Author Archives: @spot_bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XXI

The Super Bowl is just 31 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 31 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Pasadena’s Rose Bowl hosted Super Bowl XXI on January 25, 1987. The game pitted the NFC champion New York Giants against the Denver Broncos of the American Football Conference.

New York Giants 31 Years Ago

Coming into 1986, the G-men had not won a championship since 1956. In fact, they had not even won a division title in twenty-three seasons. But, this team had very high expectations coming in.

Unlike the ’85 Bears, the Giants won a lot of close games. During the regular season, they went 9-2 in games decided by 7 or fewer points. They were very well-coached by defensive guru Bill Parcells. And this team’s strong suit was their defense led by Lawrence Taylor. Taylor may have been the greatest defensive player in NFL history. However, this was far from a one-man unit. While the defensive backfield was suspect, their front seven was phenomenal.

On offense, they were led by the small, but durable Joe Morris. Morris rushed for over 1500 yards. Phil Simms was the quarterback. He was average at best in 1986 tossing 22 interceptions on the season. Simms, though, was good when he needed to be. That included his heroics on a 4^th and 17 to help the Giants come back against Minnesota.

In the playoffs, the Giants humiliated San Francisco, 49-3. They literally knocked Joe Montana out of the game. In the NFC championship game verse division rival Washington, New York scored 17 points in the first quarter of a very windy game at Giants Stadium. Subsequently, they won 17-0. Thus, the Giants were on to their first Super Bowl of their franchise’s history!

Denver Broncos 31 Years Ago

In the AFC, it was a four-team race between the Browns, Broncos, Jets and Patriots. Denver’s Head Coach was longtime Cowboy Dan Reeves. There was nothing spectacular about his team except quarterback John Elway. The Broncos finished the season 15^th-ranked on offense and 9^th on defense. But, in a season where there was so much parity in the AFC, the Broncos did a great job of staying in ball games and competing hard.

That effort was on full display in their two exciting playoff games. In the divisional round against the defending conference champion Patriots, Denver came back to win 22-17. In the AFC championship game at Cleveland, they made history.

It was a back and forth affair. The Broncos found themselves down 20-13 with five minutes left after Brian Brennan gave Cleveland the lead. Denver misplayed the kickoff. Hence, they started their key drive at their own 2-yard line! The moment was not too big for Elway.

Denver methodically moved the ball down the field. With 39 seconds left, Elway drilled a pass to Mark Jackson from the five-yard line. The PAT tied the score. In OT, Rich Karlis kicked a controversial game-winner and Denver was on to their second Super Bowl.

Giants Pull Away

The Giants were favored to win Super Bowl XXI by 9 points. But, Denver fought tooth and nail as they had all season in the first half. The Giants’ defense hung tough in the red zone in the second quarter during a pivotal part of the game. The Broncos were leading 10-7 and had first and goal. They were stuffed, though. Taylor made an amazing speed play tracking down Elway on a run. Karlis, then, missed a twenty-one-yard field goal.

That was the closest Denver came to the shocking upset. Simms could not miss. He finished the game 22 of 25 passing and the G-men scored 26 consecutive points to pull away. Zeke Mowatt, Mark Bavaro, Phil McConkey, Ottis Anderson and Morris scored touchdowns for NY in a 39-20 victory. The only thing left was for the Giants to do was douse Parcells with Gatorade. Harry Carson did the honors and the Giants had their first World Championship!

New York came back four years later to win Super Bowl XXV. Denver lost two of the next three. At this point in NFL history, the NFC was dominating the Super Bowl. They won every big dance from Super Bowl XIX through XXXI.

Tomorrow, we’ll discuss how the Redskins won Super Bowl XXII.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XX

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The Super Bowl is just 32 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 32 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

The Louisiana Superdome hosted Super Bowl XX on January 26, 1986. The game pitted the NFC champion Chicago Bears against the New England Patriots of the American Football Conference.

Chicago Bears 32 Years Ago

In 1985, there was President Reagan, Michael Jackson and the ’85 Bears when it came to things every American was familiar with! The Bears were built in the image of their Head Coach, “Iron” Mike Ditka and their brash defensive coordinator, Buddy Ryan. Chicago did not experience much team success since their 1963 NFL championship. But, they always had Hall of Famers on their roster.

Walter Payton was such a man. Drafted in 1975 out of Jackson State, Payton was a superstar. He possessed immense talent and personified character. Chicago added a character of a different sort when they selected BYU’s Jim McMahon at quarterback. McMahon was not a great quarterback, but was a great leader and teammate.

On defense, the 1985 Chicago Bears will likely be compared with the greatest units of all-time as long as there is a National Football League. It was called the “46” defense. Their defensive line featured the ferocious Richard Dent, the brutal Steve McMichael, “the Danimal” Dan Hampton and “the refrigerator” rookie William Perry. Perry was a fine tackle no doubt. But, it was his contributions on offense in goal-line situations that endeared him to the national public.

The Bears had great linebackers as well. Their captain Mike Singletary anchored the middle with the meanness of Jack Lambert and speed of Luke Kuechly. Simply put, he was everywhere. He was just as intelligent on the field as he was talented. Ryan molded his defense around the skills and brains of Singletary and safety Gary Fencik.

