1968 Green Bay Packers season

50th season in franchise history

1968 Green Bay Packers season

General manager| Vince Lombardi
Head coach| Phil Bengtson
Home field| Lambeau Field
Milwaukee County Stadium
Results
Record| 6–7–1
Division place| 3rd Central
Playoff finish| Did not qualify

* <- 1967
* Packers seasons
* 1969 ->

The 1968 Green Bay Packers season was their 50th season overall and the 48th season in the National Football League. Under first-year head coach Phil Bengtson, the team finished with a 6–7–1 record, third place in the four-team Central Division of the Western Conference.

It was the Packers' first losing season in a decade, and marked a turning point in team history, starting a long period of futility and decline known as the "Gory Years". From 1968 through 1991, Green Bay had only five winning seasons (1969, 1972, 1978, 1982, 1989), made the playoffs twice (1972, 1982), with one win (1982).

A few weeks after winning Super Bowl II in January 1968, Vince Lombardi stepped down as head coach but remained as general manager, and longtime defensive coordinator Bengston was promoted. Lombardi left after the season for the Washington Redskins.

## Offseason

[edit]

### NFL draft

[edit]

Main article: 1968 NFL/AFL draft

1968 Green Bay Packers draft

Round  | Pick  | Player  | Position  | College  | Notes
1  | 5  | Fred Carr * | Linebacker | Texas at El Paso |
1  | 26  | Bill Lueck | Guard | Arizona |
3  | 67  | Billy Stevens | Quarterback | Texas at El Paso |
3  | 81  | Dick Himes | Tackle | Ohio State |
4  | 92  | Brendan McCarthy | Running back | Boston College |
4  | 108  | John Robinson | Wide receiver | Tennessee State |
5  | 121  | Steve Duich | Tackle  | San Diego State |
5  | 137  | Francis Winkler | Defensive end | Memphis State |
6  | 164  | Walter Chadwick | Running back | Tennessee |
7  | 191  | Andy Beath | Defensive back | Duke |
8  | 218  | Tom Owens | Guard  | Missouri-Rolla |
9  | 245  | Bob Apisa | Running back  | Michigan State |
10  | 260  | Rick Cash | Tackle  | Northeast Missouri State |
10  | 272  | Ron Worthen | Center  | Arkansas State |
11  | 299  | Gordon Rule | Defensive back  | Dartmouth |
12  | 325  | Dennis Porter | Tackle  | Northern Michigan |
13  | 353  | Frank Geiselman | Wide receiver  | Rhode Island |
14  | 380  | John Farler | Wide receiver  | Colorado |
15  | 407  | Ridley Gibson | Defensive back  | Baylor |
16  | 434  | Al Groves | Tackle  | St. Norbert |
17  | 461  | Ken Rota | Running back  | North Dakota State |
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

## Roster

[edit]

1968 Green Bay Packers roster Quarterbacks (QB)

*   * 12 Zeke Bratkowski

*   * 13 Don Horn

*   * 15 Bart Starr

*   * 10 Billy Stevens

Running backs (RB)

*   * 44 Donny Anderson P

*   * 33 Jim Grabowski

*   * 30 Chuck Mercein

*   * 22 Elijah Pitts

*   * 23 Travis Williams

Wide receivers (WR)

*   * 84 Carroll Dale

*   * 86 Boyd Dowler

*   * 29 Dave Dunaway

*   * 27 Claudis James

*   * 80 Bucky Pope

Tight ends (TE)

*   * 81 Marv Fleming

|  | Offensive linemen (OL)

*   * 57 Ken Bowman C

*   * 68 Gale Gillingham G

*   * 75 Forrest Gregg T

*   * 72 Dick Himes G

*   * 50 Bob Hyland C

*   * 64 Jerry Kramer G

*   * 62 Bill Lueck G

*   * 71 Francis Peay T

*   * 76 Bob Skoronski T

Defensive linemen (DL)

*   * 82 Lionel Aldridge DE

*   * 78 Bob Brown DT

*   * 67 Leo Carroll

*   * 70 Leon Crenshaw

*   * 87 Willie Davis DE

*   * 74 Henry Jordan DT

*   * 77 Ron Kostelnik DT

*   * 58 Francis Winkler DE

|  | Linebackers (LB)

*   * 60 Lee Roy Caffey

*   * 53 Fred Carr

*   * 66 Ray Nitschke MLB

*   * 55 Jim Flanigan Sr.

