In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Colts' 1958 championship, PressBox will take a look back each week at Baltimore's historic season.

Week 3: Baltimore 24, Green Bay 17

Date: Oct. 12, 1958
Where: County Stadium, Milwaukee

The Colts got their first big break of the season before this game was even played. In the '50s, teams occasionally played early-season games on Saturday when they had an upcoming road trip.

That was the case here; the Colts' home win over the Chicago Bears took place Saturday, Oct. 4, giving them an extra day of rest before meeting then-hapless Green Bay in the first of the Packer's two annual home games in Milwaukee.

For the third straight game, Baltimore's defense forced at least four turnovers, getting a quartet of interceptions against a Packer team on its way to a 1-10-1 season under coach "Scooter" McLean, who would be replaced by Vince Lombardi the following year.

The Packers took an early 17-0 lead as third-year quarterback Bart Starr hit Don McIlhenny with a 55-yard touchdown pass and scored on a 1-yard keeper. The versatile Paul Hornung, in his second season, added a 19-yard field goal.

Green Bay was held scoreless in the second half, but it took a 10-point burst from the Colts to nail down the victory. Steve Myhra's 14-yard field goal and Andy Nelson's 52-yard interception runback for a touchdown -- the Colts' 14th takeaway in three games -- completed the comeback.

Earlier, Colts quarterback John Unitas found tight end Jim Mutscheller for 54 yards and a
touchdown and later added a six-point sneak of his own.

The Colts' defense held the Packers to just 61 rushing yards.

--J.P.

Issue 3.41: October 9, 2008