Tag Archives: cowboys

Dez Bryant to the Patriots?

Dez Bryant in a Patriots Uniform?

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (right) talks with receiver Dez Bryant (88) before an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, November 15, 2015. The Buccaneers defeated the Cowboys, 10-6. (James D. Smith via AP)Dez Bryant is about to be released by the Dallas Cowboys. With Brandin Cooks gone and the lack of a deep threat, should the Patriots try to sign Dez Bryant? Overall, Dez Bryant has scored 73 touchdowns in his career. Bryant could be the missing piece the Patriots need to fill the whole of Brandin Cooks. New England comes into this season without Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks. Cooks wasn’t really productive when he was here, but the hole Danny Amendola is leaving is big. Especially in the playoffs. Jordan Matthews has some big shoes to fill to replace Danny Amendola.

Dez Bryant Has Similarities to Randy Moss

Via Caleb RandallDez Bryant is your Randy Moss type of receiver regarding his personality. Randy Moss, though, was much worse in Oakland than Bryant is with the Cowboys. Bryant can really have the chance to win in New England and be productive in the Patriot offense. It will be a big loss for Dallas, but he deserves a chance at being on a winning team. Dallas is good; they just seem to be missing pieces like leadership.

As for the Patriots, Julian Edelman is coming back from an ACL injury. Rob Gronkowski has a hard time staying on the field. As for Jordan Matthews, he played in ten games last season and had one touchdown. Bryant played in 16 games last season and scored six touchdowns. If Edelman, Gronkowski, or Matthews gets hurt, at least Brady will have someone decent to throw too.

Today Bryant will meet with Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones to discuss his future with the Cowboys. Let’s see how this plays out. If he gets released, the Patriots should be all in on him. Who knows, he could be a legit player for the Patriots for a few years beyond this one too.

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XXX

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The Super Bowl is just 22 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 22 years ago to honor this not-that-significant occasion!

Tempe hosted Super Bowl XXX on January 28, 1996. The game pitted the NFC champion Dallas Cowboys against the Pittsburgh Steelers of the American Football Conference. This was the first and only time that franchises met in the Super Bowl on a third occasion. The Steelers won both tussles in the 70’s. This time, they were the decided underdog.

Dallas Cowboys 22 Years Ago

Under Coach Barry Switzer, the Cowboys were one of three very strong NFC teams. They would battle the 49ers led by Steve Young and the Packers with NFL MVP Brett Favre for conference supremacy. The Cowboys whisked Deion Sanders away from San Francisco during the offseason. Therefore, teams would frequently go after the “other” starting cornerback, Larry Brown.

The 1995 regular season was absolutely wild for the Cowboys. Switzer focused on the run game. Thus, Emmitt Smith broke the then-record with 25 touchdowns in one season – all rushing. Dallas secured several exciting wins amid their 12-4 campaign. On opening night, they blasted the Giants. A few weeks later, they got a great OT against Minnesota. And, on Thanksgiving, they showed the AFC-leading Chiefs who was boss with a 24-12 victory.

The season featured some confounding losses as well. They were swept by the 6-10 Redskins, crushed at home by the 49ers, and lost at Philadelphia in perhaps the most memorable game of the season. On a 4^th and one with two minutes to go, the Eagles stuffed Smith on the Cowboys’ twenty-nine. The whistle had blown, so Dallas ran the same play. And…Philly stopped them again. The Eagles won, 20-17.

In the playoffs, Dallas walloped Philly and overcame Favre and the Pack in a fun NFC championship game. Dallas was on their way to their third Super Bowl in four seasons. Could they do the unprecedented and win it?

Pittsburgh Steelers 22 Years Ago

Alfredo Quintana

They would be facing the Steelers under young coach Bill Cowher. Cowher developed a team in his own image. They were tough, hard-nosed and relentless. Their best player on offense was WR Yancey Thigpen. Thigpen finished with over 1300 yards receiving. Overall, the Steelers finished 5^th in the league in offense behind QB Neil O’Donnell and the running tandem of Erric Pegram and Bam Morris.

