Author Archives: @spot_bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XI

The Super Bowl is just 41 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 41 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Pasadena’s Rose Bowl hosted Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977. The game pitted the NFC champion Minnesota Vikings against the Oakland Raiders of the American Football Conference.

Minnesota Vikings 41 Years Ago

By the 1976 season, the Vikings were annually hosting playoff games in frigid Bloomington. Bud Grant’s squad was veteran-laden. For example, quarterback Fran Tarkenton was in his 16^th season. The Vikes got a big lift. in ’76 by adding an outstanding wide receiver named Sammy White. They played Ahmad Rashad at the other wide out position. Add to the mix Chuck Foreman out of the backfield and Pro Bowl tight end Stu Voigt. Suddenly, Minnesota had a big play offense to go along with their stellar defense.

The inimitable Buddy Ryan served as Grant’s defensive coordinator. The unit finished 2^nd in the NFL. They featured five starters that had played at least 10 seasons! The Vikings were especially stout against the pass. They combined their great pass rush with terrific play from their back-end.

This was the fourth consecutive season that Minnesota was the class of the NFC. However, Roger Staubach’s “Hail Mary” stunned the ’75 Vikings. They bounced back with a tremendous regular season.

In the ’76 playoffs, they stayed at home to eliminate Washington. In the championship game, the Vikings parlayed several first half breaks into a 17-0 lead. The Rams scored two touchdowns in the third to put a scare into the home team and their fans. However, midseason acquisition Sammy Johnson dashed 12 yards for a clinching score. Thus, Vikings’ fans were rewarded for sitting through single-digit wind chills.

Oakland Raiders 41 Years Ago

The Vikings’ opponent was the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders, under Hall-of-Fame coach John Madden, participated in the AFC Championship game four times in five seasons from 1971-1975. They were the winningest team in the league over that time. Unfortunately, they had not made the Super Bowl since the 1967 season where they got blasted by Green Bay.

The Raiders’ best players were on their offensive line – Art Shell & Gene Upshaw. On offense, they played with tremendous balance. Quarterback Ken “the snake” Stabler had weapons like Dave Casper, Cliff Branch and Fred Belitnikoff. But, they also had a sneaky good running attack thanks to 1000-yard rusher Mark van Eeghen, Clarence Davis and Pete Banaszak. Put it altogether and the Raiders went 13-1 in 1976.

Their only loss was against New England by a score of 48-17 early in the season. The Raiders exacted their revenge in the playoffs – barely. New England was called for an awful roughing the passer on fourth down with under two minutes to go. The Raiders scored and advanced. (Somehow, 25 years later, a critical call determined another Raiders-Pats’ playoff game.)

Oakland Beats Pittsburgh

After losing consecutive AFC championship games to Pittsburgh, the Raiders were primed and ready this season to knock off the two-time defending world champions. The Steelers played that game without Rocky Bleier and Franco Harris. The “Steel Curtain” had one of the greatest defensive seasons in NFL history. But, it was Oakland’s underrated defense that won this game.

Oakland’s defensive backfield was awesome. Willie Brown, Skip Thomas, Jack Tatum and George Atkinson were great in coverage, but exceptional at hitting in a day when the NFL did not prevent DB’s from destroying receivers.

Oakland did not mind bending or breaking the rules. In fact, they took pride in it. Nowadays, if the Patriots get a call on third down or the ball is a milli-ounce under the playing weight, everybody in the region pays for it. Back then, the Raiders were lauded for their cheating and rule-bending, even glorified for it.

One-sided Affair

The Super Bowl itself was a letdown. The Raiders’ huge offensive line knocked around Minnesota’s smallish-defensive linemen all day. It was not van Eeghen, it was Davis who exploded for chunk plays on offense. Stabler hit Belitnikoff on two different plays that ended up at the 1-yard line. Indeed, the veteran Belitnikoff, known for the globs of stickum he utilized, was the best player on the field that day.

The Raiders’ defense punished Viking ball carriers all day. The vintage moment of Super Bowl XI was Tatum hammering the defenseless White across the middle. The hit was so jarring, White’s helmet went flying.

The final score was 32-14 with Brown securing the game with a long interception return.

After 11 Super Bowls, Minnesota was 0-4 in such games, losing all by double-digits. They have not been back to this day. Contrariwise, the Raiders got back to the Super Bowl and won two more times under Al Davis.

The ’77 Raiders were great again. But they were thwarted by a club from their own division in their attempt to repeat.

Tomorrow, we will talk about that team and their legendary opponent from Super Bowl XII.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl X

Leave a reply

The Super Bowl is just 42 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 42 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Miami’s Orange Bowl hosted Super Bowl X on January 18, 1976. The game pitted the NFC champion Dallas Cowboys against the defending World Champion Pttsburgh Steelers of the American Football Conference. Dallas was making their third Super Bowl appearance in six seasons. Meanwhile, the Steelers rampaged through their season in an effort to repeat. After they endured decades of futility, Pittsburgh was now the NFL’s premier organization.

Dallas Cowboys 42 Years Ago

The 1975 Cowboys were not expected to compete for a title. Primarily, they featured a different cast of characters than the club that won Super Bowl VI. Of course, there was one huge exception. Quarterback. Indeed, Roger Staubach was no longer a game manager. He was one of the best players in the NFL. However, the Cowboys struggled in 1974 to an 8-6 record. Hence, it was time for a rebuild. And in 1975, teams did not reload and explode in one season like they are able to do in 2017.

