TimesFour

1990: Majik who?

The Packers and their fans entered 1990 with high hopes. Not only had the Packers finished 10-6 the year before, just missing the playoffs, but the team also seemed to have one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL in Don Majkowski, who had thrown for 27 touchdowns and 4,317 yards in 1989.

That optimism was dampened during the 1990 pre-season, though, because of contract holdouts by several players, including Majkowski. After a 45-day standoff, the Packers came to terms with Majkowski on Sept. 4, only five days before their opening-day matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.

Knowing Majkowski likely wouldn’t be in game shape by Sunday, coach Lindy Infante announced that backup Anthony Dilweg would start against the Rams. Dilweg, a second-year player out of Duke (and grandson of Packer end Lavvie Dilweg), had only played in one game the season before, completing a single pass for seven yards.

But on this day, with Majkowski signaling in plays from the sidelines, Dilweg shocked the Rams — and most fans — by carving up the L.A. defense, hitting on 20 of 32 attempts for 248 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. His counterpart, Jim Everett, wasn’t so lucky — while he passed for 340 yards, the Packers harassed him into two picks. The opportunistic Packers also recovered three Rams fumbles.

In fact, Dilweg’s job was made easier by a pair of Rams turnovers that allowed him to start touchdown drives from the Los Angeles 4- and 7-yard lines. But Dilweg was impressive during an 80-yard drive that culminated in a 7-yard scoring pass to Ed West, putting the Packers ahead 27-17 early in the fourth quarter. Another long drive later in the quarter led to a 40-yard Chris Jacke field goal that clinched the unlikely win.

The rest of Dilweg’s Green Bay career wasn’t so memorable, however. The following week, the Chicago Bears sacked him six times and intercepted him twice while rolling to a 31-13 win. Dilweg won only once more in five subsequent 1990 starts, and was out of the NFL by 1991.

Anthony Dilweg's Packer glory was short-lived.

Sunday, Sept. 9, 1990
Lambeau Field

                    1          2          3          4          F

Rams                7          7          3          7          24 

Packers             0          17        3          16          36

LA: Curt Warner 6 run (Mike Lansford kick)
GB: Ed West 4 yard pass from Anthony Dilweg (Chris Jacke kick)
GB: Jacke 26 FG
LA: Flipper Anderson 40 pass from Jim Everett (Lansford)
GB: Jeff Query 47 pass from Anthony Dilweg (Jacke kick
GB: Jacke 53 FG
LA: Lansford 41 FG
GB: West 7 pass from Dilweg (Jacke)
GB: Brent Fullwood 2 run (kick failed)
LA: Pete Holohan 2 yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Lansford kick)
GB: Jacke 40 FG

TRIVIA: What was the result of Anthony Dilweg’s final pass attempt as a Packer? The answer will appear in the Comments section tomorrow.