The Steelers 3^rd-ranked defense was led by Kevin Greene, Carnell Lake and first team All-pro Greg Lloyd. During the early portion of the ’95 season, the Steelers’ defense underachieved. Hence, Pittsburgh limped to a 3-4 start. But, the Steelers got their act together and did not lose until the final week in the season when Thigpen dropped a potential game-winner at Green Bay.

The 11-5 Steelers survived a gutsy effort from the banged-up Bills to get to the AFC championship game. When Indianapolis shocked the top-seeded KC Chiefs, it meant the Steelers would get to host the AFC championship game. In a superb game, Pittsburgh came back to win with just 2 minutes to go. The Colts had one last-ditch “Hail Mary” thrown by Jim Harbaugh that barely fell incomplete. So, Pittsburgh won their first AFC championship in 17 seasons!

Surprise MVP

The Cowboys were not particularly sharp on this Super Bowl Sunday on offense. They only compiled 250 total yards. But, in the first half, they got a big gainer to Deion Sanders and a TD pass to Jay Novacek. This paved the way to a 13-0 lead. However, the Steelers kept hanging around. O’Donnell hit Thigpen to cut the lead to six points at the break.

Pittsburgh moved the ball well when they fed Morris. When they threw, though, the results were disastrous. O’Donnell tried to avoid Sanders. But, he lacked good communication with his receivers. He tossed three interceptions total. Two of those were by Larry Brown. Both of Brown’s returns ended up in the Steelers’ red zone and resulted in Emmitt Smith scores.

The Steelers got very close when they kicked a field goal and recovered an onside kick. Their TD moments later cut the lead to 20-17. Unfortunately, O’Donnell’s last interception sealed the deal. Dallas won their third championship in 4 seasons, the first team ever to accomplish such an achievement.

Those Cowboys have a secure place in NFL history. Aikman, Irvin, Emmitt, Deion, and Charles Haley are all in the Hall of Fame. However, the ’95 team is the last to play in the Super Bowl.

For the Steelers, coach Cowher would get his Super Bowl victory ten seasons later. Subsequently, Cowher passed the torch to Mike Tomlin and Pittsburgh continues to be one of the top organizations in the NFL.

Tomorrow, we’ll read about the rise of a gunslinger and Super Bowl XXXI.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XXVII

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The Super Bowl is just 25 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 25 years ago to honor this not so significant occasion!

Pasadena’s Rose Bowl hosted Super Bowl XXVII, on January 31, 1993. The game pitted the NFC champion Dallas Cowboys against the two-time defending AFC champion, Buffalo Bills.

Dallas Cowboys 25 Years Ago

The Cowboys, known as “America’s Team” due to their tremendous popularity in the late ’70’s, had fallen on hard times in the late ’80s. But, Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson replaced the venerable Tom Landry regime and heads rolled. The biggest deal accomplished by this traded Herschel Walker to Minnesota for a truckload of draft picks. Those pieces assembled formed a Cowboys team that excelled in all phases of the game during the ’90s. It is one thing to have a lot of draft picks, it is quite another to draft wisely. And, the Cowboys of this era had a lot more hits than misses.

Emmitt Smith out of Florida was an instant success after college in 1990. He joined QB Troy Aikman and WR Michael Irvin to form “the triplets.” The triplets were joined by an outstanding offensive line, fullback Daryl Johnston, tight end Jay Novacek and WR2 Alvin Harper to form the 4th-ranked offense of 1992.

The 1992 Dallas Cowboys had one of the greatest and most underrated defenses in NFL history. One word to describe this defense was: speed. Coach Johnson and defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt expertly used a defensive line rotation that was nearly impossible to run against. Dallas did not have big, strong linebackers. Instead, they used an ultra-quick group. Robert Jones, Ken Norton, Vinson Smith and Dixon Edwards flew to the ball. Their safeties were very sound as well with James Washington and Darren Woodson patrolling the back end.

