Stanley Makes Something Great

Nov. 27, 1986 – If Thanksgiving is a day to count one’s blessing, the Packers are fortunate to count Walter Stanley among those in uniform on this afternoon in the Pontiac Silverdome. Stanley produces three touchdowns and 287 all-purpose yards, and his electrifying, 83-yard punt return for a score with 41 seconds left lifts the Packers past the Lions 44-40. “I just didn’t feel like fair-catching,” the second-year receiver/returner says. “I felt, ‘Hey, this is a game to take chances. Something’s going to happen big or something isn’t going to happen big.’ I went for it.” Stanley amasses 124 yards receiving, 113 on punt returns and another 50 on kickoff returns. “I think they (Lions) probably underestimated his ability a little bit,” Packers coach Forrest Gregg says. “They won’t do that again.”