Lambeau Will Never Be Same

Sunday was a historic day, even for a stadium as steeped in tradition as Lambeau Field.

It was the last time the field will be used in its current configuration for an NFL game. Although the Green Bay Packers advanced to the next round of the playoffs, they will not play another home game this postseason. So the next phase of the $295-million renovation of Lambeau Field will begin in earnest; the demolition of the press box begins Tuesday.

The Packers are adding 10,000 seats, more luxury boxes, a two-level concourse, more bathrooms and concession stands and a five-story museum and “Packers cultural center” called Titletown. The renovations will require the team to change the route it uses to take the field, which created some sentimental feelings for Coach Mike Sherman.

“That’s the last time we’re going to walk out that tunnel,” Sherman said. “It was very special. All the great teams ... they have gone in and out of that tunnel.”

*

The play wound up having no effect on the outcome, but Sherman took a lot of questions on his decision to go for two points after a touchdown in the third quarter, when a one-point kick would have put the Packers ahead by nine and prevented the 49ers from tying the score on one possession. Brett Favre’s pass to Donald Driver was complete, but Driver was tackled short.

Sherman said he wanted to get back on track after his team missed an earlier extra point.

“I felt very confident about our two-point play,” Sherman said. “I was thinking about going ahead by 10 points.”

*

As if there wasn’t enough talk about Green Bay’s perfect home record, Sherman had to hear about it from his oldest son.

“They’ve won 10 in a row here,” 12-year-old Matthew told him this week.

“I said, ‘Thank you, Matthew,’” Sherman said. “He could work for [the media]. He’ll be asking me about that two-point call.”

J.A. Adande