America’s Team is Back

On opening day, the Cowboys made a statement by shutting down the defending champion Redskins, 23-10. Although the 49ers were the clear-cut favorite in the NFC, Dallas gained momentum with each passing week. San Francisco and Dallas were on a collision course in the NFC title game. And, this game did not disappoint. The 49ers had effectively begun their own dynasty when they defeated Dallas in the 1981 NFC championship game. The Cowboys’ organization and fans were out for revenge. For anybody who has not watched this game, it’s a ‘must-review!’

Dallas took a 24-13 lead midway throught the 4th quarter. Led by Steve Young and Jerry Rice in their respective primes, the 49ers were not about to quit. They stormed down the field cutting the lead to four. Dallas received the ensuing kickoff, which was returned to the 20. On the very next play, instead of sitting on the ball, Aikman hit Harper on a deep slant-in and he was off to the races. The play racked up 70 yards. Dallas scored a few plays later to ice the game, 30-20. In hindsight, this was the real Super Bowl. The two best teams in the NFL from 1992-1994 were unquestionably Dallas and San Francisco.

Buffalo Bills 25 Years Ago

The AFC was much more wide open. Six teams all with 10-6 or 11-5 records would battle for the AFC championship. The Bills were seeking their third consecutive trip to the Super Bowl. Their defense improved by leaps and bounds over their 1991 effort. And, for the third straight season, the Bills finished in the top two on offense. However, the Bills lost in the season finale at Houston. The loss cost Buffalo homefield advantage as well as the AFC East division. Houston and Buffalo were scheduled to play in the Wild Card game the following Sunday, but Jim Kelly injured his knee to make matters worse. He would be out 2-3 weeks.

Circle the Wagons

The Oilers were led by Warren Moon, and the magnificent run-‘n-shoot attack. They ran roughshod over the Bills in the first half, as Moon threw four TD passes. In the early moments of the third quarter, Bubba McDowell returned a deflected pass from the arm of Frank Reich, into the end zone for a 35-3 lead. (*I have been to dozens of Bills’ games, and after that pick six, the stadium was so quiet, you could hear the Oilers yelling exuberantly!)

Buffalo bounced right back with a short scoring drive. Then, they recovered an onside kick and scored again. After a three-and-out and horrendous punt, Buffalo scored again. Henry Jones next intercepted a pass and Buffalo…scored again. This one came on a fourth and five from the 18. Frank Reich hit a wide open Andre Reed over the middle. In six minutes, the score went from 35-3 to 35-31. (**This was the loudest stadium I have ever been in!)

The fourth quarter morphed into something that looked normal again. The Bills moved the ball well to lead 38-35 with about four minutes to go. Houston tied it with less than a minute remaining. In overtime, Nate Odomes intercepted Moon on the second play. Steve Christie came on to kick the field goal giving the Bills the unbelievable win.

Buffalo was riding high when they beat Pittsburgh 24-3. And, Kelly returned to lead them to a “not as close as it sounds” 29-10 win over the Dolphins in the AFC championship game. Amazingly, Buffalo was going back to the Super Bowl for the third straight time.

Dallas Dominates Super Bowl XXVII

The Bills got off to a good start in the Super Bowl. Steve Tasker blocked a punt and Thurman Thomas scored, giving them a 7-0 lead. That would be Thurman’s only highlight, though. Both teams moved the ball very well in the first half. However, only Dallas parlayed those yards into points. Aikman was on fire, throwing for three first half touchdowns. Kelly was not. He threw two interceptions and he fumbled. The fumble was snatched by Jimmie Jones for a TD. Sadly, Kelly was knocked out from the ball game. Enter Frank Reich, who could not replicate his wild-card game magic. He was intercepted and Thomas fumbled. At halftime, Buffalo trailed 28-10 and had turned the ball over five times.

They cut the lead to 31-17 on the final play of the third quarter on a TD by Don Beebe. However, Dallas and their superior athleticism dominated the rest of the way. They destroyed Reich. He fumbled two more times and threw another interception. Steve Tasker’s fumble gave the Bills nine total turnovers on the game!