Awesome 46 Defense

The Bears rampaged through the 1985 season coming off the heels of being shut out in the 1984 NFC Championship game. However, they had one blip on their resume. Dan Marino and the high-flying Dolphins put up an unbelievable 38 points on 12-0 Chicago. The win preserved the 1972 Dolphins as the only undefeated team in modern-league history. It also demonstrated that the Bears’ defense was not infallible.

In the playoffs, the Giants were no match for Chicago. The game was played in such windy conditions that Giants’ punter Sean Landeta completely whiffed on a punt. The following week, Chicago shut out Eric Dickerson and the Rams in the championship game. Linebacker Wilber Marshall scored late in the game amid a snowy backdrop. Bears’ fans were rewarded with their first Super Bowl appearance.

New England Patriots 32 Years Ago

While Chicago was the most popular team in the NFL in 1985, the New England Patriots were among the least-known squads. They were a good, but not great team that season. In fact, they finished in third place in their own division!

However, the Patriots had two great things going for them. They were marvelous on special teams and they created turnovers. Linebacker Andre Tippett was perhaps the second best defensive player in the league (behind Lawrence Taylor) in 1985. On a team largely void of superstars, Tippett stood tall.

The Pats were inconsistent on offense. Wily Steve Grogan and youthful Tony Eason shared the work. They both had good and poor moments in 1985. If anything, New England had an established running attack. SMU’s Craig James and East Carolina’s Tony Collins were dependable and versatile.

In the playoffs, the Patriots became the first team to win three road games to get to the Super Bowl. In the Wild Card game, they were +4 in turnovers. Eason managed a fine game, going 12 for 16 and hitting Stanley Morgan for a huge TD. The Pats prevailed 26-14.

Wild Road Show

New England followed a similar formula in upsetting the Raiders in the divisional round. Again, they were +4 in turnovers. With the score tied at 20 late in the game, the Pats forced a special teams fumble and Jim Bowman recovered in the end zone for the game winner.

The powerful Dolphins were next up for New England. Nobody gave the Patriots a shot to win this game and why would they? As an organization, the Patriots had not won in Miami since 1969! Furthermore, the Dolphins had been THE team to beat the Bears in 1985.

The Patriots ignored all the negative hype. They went into Miami and won convincingly. They moved the ball well on offense and they harassed Marino all game. Again, they were +4 in turnovers. Raymond Berry’s Patriots were off to the Super Bowl as they upended Miami, 31-14.

Super Bears

In the Super Bowl, New England forced a Walter Payton fumble on the second play from scrimmage. However, Eason threw three incompletions and the Pats settled for a field goal. Chicago proceeded to score the next 44 points!

Here’s some stats: Eason was benched after going 0 for 6, the Patriots rushed for seven yards, and New England was -4 in turnovers. The Patriots’ offense scored 10 points and the Bears’ defense notched nine. Chicago rushed for four touchdowns, but none were scored by Payton which was probably the most unfortunate development for the Bears on the day.

The Bears were excellent for the remainder of the 1980’s but could not get back to the Super Bowl. Buddy Ryan left for Philadelphia and Payton retired after the 1987 season as the all-time leading rusher.

Those red-uniformed Patriots of 32 years ago never got back to the Super Bowl. But, later in this series, we will hear frequently from that franchise!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XIX

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The Super Bowl is just 33 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 33 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Palo Alto’s Stanford Stadium hosted Super Bowl XIX on January 20, 1985. The game pitted the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers against the Miami Dolphins of the American Football Conference. 1984 was an epic season for the NFL by any standard. Washington’s Art Monk broke the receptions record. Eric Dickerson of the Rams broke the single-season rushing record. Dan Marino seemed to break every passing record imaginable. And, the 49ers came three points away from a perfect season.

San Francisco 49ers 33 Years Ago

Where the Dolphins were a great passing team and nothing else, San Francisco was a great passing team and everything else. The 49ers were 2nd in points scored and 1st in points allowed. There is no better recipe for success in any sport than that statistic. They were led, of course, by their fabulous quarterback, Joe Montana. Montana was almost the perfect football player. He was accurate. He was a solid scrambler. Montana could hit the deep ball. He was cerebral. He was a joy to watch perform.

Coach Walsh surrounded his terrific QB with a solid running game. Wendell Tyler rushed for over 1200 yards averaging 5 yards per carry. Roger Craig was an innovation at halfback. He would substitute for Tyler on third downs. The Roger Craig-type is on every team in the NFL in 2017. But, he was the first of his kind and one of the best.

San Francisco’s defensive backfield has ridiculous skills at every spot. Ronnie Lott was arguably the best safety ever to play in the NFL. They had a super front line and solid linebackers. This was truly a team without weakness; one of the ten best teams in NFL history. They completed the 1984 regular season with a then-record 15 victories. In the playoffs, they were workmanlike in defeating the upstart Giants and Bears, 21-10 and 23-0 respectively.

Miami Dolphins 33 Years Ago

There was nothing workmanlike about Miami’s 1984 regular season. Their offense was way ahead of its time and, frankly, Marino was the best quarterback we had ever seen up to that point. His receivers were the uber-talented Mark Duper and Mark Clayton. They combined for 144 catches for 2700 yards! Clayton score a then-record 18 times. These numbers don’t sound extraordinary by today’s standards. But, by 1984 standards, they were off the charts. Marino, Clayton and Duper played together for about a decade, but 1984 was their climax.