Dallas defied the odds. They drafted tremendously in 1975. The Cowboys hit a home round with the #2 choice in the draft, Randy White. White was one of the best defensive tackles in NFL history. Additionally, with the 18th overall pick, Dallas chose Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, a lightning-quick outside linebacker. White and Henderson were added to a mix of young, talented defenders known as “Doomsday II.” Players like Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters, Harvey Martin, and Ed “Too Tall” Jones would be staples of the franchise for years to come.

On offense, Dallas added two Pearsons, running back Preston and wide receiver Drew, to the mix. Coach Landry also added the shotgun offense and pre-snap reads to his already innovative scheme. Thus, the Cowboys showed vast improvement right out of the gate. They opened with wins over divisional championship teams, the Los Angeles Rams and St. Louis Cardinals. Unfortunately, they stumbled a bit during a middle stretch of games as often the youthful teams do. They bounced back very well once they got into the playoffs. In their divisional round game, they made history.

Hail Mary

The Cowboys were decided underdogs when they traveled to Minnesota. The two-time defending NFC champion Vikings led practically the whole afternoon. But, with just under one minute to play, Staubach performed some magic. He completed consecutive passes to Drew Pearson. The second one was dubbed “Hail Mary” because Staubach later indicated that he tossed up the ball and said a prayer. The prayer was answered. Pearson and Nate Wright were a little grabby with each other, but Pearson emerged with the ball and the winning score. In the NFC championship game, the Cowboys came in with tons of momentum and steamrolled the Rams in the Coliseum, 37-7.

Pittsburgh Steelers 42 Years Ago

The Steelers came to the Super Bowl fresh off a splendid season. Many oundits point to 1978 as their best squad because Terry Bradshaw was so good that season. However, their most complete squad was the one that represented the AFC in Super Bowl X. First of all, they prevailed in one of the great divisions in league history. The AFC central of 1975 featured the 10-4 Houston Oilers, the 11-3 Cincinnati Bengals and the Steelers who ended up with a superb 12-2 record. They only lost one meaningful game all season – that to the Bills when OJ Simpson ran for an obscene 227 yards on the Steel Curtain.

In the playoffs, Pittsburgh crushed Bert Jones and the upstart Baltimore Colts. In the championship game, they played Oakland in icy conditions. Pittsburgh led 3-0 heading into what turned into a bizarre fourth quarter. The Raiders recovered an onside kick and hit a Hail Mary, but Cliff Branch was tackled short of the end zone and the Steelers were off to their second consecutive Super Bowl.

Super Bowl X Must See TV

Super Bowl X is a must see football game. The author of this piece (me) was one month old at the time and considers it one of the great games in NFL history. The Cowboys under the direction of Coach Landry came out of the shoots ready to go toe to toe with Pittsburgh. They ran a reverse on the opening kickoff to Henderson. It took kicker Roy Gerela to make the tackle. He bruised his ribs on the play. And he kicked poorly the rest of the day.

Dallas struck first on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Staubach to Pearson. Unbelievably, it was the only first quarter TD the Steelers allowed all season. Pittsburgh bounced back to tie the game at seven on a short TD pass from Bradshaw to Randy Grossman.

Pittsburgh Takes Control

The Cowboys and their no-name running backs pounded the rock on the next drive which produced three points before halftime. One story was developing in this ball game that was bigger than the score. The Steelers 2nd-year wide out from USC named Lynn Swann was putting on a show for the ages. He finished with four total receptions on the day. One was a circus catch along the sideline. Another was a juggling masterpiece as he was falling to the turf. Finally, he caught an extraordinary bomb from Bradshaw to put the Steelers up 21-10 late in the fourth. Simply put, Swann was spectacular. It was a performance for the ages.

Dallas, as always, did not quit. They scored with about three minutes to go to cut the lead to 21-17. Interestingly, Percy Howard scored on the play. Why is that interesting? It was his only career reception! The score was too little, too late as Staubach could not replicate his Hail Mary from earlier in the playoffs. The Steelers walked off the Orange Bowl field with another World Championship. That was 42 years ago!

Dallas was back two years later; Pittsburgh returned for Super Bowl XIII. In that ball game, it would be the Cowboys seeking a repeat.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl IX

Leave a reply

We are only 43 days away from Super Bowl LII. To commemorate this not so special occasion, let’s reminisce about the Super Bowl from 43 years ago. It was the NFC champion Minnesota Vikings taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers of the American Football Conference. Minnesota Iron vs. Pittsburgh Steel.

New Orleans hosted the game. Originally, It was scheduled for the comfort of the brand-new Superdome. However, the structure was not completed in time for the big game. So, for the third time, old Tulane Stadium was the venue.

Minnesota Vikings 43 Years Ago

The Vikings were playing in their third Super Bowl. They lost to Kansas City in January 1970. Then, the Dolphins dumped them in January 1974. Undeterred, they marched through their 1974 season with nary a glitch. Indeed, Minnesota came to Super Bowl VIII with virtually the same cast of characters from Super Bowl VIII.

During the regular season, the Vikings were led by the outstanding running back Chuck Foreman. Foreman was a threat in the running game, the passing game and he scored a lot. He would have been a fantasy football gem.

In the playoffs, the Vikings downed Don Coryell and his St. Louis Cardinals, 30-14 in frigid Metropolitan Stadium. The following week, Minnesota hosted the Los Angeles Rams.

In a hotly contested, low-scoring affair, the Vikings’ red zone play was the difference. The Rams got an incredible James Harris to Harold Jackson completion which put the Rams inside Minnesota’s five-yard line. But, the Vikes got a deflected interception to thwart the threat. They answered with an 80-yard scoring drive putting them up 14-3 in the fourth. They held on for a 14-10 victory.