The defining moment of this football game came late in the fourth quarter with Dallas leading 52-17. Leon Lett was returning a Reich fumble all the way. As he neared the goal line, he carelessly extended the ball to his side. Beebe came screaming down the sidelines and knocked the ball away an inch before Lett crossed the plane. So, Dallas only won by 35 points.

Dallas won their first of three Super Bowls in four seasons. They were a truly impressive team. And, they would get another chance to beat Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVIII. Tomorrow, we’ll talk about that game!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XXVIII

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The Super Bowl is just 24 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 24 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Atlanta hosted Super Bowl XXVIII on January 30, 1994. The game pitted the defending World Champion Dallas Cowboys against the three-time defending AFC champion Buffalo Bills. It was a Super Bowl rematch that turned out to be a mismatch.

Dallas Cowboys 24 Years Ago

The Cowboys lost their first two games, including one at home to Buffalo. Emmitt Smith’s hold out demonstrated just how valuable he was to his team. He came back after week two and put together an outstanding campaign. One of the most remarkable performances in NFL history, his grit and toughness in the season finale vs. the Giants was on prominent display. The winner would get home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Smith separated his shoulder early in the ball game. It was explained to him that nothing could be done. Sit it out or play through the pain. He chose the latter. All he did after that was rush for 180 yards and catch 10 passes. The win was vital. Dallas cruised in their two home playoff games. Although Troy Aikman suffered a concussion in the NFC title game, he would be good to go for the Super Bowl.

Buffalo Bills 24 Years Ago

Buffalo’s 1993 season was remarkable. Marv Levy was at his best motivating his squad to get back to their fourth consecutive Super Bowl. The offense was sharp as always. Two veterans emerged with surprisingly outstanding seasons: Bill Brooks and Pete Metzelaars.

The defense was an enigma. They were ranked 27th in yards, but 5th in points allowed. So, Walt Corey’s unit offered the true definition of ‘bend, don’t break.’ They put that defensive style to the test in frigid Orchard Park. In the divisional round, the Raiders, led by a familiar foe in Jeff Hostetler, gave the Bills all they could handle. However, Steve Tasker’s huge kickoff return and two Kelly-to -Brooks’ touchdowns gave Buffalo a 29-23 win. In the championship game, Buffalo received an outstanding production from the great Thurman Thomas. They also took advantage of several Chiefs’ mistakes. The final: Buffalo 30; Joe Montana and the Chiefs 13. It was on to Atlanta and a date with Dallas.

Tale of Two Halves

The Bills played a nice first half. They implemented a short, possession-based passing attack. They controlled the line of scrimmage and allowed Dallas to convert very few big plays. Steve Christie set a Super Bowl record by kicking a 54-yard field goal.

Late in the first half, Buffalo led 10-6 when they forced Aikman into throwing an interception to Nate Odomes. The pick resulted in a late field goal and a 13-6 haltime lead. Would this be the year? No.

Dallas totally and completely smothered the Bills in the second half. The bashing started immediately. Thomas fumbled and James Washington weaved his way in for a score. The three and outs kept coming for Buffalo. The sustained Emmitt-led drives kept coming for Dallas. It was genuinely heartbreaking for Bills’ fans. Buffalo’s fourth straight Super Bowl loss would be their last appearance in the big dance. Since then, Bills’ fans have dealt with a brutal stretch, going 17 seasons without a playoff berth.

On the other hand, Dallas deserved this championship. When it comes to the best teams in the history of the NFL, the 1992-93 two-time champion Cowboys are not discussed enough. Their offense was run magnificently by Norv Turner, and their defense possessed speed that may have been unparalleled. After the season, Jimmy Johnson departed. But, the Cowboys under Barry Switzer had two more amazing seasons. One ended up in the Super Bowl; the other ended in San Francisco!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

Week 16 Winners and Losers

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‘Twas quite the holiday weekend in the NFL. The Chiefs and Rams behaved well enough to find a playoff berth under their tree this year. However, others must have been not-so-well behaved. The Raiders, Dolphins, Lions and Cowboys found nothing but a way ticket to their couch during playoff time. In other news, Jimmy G and the Niners keep rolling, and the Browns did that thing they do once again. Below are Week 16’s biggest winners and losers.