In the playoffs, Miami got revenge on the Seahawks for their 1983 upset. In the championship game, Miami only had to face 9-7 Pittsburgh. The Steelers had shocked 13-3 Denver in the divisional round, a foreshadow of things to come for John Elway in the 80’s. Pittsburgh was no match for Miami’s powerful offense, losing 45-28.

Marino Shut Down

The Super Bowl started off in competitive fashion. Miami took a 10-7 lead late in the first quarter on a short TD pass from Marino on the roll to tight end Dan Johnson. However, the Niners responded with a three-touchdown explosion. Meanwhile, Miami went three-and-out an astonishing three times. The score was 28-10 late in the first half. The Dolphins got two late field goals to move within 12 points at the break and nobody felt the game was over at that point.

But, Miami came out of the break with more three-and-outs. Marino also threw two red zone picks. Hence, the Dolphins did not score in the second half. Craig, on the other hand, scored three times in the game himself for the Niners! And, San Francisco won the Super Bowl, 38-16.

The Niners have the reputation for being the team of the ’80s. However, they did not reach the Super Bowl again until 1988. But, they won it that season and in 1989. Miami’s Super Bowl XIX appearance was its fifth and last. They have suffered through three decades of mediocrity since then.

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about the phenomenal 1985 Chicago Bears!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XVIII

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The Super Bowl is just 34 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 34 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Tampa Bay hosted Super Bowl XVIII on January 22, 1984. The game pitted the defending World Champion Washington Redskins against the Los Angeles Raiders of the AFC. There was little doubt throughout the season that these were the two best teams in football. For during the regular season, they staged a classic confrontation. The Skins won at home 37-35 thanks to a fantastic comeback.

Washington Redskins 34 Years Ago

Washington had one of the best regular seasons in league history. On offense, they broke the single-season points record. They finished 14-2. Incredibly, their only losses on the season came on Monday Night Football to Dallas (31-30) and to Green Bay (48-47). They got into the Super Bowl by destroying the Rams, 51-7 and edging the 49ers.

The NFC championship game between Washington and San Francisco is sometimes referred to as “The Forgotten Classic.” The Skins got off to a 21-0 lead. But, Joe Montana and Mike Wilson led the Niners to a comeback. Redskins’ kicker Mark Mosely had a terrible day. However, with the game on the line, he converted a 25-yarder to clinch the victory. The Redskins were back in the Super Bowl, ready to defend their title.

Los Angeles Raiders 34 Years Ago

The Raiders were playing in their second season in Los Angeles. When they were in Oakland, they won two Super Bowls including one in 1980. In 1981, Al Davis drafted Howie Long out of Villanova. In 1982, he selected Marcus Allen from USC. Could he have drafted any better? Long and Allen were huge contributors on the 1983 team. Additionally, veteran tight end Todd Christiansen led the NFL in receptions. The Raiders had veteran-talent all over the field. Lyle Alzado, Rod Martin, Bill Pickel, Ted Hendricks, Mike Haynes, Mike Davis, Lester Hayes, Matt Millen, Cliff Branch, Jim Plunkett, Kenny King, Greg Pruitt, Ray Guy, Chris Bahr etc. There is little wonder how Tom Flores’ team won 23 of their first 29 games in Los Angeles with that group.

They had one Achilles heel in 1983. They struggled against Curt Warner and the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle swept the series, scoring 72 points in the process. After crushing the Steelers in the divisional round, LA would have their opportunity to beat Seattle in the AFC championship game. And, they did just that. Marcus had over 200 yards from scrimmage including an excellent TD reception to put the game away. On defense, the Raiders recorded 5 interceptions. They were dominant. Hence, LA was back in the big dance.

Super Raiders

The high expectations set forth for this contest never materialized. The Raiders were overwhelmingly better…at everything. In the first half, the Raiders scored touchdowns on special teams, offense and defense. Perhaps the pivotal play of the game occurred with seconds to go in the second quarter. The Skins went back to a play that worked in the teams’ first meeting; a screen pass to little Joe Washington. LA knew it was coming. Linebacker Jack Squirek stole the pass and waltzed in from the five for a 21-3 halftime lead.

With the score 28-9 late in the third, Allen scored a 74-yard TD. It was this game’s signature play. In fact, the NFL Network considered it the greatest run in NFL history! Surely, it was spectacular in that Allen started one way, reversed field, and dashed into the darkness. As Riggins’ run was in Super Bowl XVII, this was an iconic play from Super Bowls past.

The Raiders won the ball game, 38-9. They would not represent Los Angeles in the Super Bowl ever again. The Redskins would be back in four short years. 1987 was another strike-shortened season that ended in another World Championship for the Redskins.

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about the great offense of the 1984 Dolphins and the great 18-1 team from San Francisco.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XVII

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The Super Bowl is just 35 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 35 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Pasadena’s Rose Bowl hosted Super Bowl XVII on January 30, 1983. The game pitted the NFC champion Washington Redskins against the Miami Dolphins of the American Football Conference. This was a rematch of Super Bowl VII; the only other time the Skins had been to the big game up till that point and when Miami completed their undefeated season. A strike had marred the 1982 season. The NFL cancelled seven games in all. Also, this Super Bowl was the first to be played one week after the championship games.