Pittsburgh Steelers Defense 43 Years Ago

Their opponents in Super Bowl IX were the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers were all about one thing in 1974: defense. Their “steel curtain” was dynamite. In fact, that unit played arguably the best team defense over a three-year span (1974-76) in NFL history.

Joe Greene, LC Greenwood, Dwight White and Ernie Holmes played on the line. The linebackers were Jack Lambert, Andy Russell, and Jack Ham. In the backfield were Glen Edwards, Mike Wagner, JT Thomas and Mel Blount. Every one of those players made the Pro Bowl at least once in their career.

Indeed, “Mean” Joe Greene was Chuck Noll’s very first draft pick when he started his tenure as head coach in 1969. However, it was the 1974 draft that goes down in football annals. For, along with Lambert, Pittsburgh selected Lynn Swann, John Stallworth and Mike Webster. Yes, the Steelers drafted four Hall of Famers in one class!

Pittsburgh Steelers Offense 43 Years Ago

Perhaps the Steelers’ most popular players were QB Terry Bradshaw and RB Franco Harris. Harris was rock solid from the get go. Bradshaw, on the other hand, struggled through five seasons of mediocrity. Even during the 1974 championship season, many felt the Steelers should turn to Joe Gilliam as the full-time starter.

But, Bradshaw had a cannon for an arm and tremendous poise in big games. That arm and poise was on display in their opening round playoff win over OJ Simpson and the Buffalo Bills.

In the AFC Championship game, the Steelers traveled to Oakland to play John Madden and the Raiders. Pittsburgh and Oakland played in three straight championship games with the Steelers winning the first two. On this day, Ham came up with two interceptions and Franco Harris gashed Oakland’s defense for 111 yards and two scores. The Steelers clinched their first title in 42 seasons!

Defense Rules

Vegas posted the Steelers as 3-point favorites and a ridiculous 33 over/under. Thirty-three was a gift to total players as Minnesota barely threatened to score all game long. The Vikings’ only points came on a blocked punt return by strong safety Terry Brown.

Pittsburgh, on the other hand, moved the ball well thanks to their rushing attack. Harris finished the day with 158 yards and a third quarter touchdown. Somehow, late in the fourth quarter, the Vikings were still in the game despite their only accumulating 100 yards of total offense.

With the score 9-6, the Steelers led by Bradshaw and tight end Larry Brown drove for a clinching touchdown. Thus, Pittsburgh claimed their championship. This would not be their last. They successfully defended their title in 1975.

The Vikings were emotionally deflated. But, Bud Grant gracefully led them back for an ever better 1975. Unfortunately, they were upset at home by the young Dallas Cowboys. However, the Vikings made it back to the Super Bowl following the 1976. Oakland steamrolled the Vikings. And they have not been back to the big game.

Tomorrow, we’ll be 42 days away from Super Bowl LII. So, we’ll discuss the Super Bowl from 42 years ago between the Steelers and Cowboys. And, while Super Bowl IX was a dreadfully dull game, Super Bowl X was an amazing contest.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl VIII

Leave a reply

The Super Bowl is just 44 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 44 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Super Bowl VIII was played in Houston’s Rice Stadium on January 13, 1974. The game pitted the NFC champion Minnesota Vikings against the Miami Dolphins of the American Football Conference. Miami was the first team of the Super Bowl era to win three consecutive conference championships. A feat so significant, it has only happened once since. Minnesota was playing in their second Super Bowl. They were handled by the Chiefs in Super Bowl IV as the favorite. This time, they were the underdogs.

Minnesota Vikings 44 Years Ago

The Vikings were only underdogs because Miami was so good, not due to any significant deficiencies on their part. They exploded to a 9-0 start before finishing at 12-2. The team had a different look than the one that participated in the Super Bowl four years prior. They had the veteran scrambler, Fran Tarkenton at QB and the NFL Rookie of the Year, Chuck Foreman at running back. These Vikings were not as dominant as the 1969 team, but they were consistently good in all three phases of the game.

In the divisional round of the playoffs, Minnesota and the defending-NFC Champion Redskins went at it in a dogfight. With wind chill factors in the single digits, it was veteran Oscar Reed who stole the show with two 40+ yard plays from scrimmage. Tarkenton hit John Gilliam twice for second half scores and the Vikes outlasted Washington, 27-20.

In the NFC championship game at Dallas, the Vikings played an extraordinary defensive game holding the Cowboys to 150 yards and causing 6 turnovers. Gilliam scored again on a long one and Bobby Bryant had a pick six for Minnesota. Therefore, the Vikings clinched their date with Miami.

Miami Dolphins 44 Years Ago

The Dolphins came into Super Bowl VIII as a very mature, battle-tested ball club. Unlike the 1972 team, the ’73 Dolphins lost. In fact, they lost twice. Between those losses, they had a 10-game winning streak which included two wins over OJ Simpson during his 2000-yard season.

Miami was a gigantic favorite over the young Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round. And, they played like jumping out to a 21-3 lead. On the day, the Dolphins more than doubled the Bengals in points and in yards.

The following week, the Fins ruled the action again, this time over the silver and black. Oakland had been one of the teams to beat Miami earlier in the season and would be the team to take out the Dolphins in the 1974 playoffs. But, on this day, they were no match for the powerful Dolphins. Miami was so convincing in their control of the game, QB Bob Griese only threw six passes the entire game! Thus, the Dolphins were on to the Super Bowl yet again. Theirs was the first dynasty of the 1970’s.

