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From the Archives: Green Bay Packers win first Super Bowl game

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On Jan. 15, 1967, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in the first Super Bowl, played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. At halftime, the Chiefs were behind 14-10, but the Packers took control in the third quarter.

Los Angeles Times Sports editor Paul Zimmerman reported the next morning:

Like a stern parent chastising a mischievous child, the Green Bay Packers soundly thrashed the upstart Kansas City Chiefs 35-10, Sunday in Memorial Coliseum in the first Super Bowl game.

The outstanding master of the whip-lash on a gorgeous summer-like afternoon was Bryan Bartlett Starr, who had been playing in the NFL four years before the junior circuit was born.

The great Packer quarterback completed key third down passes with abandon to the amazement of 63,036 shirt-sleeved spectators, connecting on 16 of 23 throws for 250 yards and two touchdowns as he riddled the Kansas City defense. He was named player of the game.

Kansas City, the recalcitrant child, bitterly opposed the lessons its elders sought to teach in the first half, and left the field before the spectacular half-time show trailing only 14-10.

That was the end of the line for coach Hank Stram's Chiefs, who never got deep into Green Bay territory during the second half as the always rugged Packer defense turned back the AFL champions at the 40-yard line twice–the deepest penetrations.

"We mangled 'em a little bit," was the understatement of Packer fullback Jim Taylor after the game. ...

Green Bay went on to win Super Bowl II, but the AFL New York Jets won Super Bowl III.

Jan. 15, 1967: Packers' Elijah Pitts, 22, scores on five-yard run early in the third quarter. Packers' Forrest Gregg, 75, and Chiefs' Jerry Mays, 75, follow the action during Super Bowl game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
(Art Rogers / Los Angeles Times)
Jan. 15, 1967: In this two-photo panorama, Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr throws pass to Max McGee, who made a one-handed catch and evaded Kansas City's Willie Mitchell, 22, for a touchdown.
(Larry Sharkey / Los Angeles Times)
Jan. 15, 1967: A pass for Chiefs' Otis Taylor falls incomplete during first Super Bowl game. Defending is Packers' Herb Adderley, 26. About 62,000 attended the game, short of the 93,000 Memorial Coliseum seats available.
(Ben Olender / Los Angeles Times)
Jan. 15, 1967: Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson, right, throws seven-yard touchdown pass to Curtis McClinton for Kansas City's only touchdown.
(Larry Sharkey / Los Angeles Times)
Jan. 15, 1967: The Chiefs' Curtis McClinton - surrounded by photographers - catches a touchdown pass during the first Super Bowl game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Chiefs' Chris Burford, 88, is on the left.
Jan. 15, 1967: The Chiefs’ Curtis McClinton - surrounded by photographers - catches a touchdown pass during the first Super Bowl game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Chiefs’ Chris Burford, 88, is on the left.
(Larry Sharkey / Los Angeles Times)

The seven-yard pass by Len Dawson was Kansas City’s only touchdown in their 35-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Four Times photographers covered the first Super Bowl. Art Rogers, Ben Olender and Charles O'Rear worked the sidelines shooting 35-millimeter black-and-white film. Staffer Larry Sharkey worked from an overhead position -- most likely the press box -- with a sequence camera shooting 70-mm black-and-white film.

Images in this photo gallery were previously published on Feb. 1, 2012, and Feb. 3, 2012.

Jan. 15, 1967: AP photographer George Brich stretches across the restricted area around the playing field.
(Art Rogers / Los Angeles Times)
Jan. 15, 1967: Kansas City Chiefs halfback Bert Coann in action against the Green Bay Packers in first Super Bowl. Packers' Dave Hathcock is on left.
Jan. 15, 1967: Kansas City Chiefs halfback Bert Coann in action against the Green Bay Packers in first Super Bowl. Packers’ Dave Hathcock is on left.
(Ben Olender / Los Angeles Times)
Jan. 15, 1967: Chiefs wide receiver Chris Burford goes for ball during first Super Bowl game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Packers linebacker Dave Robinson, 89, is on right.
Jan. 15, 1967: Chiefs wide receiver Chris Burford goes for ball during first Super Bowl game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Packers linebacker Dave Robinson, 89, is on right.
(Art Rogers / Los Angeles Times)
Jan. 15, 1967: Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi, center, on sidelines at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during first Super Bowl game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
(Art Rogers / Los Angeles Times)
Jan. 15, 1967: Packers' Bart Starr throws a first quarter pass complete to Elijah Pitts during Super Bowl game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
(Ben Olender / Los Angeles Times)
Jan. 15, 1967: Packers halfback Donny Anderson, 44, running against Chiefs' Frank Pitts, 25, Denny Biodrowski, 61, Reg Carolan and Aaaron Brown, 87. Packers' Bob Brown, 78, is on left.
Jan. 15, 1967: Packers halfback Donny Anderson, 44, running against Chiefs’ Frank Pitts, 25, Denny Biodrowski, 61, Reg Carolan and Aaaron Brown, 87. Packers’ Bob Brown, 78, is on left.
(Ben Olender / Los Angeles Times)
Jan. 15, 1967: Packers receiver Max McGee, 85, secures tackle of Chiefs' Willie Mitchell following interception of Bart Starr pass.
(Ben Olender / Los Angeles Times)

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