The Green Bay Packers are the third-oldest NFL franchise, their first season in the league being in 1921, one year younger than both the Arizona Cardinals and the Chicago Bears.
However, the San Francisco 49ers, who joined the NFL family in 1950, are the much younger sibling to the older Packers. Despite the age difference, the Green Bay Packers have played them head-to-head 73 times, sixth-most versus any other team.
That familiarity, especially since they have met ten times in the playoffs alone, has allowed this conflict to fester into one of the most bitter in the league.
As the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers set to do battle for the 74th time on Sunday, November 24, at Lambeau Field, the stakes are not at a fever pitch as it would be in January, but the origin of their long-standing series was quite eventful and memorable–especially to those on the 49ers not accustomed to Wisconsin winters.
Green Bay Packers Host The 49ers For Their First-Ever Meeting In 1950
The San Francisco 49ers opened its doors for business in 1946. After spending four seasons in the fledgling All-American Football Conference, they made the jump to challenge the big boys of the NFL, debuting in 1950.
During their four years in the doomed league, the 49ers went 36-14-2, finishing second each year in the Western Division.
Their first-ever meeting with the Green Bay Packers was, to say the least, a rude awakening to the harsh Wisconsin winters. Limping into the November 26th game at old City Stadium in Green Bay with a 2-8 record, the squad from California faced an even greater obstacle other than their opponent.
According to the weather reports, 3.6 inches of snow dropped on northeastern Wisconsin on game day; the low temperature was a reasonable 26 degrees, downright balmy compared to the -7 degrees from the day before.
The Packers were not much stronger in the standings. Green Bay was 2-7 and on a six-game losing streak heading into the 49ers game.
Only 13,196 fans braved the elements and viewed the game in person, by far the lowest attendance mark for the Packers that season.
November 26, 1950: Green Bay Packers 25, San Francisco 49ers 21
Despite both teams being cellar-dwellers, the game between the Packers and the 49ers actually turned out to be quite intriguing and suspenseful.
The road team took an early first-quarter 7-0 lead thanks to a 1-yard plunge from Johnny Stryzkalski. The Packers countered with a score of their own, a 57-yard scamper by Billy Grimes, Ted Fritsch added the extra point to tie the game at 7 as the opening quarter closed.
Packers Hall of Fame running back Tony Canadeo, whose #3 is one of only six retired Green Bay numbers, hit paydirt from two yards out to pull his team ahead 13-7, but the extra point was missed. That lead held until the two teams hit the locker rooms for halftime.
After the intermission, San Francisco hit the ground running and scored twice to take a 21-13 lead into the fourth quarter. In the final period, the Packers rallied off the deck and converted two touchdowns, one from Jack Cloud and the clincher by Breezy Reid, to make the final score 25-21.
With the win, the Green Bay Packers closed the home portion of their schedule at 3-3, and the 49ers clinched a winless 0-6 road record with this final game away from home. However, in the season finale two weeks later at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, the 49ers won the rematch, beating the Packers, 30-14, on December 10.
All-time, the Packers hold a 38-34-1 advantage (including 10 playoff games) in their head-to-head battle with the 49ers. This Sunday’s game may have a bit more juice flowing through the Packers’ veins; many players on this year’s roster remain from the disappointing loss at San Francisco in last year’s Divisional Round and will be looking to exact revenge for it.
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