New Magician Memory
I laid on my belly with my neck cranked back, palms under my chin and elbows on the floor for support. I was settled in on Grandpa and Grandma’s 70s shag carpeting, watching the Packers play the Bengals in September of 1992. Family filled the small living room every Sunday to watch the Packers play. Mom, dad, brother, sister, aunts, uncles, and cousins; most importantly cousin John to my left and cousin Brian to my right, located on the floor in the same awkward position to watch the game. I grabbed a handful of Utz potato chips I had secured from the Kwik Trip just down the road. My greasy fingers threw a few ruffled crumbs in my mouth, which was stained with an orange Tang mustache just as the game was kicking off. At this point in my life, football had been about spending time with family, playing TECMO Bowl, eating snacks I normally didn’t get, and learning more about this game played on the grid iron. However, this was the day where a single player started turning this little fan into a fanatic…… And that player was Brett Favre.
It seemed like the game had just started when the family groaned in disappointment. Starting QB Don “Majik” Majkowski got hit and rolled up on by NT Tim Krumrie, a Wisconsin native and former Badgers’ All-Big Ten player. On this hit Krumrie not only knocked Majkowski out of the game, but changed the trajectory of Packer football forever. As they dragged Majkowski to the bench, Favre came off it to warm up his arm. When the Packers got the ball back Favre sprinted out onto the field and completed his first pass of the game to Sterling Sharpe. Jim Lampley and Ahmad Rashad were on the call that day and were quick to talk about Favre’s gunslinger mentality, his gung-ho attitude, his love of the game, and QB with a “forgivable self-centeredness”. The family was quick to recite these phrases and comments in excitement. You could sense a warrior’s energy pouring out of Favre and into our living rooms across the state of Wisconsin.
Even though every Cheesehead in the world could feel the enthusiasm that Favre was playing with, the Packers headed into halftime down 10-3. Favre had led three drives into FG Range in the first half, they resulted in: a lost Favre fumble, a missed FG by Chris Jacke, and one made FG by Jacke. Packers defense forced 3 first half turnovers and Packers offense converted that into 0 points. The only TD Packers allowed in the first half was a 95 yard punt return. Despite all this, Favre was getting ready to demonstrate what he could accomplish with this will to win.
Brothers and cousins scooted out to the backyard at halftime to play our traditional halftime game of touch football. The teams were always the two oldest, Luke and Eric, accompanied by the youngest, Dan, versus the three in the middle, Brian, John, and myself. We were doing our best Favre and Sterling Sharpe impressions when someone yelled out the window, “The game’s back on boys!” And just like that we all scooted back in to assume our positions in the living room.
The family chattered in anticipation of the second half, there was some belief in the air, even though our offense was not executing the defense and Bengal mistakes had kept the game close. I continued to munch on my potato chips, discretely wiping my greasy fingers on my grandparents shag carpet. Favre showed off some playmaking ability on a 3rd and 7. Nearly sacked on the play, he broke a tackle and rolled left, throwing on the move he hit his receiver on the run for a first down. Little did we know, those were the type of plays we would be watching for the next 16 seasons. Unfortunately, that drive ended in another FG miss from Chris Jacke. “More like Chris Jack-ass” muttered my disappointed father as he went to find himself another MGD on the commercial break. The kids all burst into laughter on our kicker’s new moniker, repeating my father. “Hey hey hey! enough of that language.” grumbled Grandpa as the kids continued to snicker.
The third quarter continued, after another stop by the Green Bay D, the offense started moving again. However, after two first downs Favre was strip sacked again setting the Bengals up for success. Three plays later Boomer Esiason found his RB in the endzone. Suddenly 10-3 turned to 17-3, the energy started to disappear from the living room. A few family members migrated out to the kitchen to sip some coffee and make small talk. As far as they were concerned, the Packers turkey was cooked.
However, near the beginning of the 4th quarter the Bengals punted to the Packers, rookie DB Terrell Buckley on the return gave us his best Neon Deion impression with a 58 yard punt return for a TD! The family was hootin’ and hollerin’! “Finally someone made a play!” someone stated amongst the celebration. Just when we were starting to except our fate we were back in the game, 17-10. The Bengals responded with an effective drive that ended with a field goal extending their lead, making it 20-10.
For the first time in my life I was feeling real nerves watching a game! I was zoned in on every play, eating up every word Lampley and Rashad announced to the viewers. The defense had played hard all day keeping us in striking range, Buckley’s big play had made it feel like we still had a chance. Now, with under 9 minutes left it was back in the hands of a young Favre who had a few promising drives end in disappointment this game, could he deliver when it mattered most? Then on 3rd and 6 with 7 minutes left, Favre flipped a switch, he picked up a first down with his feet, got right back to the line and hit RB Harry Sidney across the middle for another first down. As soon as Lampley and Rashad were saying Favre needs to go deep, he throws a deep completion to Sterling Sharpe for 33 yards, taking the Packers from midfield into the redzone. Now the offense is in it’s rhythm as Favre finds TE Ed West on a drag route across the middle for another first down. Two plays later Favre to Sharpe again and he fights his way into the endzone! The living room goes into a quick celebration with high fives and first pumps. We quickly settle back in, knowing the job isn’t done yet, still trailing 20-17.
The Packers D held up once more, Terrell Buckley is back for the punt, the family anticipating another big return. “Oh No!” cried out the entire living room as the ball popped out of Buckley’s loose grip and bounced back into the hands of the Bengals. “Did that really just happen?” I thought laying there, just when we were on the verge of a comeback win the the return man with a rookie mistake. The entire room sat silently as we watched Boomer and the Bengals try to run the clock out. Luckily, the Bengals were held up for another FG and were only able to extend the lead to 23-17.
One minute and seven seconds on the clock, on our own eight yard line, no timeouts left, All-Pro WR trying to play through a rib injury, and the young inexperienced backup QB is leading the offense. Typically, these scenarios do not end well. Well on this day, for the home team, it was going to end well. Favre drops back on 1st down and delivers the ball to Harry Sidney, he scurries out of bounds for a few yards and stops the clock. 1:01 left, on our own 11, second down and seven, Favre drops back and releases a laser downfield, Sharpe snatches it out of the air out across mid field. That hopeful energy and sound once again bouncing and buzzing around Grandpa and Grandma’s living room. Favre goes no huddle and hits Workman out of the backfield to pick up another first down, they quickly line up and spike the ball to stop the clock. Second and 10, 19 seconds to go, from the the 35 yard line, Sterling Sharpe has been knocked out of the game. Favre drops back, surveys the field, pumps, throws…….. TOUCHDOWN! Kitrick Taylor for 35 yards! Favre just started running around the field celebrating with his helmet off fist pumping into the air, Lambeau absolutely rocking. The Family had erupted and started bouncing around the living room, the walls rattled, gasps of disbelief escaped, Jacke kicked the PAT and the Packers took the lead with seconds remaining. As the game winds down, officially one for the record books my Uncle Gary announces to the family, “looks like there’s a new Magician in town.”
Fun Facts
Packer LB Johnny Holland had two first quarter INTs
Bengals’ Rookie WR Carl Pickens’ 95 yard punt return for a TD was and is a franchise record
Ty Detmer, Terrell Buckley, Edgar Bennett, and Robert Brooks were all rookies for the Pack in ‘92
Terrell Buckley’s punt return for a TD that started the 4th quarter rally was his one and only punt return for a TD in his career.
Jim Lampley said during the game, “You live and die with someone like Favre.” After that game it was ride or die with Favre for 16 straight seasons.
Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKNcdCHLkkI
Watch the game in its entirety in the link above