Dolphin Domination

Vegas loved the Dolphins’ chance at repeating making them a solid touchdown favorite. They also loved the defenses in this game as they posted an astounding 33.5 over/under. However, that total may have seemed like it was in jeopardy early. On their first drive, the Dolphins utilized a brand of smash-mouth football that left their smallish defensive linemen reeling. Two drives resulted in two touchdowns. Csonka got the first one. Kiick notched the second. Yepremien added a field goal and the Dolphins were in complete control.

There was nothing for a Vikings’ fan to enjoy from this first half. Even when they moved the ball into the red zone late in the half, they fumbled from the six-yard line on fourth down. Next, they got a huge run back on the second half kickoff from Gilliam. Of course, it was called back due to a hold.

The Dolphins won the game, 24-7. Larry Csonka on 33 carries rushed for 145 yards and won MVP. Griese was 6 for 7 throwing the ball. He tossed three total passes over the final three quarters. That is ball control football and that is what Shula wanted his squad to do.

Miami continued to be competitive throughout the ’70’s. But, they never won another Super Bowl. They lost twice in the ’80s. The Vikings made it back the following the season and ran into a steel curtain.

We’ll take more about that Super Bowl tomorrow when we’re 43 days from the big game!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl VII

Leave a reply

The Super Bowl is just 45 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 45 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

The Los Angeles Coliseum hosted Super Bowl VII on January 14, 1973. The game pitted the NFC champion Washington Redskins against the Miami Dolphins of the American Football Conference.

Washington Redskins 45 Years Ago

Washington’s 1972 season was their best in 27 years. Fiery George Allen coached this roster that was littered with veterans and cast offs. They had a terrific running back, a great wide receiver, and 38 others of the blue-collar variety. In fact, Allen’s bunch was dubbed, “The Over-the-Hill” gang. Nobody embodied that reputation better than QB Billy Kilmer. Kilmer did not possess the body of an athlete. Rather, he played with the grit and heart that allowed him to play over 18 NFL seasons. He was only in the lineup due to an injury to all-time Redskins’ great Sonny Jurgensen. He took full advantage of his opportunity playing at an elite level in 1972.

The Redskins greatly relied on NFL MVP, Larry Brown. Brown made the All-Pro team in each of his first four seasons. But, ’72 was the best campaign of his career. He had 1700 yards from scrimmage and 8 rushing touchdowns. Future Hall of Famer Charley Taylor was possibly the best wide receiver in the NFC scoring 7 touchdowns of his own.

The Skins finished the season with the number three defense in the NFL. The “D” came up huge in a midseason win against their hated rival and defending champion Cowboys. That victory proved vital down the stretch as Washington won the division and Dallas got the wild card.

In their two NFC playoff games at RFK Stadium, the Skins allowed a total of 6 points to Green Bay and Dallas. The game against the Packers was particularly brutal as both Kilmer and Packers’ starting quarterback Scott Hunter got pulverized all day. The Redskins prevailed 16-3. One week later in front of their raucous home crowd, they defeated the Cowboys 26-3, clinching their first NFC championship.

Miami Dolphins 45 Years Ago

Their opponent in Super Bowl VII was the 16-0 AFC Champion Miami Dolphins. There are not enough superlatives to describe how good the Dolphins were in the early 1970s. In many ways there are overlooked when one discusses the greatest teams of all-time. People bring up the 1978 Steelers, 1989 49ers, 1992 Cowboys, etc. But, the Dolphins of 1972-73 were as good as all those teams and maybe better.

Don Shula was a great leader and game-time coach. Consider this: His 1967-68 Colts and 1972-73 Dolphins combined for a 58-5-2 record. How many starting QBs did he use over those four seasons? Four. That is coaching.

Shula’s masterpiece was his 1972 season especially since starting QB Bob Griese missed nine games due to injury. No problem. Ancient Earl Morrall was undefeated coming off the bench.

Miami topped Cleveland in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Dolphins did not play a great game overall, but Shula went to his bag of tricks and punter Larry Seiple rushed for 37 yards on a fake. Miami prevailed, 20-14. (By the way, this game was played one day after the Steelers defeated the Raiders on the “Immaculate Reception.”)

In the AFC Championship game, Griese came off the bench to rally Miami to a 21-17 victory. The unheralded Jim Kiick scored twice. The Dolphins were off to Super Bowl VII. Their date with history was to take place in Los Angeles against the Redskins and miraculously, they were a 1-point underdog.

Perfection vs. Emotion

From the outset, it was Miami’s defense that dictated the action. League MVP Larry Brown got abused. And, Washington could get nothing established through the air.

Contrariwise, Miami was able to move the ball behind their powerful offensive line. They used well-conceived sweeps where giant tackles matched up against the Skins’ small defensive backs and linebackers like Pat Fischer and Jack Pardee. And it was no match. The misdirection and power sweeps led to the neutralization of All-Pro Chris Hanburger. Thus, Miami rushed for 184 yards on the day.

The Dolphins’ first score came as a result of two perfect throws by the gallant Griese. One throw went to Warfield for 18 and the touchdown was scored by Howard Twilley from the twenty-eight.

The Dolphins intercepted Kilmer twice in the first half. Buoniconti robbed him late in the second half setting Kiick’s touchdown. The score was 14-0 at the half.

In the second half, Washington moved the ball on virtually every possession. However, each drive stalled in the red zone. They missed a field goal and late in the game, Miami cornerback Jake Scott recorded his second interception of the game. This one he ran out from his own end zone.

