The 1973 Green Bay Packers season was their 55th season overall and their 53rd season in the National Football League. The defending division champions posted a 5–7–2 record under third-year head coach Dan Devine, earning them a third-place finish in the NFC Central division.
As of 2024, the 1973 Packers are the last team to record 2 ties in a single season. Overtime for regular season games was introduced the following year, and the occurrence of tie games decreased.
Offseason
Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke retired during training camp in late August.[1] Bart Starr left as quarterbacks coach to other business interests, which included a network broadcasting position with CBS.
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
1973 undrafted free agents of note
Player
|
Position
|
College
|
James Bulger
|
Quarterback
|
Notre Dame
|
Steve Hammitt
|
Center
|
Nevada
|
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
Week
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Record
|
Venue
|
Attendance
|
1
|
|
New York Jets
|
W 23–7
|
1–0
|
Milwaukee County Stadium
|
47,124
|
2
|
September 23
|
Detroit Lions
|
T 13–13
|
1–0–1
|
Lambeau Field
|
55,495
|
3
|
September 30
|
at Minnesota Vikings
|
L 3–11
|
1–1–1
|
Metropolitan Stadium
|
48,176
|
4
|
October 7
|
at New York Giants
|
W 16–14
|
2–1–1
|
Yale Bowl
|
70,050
|
5
|
October 14
|
Kansas City Chiefs
|
T 10–10
|
2–1–2
|
Milwaukee County Stadium
|
46,583
|
6
|
October 21
|
at Los Angeles Rams
|
L 7–24
|
2–2–2
|
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
|
80,558
|
7
|
October 28
|
at Detroit Lions
|
L 0–34
|
2–3–2
|
Tiger Stadium
|
43,616
|
8
|
November 4
|
Chicago Bears
|
L 17–31
|
2–4–2
|
Lambeau Field
|
56,267
|
9
|
November 11
|
St. Louis Cardinals
|
W 25–21
|
3–4–2
|
Lambeau Field
|
52,922
|
10
|
November 18
|
at New England Patriots
|
L 24–33
|
3–5–2
|
Schaefer Stadium
|
60,525
|
11
|
|
at San Francisco 49ers
|
L 6–20
|
3–6–2
|
Candlestick Park
|
49,244
|
12
|
December 2
|
New Orleans Saints
|
W 30–10
|
4–6–2
|
Milwaukee County Stadium
|
46,092
|
13
|
|
Minnesota Vikings
|
L 7–31
|
4–7–2
|
Lambeau Field
|
53,830
|
14
|
December 16
|
at Chicago Bears
|
W 21–0
|
5–7–2
|
Soldier Field
|
29,157
|
- Monday (September 17, November 26), Saturday (December 8)
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Jets |
0 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
7 |
• Packers |
3 |
10 | 3 | 7 |
23 |
[2]
Week 4
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Packers |
7 |
0 | 6 | 3 |
16 |
Giants |
7 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
14 |
Scoring summary |
1 | | NYG | Don Herrmann 17-yard pass from Norm Snead (Pete Gogolak kick) | Giants 7–0 |
|
1 | | GB | Jon Staggers 20-yard run (Chester Marcol kick) | Tie 7–7 |
|
3 | | GB | Chester Marcol 20-yard field goal | Packers 10–7 |
|
3 | | GB | Chester Marcol 11-yard field goal | Packers 13–7 |
|
4 | | NYG | Bob Grim 10-yard pass from Norm Snead (Pete Gogolak kick) | Giants 14–13 |
|
4 | | GB | Chester Marcol 32-yard field goal | Packers 16–14 |
[3]
Week 9
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Cardinals |
7 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
21 |
• Packers |
10 |
12 | 0 | 3 |
25 |
Scoring summary |
1 | | GB | John Brockington 1-yard run (Chester Marcol kick) | Packers 7–0 |
|
1 | | GB | Chester Marcol 12-yard field goal | Packers 10–0 |
|
1 | | STL | Donny Anderson 30-yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick) | Packers 10–7 |
|
2 | | GB | Jerry Tagge 1-yard run (kick failed) | Packers 16–7 |
|
2 | | GB | Chester Marcol 32-yard field goal | Packers 19–7 |
|
2 | | GB | Chester Marcol 24-yard field goal | Packers 22–7 |
|
4 | | STL | Ahmad Rashad 23-yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick) | Packers 22–14 |
|
4 | | STL | Terry Metcalf 2-yard run (Jim Bakken kick) | Packers 22–21 |
|
4 | | GB | Chester Marcol 9-yard field goal | Packers 25–21 |
[4]
Week 12
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Saints |
0 |
3 | 7 | 0 |
10 |
• Packers |
3 |
10 | 7 | 10 |
30 |
Scoring summary |
1 | | GB | Chester Marcol 14-yard field goal | Packers 3–0 |
|
2 | | GB | Al Matthews 58-yard interception return (Chester Marcol kick) | Packers 10–0 |
|
2 | | GB | Chester Marcol 39-yard field goal | Packers 13–0 |
|
2 | | NO | Bill McClard 22-yard field goal | Packers 13–3 |
|
3 | | NO | Jubilee Dunbar 29-yard pass from Archie Manning (Bill McClard kick) | Packers 13–10 |
|
3 | | GB | Jerry Tagge 41-yard run (Chester Marcol kick) | Packers 20–10 |
|
4 | | GB | Jim Carter 42-yard interception return (Chester Marcol kick) | Packers 27–10 |
|
4 | | GB | Chester Marcol 33-yard field goal | Packers 30–10 |
[5]
Week 14
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Packers |
7 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
21 |
Bears |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
- Date: December 16
- Location: Soldier Field, Chicago
- Game start: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 24 °F (−4 °C), wind 13 mph (21 km/h)
Scoring summary |
1 | | GB | Jon Staggers 20-yard pass from Jerry Tagge (Chester Marcol kick) | Packers 7–0 |
|
2 | | GB | Les Goodman 3-yard run (Chester Marcol kick) | Packers 14–0 |
|
4 | | GB | Jon Staggers 36-yard pass from Jerry Tagge (Chester Marcol kick) | Packers 21–0 |
[6]
Standings
References
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Franchise | |
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Notable people | |
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Facilities | |
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Team history | General | |
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Culture | |
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Notable games | |
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Rivalries | |
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Championships | Division (21) | |
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Conference (9) | |
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League (13†) | |
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Media | Radio | |
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Television | |
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Personnel | |
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Related | |
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Current affiliations | |
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† does not include 1966 or 1967 NFL championships |