Washington Redskins 35 Years Ago

Joe Gibbs’ Redskins showed vast improvement from the 1981 season. They were one of the most fun teams in NFL history. They had the “Diesel, ” Johns Riggins. Their offensive line was nicknamed “the hogs” and their small-ish wide receivers were dubbed “the smurfs.” Their defense was solid as well. They ran a bend but don’t break scheme focused on punishing pass catchers and rushing the passer.

In 1982, Washington finished a league-best 8-1 record. Their only loss was at home to the hated Cowboys. In 1982, the NFL decided to have a 16-team playoff tournament. Washington was the top seed in the NFC and faced off against Detroit. They pummeled the Lions causing 8 turnovers. Alvin Garrett scored three times on receptions from Joe Theismann.

One week later, they had a much more difficult game against the Vikings. But, once they led 21-7, they just handed the ball to Riggins. Riggins carried the ball 37 times for 185 yards. Neither team scored in the second half, but Washington’s “hogs” were the MVP of this game.

In the NFC championship game, the Redskins knocked Dallas QB Danny White out of the game. Then, they knocked the Cowboys out of the playoffs. The key play of this game occurred late in the fourth quarter. With the Skins leading 24-17, Dallas had their opportunity. But, back up QB Gary Hogeboom attempted to set up a screen. Dexter Manley ran at him like a bull and deflected the pass into the air for Darryl Grant to pick off and rumble home. RFK Stadium literally shook. Washington was off to the Super Bowl.

Miami Dolphins 35 Years Ago

The Dolphins were not as consistent as the Skins during the regular season, but played three solid playoff games. 35 years go, Coach Shula’s Dolphins were the #1 defense in the NFL. And they were thankful for that because they had the 19th-ranked offense, one of the worst offenses to ever participate in a Super Bowl. Their quarterbacking situation revolved around two guys, the late David Woodley and Don Strock. They were sometimes referred to as “Woodstrock” due to Strock finishing so many games that Woodley started. Their defense, though, was awesome.

There were so many players on Miami’s defense with last names starting with the letter “B,” they were referred to as the “Killer Bees.” Add to all that talent #77 stud linebacker A.J. Duhe and longtime defensive mastermind, Bill Arnsparger, and Miami was a formidable foe. In the first round, Miami outclassed New England, 28-13. The Dolphins got revenge on San Diego by dominating them 34-13 in the second round.

In the AFC Championship game, the Dolphins and Jets played in the mud of the Orange Bowl. Duhe intercepted Richard Todd including a pick sick to put the game on ice. Miami won 14-0.

Big Play Dolphins

The Dolphins did not wait long to score in the Super Bowl. In a game where they totaled 176 yards, they got 76 of those on their 5th play from scrimmage. Woodley found Jimmy Cefalo for their lone big offensive play of the game and a 7-0 lead. The teams exchanged time-consuming field goals drives. Therefore, Miami led 10-3 when the game got very interesting just before the half.

First, Theismann threw a fade to tiny Alvin Garrett to tie the score. Next, Fulton Walker returned the ensuing kickoff. It was first KO return in Super Bowl history as the late-great Walker needed one block and was free. Finally, the Skins drove down the botched an attempt to get a field goal off before the end of the half as they failed to get out-of-bounds with the clock running.

Diesel Dash

In the second half, Washington got that kick to make the score, 17-13. By now, Miami’s offense was putrid. They went 4 for 17 in their passing game ON THE DAY! Their defense battled to stay ahead and very nearly, pick sixed their way to victory. A diving Theismann saved the day on a batted ball.

In the fourth quarter, one of the iconic Super Bowl moments occurred. On a fourth and one from the 43, Riggins to his left, plowed over DB Don McNeal, and raced down the far sidelines for a go-ahead TD. Washington added one more score late by Charlie Brown and the Redskins had their first World Championship!

Washington got back to the Super Bowl three more times, winning two of those under Coach Gibbs. Miami got back two years later. They no longer had a good defense. But, they had a terrific young quarterback out of Pitt named Dan Marino. They lost Super Bowl XIX to the Niners. Unfortunately, they have yet to return.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XV

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The Super Bowl is just 37 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 37 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Louisiana’s Superdome hosted Super Bowl XV on January 25, 1981. The game pitted the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles against the Oakland Raiders of the American Football Conference. The game was played amid the backdrop of the more serious world events. That week, US hostages were released from Iranian control adding to the emotional nature of the game.

Philadelphia Eagles 37 Years Ago

For Eagles’ fans, winning the NFC championship was a culmination of Dick Vermeil’s culture change. Philadelphia had long been home to a losing football team. But, Vermeil instituted a winning attitude from the day he arrived from UCLA.

They were not an overnight success. In 1978, they chocked in a Wild Card loss at Atlanta. In 1979, they lost as a road favorite in Tampa. But, in 1980, they were the NFC’s best from day one. Their offense centered around three Pro Bowlers. Wilbert Montgomery was a sensational, young running back, the team’s best player. At quarterback, Ron Jaworski was rugged and had a rocket for an arm. They also had a giant. Veteran wide receiver Harold Carmichael was virtually uncoverable at 6’8”.

