The Green Bay Packers have been in the NFL for more than a century and they’ve had some of the greatest quarterbacks and receivers the game has ever seen. From Bart Starr, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers at quarterback to Don Hutson, Boyd Dowler, James Loften, Sterling Sharpe, and Donald Driver. But in the long history of the Packers, they’ve only accomplished this rare feat twice since 1921, having three receivers go over 100 yards in the same game.
This Rare Feat Happened Only Twice in Packers History: The First Time
The first time the Packers had three 100-yard receivers in a game came in 1980. Bart Starr’s team headed to Tampa to take on the Bucs in an NFC Central showdown. The Packers and Buccaneers both entered the game with 2-3 records.
This was a game the Packers absolutely dominated but it ended in a 14-14 tie. The Packers had 32 first downs to 15 for the Buccaneers, and they outgained Tampa Bay 569 to 262. But kicker Tom Birney missed three field goal tries including a 24-yard try with 1:05 left in regulation time that would have won the game for the Pack. In overtime, he missed from 36 yards out.
Quarterback Lynn Dickey moved the Packers up and down the field all game. He completed 35-of-51 passes for 418 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, he also threw two interceptions including a 55-yard pick six by linebacker Richard Wood that tied the game at 7-7.
The 418 yards broke Don Horn’s Packers single-game record. The 35 completions were also a new Packers record, surpassing Starr. At one point, Dickey completed 14 straight passes, three shy of the league record.
The Packers had three receivers go over 100 yards in this game and none of them was Lofton. Running back Eddie Lee Ivery caught a team-high 11 passes for 128 yards. His long catch was 31 yards. Tight end Paul Coffman caught nine passes for 109 yards and the only receiving touchdown of the game. Wideout Aundra Thompson made seven catches for 102 yards.
The Packers finished the season 5-10-1 but this was a game they should have won.
The Second Time, 38 Years Later
In 2018, Mike McCarthy’s team was off to a disappointing 2-2-1 start. They needed a win over the 1-4 San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football.
This was a wild game, with 49ers backup quarterback C.J. Beathard going toe-to-toe with Rodgers. The Packers trailed 30-23 with 2:00 left in the game. But, Rodgers found Davante Adams for a 16-yard touchdown pass just after the two minute warning to tie the game at 30-30.
Cornerback Kevin King intercepted Beathard at the Green Bay 10 to end a San Francisco threat. Then, Rodgers scrambled for 21 yards and completed passes to Adams of eight and 19 yards. That set up a 27-yard field goal by Mason Crosby on the final play of the game for a 33-30 Packers victory.
In this game, Adams was the dominant player with 10 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Jimmy Graham caught five passes for 104 yards including a 54-yarder in the first quarter. Marquez Valdes-Scantling gained 103 yards on just three catches including a 60-yard bomb on the Packers opening drive of the game.
Rodgers finished the game by completing 25-of-46 passes for 425 yards and two touchdowns.
The win kept the Packers season alive, but only temporarily. They finished 6-9-1 and McCarthy was fired late in the season.
To date, these are the only two times the Packers had three 100-yard receivers in a game. Hopefully, they won’t have to wait another three decades for the next time.
