Sept. 22, 1963 - The Green Bay Packers, displaying a mid-season show of power, overwhelmed the Detroit Lions, 31-10, today with a stubborn defense and an alert, precision attack in a clash before a crowd of 45,912 in Milwaukee. Rebounding from a 10-3 upset by the Chicago Bears last week, the Packers stunned the Lions with a fierce performance that smashed the Western Division runners-up of the last three years. The Packers compiled a 10-0 half-time advantage and widened the margin to 17-3 after 3 quarters. Then, after Tom Hall made a spectacular catch of a pass from Milt Plum for a 23-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, Green Bay struck again. On the first play after the ensuing kick-off, Tom Moore, the halfback replacement for Paul Hornung, who is serving a one-year suspension, went 77 yards for a score. He pulled away from two tacklers with a spinning, twisting movement at his 42 and raced all the way to the end zone. A few minutes later, Bart Starr capped the day with a 39-yard touchdown pass to Max McGee. After the game, Coach Vince Lombardi was content to say: “It was a fine football game. But if you want me to be enthusiastic or wave the flag, I won’t. It was only one game. There are 12 more to go.” The Packer players were not so reserved. “The sweetest victory since I came here,” said end Willie Davis of the defensive unit that didn’t allow the Lions beyond their own 47 in the first half. “It’s good to win,” said quarterback Bart Starr, who admitted embarrassment over his showing in the season opener. “We were lucky in places,” he added, “but you’ve got to be to win.” “It’s been a long time since Thanksgiving,” offered flanker Boyd Dowler, who said the victory was all the better “because the Lions like to talk.” After dumping the Packers last Thanksgiving for their only loss of the season, the Lions were heard to declare they really had the best team in the Western Division. Green Bay fullback Jim Taylor (pictured with ball), nearly beheaded by a second-quarter tackle by Dick Lane, admitted to knowing “I was in a tough football game.” “But we took control,” Taylor grinned, “and I feel fine.”
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