WEEK 16 WINNERS

KANSAS CITY: 29-13 W vs MIAMI

chiefswire.usatoday.com

The Chiefs earn a well deserved spot under the winners column this week. The reason is not for pulling off an impressive win over a tough opponent. The reason is because many counted them out after falling to 6-6 following a hot 5-0 start. A very underwhelming seven game stretch for Kansas City had their playoff hopes looking slim. However, thanks the regression of other AFC West teams, they remained in the race. It appears the Chiefs have learned from their rough stretch and are back to their normal selves again.

Their dominant Week 16 win over Miami extended their win streak to three games and brought their record to 9-6. During the streak they scored at least 26 points and have not allowed more than 15, outscoring opponents 85-41. The fact that the Chiefs have rebounded so strong after dropping six of seven games says a lot about the toughness of this team.

SEATTLE: 21-12 W @ DALLAS

Tough opponent + road game + win = spot earned under the winners column. Further, it was a game that had serious playoff implications on the line. Both teams entered the contest at 8-6 and needed a win to remain in the playoff race. This Sunday it was the Seahawks who prevailed. I can not give enough credit to this team. I did not expect them to pull off this win on the road, especially with Ezekiel Elliott coming back from suspension. However, the pesky Seahawks will simply not give in. They have reigned in the NFC for about half a decade now and have preserved their playoff hopes with this big win. Another impressive aspect of this team’s season is that they are doing it without two of their defensive superstars, Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman. I don’t know what others think but I would not want my team facing this experienced group in the playoffs.

SAN FRANCISCO: 44-33 W vs JACKSONVILLE

mercurynews.com

What difference one player can make; just ask Green Bay. Unlike the Packers, the Niners are benefiting from a one-player-difference scenario. San Fran was just 1-10 without Jimmy G and are 4-0 with him. This team became a lot more impressive with their most recent win. The Jaguars came into town at 10-4, riding the league’s premier defense and an improved Blake Bortles. Well, Garopollo and company put up 44 points on a defense that has allowed just over 15 points a game on the season. Thinking back, if Jimmy was quarterbacking the Niners all season they would certainly be at least in the playoff race. From Weeks two through six, SF lost five straight games by a total of just 13 points. It is reasonable to say that if they had Jimmy at that point in time then he could have been the difference and won those games. I know this is a stretch, but had they won those games their record would be 10-5, pretty interesting and says something about their potential for next year. To all other members of the NFC, keep an eye on this team.

WEEK 16 LOSERS

TENNESSEE: 27-23 L vs LA RAMS

Tennessee pretended that they were going to win this game just like they pretended to be a good team all year. I had high hopes for this team entering the year. I thought Mariota would continue to improve and possibly emerge into a top 12 quarterback, instead, he regressed. Tennessee’s third year QB has just 12 TD passes and 15 interceptions on the season, less than impressive. Also, the defense is currently ranked 20th in the league in points allowed per game at 23.1. Not necessarily terrible but with the offensive troubles, not gonna cut it.

Tennessee mostly beat up on the worst teams in the league this year in order to maintain a winning record. five of their wins have come against awful teams such as the Texans, Browns, Bengals and Colts twice. Now, with two straight losses, their playoff hopes are in serious jeopardy and Jacksonville rolls into town. They must win to advance to the playoffs.

DETROIT: 26-17 LOSS @ CINCINNATI

gnews24.world

Last week I said, “Wouldn’t that be the most Lions-y thing to do?”, referring to them potentially losing to the Bengals this week thus being eliminated from playoff contention. Well, they did in fact do the Lions-y thing, which was lose a big game to an inferior opponent. This has to hurt Detroit fans. Stafford and company fought so hard all season long. For much of the season they played playoff caliber football. Unfortunately, once again, they folded when everything was on the line. Road games are rarely easy, but they really should have had this one. The Bengals entered the day with a record of 5-9, and were playing terrible football pretty much all year. They also were playing for nothing but pride as they had already been eliminated from playoff contention. Well, rather than take advantage of their opportunity, they decided to stick to their roots and collapse. Overall, a pretty solid year for the Lions but this one bad loss did them in, onto next year.

