"Lambeau Field on Sunday was to be the jumping-off point for another glorious playoff run for what the loyalists like to call the real America's Team.

With 3 minutes left, more than half the crowd of 72,080 had headed for home, rats escaping the sinking ship known as the Invincible Green Bay Packers.

"Yes, that was disappointing. I've never seen that," defensive end Ryan Pickett said of the early-to-exit fan base when the debacle was done. "But we were playing pretty sloppy football."

Did the Packers ever.

Down went visions of another Super Bowl and second straight National Football League championship. Kaput went hopes for a pro football dynasty."