In Super Bowl XLV, the Green Bay Packers will appear in their fifth Super Bowl in franchise history. Here's a look back at their appearance against the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II.
In 1967, the Packers were the defending Super Bowl champions, but a slew of injuries placed their title defense in doubt. Quarterback Bart Starr managed to overcome a spinal injury and make it into the postseason, but they lost both of their star running backs, Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor, in the off-season, and replacements Jim Grabowski and Elijah Pitts.
With a 9-4-1 record, Vince Lombardi's squad managed to make it into the playoffs all the same. They advanced to the Super Bowl after a dramatic win over the Dallas Cowboys in what later came to be known as the Ice Bowl.
At the Orange Bowl in Miami, the Steelers met the 13-1 Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II (or, as it was then called, the AFL-NFL World Championship). CBS televised the game, with Pat Summerall and future Vice Presidential nominee Jack Kemp.
Early in the second quarter, the Packers found themselves with a 13-0 lead over the Raiders, thanks in part to a 62-yard touchdown pass from Starr to receiver Boyd Dowler. They didn't look out back from there, as a 60-yard interception return by Herb Adderly improved Green Bay's lead to 33-7. The Pack ultimately triumphed to win its second consecutive Super Bowl, 33-14.
Starr, who had some trouble with his accuracy during the regular season, was as effective as he needed to be against Oakland, completing 13 of 24 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown. The Packers rushed for a total of 160 yards.
It was the last game Lombardi would ever coach for the Packers. After winning their first two Super Bowls, Green Bay would have to wait another 29 years before winning their third.
As we near Super Bowl Sunday, be sure to follow along with our Packers blog, Acme Packing Company, and our Steelers blog, Behind The Steel Curtain.