The time has finally arrived: we are ready to count down the top 50 games of the Favre-Rodgers era (1992-2022)!

Over the course of the next 11 weeks (including this week), we will be counting down the fans’ choices for the 50 best games of this era, as well as five honorable mentions (today). In case you missed it, here is the methodology for how this all worked.

• Fans had the opportunity to submit games they loved into a Google form
• The 55 most-mentioned games were chosen to be in this poll
• Fans voted in the poll, giving a 1-10 rating for each game in three categories:
  • SIGNIFICANCE: How important or significant is the game to the franchise?
  • ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: How entertaining do you find the game?
  • INTENSITY: How intense was the action or atmosphere for the game?
• With all votes in, I created averages in each of these categories for each games. Their overall ranking is the mean value of the averages for each of those categories using the formula: (SIG + ENT + INT)/3

I will include this methodology at the end of the post from here on out as a reminder, but wanted to start with it today just as a reminder of how we got here.

Over the course of this series, you will be provided with brief write-ups of each of the games to help you jog your memory. I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane.

As for today…

We’re focusing on the honorable mentions. The games that weren’t quite notable enough to get into the top 50. We’ll start from the bottom and work our way up.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

55. Denver Broncos at Green Bay Packers, 2003 (GB 31, DEN 3)

Overall score: 5.56/10 (55/55)

Significance: 5.17/10 (45/55)

Entertainment value: 6.67/10 (47/55)

Intensity: 4.84/10 (54/55

The 2003 Packers had perhaps the most balanced offense they’ve had in the entire Favre-Rodgers era. Brett Favre led the league in touchdown passes with a broken thumb, but Ahman Green was the real engine of the offense, rushing for over 1800 yards. On this particular night, Green exploded to set the Packers’ single-game rushing yardage record (218), including a 98-yard run.

View full game here.

View highlights here.

54. Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers, 2012 (SEA 14, GB 12)

Overall score: 5.58/10 (54/55)

Significance: 5.25/10 (43/55)

Entertainment value: 5.02/10 (55/55)

Intensity: 6.46/10 (40/55)

It’s no wonder why Packer fans find this the least entertaining of all the games on the list. The way this one ended (the Fail Mary) left a sour note in fans’ mouths for years after the fact, and introduced a brand new rival to Packer fans for the 2010s: the Legion of Boom Seahawks. On the bright side, the officiating snafu did result in the NFL finally coming to an agreement to pay its referees and get rid of the replacement crews that caused shoddy officiating leaguewide.

View highlights here.

53. Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings, 1997 (GB 27, MIN 11)

Overall score: 5.64/10 (53/55)

Significance: 4.93/10 (47/55)

Entertainment value: 6.15/10 (51/55)

Intensity: 5.83/10 (48/55)

The Packers of the mid-90s had ascended to juggernaut status, but there was still an accomplishment that eluded Brett Favre and company: a win over divisional rival Minnesota in the Metrodome. The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome was a personal house of horrors for Favre for most of his career (one of the reasons why it’s ironic that he ended his career playing there). But on this Monday night, the Packers finally overcame those demons to take the Vikings down on the road.

View highlights here.

52. Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos, 2007 (GB 13, DEN 7 in OT)

Overall score: 5.69/10 (52/55)

Significance: 4.51/10 (53/55)

Entertainment value: 6.2/10 (50/55)

Intensity: 6.37/10 (42/55)

This Monday Night Football entry is primarily remembered for the game-winning overtime bomb on the first play from Favre to Greg Jennings. It became a highlight that was emblematic of the magic Favre produced throughout much of his twilight run in 2007, his final season in Green Bay. The actual game itself, though, was mostly uneventful, and it seems Packer fans, while appreciating the memory of that final play, also remember the rest of the game as well.

View highlights here.

51. Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots, 1997 (GB 28, NE 10)

Overall score: 5.70 (51/55)

Significance: 4.87/10 (48/55)

Entertainment value: 6.63/10 (48/55)

Intensity: 5.59/10 (51/55)

This hyped-up primetime rematch of Super Bowl XXXI ended up being a statement game for the Packers, who were suddenly looking like an even better football team than they were as champions the year before. The Packers went into New England’s house and dominated, leaving no doubt as to who should be the favorite in the NFC in 1997.

Watch highlights here.

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That’s all for this week! Next week the full countdown begins with 50-46. Stay tuned…