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Local Packers bar left speechless after loss

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CAVE CREEK- Donna Davis, wearing striped green and gold overalls with a Brett Favre jersey underneath, arrived at the Buffalo Chip Saloon pumped for Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks.

A win and her beloved Green Bay Packers were headed for Glendale and Super Bowl XLIX. “You know,’’ said Davis, “this is a ‘died and gone to heaven’ type situation.’’

About 3 ½ hours later, Packers fan at the jammed Buffalo Chip Saloon, the official Packers bar in Arizona, felt like they had died – but certainly not gone to heaven. The Packers dominated the game for 55 minutes, leading 16-0 at the half and by 12 late. But they lost in stunning fashion with goat-turned-hero-turned legend Russell Wilson orchestrating a three-touchdown rally in the last two minutes and overtime.

Optimism filled the bar as Packers fans flooded in. Close to 1,000 came turned out rooting for a Packers victory and the possibility of their team coming to play for the Lombardi Trophy in their backyard. Buffalo Chip Saloon waitress Jen Madison said the atmosphere would be electric.

“It’s going to be crazy, crazier the better,” said Madison. “The bar gets busier and busier the better the Packers do. This will be the craziest game I’ve been a part of, unless we go all the way.”

Instead, one of the craziest endings in NFC title game history left Packers fans speechless, many holding their heads in their hands. Disappointment engulfed the bar.

Davis said the Packers lost the game on one key drive.

“There was six minutes left in the fourth quarter when Morgan Burnett got the interception, and he didn’t try to run,” said Davis. “There was too much time left on the clock, and they (Packers) did not get any first downs. They needed first downs.”

Ron McGee, cousin of the late owner of the bar and former Packers star Max McGee, described the game in one word.

“Bummer. I’m pretty bummed out, we had a great year,” said McGee.

But it’s wait until next year for the Packers – and the Buffalo Chip Saloon.

“We have a strong presence here, a lot of people are Packers fans,” says McGee. “I’ve made a lot of friendships this season with Packers fans from Wisconsin and from all over.’’

Said Davis: “We’ll be back next year, healthy and better than ever.”