*   * 89 Dave Robinson

*   * 83 Phil Vandersea

Defensive backs (DB)

*   * 26 Herb Adderley CB

*   * 40 Tom Brown S

*   * 43 Doug Hart S

*   * 21 Bob Jeter CB

*   * 45 John Rowser CB

*   * 47 Gordon Rule

*   * 24 Willie Wood S

Special teams

*   * 38 Mike Mercer K

|  |  |  | Practice squad

*   * \-- Andy Beath DB

Reserved None: N/A

Rookies in italics

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## Schedule

[edit]

Main article: 1968 NFL season

Week  | Date  | Opponent  | Result  | Record  | Venue  | Attendance

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1  | September 15  | Philadelphia Eagles | W 30–13  | 1–0  | Lambeau Field | 50,861
2  | September 22  | Minnesota Vikings | L 13–26  | 1–1  | Milwaukee County Stadium | 49,346
3  | September 29  | Detroit Lions | L 17–23  | 1–2  | Lambeau Field  | 50,861
4  | October 6  | at Atlanta Falcons | W 38–7  | 2–2  | Atlanta Stadium | 58,850
5  | October 13  | Los Angeles Rams | L 14–16  | 2–3  | Milwaukee County Stadium  | 49,646
6  | October 20  | at Detroit Lions | T 14–14  | 2–3–1  | Tiger Stadium | 57,302
7  | October 28 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 28–17  | 3–3–1  | Cotton Bowl | 74,604
8  | November 3  | Chicago Bears | L 10–13  | 3–4–1  | Lambeau Field  | 50,861
9  | November 10  | at Minnesota Vikings | L 10–14  | 3–5–1  | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,644
10  | November 17  | New Orleans Saints | W 29–7  | 4–5–1  | Milwaukee County Stadium  | 49,644
11  | November 24  | at Washington Redskins | W 27–7  | 5–5–1  | D.C. Stadium | 50,621
12  | December 1  | at San Francisco 49ers | L 20–27  | 5–6–1  | Kezar Stadium | 47,218
13  | December 7 | Baltimore Colts | L 3–16  | 5–7–1  | Lambeau Field  | 50,861
14  | December 15  | at Chicago Bears | W 28–27  | 6–7–1  | Wrigley Field | 46,435

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

## Season summary

[edit]

### Week 1 vs Eagles

[edit]

See also: 1968 Philadelphia Eagles season

Week One: Philadelphia Eagles (0–0) at Green Bay Packers (0–0)

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Eagles | 3 | 3 | 0| 7| 13
Packers | 7 | 14 | 6| 3| 30

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

* Date: September 15
* Game attendance: 67 °F (19 °C)
* Box Score

Game information

First quarter

* PHI – Sam Baker 27-yard field goal. Eagles 3–0. Drive:
* GB – Jim Grabowski 6-yard run (Jerry Kramer kick). Packers 7–3. Drive:

Second quarter

* GB – Carroll Dale 12-yard pass from Bart Starr (Jerry Kramer kick). Packers 14–3. Drive:
* PHI – Sam Baker 17-yard field goal. Packers 14–6. Drive:
* GB – Boyd Dowler 55-yard pass from Bart Starr (Jerry Kramer kick). Packers 21–6. Drive:

Third quarter

* GB – Jerry Kramer 17-yard field goal. Packers 24–6. Drive:
* GB – Jerry Kramer 22-yard field goal. Packers 27–6. Drive:

Fourth quarter

* PHI – Gary Ballman 2-yard pass from King Hill (Sam Baker kick). Packers 27–13. Drive:
* GB – Jerry Kramer 35-yard field goal. Packers 30–13. Drive:

Top passers

* PHI – King Hill – 16/35, 196 yards, TD, INT
* GB – Bart Starr – 14/18, 220 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

* PHI – Tom Woodeshick – 11 rushes, 48 yards
* GB – Donny Anderson – 12 rushes, 92 yards

Top receivers

* PHI – Ben Hawkins – 4 receptions, 85 yards
* GB – Boyd Dowler – 5 receptions, 110 yards, TD

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### Week 14

[edit]

A win by the Packers was important because a Bears loss means that The Minnesota Vikings clinched the Central Division title and their first ever playoff berth.

|  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Packers | 7 | 14| 7| 0 | 28
Bears | 10 | 0| 0| 17 | 27

* Date: December 15
* Location: Wrigley Field
* Game weather: 22 °F (−6 °C), wind 7 mph

| Scoring summary

1| | CHI| Mac Percival 14-yard field goal| Bears 3–0
1| | GB| Boyd Dowler 72-yard pass from Zeke Bratkowski (Mike Mercer kick)| Packers 7–3
1| | CHI| Dick Gordon 48-yard pass from Jack Concannon (Mac Percival kick)| Bears 10–7
2| | GB| Jim Grabowski 67-yard pass from Don Horn (Mike Mercer kick)| Packers 14–10
2| | GB| Chuck Mercein 1-yard run (Mike Mercer kick)| Packers 21–10
3| | GB| Boyd Dowler 25-yard pass from Don Horn (Mike Mercer kick)| Packers 28–10
4| | CHI| Ronnie Bull 8-yard run (Mac Percival kick)| Packers 28–17
4| | CHI| Mac Percival 26-yard field goal| Packers 28–20
4| | CHI| Dick Gordon 51-yard pass from Jack Concannon (Mac Percival kick)| Packers 28–27

[1]

## Standings

[edit]

NFL Central

* view
* talk
* edit

| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK
Minnesota Vikings | 8  | 6  | 0  | .571  | 4–2  | 6–4  | 282  | 242  | W2
Chicago Bears | 7  | 7  | 0  | .500  | 3–3  | 5–5  | 250  | 333  | L1
Green Bay Packers | 6  | 7  | 1  | .462  | 1–4–1  | 2–7–1  | 281  | 227  | W1
Detroit Lions | 4  | 8  | 2  | .333  | 3–2–1  | 4–5–1  | 207  | 241  | L1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com