The 1980 Eagles had the #1 defense in points allowed and #2 in yards allowed. They did not play a bad game on that side of the ball all season. Nose tackle Charlie Johnson was the best of a very experienced bunch.

In the divisional round of the playoffs, the Eagles came out very flat. The youthful Vikings pounced on their mistakes and took a shocking 14-0 lead. However, Philadelphia got down to business in the second half. They won going away, 31-16.

In the NFC championship game, Philadelphia hosted Dallas in ice-cold Veterans Stadium. One minute into the game, Montgomery scored on a burst through the middle. He wasn’t even touched on the play that gave Philly a 7-0 lead. The Eagles’ defense punished Danny White and ‘dem Boys. The win sent Philadelphia to their first Super Bowl appearance.

Oakland Raiders 37 Years Ago

The 1980 season saw a changing of the guard in the AFC. The usually formidable and two-time defending World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers had a down season. Thus, the conference was wide open. It was so tight that each of the five playoff teams finished with identical 11-5 records.

The Bills won the AFC East behind a great defense. The Chargers had a historically good offense. The Browns were known as the “Cardiac Kids” for their amazing comebacks. Yet, the two best overall teams in the AFC in 1980 probably played in the Wild Card game.

It was Houston with ex-Raider Ken Stabler at quarterback at Oakland. The Raiders had a tumultuous 1980 season under Tom Flores. Their starting QB was former-Oiler Dan Pastorini. But, Pastorini broke his leg in week 5. Who was next on the depth chart? Ten-year veteran Jim Plunkett. Plunkett proceeded to put together a season Cinderella would have been proud of.

On defense, the Raiders had a cornerback named Lester Hayes. Hayes’ 1980 season is arguably the best-ever by a defensive back in NFL history. Counting the playoffs, the Raiders played in 20 games in 1980. Hayes recorded an insane 18 interceptions for 318 yards! What a performance!

Cinderella Story

In the Wild Card game against Houston, Hayes intercepted his former teammate Stabler and scored. Oakland won, 27-7. The win sent them to Cleveland. In one of the coldest games in NFL history, the players look like they are just trying to survive the elements. The Raiders led 14-12 late in the game. The Browns were in field goal range, but kicker Don Cockcroft was having a miserable day, so they took a shot at the end zone. Safety Mike Davis stepped in front of Brian Sipe’s pass and Oakland advanced.

They would play at San Diego for the AFC title. The Chargers beat the Bills on a TD pass with two minutes left in their divisional round game and were slight favorites to defeat Oakland. The Chargers moved the ball all game against the Raiders. But, the Raiders took the ball away three times on defense and made huge plays on offense. Oakland jumped out to a 28-7 lead and hung on to win 34-27 sending Al Davis’ club to their third Super Bowl.

Just Win Baby

The Super Bowl itself was a letdown. Vermeil and his Eagles played tight and nervous, completely opposite to their performance in the NFC championship game. The Raiders were cool, calm and collected. Plunkett was masterful dissecting the Eagles’ top-ranked defense. On the other hand, Jaworski was late on his reads. At other times, he misread the defense entirely. Raiders’ linebacker Rod Martin picked him off three times on the day.

The games’ most exciting play occurred late in the first quarter with Oakland already ahead, 14-0. Plunkett was under some pressure. Halfback Kenny King snuck behind Eagles’ DB Herm Edwards and Plunkett lofted a gorgeous pass down the far sideline. King took it in stride and was off to the races for the longest TD in Super Bowl history to that point – 80 yards.

The second half was an anti-climactic borefest. The Raiders sealed the deal with a Cliff Branch score and two field goals. The final was 27-10, but could have been much worse.

Philly would not get back to the Super Bowl for 24 years. The Raiders would be back three years later and win again. By that time, Al Davis moved his ball club to Los Angeles. Their next Super Bowl as the Oakland Raiders came after the 2002 season.

Tomorrow, we’ll discuss the Super Bowl from 36 years and the birth of a different dynasty from the Bay area!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XVI

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The Super Bowl is just 36 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 36 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Super Bowl XVI was played in the Pontiac Silverdome on January 24, 1982. The game pitted the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers against the Cincinnati Bengals of the American Football Conference.

San Francisco 49ers 36 Years Ago

The 1981 49ers experienced a decade of mediocrity. Alas, a QB from Notre Dame came upon a white horse. His name was Joe Montana and he was about to rewrite the San Francisco and NFL history books. Bill Walsh, a Paul Brown disciple ironically from his Bengals’ days, served as 49ers head coach. His offensive scheme featured short passing plays mixed with runs by unheralded backs.

The 49ers’ best offensive weapon was wide receiver Dwight Clark. He possessed great hands and ran great routes.

On defense, the Niners were excellent in the defensive backfield. However, they were very young. They started three rookies every game of the season. Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson were good from week one. Lott was special. Dwight Hicks was in his third season. He finished the year with 239 interception-return yards and was invited to the Pro Bowl.

San Francisco added Jack Reynolds and Fred Dean to bolster their run defense and pass rush. And it worked. In fact, the ’81 49ers finished 2^nd in the league in defense and just 13^th in team offense. So, their dynasty began like most of the greatest in NFL history after all. Defense wins championships.