Scott’s interception put Miami in line to put this thing on ice. With just over two minutes to play, the ‘Fins lined up for a field goal. The Skins blocked it. Garo Yepremien, the tiny Cyprian kicker retrieved the ball and attempted to throw a pass. That turned into an utter comedy/horror show. The pigskin bounced into the air to be grabbed by a Redskin. Mike Bass took the trophy home and the lead was 14-7.

NFL History

Miami held on to win by that score and special team gaffe aside, completed the perfect season. Every season serves as a reminder that the ’72 Dolphins were the only team to complete a season with an undefeated record. The vaunted 2007 Patriots came the closest; just 40 seconds from football immortality, but it was not to be in Super Bowl XLII. The 1984 49ers came three points away from perfection. The 1985 Bears came one visit to Miami away from perfection. But, only one team did it. And, they deserve the special accolades they receive for such an incredible accomplishment. It has now stood for 45 seasons!

In 1973, Miami came back to defend their title. They whipped Minnesota 24-7.

The Redskins also had an excellent 1973 season. But, they did not win the Super Bowl until the ‘80s. Who did they beat? Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII.

Tomorrow, we will talk more about the forgotten 1973 Dolphins in our series – 51 Super Bowls in 51 days!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl VI

Leave a reply

The Super Bowl is just 46 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 46 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

New Orleans’ Tulane Stadium hosted Super Bowl VI on January 16, 1972. The game pitted the NFC champion Dallas Cowboys against the Miami Dolphins of the American Football Conference. The Cowboys were a perennial powerhouse by 1971. But, they could not seal the deal with a title. In ’66 and ’67, they lost heart breakers to Green Bay. In ’68 and ’69, they got whipped by the Browns. And in Super Bowl V, they choked away a tight one losing to the Colts, 16-13 on a last-second field goal. Thus, they earned their reputation, “Next Year’s Champion.”

Dallas Cowboys 46 Years Ago

The Cowboys started this season with a 4-3 record which included bad losses to the Saints and Bears. Coach Landry tried to use both Craig Morton and Roger Staubach as co-starting quarterbacks. That did not seem to work well for anybody. Unlike 1970, Landry eventually chose Staubach. There was too much upside with his gun-slinging and scrambling abilities. Once Landry made his choice, Dallas put together a nine-game winning streak. Staubach was absolutely fantastic en route to solidifying his place as possibly the best quarterback of the decade.

In addition to Staubach, the Cowboys had a three-headed monster at running back and some dynamic wide receivers. One of those wide outs was Chargers’ legend, Lance Alworth. Alworth, along with veterans Mike Ditka and Forrest Gregg added some great depth and leadership to an already loaded squad. On defense, “Doomsday” was as good as ever.

In the NFC divisional round, the Cowboys scored an extremely impressive win at Minnesota. The Vikings had finished 1971 with the #1-ranked defense in football and league-MVP Alan Page (yes, a defensive player won MVP). However, it was Dallas’ defense that knocked out the home team. They won 20-12. In the NFC championship game, Dallas played host to San Francisco in the first ever playoff game in the history of Texas Stadium. “Doomsday” was awesome. Duane Thomas scored in the 4th to give the Cowboys their second straight NFC championship by a score of 14-3.

Miami Dolphins 46 Years Ago

Their opponent was in their sixth year of existence – the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins were an expansion team in name only. They had extraordinary talent on both sides of the ball. Likewise, Don Shula was a mastermind Head Coach. Shula came into the 1971 season with a chip on his shoulder. The Jets embarrassed his Colts in Super Bowl III. Therefore, his stint in Baltimore came to an inglorious conclusion. His 1970 team in Miami improved as the season went on. But, Oakland knocked them out in the divisional round.

In 1971, Miami was clearly the best team in the AFC. On offense, they possessed a unique ground attack. Fullback Larry Csonka was a punishing runner, a precursor to backs like Christian Okoye or Jerome Bettis. Mercury Morris was all-speed and elusiveness in the vein of a Barry Sanders. Bob Griese was a terrific football player out of Purdue at quarterback. And, maybe the best of them all was wide receiver Paul Warfield. What a great offense!

They were very good on defense as well but without the name recognition of the Cowboys and Vikings. Consequently, they were nicknamed “the No Name Defense.” They finished third in yards allowed. And, they were very tough against the pass.

Dolphins Epic Playoff Win

Their Christmas Day game at Kansas City in the playoffs is simply one of the greatest games in NFL history. The momentum swung back and forth several times throughout the long afternoon. Miami could not stop Chiefs’ running back Ed Podolak who contributed over 300 yards of total offense. For the first time in NFL history, a ball game went into double overtime. Finally, Garo Yepremien kicked the winner for Miami and they advanced to the AFC championship game.

In the title game, Shula was very gratified by a 21-0 destruction of his former team. They intercepted Unitas three times and Warfield scored on an electrifying touchdown. The win catapulted the Dolphins to their first Super Bowl – this in the infant stages of their franchise.

Dallas Dominance

Admittedly, the Dolphins played like they were just happy to be there. Dallas was much more focused, much more aggressive all day. To this day, the Dolphins are the only team to not a score a touchdown in a Super Bowl. The Super Bowl from 46 years ago was drab. So, here are the only highlights:

Duane Thomas rushed 19 times for 95 yards and a touchdown. However, Staubach won the MVP of the Super Bowl. He hit veterans Alworth and Ditka for touchdowns. Bob Lilly registered a ridiculous 29-yard sack of Bob Griese. And, Larry Csonka fumbled during the first quarter. He had not fumbled the entire season, over 300 touches.

