1968 Green Bay Packers season

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.

1968 Green Bay Packers season
General managerVince Lombardi
Head coachPhil Bengtson
Home fieldLambeau Field
Milwaukee County Stadium
Results
Record6–7–1
Division place3rd Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify

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

NFL draft
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 University
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Roster
Green Bay Packers roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Schedule
Main article: 1968 NFL season
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
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

Week 1 vs Eagles
See also: 1968 Philadelphia Eagles season
Week One: Philadelphia Eagles (0–0) at Green Bay Packers (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Eagles 3 3 0713
Packers 7 14 6330

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

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

Week 14

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 234Total
• Packers 7 1470 28
Bears 10 0017 27
  • Date: December 15
  • Location: Wrigley Field
  • Game weather: 22 °F (−6 °C), wind 7 mph
Scoring summary
1CHIMac Percival 14-yard field goalBears 3–0
1GBBoyd Dowler 72-yard pass from Zeke Bratkowski (Mike Mercer kick)Packers 7–3
1CHIDick Gordon 48-yard pass from Jack Concannon (Mac Percival kick)Bears 10–7
2GBJim Grabowski 67-yard pass from Don Horn (Mike Mercer kick)Packers 14–10
2GBChuck Mercein 1-yard run (Mike Mercer kick)Packers 21–10
3GBBoyd Dowler 25-yard pass from Don Horn (Mike Mercer kick)Packers 28–10
4CHIRonnie Bull 8-yard run (Mac Percival kick)Packers 28–17
4CHIMac Percival 26-yard field goalPackers 28–20
4CHIDick Gordon 51-yard pass from Jack Concannon (Mac Percival kick)Packers 28–27

[1]

Standings
NFL Central
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
  1. Pro-Football-Reference.com


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