The Green Bay Packers have won 12 NFC or NFL titles since 1929 and Appleton’s 89-year-old Mel Knoke has seen them all.
Knoke stars in an NFL commercial in which he says: “I feel the power.”
On the eve of Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, Knoke said he planned to attend with his wife, Leone, who is 93. They had sleeping bags to keep them warm.
“We’ve missed only 13 games since 1927,” Knoke said. “I’ve had five bypass operations and my wife broke her pelvis, little things like that.”
Tyrone can play: The spectacular interception before halftime by Packers nickel back Tyrone Williams was only one of several outstanding plays by the rookie from Nebraska, who was credited with three passes defended and a tackle.
Packers defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur said he knows of no secondary that tackles better than cornerbacks Doug Evans and Craig Newsome and safeties LeRoy Butler and Eugene Robinson. Williams has added a vital dimension as a cover corner in passing situations.
Williams also is awaiting disposition of a weapons charge that he fired two rounds into an occupied car in 1994 in Lincoln, Neb. There were no injuries.
Williams was a third-round draft choice last spring.
Packer records: The Packers have now won 28 of their last 29 games at Lambeau Field. They broke the Panthers’ eight-game winning streak, the longest in the NFL. The Packers take over the league’s longest streak with seven in a row.
Brett Favre’s two touchdown passes gave him 16 in the playoffs, breaking the Green Bay record of 15 held by Bart Starr.
The Packers have never lost a postseason game in Wisconsin. They are 9-0 in Lambeau and 2-0 in Milwaukee.
Favre is 19-0 when the game-time temperature is 35 degrees or less. On Sunday, it was 3 degrees, but it warmed up to 8 degrees and minus-8 windchill by the start of the fourth quarter.
No-show update: There were 574 no-shows Sunday at Lambeau Field, some 571 more than last weekend when Green Bay hosted San Francisco, but still a paltry number considering the weather.
Weather update: Sunday wasn’t as cold as the fabled “Ice Bowl” NFL title game of 1967, where it dipped to 16 below with a windchill of minus-49.
After all the fuss about how the Panthers would have trouble adapting to the cold, it didn’t show in their choice of clothing. Sixteen Carolina players were in short sleeves–compared with eight Packers.
Bulldozed: The Carolina defense surrendered 479 yards, the most allowed in the franchise’s 34-game history.
“If we knew what we needed to do, we would have adjusted, obviously, but we just couldn’t come up with an answer for them,” said cornerback Eric Davis. “Obviously, we weren’t at championship level yet. But we’re going to get there. We’ll get there.”
Power shortage: Anthony Johnson, who had 1,120 rushing yards in the regular season and 104 in Carolina’s playoff victory over Dallas, was held to 31 on 11 carries. Michael Bates, who led the league in kickoff returns with a 30-yard average, ran back four against the Packers for 59 total yards.
Chilly reception: The loss ended an amazing season for the second-year Panthers. Carolina went 12-4, dethroned San Francisco as NFC West champs, earned a bye and then beat the defending champion Cowboys at home.
“A loss is a loss. It stinks any way you look at it,” quarterback Kerry Collins said. “I’m as disappointed as anyone, but man, this is why you play the game. To come to Lambeau Field, it’s freezing and you’re playing against a good team.”
Slow start: After completing just three of his first nine passes, Favre finished 19 of 29 for 292 yards and two touchdowns.
“We’ve got one more to go,” said Favre, who gave a bear hug to defensive end Reggie White as he trotted off the field in the closing minutes.
Meanwhile, 60,216 fans sang: “We Are the Champions.”
Home in the dome: The NFC champion Packers will be the home team and will wear their green jerseys against the Patriots in the Jan. 26 Super Bowl in New Orleans’ Superdome.
A first: The Packers have won 15 games in a season for the first time in their 78-year history. They won 14 of 15 in 1962, including the title game, 16-7 over the Giants.
New fan: Reggie White showed up at his postgame press conference with 10-year-old son Jeremy in tow. “He’s not a Cowboys fan anymore,” White announced.
“No way! I’m not,” agreed Jeremy, whose loyalty to the Cowboys had always irked his father.