The Catch

Phil Huber

They finished the 1981 season with 15 wins in their last 16 games. Atlanta and Philadelphia were suppose to be the best teams in the NFC. But, the Falcons never got off the ground and the Eagles slumped down the stretch and lost in the wild card game. In the end, the Niners and Cowboys were the leaps and bounds the two best teams in the conference.

The Niners beat the Giants and the Cowboys walloped the Buccaneers to set up the game of the season in the NFC. The teams went back and forth in an instant classic. The 49ers controlled the tempo of the game. But, whether it was nerves or whatever, they were mistake-prone. They turned over the ball an incredible 6 times.

Still, they only trailed 27-21 with five minutes left. They moved the ball slowly, but surely. They mostly relied on the running of veteran Lenvil Elliott and the catching of Dwight Clark. Indeed, it was a spectacular catch by Clark which is known as “the catch” that propelled the Niners into the Super Bowl. When Montana threw the pass, it looked as if he was throwing it away. But, Clark outjumped Everson Walls and scored. Dallas’ QB Danny White fumbled on the final series and the 49ers were Super Bowl-bound.

Cincinnati Bengals 36 Years Ago

The Bengals were surprisingly the best team in the AFC in 1981. They proved that with a 40-17 thrashing at San Diego. Their only loss during the last two months of the season came at home to the 49ers.

Three-time World champion Forrest Gregg was the Head Coach of the 1981 Bengals. Their defense was average, finishing 12^th. However, their offense was excellent. League MVP and longtime Bengals’ starter Ken Anderson had a brilliant season. Rookie wide receiver Cris Collinsworth and fullback Pete Johnson also made the Pro Bowl.

In the playoffs, Cincinnati outlasted Buffalo 28-21. Next up, the high-powered San Diego Chargers. The Chargers defeated Miami in overtime in an epic. San Diego went from that hot, humid victory in Miami to Cincinnati to play in one of the coldest games ever recorded.

The Chargers were once again no match for the Bengals, losing 27-7. Cincinnati with their brand-new stripes were on to their first Super Bowl.

Joe Cool

The Bengals got the first break when the Niners fumbled the opening kickoff. But, Anderson gave it right back with a red zone pick by Hicks. San Francisco took their opening drive to the one-yard line. Subsequently, Montana dove in for the first score.

The Bengals consistently moved the ball. But, they turned it over 4 times. For one, Collinsworth committed a critical red zone fumble. The Niners took advantage of these miscues, scoring 10 points in the second quarter. They squibbed a last-second kickoff at the end of the half. Sure enough, the Bengals fumbled again. San Francisco added one more field goal and the score was 20-0 at the break.

The Bengals did not fold. They scored the next 14 points around a superb 49ers’ goal-line stand. However, Joe Cool sealed the deal with a FG drive that put the game in hand. And the Niners intercepted Anderson again in the closing minutes.

Thus, the 49ers won their first of five Super Bowls over the next 14 seasons. The Bengals would rebuild and be back seven years later. Unfortunately for them, Cincy lost Super Bowl XXIII…to Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XIV

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The Super Bowl is just 38 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 38 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Pasadena’s Rose Bowl hosted Super Bowl XIV on January 20, 1980. The game pitted the NFC champion Los Angeles Rams against the Pittsburgh Steelers of the American Football Conference. The Rams and Steelers dominated their respective divisions during the decade with one giant difference. The Steelers won the Super Bowl three times. The Rams were making their first appearance in the world title contest.

Los Angeles Rams 38 Years Ago

Ray Malavasi was in his second season as the Rams’ head man. He helped the Rams win their seventh consecutive NFC West title in 1979. Los Angeles did not exactly a great season, especially by their high standards. In fact, they were 5-6 after 11 games. But, they put together a 4-game winning streak including a week 15 rout at Atlanta to clinch the division.

The Rams were not strong on offense this particular season. Starting QB Pat Haden broke a finger in the 10th game. Vince Ferragamo replaced him and played respectably. If anything, Los Angeles possessed a solid rushing attack. Wendell Tyler rushed for 1100 yards. Cullen Bryant and Lawrence McCutcheon added depth and veteran leadership.

Unlikely Playoff Run

The Rams were tough defensively. Future Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood led the charge. However, the Rams had quality players at every level. In the divisional round playoff game against the heavily favored Cowboys, LA’s defense kept them in it till late in the fourth. Trailing 19-14, Ferragamo hit Billy Waddy over the middle. Waddy raced to the end zone to give the Rams the lead and the win, 21-19.

In the NFC championship game, the Rams traveled to Tampa Bay to play a Buccaneers’ team that beat them up during the regular season. The game was an absolute slugfest. Two terrific defenses destroying two pedestrian offenses. The Rams appeared to be in trouble when Youngblood broke a bone in his leg. But, miraculously, he kept playing through the injury and the pain. His performance surely inspired his team. The Rams outlasted the Bucs, 9-0. Finally, Los Angeles made it to the Super Bowl! And, this year it was being played in nearby Pasadena.

Pittsburgh Steelers 38 Years Ago

Their opponent was the defending-World Champion Steelers. The 1979 Steelers have the distinction of being the only Super Bowl team ever to field a squad made up of players who to that point only played for Pittsburgh. With free agency as it is in 2017, that feat will never be duplicated. It also demonstrates how well the Steelers drafted.