And that is about it. This was not a great game by any standards. In fact, it was boring. But, for Coach Landry and his Cowboys, it ranks as one of the sweet days in franchise history. Dallas garnered great success in the ’70’s. Hence, they became known as “America’s Team.” Their cheerleaders, stadium and fans were almost as popular as their players.

For Miami, it served as a catalyst for the greatest team in NFL history – the 1972 17-0 Miami Dolphins. We’ll focus more on that team and their incredible achievement tomorrow!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl V

Leave a reply

The Super Bowl is just 47 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 47 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Super Bowl V was played in Miami at the historic Orange Bowl on January 17, 1971. The game pitted the NFC champion Dallas Cowboys against the Baltimore Colts of the American Football Conference. This was the first Super Bowl played following the merger of the NFL and AFL. Therefore, 1970 was one of the most competitive and compelling seasons in league history.

Dallas Cowboys 47 Years Ago

The Cowboys had anything but smooth sailing during the 1970 season. They started the season with a 5-4 record. They lost to Minnesota by 41 and St. Louis by 38. Thus, things had to change and quickly before the season spiraled completely out of control. One thing Coach Tom Landry decided was to stick with Craig Morton as his starting QB over Roger Staubach. Morton was a better “game manager” at that point in their respective careers. And, Morton managed to run Landry’s offense just fine over their seven game winning streak that got them ‘Boys into the Super Bowl.

The true strength of this team was their “Doomsday Defense.” To be sure, Landry was one of the greatest defensive minds in NFL history. And he put his wisdom and the profound talents of Bob Lilly, Chuck Howley and Jethro Pugh to good use during their 1970 playoff run. After blanking Detroit, 5-0, they defeated the 49ers in the NFC championship game. Running backs Duane Thomas and Walt Garrison combined for 300 yards from scrimmage in San Francisco. This match up was the first installment of the tremendous San Fran-Dallas rivalry.

Baltimore Colts 47 Years Ago

The Colts came into the Super Bowl under the direction of first-year Head Coach Don McCafferty. McCafferty replaced Don Shula after a disappointing 1969 season. The ’69 season was a nightmare for the Colts. They suffered a severe post-Super Bowl hangover. Indeed, their drudgery was made worse by the constant reminders of how Joe Namath guaranteed the win and how the AFL had no business beating an NFL team.

McCafferty was an anti-Shula. He was a players’ coach. Where Shula was borderline drill sergeant, McCafferty was almost completely hands off. The tactic seemed to work well for the veteran Colts. While they were not spectacular in 1970, they were workmanlike and consistent. Their offense was ranked 6th; their defense was 7th. On offense, they were led by the best QB of the generation, Johnny Unitas. Unitas was past his prime by 1970, but did enough to help Baltimore score 44 points in their two playoff games.

On defense, the Colts ran an aggressive scheme with the emphasis on causing turnovers. Bubba Smith and Mike Curtis anchored the unit that halted the Bengals’ seven-game winning streak in the divisional round of the playoffs, 17-0. They followed that by outlasting Oakland, 27-17. The defense knocked out Raiders’ QB, Daryle Lamonica and picked off back up George Blanda three times. The Colts now had the opportunity to erase the disaster of Super Bowl III against a team from Dallas that could not seem to win the big one.

Blunder Bowl

Super Bowl V turned into a fiasco from the outset. The Colts kept turning the ball over and the Cowboys kept killing their own drives with penalties. One could never have known these were two best teams in football watching this game. The was not a well-played contest. But, it was entertaining.

With Baltimore trailing 6-0 in the second quarter, Unitas threw a pass that got deflected twice. It found its way into the waiting hands of All-Pro tight end John Mackey. Mackey dashed all the way for the 75-yard touchdown. Rookie kicker Jim O’Brien missed the extra point, however.

Before the break, Dallas got a TD from the eccentric Thomas on a swing pass. That score and an incredible goal line stand for Dallas made the halftime score, 13-6. The Colts suffered another setback when Unitas broke some ribs on a scramble. Hence, Earl Morrall, the embattled 36-year old, was pressed for duty.

The second half was a turnover festival. The teams combined for seven in the half. The Cowboys fumbled on the goal line and the refs ruled Colts’ recovery. After that, Baltimore controlled the play, but squandered several opportunities. Finally, midway through the 4th, they tied it.

O’Brien Clinches Victory

Rick Volk intercepted Morton and darted to the three-yard line. Tom Nowatzke powered home two plays later to tie the game with only seven minutes left.

The teams exchanged punts. That set Dallas up with the ball and under two minutes to play. They went backwards. Then, Curtis picked off Morton. Hence, the Colts were about to make history.

O’Brien came on to attempt a 32-yarder to give the Colts their first Super Bowl championship. The kick was true causing Lilly to hurl his helmet high into the air. It was yet another bitter defeat for the Cowboys and jubilation for the Colts.

The Orioles had just won the World Series a few months earlier to erase their despair over a shocking 1969 defeat to a NY team. Now, it was the Colts’ turn. However, many of the players to this day remark that the win, although sweet, never measured up to the sour feelings from losing Super Bowl III. Either way, Unitas got his Super Bowl ring.

Dallas would be back the following season. They played in 5 Super Bowls in total under Tom Landry. Meanwhile, the Colts would not get back to the Super Bowl again while playing in Baltimore. The franchise relocated in 1984 to Indianapolis. Baltimore got the Ravens in 1996.

