The Green Bay Packers set an NFL record by making nine interceptions in one game against the Detroit Lions. The record still stands more than 80 years later and it’s not likely to be broken any time soon. Green Bay intercepted three different players in the game which they dominated. It’s a game they could have won by a lot more after creating 10 turnovers. A crowd of 41,463 fans left Briggs Stadium disappointed but the Packers were excited that they kept their hopes of a division title alive.

The Packers Set an NFL Record with Nine Interceptions in a Game: The Build Up

The NFL was a very different league in 1943. Because of World War II, the league contracted to 10 teams as the Steelers and the Eagles combined forces and were unofficially known as the “Steagles.” In addition, the league also reduced the schedule to 10 games because so many potential players were off fighting the war.

The Packers entered the game with a 2-1-1 record but were coming off a disappointing 33-7 loss to the Redskins. As a result, Packers head coach and founder Curly Lambeau decided to coach this game from the press box instead of on the sidelines. He used a phone to communicate with assistant coach Red Smith who ran things on the sidelines.

The Lions were 3-2 so both teams needed a win to keep pace with the Bears in the NFL’s Western Conference.

The First Half

The Packers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 32-yard field goal by Chet Adams. But, the lead didn’t last long. Detroit drove down field and scored a touchdown on a four-yard pass from Ned Mathews to Frankie Sinkwich. The Lions missed the extra point, so Detroit’s lead was 6-3.

The Packers regained the lead in the second quarter. Irv Comp led the team on a 13-play, 80-yard drive. Comp completed passes for 69 yards on the drive which culminated with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Don Hutson. The Packers led at the half 10-6.

The Packers Set an NFL Record with Nine Interceptions in a Game: The Packers Pull Away

The Packers added to their lead in the third quarter. Tony Canadeo threw a 51-yard pass to Andy Uram to set up the next score. Lou Brock ran it in from one yard out to extend the Green Bay lead to 17-6.

In the fourth quarter, the Packers added a 21-yard field goal by Hutson and another one-yard plunge by Brock to end the scoring.

The Packers won the game going away 27-6. Comp finished the game by completing 14-of-18 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown. That was a 77.8 percent completion percentage which was exceptionally rare back in 1943.

Hutson caught six passes for 84 yards and a touchdown and kicked three extra points in the game. Harry Jucunski caught three passes for 71 yards while Uram caught three for 65.

But the Packers defense was the dominant unit in this game. In addition to causing 10 turnovers, the Packers held Detroit to just nine first downs. Green Bay outgained the Lions 446 yards to 162.

The Packers dominated but didn’t win by more points because they failed to score touchdowns after many of the interceptions and they turned the ball over four times themselves.

The Record and the Aftermath

The Packers intercepted nine passes in this game to set a new NFL record. Sinkwich threw seven picks in 26 pass attempts. Chuck Fenenbock and Tom Colella also threw one interception each.

Eight different Packers players had at least one pick in this game. Hutson was the only player with two interceptions. The others were made by Uram, Joe Laws, Buckets Goldenberg, Comp, Bob Flowers, Canadeo, and Charley Brock. In those days, players were on the field for both offense and defense.

Green Bay finished the season 7-2-1 and finished second behind the Bears in the Western Conference. Detroit wouldn’t win another game and finished the season 3-6-1.

This game is rarely mentioned but the record set still stands more than 81 years later. It was tied by the Eagles in a game against the Steelers in 1965 but has never been surpassed.

The Packers won the game and made history.

 

 

 

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