With Super Bowl LIX coming up on Sunday, we decided to look back at some of the most outstanding performances by members of the Green Bay Packers in the history of the big game. The Packers have appeared in five Super Bowls, winning four of them and have won more NFL titles (13) than any other franchise in the history of the league. Here are the five best receiving performances by Packers players in the Super Bowl:
The Best Receiving Performances by Packers Players in the Super Bowl, Number Five: Greg Jennings, Super Bowl XLV
Greg Jennings made only four catches in Super Bowl XLV, but three of them had a big impact on the game. In the second quarter, he caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to give the Packers a 21-3 lead.
Early in the fourth quarter, he caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers that extended Green Bay’s lead to 28-17.
In the fourth quarter, Jennings gained 31 yards on a critical 3rd-and-10 for the Packers at their own 25. The Steelers had just scored to pull to within 28-25. This catch got the ball into Steelers territory and led to the Packers kicking a field goal that provided the final margin of victory.
Number Four: Antonio Freeman, Super Bowl XXXI
Antonio Freeman caught only three passes in Super Bowl XXXI, but he did gain 105 yards on those three catches and set a then Super Bowl record with an 81-yard touchdown catch.
The big play came early in the second quarter with the Packers trailing the New England Patriots 14-10. Green Bay took over at their own 19 after a New England punt. On first down, Brett Favre dropped back and threw the ball to Freeman down the right side. The wideout had a step on the cornerback as he caught the ball at the Packers 45. He outran the safety and went untouched to the end zone.
Freeman celebrated by dunking the ball over the crossbar and doing a victory dance. The Packers led 16-14 and never trailed again en route to a 35-21 win.
The Best Receiving Performances by Packers Players in the Super Bowl, Number Three: Jordy Nelson, Super Bowl XLV
Jordy Nelson showed what he was capable of in the 2010 playoffs and Super Bowl. It was his coming out party after some inconsistent play in his first three NFL campaigns. He had 34 catches for 582 yards and two touchdowns during the 2010 regular season, hardly Pro Bowl stats.
But in the playoffs, the Kansas State alum had two big games. The first came in the playoff win over top seeded Atlanta where he caught eight passes for 79 yards and a touchdown.
In the Super Bowl, Nelson truly came alive. He tied a Packers record with nine catches in a Super Bowl for 140 yards and a touchdown.
The touchdown came on the Packers second drive of the game and gave the Pack an early 7-0 lead. Rodgers found Nelson down the right side on a 29-yard scoring play. That was Nelson’s third catch of the drive.
His longest catch of the game came early in the fourth quarter. The 38-yard catch got the Packers to the Pittsburgh 2. This was the drive immediately following the famous fumble recovery by Clay Matthews that was a major turning point in the game. Two plays after the long catch, the Packers scored and took a 28-17 lead.
Number Two: Antonio Freeman, Super Bowl XXXII
In Super Bowl XXXII, Freeman topped Max McGee by catching nine passes and two of them went for scores. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough to beat the Denver Broncos that day.
Freeman opened the scoring with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Favre on the opening drive to give the Packers a 7-0 lead. He had three catches on the drive for 48 yards.
He also closed out the scoring for the Packers in the fourth quarter with a 13-yard touchdown pass that tied the score at 24-24.
Freeman finished the game with nine catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Freeman also returned six kicks for 104 yards in the game.
Despite the loss, Freeman played very well in this game.
The Best Receiving Performances by Packers Players in the Super Bowl, Number One: Max McGee, Super Bowl I
Max McGee wasn’t expected to play much in Super Bowl I after catching only four passes all season as a seldom used backup. McGee stayed out until 6 AM the night before the game along with teammate Paul Hornung.
But when Boyd Dowler suffered an injury on the first series of the game, McGee came into the game and boy did he excel.
He caught the first touchdown pass in Super Bowl history on the Packers second offensive possession. It came on a 37-yard pass from Bart Starr that he juggled and managed to hold onto for the score.
McGee scored again in the third quarter on a 13-yard catch from Starr that put the Packers ahead 28-10.
He finished the game with seven catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Not bad for a guy who only caught four passes all season and played the game with a bad hangover and very little sleep.
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