So, there you have it; the Super Bowl from 47 years ago. Tomorrow, we’ll review how the Cowboys dismantled Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl IV

Leave a reply

The Super Bowl is just 48 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 48 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

New Orleans was the home of Super Bowl IV. The game was played in ancient Tulane Stadium on January 11, 1970. The game pitted the NFL champion Minnesota Vikings against the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League. This game was historic for a number of reasons. But, it was a landmark affair due to it being the last game in AFL history. The merger was set to take effect for the 1970 season. Coming off the Jets’ victory in Super Bowl III, the AFL was confident while Vegas remained skeptical. Hence, the Vikes were installed as a double-digit favorite.

Minnesota Vikings 48 Years Ago

Bud Grant’s Vikings were virtually unbeatable in NFL play in 1969. They finished 1st in offense AND defense and rattled off a 12-game winning streak. The best player in all of football at the time, Alan Page, anchored their powerful defensive line. Legends Jim Marshall, Carl Eller and Paul Krause joined Page on the defense which was known as the “purple people-eaters.” They yielded a TOTAL of 133 points over 14 games.

The offense was just as spectacular that season led by quarterback Joe Kapp. Kapp, a CFL-transplant, recorded by far his best campaign in the league in 1969 and won NFL MVP. On offense, the Vikes put up over 50 points on three different occasions. But, they were not flashy. They were all about brute force and power. That style was on display in their frigid home playoff games. They survived despite a valiant effort by John Brodie’s 49ers in the divisional round. Then, they crushed the Browns. Thus, Minnesota earned their first NFL championship.

Kansas City Chiefs 48 Years Ago

Their opponents from the AFL were the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs outlasted the defending world-champion Jets in the AFL Championship game after holding off Oakland in the western division. Since their appearance in Super Bowl I, they had added Willie Lanier and Curley Culp. Consequently, in addition to their wide open offense, they now possessed perhaps the greatest defense in AFL history.

Chiefs Clearly Superior

Both teams moved the ball well early aided by turnovers and penalties. On Minnesota’s first possession, Grant decided against a 46-yard field goal attempt. The Chiefs, on their ensuing drive, decided for attempting a 48-yard field goal by future Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud. And, he nailed it giving KC the 3-0 lead. Two field goals and two fumbles later, the Chiefs were in prime position to take a commanding lead. NFL Films famously recorded Chiefs’ coach Hank Stram call the next play: “65 toss power trap!” The play worked as Mike Garrett ran through a gaping hole for touchdown giving the Chiefs a 16-0 lead.

Minnesota finally scored on their first drive of the second half when Dave Osborn powered home from the four. But, the Chiefs responded. From the Vikings’ forty-six, Len Dawson hit Otis Taylor on a short out. He broke a tackle. And, the rest is history. Taylor’s scamper down the near sideline stands as one of the vintage moments of early Super Bowl history. Likewise, it put the Vikings away for good.

The AFL tied the NFL at two wins apiece. Hence, the Chiefs’ dismantling of the mighty Vikings proved that there definitely was league-wide parity.

1970 would usher in a new era of pro football. There were two conferences formed: the AFC & NFC. Each conference had three divisions. So, the Colts, Browns and Steelers had to move from the NFL to the AFC to even things out.

The Chiefs have not returned to the Super Bowl since that great victory. Contrariwise, Minnesota returned three times only to lose all of those.

Tomorrow, we will take a look at Super Bowl V aka “The Blunder Bowl.”

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl III

Leave a reply

We are just 49 days away from Super Bowl Sunday! Let’s look back on the iconic third Super Bowl featuring the NFL’s Baltimore Colts and the AFL’s New York Jets. Super Bowl III was played at Miami’s Orange Bowl.

Baltimore Colts 49 Years Ago

Over the course of history, we have known some great teams that did not win the Super Bowl. The 2007 Patriots, 1998 Vikings and 2001 Rams jump off the page in that regard. But, before all those teams were conceived, there was one obvious candidate – the 1968 Baltimore Colts.

That Colts’ team did not have Hall of Famers across the field like Lombardi’s Packers. They did not possess any flair like the great AFL teams of the era. But, they did have Don Shula. And, Shula brought to that organization his signature toughness on defense. Hence, the Colts pummeled everything in their path on the road to Super Bowl III.

The Colts finished the regular season at 13-1. They scored over 400 points on the season while surrendering just 144. In the playoffs, they pushed around the Vikings and punished Cleveland giving them their first NFL title since 1959.

One of the most interesting tidbits about this incredible unit is they did it without Johnny Unitas. Unitas was injured during the preseason, so Shula turned to the venerable Earl Morrall. Morrall proceeded to have the best season of his twenty-year career, winning the NFL MVP award.

If their offense was good, their defense was fantastic. Led by Bill Arnsparger and Chuck Noll, the Colts pounded all but one regular season opponent. The defense was excellent at all three levels and featured all-world defensive end Bubba Smith.

New York Jets 49 Years Ago

Their opponents in Super Bowl III were the New York Jets. The Jets had the most popular player in professional football on their team; the eccentric Joe Namath. Namath took New York city by storm and it didn’t all have to do with his performance on the field. He resembled the counter-culture of the time with his long hair and white shoes.

Namath was a good football player, not great. But, for his time, he was a gunslinger. And, that brand of football was only found in the AFL. Led by Namath and a great receiving corps with the likes of George Sauer and Don Maynard, New York went 11-3 over the regular season. They then stunned the defending-AFL champion Raiders in a classic 27-23 to earn their first title and the trip to face the Colts in the Super Bowl.