Pittsburgh played 14 terrific football games over the course of the regular season and two duds. In the divisional round of the playoffs, they humbled Miami, 34-14. Legends Bob Griese and Larry Csonka played in their last playoff game that day. The Steelers jumped out to a 20-0 first quarter lead and never looked back.

The championship game was much more competitive. The arch-rival Oilers went toe to toe with Pittsburgh. Houston, however, was victimized by a bad call. Mike Renfro was clearly in bounds in the back corner of the end zone. But, he was ruled out. That play served as the poster child for replay’s institution in the ’80’s. The Steelers won 27-13. They were back in the Super Bowl for the fourth time in six seasons.

See Saw Battle

Super Sunday 1980 was played on a glorious day in Southern California. It was difficult to tell who was the defending champion and who finished with a 9-7 record after three quarters. The Steelers and Rams put on a show.

The Rams opened with a three-and-out. The teams followed that with four consecutive scoring drives and a 10-10 tie late in the second. Late in the half, the Rams made two big plays to wreak tension on the Rose Bowl audience. First, Dave Elmendorf intercepted Bradshaw. Then, they went for it on fourth and eight from the 37. Ferragamo hit Waddy for the conversion. That sent Los Angeles to the break with a 13-10 lead.

The second half kicked off with more fireworks. Bradshaw hit Swann for one of their patented beauties from the forty-seven. LA struck right back. Waddy was on the receiving end of a 50-yarder. On the next play, McCutcheon swept right and tossed a duck to Ron Smith for a TD and a 19-17 Rams lead! The lead held up until the middle of the fourth.

Stallworth Saves Game

John Stallworth made an incredible catch and dashed home for a 73-yard score that put Pittsburgh up for good. The Rams threatened, but were denied by a Jack Lambert interception. After another wonderful play by Stallworth, Franco Harris powered home on third and goal from the one to put this beauty on ice.

The Steelers ended their decade of dynamite football with a courageous triumph. They would not get back to the big game with this crew again. The Rams were excellent in defeat. This would be their last Super Bowl until they played Tennessee in Super Bowl XXXIV representing St. Louis.

The Rams are now back in LA and Pittsburgh is back playing great football. The more things change, the more they stay the same from 38 years ago!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XIII

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The Super Bowl is just 39 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 39 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Miami’s Orange Bowl hosted Super Bowl XIII on January 21, 1979. The game pitted the NFC champion Dallas Cowboys against the Pittsburgh Steelers of the American Football Conference. The public looked forward to this match up with keen anticipation. These were not just the best teams in football, but the two most popular teams. Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, Tom Landry, and “Mean” Joe Greene were as famous as President Carter in 1979.

Both teams had been there before. In fact, the winner would become the first three-time champion. It was 1978 when Dallas was first called, “America’s Team.” But, there were far more Steelers’ fans in attendance at Super Bowl XIII.

Dallas Cowboys 39 Years Ago

The Cowboys won Super Bowl XII behind the brilliance of Tony Dorsett, an innovative offense and a top-notch pass rush. During the first half of the season, the Cowboys were inconsistent. They battled with the Rams for top seed in the NFC playoffs. Dallas got hot late in the season to the tune of six straight wins.

There were five playoff teams per conference for the first time in 1978. Thus, Dallas hosted the Wild-Card winning Falcons in the divisional round. Atlanta led by defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville came to play. Their famed “Gritz Blitz” defense hounded Staubach in the first half. The clubs went to the break with Atlanta leading, 20-13. The Cowboys came back with 14 unanswered in the 2^nd half due to picking off Steve Bartkowski three times.

The Cowboys next would play at the LA Coliseum against the Rams. The game was scoreless until the closing seconds of the third quarter. Then, Doomsday took over. The Rams turned the ball over 5 times in the second half leading to 28 Cowboys’ points. The last points were scored by Hollywood Henderson on an interception return.

Pittsburgh Steelers 39 Years Ago

Pittsburgh came into Super Bowl XIII with a 14-2 regular season record. While their earlier championship teams thrived due to their running game and Steel Curtain defense, the ’78 squad was about the passing attack. Bradshaw with his rifle could hit Lynn Swann and John Stallworth from any spot on the field. This wide open aerial attack made the Steelers’ brand as exciting as the Cowboys.

In the playoffs, Pittsburgh played a dominant second half against Denver and tremendous first half against Houston. In the AFC championship game, they stifled Earl Campbell and the Oilers in the cold, wet conditions of Three Rivers Stadium. It was on to beautiful Miami and a date with Dallas.

First Half Excitement

The Cowboys received the ball first. Dorsett sprung three chunk plays on the opening possession. The drive stalled when Dallas tried an ill-fated reverse. Drew Pearson’s fumble led to a Steelers’ scoring drive on an incredible pass from Bradshaw to Stallworth.

The Steelers sacked Staubach twice in the 1^st quarter, but Dallas responded with two takeaways. On the final play of the first quarter, Staubach found a wide-open Tony Hill for the tying TD.

Just two minutes later and the Steelers turned the ball for a third straight possession. Mike Hegman robbed Bradshaw of the ball and scored. It took just three plays for Pittsburgh to respond. On a simple slant, Stallworth made the reception, made a move and a made a 75-yard score.

