Snow Bowl (1985)

The Snow Bowl is the nickname of a National Football League game played on December 1, 1985, between the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It is known for its heavy snow. Only 19,856 were in attendance, with over 36,000 "no-shows", the most in Packers history (though due to the game selling out well in advance, it was not blacked out on local television, nor has any Packers home game since 1973 been blacked out, with one exception, due to a sell-out streak dating back to the early 1960s).[1] About two thirds of the stadium was empty.[2] 12 inches (30 cm) of snow fell before the game and another 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 cm) fell during the game.[3]

Snow Bowl
Lambeau Field, the site of the game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(2–10)		 Green Bay Packers
(5–7)
0 21
Head coach:
Leeman Bennett		 Head coach:
Forrest Gregg
1234 Total
TB 0000 0
GB 0777 21
DateDecember 1, 1985
StadiumLambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
RefereeBen Dreith
Attendance19,856
TV in the United States
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersJim Hill and John Dockery

The game itself saw the Packers dominate the Buccaneers en route to a 21–0 victory.[4] Despite four turnovers, the Packers offense gained 512 total yards on 31 first downs, with the Buccaneers recording only 65 yards on 5 first downs.[5] Packers wide receiver James Lofton received passes totaling over 100 yards from quarterback Lynn Dickey by halftime.[4] Packers defensive end Alphonso Carreker sacked Buccaneers quarterback and future Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Steve Young a then team-record four times.[6] It was Young's second game in the league after he left the USFL.[4]

Game conditions

Green Bay wide receiver Preston Dennard described getting to the game,

"There was a big, heavy snow 4–5 inches on the ground. Roads in my neighborhood were packed—I couldn't get out.

"My neighbors came out of their houses and dug about an eighth of a mile so I could get out and go to the stadium; the main roads were plowed. There were about 20 people out there—I'll never, ever forget that."[6]

Tampa Bay wore their white "away" team jerseys, which were difficult to see during the whiteout conditions. Coaches and commentators had difficulty seeing the field. Between plays, grounds crew workers swept snow off the lines marking the field.[4]

Dennard described catching the football,

"I think it was pretty close to 20-below. It was snowing—you could barely see past 15 yards. All you knew is coming out of the mist of the snow and the white mist, you would see the ball come out of the white. You knew what the route was and you knew the direction of the ball."[6]

1985 Week Thirteen: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 0 0 000
Packers 0 7 7721

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

Officials
  • Referee: Ben Dreith (#12)
  • Umpire: Ed Fiffick (#57)
  • Head Linesman: Dale Williams (#8)
  • Line Judge: Ron DeSouza (#45)
  • Back Judge: Don Wedge (#28)
  • Side Judge: Tom Fincken (#47)
  • Field Judge: Dick Dolack (#31)

See also

References
  1. 1983 was the last time Packers fans had to deal with a blackout; by Ben Handelman; Fox 6 WITI; January 2, 2014; fox6now.com; Retrieved January 3, 2014
  2. Know how to dress for different weather conditions; Stephanie Brien; Green Bay Press Gazette; July 12, 2007; Retrieved March 26, 2008
  3. Bad weather Buccaneers; Denis Crawford; bucpower.com; Retrieved March 26, 2008
  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0 Green Bay Packers 21; bucpower.com; Retrieved March 27, 2008
  5. "1985 Green Bay Packers statistics". Pro Football Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  6. Think it'll be cold in Green Bay today? It gets even more brutal in Buffalo; Rio Ranchero Observer; Gary Herron; Retrieved March 26, 2008
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