Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns 1992
The Green Bay Packers were coming off a down period, going 4-12 the previous year. A major reason was that the Magic Man, Don Majkowski, had multiple injury issues and simply had to return to his normal self. Accordingly, the Packers coughed up a first-round pick for a kid who had zero lifetime completions in the NFL, and had been intercepted twice and sacked once. Some stat line. Of course, that terrible stat line belonged to Brett Favre.
The new coach that year was Mike Holmgren, formerly the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, and who became Cleveland Browns president in 2009.
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Favre’s main weapons included Sterling Sharpe and Robert Brooks at wide receiver, and tight end Jackie Harris. Vince Workman, Edgar Bennett, and Darrell Thompson were the running backs.
The Browns were forced to counter with Mike Tomczak, a journeyman from Ohio State who had started half the games for Green Bay the previous year, subbing for Majkowski. Tomczak was a much better quarterback than many fans give him credit for. He spent 15 seasons in the NFL, which is not easy to do, and his career won-loss record was 42-31, which is outstanding for a quarterback who was never perceived to be a starter.
It is an interesting contrast in styles. Tomczak was an athlete with average talents but a keen football mind, whereas Favre at this point in his career had phenomenal talent, but only a vague idea where he should throw the ball. It sounds like a mismatch nearly 30 years later, but with Favre in his first year as a starter, the quarterback position was probably much more evenly matched than it might seem.
The Browns had four running backs to choose from in Leroy Hoard, Eric Metcalf, Tommy Vardell and Kevin Mack. Tomczak’s receiving targets were Michael Jackson, Scott Galbraith and Lawyer Tillman.
Video link: Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns 1992