This first half could not have been any more exciting. Big play after big play! Mel Blount intercepted Staubach late in the first half leading to an acrobatic score by Rocky Bleier and a 7-point halftime lead for Pittsburgh.

Super Steelers

Dallas dominated the third quarter, but could not punch it in the end zone. Veteran tight end Jackie Smith dropped a pass that would have tied the score. Verne Lundquist uttered, “Bless his heart, he’s got to be the sickest man in America.” It was a cruel turning point for the Cowboys.

The Steelers took over from there. They got a controversial PI, a run up the middle by Harris when the referee wiped out a would-be tackler and a fumble by Randy White on a squib kickoff. All those shenanigans led to gorgeous catch by Lynn Swann for a touchdown and a seemingly insurmountable 35-17 lead.

Dallas was relentless in their come back efforts registering two late scores. But, their last onside kick was secured by the Steelers with 22 seconds left. Pittsburgh prevailed 35-31 in a fantastic game.

The Steelers would be back to repeat as champions in 1979. The Cowboys would knock at the door for the next four seasons, but knock get back to the Super Bowl until the 1990’s. Tom Landry’s team participated in 5 of the first thirteen Super Bowls and had nothing to be ashamed of. However, the Steelers of the ‘70’s were a cut above. They were the team of the decade.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XII

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The Super Bowl is just 40 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 40 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Super Bowl XII was played in the Louisiana Superdome on January 15, 1978. The game pitted the NFC champion Dallas Cowboys against the Denver Broncos of the American Football Conference.

Dallas Cowboys 40 Years Ago

The Cowboys had much the same cast as the one that brought them their surprising Super Bowl X berth with one notable exception. They traded up in the 1977 draft with the expansion Seattle Seahawks and grabbed Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett out of Pitt. Dorsett emerged in late-October and so did Dallas.

Innovative Tom Landry rode the talents of Roger Staubach and Dorsett to a 12-2 record. The Cowboys ran the most advanced offense of the era. They threw on first down, ran on third down and tossed in a trick play or two every week.

On defense, the Cowboys were tops against the run. Add to that the Defensive Player of the Year, Harvey Martin, and this Dallas team was the most complete club in football in 1977.

They embarrassed Walter Payton and the Bears in the playoffs and were not tested in the championship game as they faced a Vikings’ team without Fran Tarkenton. In one of the easiest marches a team has had to the Super Bowl, the Cowboys qualified to take on Denver two weeks later.

Denver Broncos 40 Years Ago

Denver’s road to the Super Bowl was far more unexpected. To be sure, they benefited from the Steelers having a down year. But, the AFC was by no means a breeze. Baltimore and Oakland were every bit as good as the Broncos were.

Where the Broncos held an edge was defense. The “Orange Crush” was third in scoring defense. Lyle Alzado, Tom Jackson and Randy Gradishar were stars on a team that played fundamental football under first year coach Red Miller.

On offense, it was old Cowboys’ QB Craig Morton who emerged to win Comeback Player of the Year. Kick returner Rick Upchurch was another stud on this club.

In the playoffs, Denver overpowered the vaunted Steel Curtain. They won going away in a game which introduced them to a national audience. The following week, they would face Oakland. The Raiders had just survived a double-overtime thriller over the Colts in Baltimore.

Veteran wide receiver Haven Moses stole the show on this day. He tallied 5 catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Still, this game came down to a controversial call. Rob Lytle fumbled on the goal-line, but was ruled down. It turned into a 14-point swing and the Broncos prevailed 20-17.

Doomsday Dominates

Dallas was a prohibitive favorite. However, the first half of this game featured two of the zaniest quarters ever seen in a championship game. Dallas’ doomsday destroyed Denver. In possibly the greatest mismatch in the history of the Super Bowl, the Cowboys overwhelmed their old quarterback. Morton threw four interceptions in the first half. The Broncos also lost two fumbles.

Denver’s defense was game. The Cowboys had numerous opportunities to blow their doors off, yet settled for five field goal attempts. Their only first-half TD occurred on a fourth down play from the one by Dorsett. The Cowboys fumbled four times in the first half themselves, but only lost one of those. Those missed opportunities haunted the Broncos.

Cowboys Clinch It

The second half was a much more normal football game. Dallas was still superior. Harvey Martin was unstoppable on the pass rush. Likewise, Ed Jones and Randy White were all over the field. Finally, they knocked Morton from the game.

After a dramatic TD reception from Butch Johnson, Broncos’ back up Norris Weese led Denver to their only touchdown. The score was 20-10 in the fourth.

Amazingly, the Cowboys caused yet another turnover. They forced Weese to fumble. On the next day, Landry went to his bag of tricks. Fullback Robert Newhouse ran a sweep, pulled up and launch a beauty for Golden Richards. That score closed the door.

Martin and White were the co-MVPs of Super Bowl XII. But, realistically, the award could have gone to the entire defense. Dallas came back one year later for another shot. However, their defense could not duplicate this effort against the Steelers.

The Steelers also knocked the Broncos out of the 1978 playoffs. Denver would not get back to the Super Bowl until the ‘80s when they had a quarterback named Elway.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills