Fixing fate: Green Bay Packers games we wish could change
Every fan that identifies with a particular team has those games: the games that haunt them. A receiver drops a pass, the shortstop bobbles the fundamental grounder, the point guard misses the wide-open layup. Games take hours to be won, but they take a second to lose. In the eyes of a casual observer, the receiver dropped a piece of leather.
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To a fan, the receiver relinquished a victory and shattered their dreams in the process.
Fans of the Green Bay Packers have admittedly been spoiled with success. Green Bay is commonly referred to as “Titletown,” and the Packers have earned a league-high 13 championships. Boasting the talents of Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, Packer fans have experienced many exhilarating victories. Still, cheeseheads have not come out completely unscathed.
Yes, those who bleed green and gold have been blessed with substantial success, but they have also had to endure some excruciating losses. Reflecting on these losses begs the question, if you could change the outcome of one game, which one would it be?
When presented with the question, Packer fans might immediately remember the January game against the Seattle Seahawks. Dominating the game until the last few minutes of the fourth quarter, Green Bay allowed the Seahawks to steal their Super Bowl appearance.
Going to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year, the loss was especially painful considering that Seattle manhandled the Packers in the season opener. While it is easy to target this as the game you wish you could have back, the reality it that there are others that deserve consideration.
Jan 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws the ball to Jordy Nelson (87) against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
On a frigid January 2008 evening in Green Bay, the Packers faced the New York Giants in the NFC Championship. Earning a regular season record of 13-3, fans thought that the Packers were destined for the Super Bowl. An overtime interception, however, fractured those dreams. While it was unknown at the time, that interception would be Favre’s last pass as a Packer.
Of course, Green Bay has found success with Rodgers at the helm, but another ring may have meant that Favre would have retired as a Packer and avoided the ugly divorce with the organization.
Entering the 2011 season as reigning Super Bowl champions, the Green Bay Packers began their season 13-0. The Packers were flying high, but the lowly Kansas City Chiefs caused them to stumble. Green Bay was clearly the better team, but Kansas City turned in the better performance that Sunday, and suddenly the perfect Packers were flawed.
Some superstitious fans may say that they preferred to have the Packers lose during the regular season, just to get the loss out of the way, but no one can deny that they would have enjoyed perfection.
Every team has an opponent that acts as an Achilles’ heel. This team becomes the one obstacle that the team cannot seem to overcome. For the Packers, this team is the San Francisco 49ers. Losing to the 49ers in the playoffs in consecutive seasons, the Green Bay defense could not stop Colin Kaepernick and crew.
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After winning the Super Bowl in 2011, experts expected the Packers to become a dynasty, but their inability to beat the read option meant that a dynasty was only a figment of their imagination.
Two words: Fail Mary. This wretched event may have occurred three years ago, but the wounds are still fresh for the Packer faithful. Faces turn bright red, nostrils flair, and the defense mechanism kicks in instantly. While the game had no devastating consequences, meaning that the outcome did not jeopardize the playoffs, the loss still stung.
Losses are difficult to digest when you acknowledge that your team made the mistake, but they are impossible to recover from when your player made a play and the refs refuse to make the correct call. The Inaccurate Reception may not have cost Green Bay their season, but it will go down as one of the most painful losses in Packer history.
Being a sports fan means playing Russian roulette on a yearly basis. It is an emotionally grueling experience, and it is one that is often accompanied by regret. Fumbles, turnovers, and strikeouts cannot be erased, they will forever be ingrained in your brain.
Fandom requires fierce loyalty and a tough emotional exterior, it is not for the weak or the faint of heart; but if you are strong enough to survive the mental battle, you will realize that being a fan also comes with unparalleled perks. One Hail Mary, buzzer beater, or walkoff victory can make the entire experience worth every heartbreak.
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