Los Angeles Rams

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Lore & Background

The stage was set for a dramatic reversal of fortunes. The Rams had missed the playoffs in 1981 for the first time in eight seasons, while the Packers hadn't reached the postseason since 1972 or won a playoff game since 1967 under Vince Lombardi. Bart Starr, the legendary quarterback from that era, was then the head coach with a 39–65–2 record over his first seven years. Despite a strong finish in 1981 (6–2 in their last eight games), Green Bay entered this matchup as heavy underdogs. The Rams bolstered their roster by signing veteran quarterback Bert Jones and tight end Mike Barber. Early in the game, the Rams capitalized on three Packers fumbles—one by Gerry Ellis and another by quarterback Lynn Dickey—along with an interception by Carl Ekern to score 23 unanswered points. Quarterback Bert Jones threw touchdowns to Wendell Tyler and Willie Miller, while kicker Mike Lansford added two field goals, one set up by a long punt return.

In Their Own Story

The game swung wildly in the second half as Green Bay mounted a historic comeback. Lynn Dickey led the Packers offense with precision, orchestrating five touchdown drives for 35 unanswered points. The turning point came after a Rams kickoff return fumble by Robert Alexander, which Green Bay recovered at their own 10-yard line; Dickey immediately connected with Paul Coffman for a 10-yard score to take a 28–23 lead. Earlier in the quarter, a missed 50-plus yard field goal attempt by Lansford had stalled a Rams drive. The Packers defense stifled Los Angeles completely after halftime, holding them to just four first downs and forcing two more turnovers while intercepting Jones twice. Eddie Lee Ivery rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns after starter Gerry Ellis left due to injury. Dickey threw three touchdown passes: two to Coffman (including a 42-yarder) and one to James Lofton, with John Jefferson adding six catches for 116 yards. The Packers sealed the 35–23 victory with a 27-yard rushing touchdown by Ivery late in the fourth quarter.

Reader's Guide

This matchup is remembered as one of the best games in the history of the Rams versus the Packers, featuring the largest comeback in franchise history at the time. The 23-point swing matched an 18-point comeback from 1965 against Detroit until it was equaled by a 2013 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Post-game analysis highlighted the stark contrast between halves: the Packers committed six turnovers (five in the first half) but played clean football with only two penalties for 15 yards, while the Rams committed 11 penalties for 88 yards. Despite losing the turnover battle, Green Bay's defense tightened significantly after halftime, shutting out the Rams and forcing three field goals in the first period to keep the game within reach. The victory launched a successful start to the strike-shortened season for Green Bay (2–0), while the Rams fell to 0–1 before the NFL Players Association strike on September 21 shortened the year to nine games.

Did You Know?

• The Packers' 35-point second-half comeback was the largest in franchise history until it was matched by a 2013 game against the Dallas Cowboys.
• Green Bay quarterback Lynn Dickey threw three touchdown passes, two to Paul Coffman and one to James Lofton, despite being intercepted twice.
• The Rams' offense was held to just four first downs in the second half after scoring 23 points in the first.
• Eddie Lee Ivery rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns after starter Gerry Ellis exited the game with an injury.
• This game took place in Milwaukee instead of Green Bay due to scheduling conflicts with the Milwaukee Brewers later that year.