's Super Bowl season.

In the other corner are two Hall of Famers, Willie Davis and Henry Jordan. Davis was named an All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 1966, nearing the end of a career in which he racked up 162 consecutive games and participated in all five Green Bay championships. Jordan was also a Pro Bowler on the downside of his career. While age was barely beginning to show on White in '96, Davis and Jordan played at high levels in the twilight of their careers. And don't forget the Minister's three sacks in Super Bowl XXXI; and don't forget Willie Davis is the all-time Packer leader in fumble recoveries; and don't forget...ah, forget it. I just can't make the decision here. Edge: no edge.

From this simple categorization and informal comparison, it seems the 1966 Green Bay Packers come out slightly ahead. Not considered in the rundown were coaches, of course, and this would clearly put the guys from the 1960s over the top.

Unless anyone convinces me otherwise, it'll be Lombardi's Green Bay Packers against Sweetness Payton and the 1985 Chicago Bears next week...I may have made the incorrect decision, but the nice thing about video games is that you can always hit reset.

Green Bay Packers forever on Realfootball365.com!
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
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