Packers all-time tournament: No. 9 1997 gets its kicks in beating No. 8 1944

The most disparate matchup in the first round of the all-time Green Bay Packers tournament came down to … the kicking game.

Ryan Longwell made three field goals, including a 24-yarder with 58 seconds remaining, while Don Hutson missed two tries, one as time ran out, to give the ninth-seeded 1997 Packers a 15-14 win over the No. 8 1944 team.

The ’44 Packers used a tough defense and grinding offense to build a 14-6 halftime lead. Brett Favre threw two interceptions in the opening two quarters, one which led to the ’44 Packers’ second score.

Favre would finish just 10-of-16 passing for 113 yards with a touchdown.

The ’97 Packers finally got their offense untacked late in the third quarter. Taking over from their own 11, they went on an 11-play drive resulting in a Favre 10-yard TD pass to Dorsey Levens. Favre also completed passes of 12 yards to Antonio Freeman, 16 to Robert Brooks and 16 to Mark Chmura on the drive. A two-point conversion failed, however.

After holding the ’44 Packers to a three-and-out, the ’97 Packers gave the ball back as Favre lost a fumble at midfield with 7:22 remaining.leven

The ’44 Packers tried to run – and pass (Irv Comp hit Hutson for receptions of 10 and nine yards early in the drive) – the clock out, but a fourth-down play failed to pick up a first down, giving the Favre and the ’97 Packers the ball at their own 30 with 3:14 remaining.

Levens had a catch for 14 yards and run for 27 to help the ’97 Packers get in the red zone, but it stalled with 58 seconds left, Longwell hitting a 24-yard field goal to put them on top 15-14.

The ’44 Packers weren’t done yet, though. Facing a third-and-14 from their own 19 with 37 seconds left, Comp (11-for-19, 150 yards) hit Joe Laws on the sideline for a 14-yard gain. Comp and Harry Jucunski then connected for a 32-yard pass and the ’44 Packers worked their way down to the ’97 Packers’ 21.

But Hutson, who earlier failed on a 53-yard attempt at the end of the first half, missed from 38 yards out and Favre and the ’97 team moved on.

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