## External links

[edit]

* SportsEncyclopedia.com

* v
* t
* e

Green Bay Packers seasons

* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
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* 1927
* 1928
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* 1931
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* 1939
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* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
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* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
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* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
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* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
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* 1974
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* 2018
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* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Bold indicates NFL Championship (1920–69) or Super Bowl (1966–) victory
Italics indicates NFL Championship (1920–69) or Super Bowl (1966–) appearance

* v
* t
* e

Green Bay Packers

* Founded in 1919
* Based and headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Franchise|

Overview

* Team
* Green Bay Packers, Inc.
* Charitable Foundation
* Season-by-season results

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Notable people|

Founders

* Curly Lambeau & George Whitney Calhoun

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Personnel

* Coaches
* General managers
* Presidents

Players

* Lists of players
* All-Anniversary Team selections
* All-Decade Team selections
* All-Pro selections
* All-Rookie Team selections
* All-time roster
* Award winners
* Draft history
* Picks, 1936 to 1969
* Picks, 1970 to present
* First-round picks
* Hall of Famers
* Pro Bowlers
* Retired numbers
* Starting QBs
* Team Hall of Fame
* Team records

Facilities|

Stadiums

* List of stadiums
* Current: Lambeau Field
* Past: Hagemeister Park
* Bellevue Park
* City Stadium
* Borchert Field
* Wisconsin State Fair Park
* Marquette Stadium
* Milwaukee County Stadium

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Other

* Clarke Hinkle Field
* Don Hutson Center
* Ray Nitschke Field
* Rockwood Lodge (former)
* St. Norbert College (training camp)
* Titletown District

Team history|

General

* History
* Home games in Milwaukee
* The Hungry Five
* Indian Packing Company
* Packers Heritage Trail

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Culture

* "Bang the Drum All Day"
* Bart Starr Award
* Cheerleaders
* Cheese League
* Cheesehead
* Dolly Gray impostor
* Fight song
* Lambeau Leap
* Lumberjack Band
* Packers sweep
* Receiver (statue)

Notable games

* 1940 NFL All-Star Game
* 1965 NFL playoffs
* 4th and 26
* Dez Caught It
* Fail Mary
* Instant Replay Game
* Miracle in Motown
* The Catch II
* The Ice Bowl
* The Snow Bowl
* We want the ball and we're going to score!

Rivalries

* Chicago Bears
* Dallas Cowboys
* Detroit Lions
* Minnesota Vikings
* New York Giants
* San Francisco 49ers
* Seattle Seahawks
* Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Championships|

Division (21)

* 1936
* 1938
* 1939
* 1944
* 1967
* 1972
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2007
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2016
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021

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Conference (9)

* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1996
* 1997
* 2010

League (13†)

* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1936
* 1939
* 1944
* 1961
* 1962
* 1965
* 1966 (I)
* 1967 (II)
* 1996 (XXXI)
* 2010 (XLV)

Media|

Radio

* Packers Radio Network (WIXX in Green Bay, WRNW in Milwaukee)

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Television

* WGBA-TV
* WTMJ-TV
* Spectrum News 1 WI

Personnel

* Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play)
* Larry McCarren (color/analysis)

Related

* Driven
* Instant Replay
* Lombardi (film)
* Lombardi (play)
* Pigskin Champions
* Pitch Perfect 2
* Second Effort
* That '70s Show
* The 60 Yard Line
* When Pride Still Mattered

Current affiliations|

Division

* North Division (2002–present)

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Conference

* National Football Conference (1970–present)

League

* National Football League (1921–present)

† does not include 1966 or 1967 NFL championships

* v
* t
* e

1968 NFL season

| Eastern Conference| NFL Capitol Division | NFL Century Division| NFL Coastal Division| NFL Central Division | Western Conference

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Dallas | Cleveland| Atlanta| Chicago
New York | New Orleans| Baltimore| Detroit
Philadelphia | Pittsburgh| Los Angeles| Green Bay
Washington | St. Louis| San Francisco| Minnesota

* 1968 NFL Draft
* 1968 NFL strike/lockout
* NFL playoffs
* NFL Championship
* Pro Bowl
* Super Bowl III

* Related: 1968 AFL season

This article relating to a Green Bay Packers season is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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*[P]: Punter
*[C]: Center
*[G]: Offensive guard
*[T]: Ties
*[DE]: Defensive end
*[DT]: Defensive tackle
*[MLB]: Middle linebacker
*[CB]: Cornerback
*[S]: Safety
*[K]: Kicker
*[DB]: Defensive back
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[PCT]: Winning percentage
*[DIV]: Win–Loss record within their division
*[CONF]: Win–Loss record within their conference
*[PF]: Points For (Total points scored)
*[PA]: Points Against (Total points allowed)
*[STK]: Current Winning or Losing Streak
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template