How much of an impact did free-agent defensive end Reggie White make on the Green Bay defense last season? White, the NFL’s all-time sack leader with 137, had 13 sacks and helped the Packers increase their team total from 34 in 1992 to 46 in 1993. The defense also reduced its yards allowed per carry from 4.5 in ’92 to 3.7 in ’93. Green Bay went from 23rd overall in team defense in ’92 to second in ’93.
The Vikings led the NFL in total defense in 1993, the league-best fifth time they have achieved that distinction since the AFL-NFL merger.
Since 1933, when the Packers began splitting their home games between two cities, their record is 103-60-3 (.630) in Milwaukee and 124-111-6 (.527) in Green Bay.
Scottie Graham was working in a pharmacy last year when the Vikings called him to fill in at running back. Despite playing in only seven games, he was Minnesota’s leading rusher in 1993, picking up 488 yards on 118 carries.
Last season, Green Bay wide receiver Sterling Sharpe broke the reception record of 108 he set the previous season, catching 112 passes in ’93. Sharpe became the first receiver in NFL history to have back-to-back 100-catch seasons.
How did the Herschel Walker trade work out for the Vikings? Here are the 1993 results of the famous trade of 1989: Dallas Cowboys, second straight Super Bowl championship; Philadelphia Eagles, 1,540 all-purpose yards from Walker; Minnesota Vikings, zippo.
Green Bay kicker Chris Jacke was 12 of 14 on field goals of 40 or more yards in ’92, including 6 of 7 from 50 or more yards. He also set a club record with a 54-yarder.
Minnesota kicker Fuad Reveiz was a perfect 24 for 24 in field goals from inside 46 yards. From the 46 out, he was 2 for 11. Reveiz’s lack of leg strength also affected the Vikings on kickoffs-opponents had three kickoff returns of 50 yards or more against Minnesota.
The opposition cashed in on the Packers’ 34 turnovers last year: Nine resulted in touchdowns and eight resulted in field goals. Opponents collected 87 points off Green Bay turnovers, more than 30 percent of the 282 points the Packers allowed in 1993.
Over the last two seasons, the Vikings have more interceptions than any team in the NFL. They had 24 last season, compared to only 14 by their opponents.
In 1993, Packers quarterback Brett Favre topped the NFC with 522 passing attempts, 318 completions and 24 interceptions. He was second with 3,303 passing yards and third with 19 passing touchdowns.
Minnesota’s Steve Jordan is third on the all-time tight ends receptions list with 495, behind only Ozzie Newsome’s 662 and Kellen Winslow’s 541.
The addition of free-agent running back Reggie Cobb should help Green Bay’s rushing attack. Cobb gained 658 yards for Tampa Bay last season and 1,171 in 1992. That ’92 total is close to what the top two Green Bay rushers gained combined last year: Darrell Thompson had 654 and Edgar Bennett 550 for a total of 1,204.
The Vikings finished with a 9-7 won-loss record in 1993, but were outscored 290-277.
Before last season’s first-round victory over Detroit, the Packers hadn’t won a playoff game since their 33-14 win over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II after the 1967 season.
Wide receiver Qadry Ismail was a big factor on special teams for Minnesota last season, averaging 21.5 yards on 42 kickoff returns. Ismail also caught 19 passes for 212 yards, an average of 11.2 yards per reception.
On Thanksgiving Day, the Packers have been turkeys, posting a record of 7-16-2. Green Bay plays at Dallas in the second game of this year’s traditional holiday double-header.
Sources: Team NFL 1994 Preview; STATS Inc. Pro Football Revealed 1994.