The Colts were overwhelming favorites. Consequently, in some circuits, Vegas posted the Jets as 20-point underdogs. However, the cocky Namath guaranteed that his team would win. Subsequently, that prediction became the main story of the day and should have been bulletin-board material for Baltimore.

Jets Not Intimidated

The Jets held one crucial advantage. Their head coach was former-Colts head man, Weeb Ewbank. Ewbank called a superior game on offense. The Jets known for their loose passing game went conservative. Indeed, the numbers bear that running back Matt Snell was the work horse on the day. When Namath did pass, he focused on the possession-minded Sauer. A nice mix of pass and run allowed New York to strike first. They led 7-0 at the half.

On defense, the Jets’ defense could not prevent the Colts from moving the ball, but they could prevent them from scoring. Morrall tossed three first half interceptions, all deep in Jets’ territory. One of the picks occurred late in the half on a gadget play where Morrall failed to see the intended receiver (Jimmy Orr) running wide open in the post.

After a slew of missed opportunities, Shula turned to Unitas. But, he could only briefly rekindle his magic. Trailing 16-0, Johnny U led the Colts on a late TD march. But, it was too little and too late. Hence, New York pulled off the improbable upsetting the Colts, 16-7.

AFL Victory

This was not just a victory for the Jets, it was a victory for professional football. There were serious doubts that AFL teams could actually compete with NFL 49 years ago. The Jets did not just win this game. They implemented a strategy that allowed them to CONTROL the game, especially the second half.

The loss sent shockwaves throughout the football world. Shula only coached one more season in Baltimore. He left for Miami and helped build a dynasty there. Without Shula, the Colts won Super Bowl V.

The Jets, to the day, have not returned to the Super Bowl. Namath remained the sport’s most popular player until the emergence of OJ Simpson. But, by the 70’s, Namath was never the same.

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about the Super Bowl from 48 years ago and see if the AFL evened up the series!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl II

Leave a reply

The Super Bowl is just 50 days away. So, let’s look at the Super Bowl from 50 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Miami’s Orange Bowl played host to Super Bowl II on January 14, 1968. The game pitted the NFL champion Green Bay Packers against the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League.

In 1967, the NFL had 16 teams divided into four divisions. Thus, the Packers were in their first season as a member of the central division. That division composed of the Pack, Lions, Bears and Vikings now called the NFC north exists to this day. (It included the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1977-2001). The NFL/NFC central division was known for its tough hitting. So, it was dubbed “the black and blue division” virtually from the outset.

Green Bay Packers 50 Years Ago

While Green Bay’s defense was as strong as ever in ’67, the offense was up and down. The departure of future Hall of Famers Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor hurt Green Bay’s rushing game. Hence, they had four backs with at least 77 carries and none with more than 466 yards on the season. Their lack of a rushing attack impacted Bart Starr’s effectiveness as he tossed only 9 touchdown passes along with 17 interceptions. But, when the games counted, Green Bay prospered.

That started in the playoffs as they ripped one-loss Los Angeles, 28-7. The Pack held Roman Gabriel and the Rams to just 217 yards of total offense and turned back several good scoring opportunities. Next, the Packers played in an NFL Championship game rematch with the Dallas Cowboys. This time, the game was played in Green Bay and the legend of the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field was born. Fittingly, the game was called the “Ice Bowl.”

In one of the coldest games in league history, the Packers outlasted Dallas, 21-17. Green Bay scored with just 16 seconds left from the one on a QB sneak by Starr. Rightfully, it goes down in history as one of the greatest game-winning drives in one of the greatest NFL games of all-time.

Oakland Raiders 50 Years Ago

Oakland dealt with no adversity on their road to the 1967 AFL championship. They cruised to a 13-1 record. Subsequently, they trounced Houston in the championship game, 40-7. The Raiders’ offense fielded a strong unit. At quarterback was the “mad bomber,” Daryle Lamonica. They fielded playmakers like Hewritt Dixon, Bill Miller and the amazing Fred Biletnikoff. Their defense was solid too. In fact, John Madden was their very young linebacker coach!

The stage was set for Super Bowl II. Oddsmakers made Green Bay huge favorites for the second straight season and they lived up to the hype.

Green Bay’s Big Plays

The difference in the game came down to three things – big plays, turnovers and field goals.

The Raiders punted on their first three drives. But, they held their own on defense…until Starr hit Boyd Dowler for a 62-yard touchdown in the middle of the second quarter. The big play gave the Pack a 13-0 lead.

Oakland bounced right back with a great 78-yard drive where Lamonica was 5-for-5. Ultimately, he hit Miller from the 22 cutting the Packers’ lead to 13-7. However, Green Bay scored twenty consecutive points. Their last score came on a Willie Wood pick six.

The second half turned into a coronation as a truly great era in history was coming to an end. Vince Lombardi’s Packers were the first dynasty of the Super Bowl era. Green Bay set the bar. They were well-coached. They played fundamental football. Likewise, they crushed their opponents while they were down.

So, Lombardi’s guys carried him off the field after the win. It was his last game on the Pack sideline. His legacy speaks for itself as the Super Bowl winner receives the “Lombardi Trophy.” Sadly, three years later, he passed away from cancer.

As an organization, the Packers drifted into mediocrity. Consequently, they sniffed the playoffs only a few times until Brett Favre joined the club in the early 90’s. The Raiders, on the other hand, emerged as a power for the next two decades. They won three Super Bowls over eight seasons and from 1967-1986 held the highest winning percentage in all of sports.

Tomorrow, we’ll discuss the iconic Super Bowl from 49 years ago.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_bills