DALLAS: 21-12 LOSS vs SEATTLE

Shoulda woulda coulda for Dallas, disappointing season. It started out rough, at 2-3 through their first five games. Then getting hot and winning three straight to improve to 5-3. Then Ezekiel Elliott was suspended and they went just 3-3 without him. So here they were, at 8-6, fighting for their playoff lives. Luckily, Ezekiel Elliott returned but he was not enough as they only managed 12 points in the loss that removed them from the playoff race. They finish at Philadelphia and it appears that this group may surprisingly be just a 8-8 team. Alike their Thanksgiving mates, its on to next year.

*Questions or Comments? find me on twitter @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

*Featured pic credit goes to upi.com*

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

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl X

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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 VI

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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

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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

The Commish on the Ropes

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Among the most common qualities great leaders share are supreme competence in what they do and the ability to anticipate and deal with change. They are principled, and their values are consistent. Roger Goodell is none of these things.

I’ve spent my whole adult life surrounded by, working with, studying, and developing leaders. From infantry squad leaders to high ranking government officials and CEOs of Fortune 50 companies, I’ve seen some the best and the worst leaders in the country. The current commissioner of the NFL sits alone on the Iron Throne of incompetence.

False Accomplishments

Roger Goodell is a disgrace to the league. He is Portnoy’s clown, a caricature of a chief executive. Goodell’s defenders often cite the league’s financial standing as evidence of the commissioner’s accomplishments. They. Are. Not.

Goodell has received undue credit for the league’s financial strength over the past eleven years. Never mind the fact that the NFL was financially sound before he took over, environmental factors have made the NFL the juggernaut it is today. Goodells tenure (2006-present) coincided with the introduction and explosion of social media, live streaming, and a 300% increase in fantasy sports participation in North America alone.

Roger Goodell isn’t a business genius, he is Chauncey the Gardner, a dullard whose success has been coincidental.

Scandal Ridden Tenure

Rather than heaping unwarranted praise on the Commish for where the league is today, we should lay the blame at his feet as to where the league is heading tomorrow.

Truth in lending, I’ve hated Goodell long before he suspended Tom Brady for possibly being “generally aware” that an equipment manager may have done something that the league can’t prove and that science can disprove. This is a man who fines players for wearing the purple cleats to show support for domestic awareness, but is fine with players assaulting their wives and girlfriends off the field. Unless someone leaks the video to TMZ.

Goodell is a tone deaf, thin-skinned hypocrite. From his disgraceful handling of domestic abuse by players, to his inconsistent metering-out of punishment to players and owners, to his grandstanding about integrity of the game and player safety while stonewalling CTE investigations and settlements, abuse of office has been the defining characteristic of his tenure.

Where does Goodell choose to involve himself? Anthem protests. It’s clear that the NFL wants to appear to be the All-American game. You can’t attend one without some sort of display of fealty to the flag and a service member in uniform. But of course, that’s been largely fake too – after all the Department of Defense and the National Guard paid the NFL and its teams more than $12 million dollars for such patriotic displays between 2011 and 2015.

Face of the NFL

The list of great players who are also great people is nearly endless in the NFL. Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott, Deshaun Watson, JJ Watt. These should be the faces of the NFL, but they’re not. Instead it’s Colin Kaepernick, Ndamukong Suh, Vontaze Burfict, and Prescott’s woman abusing teammate Ezekiel Elliott.

A work stoppage in 2011 that was resolved by Bob Kraft. Plummeting ratings. Hundreds of arrested players. Ndamukong Suh choking an opponent on the field – and not getting fined. This is Roger Goodell’s NFL. It’s past time for him to go.

Kingslayer

Jerry Jones is a fraud, but he may also be our only hope. He is not the hero we deserve, but he is the hero we need. Jones has been the commissioner’s greatest champion for years – a lap dog when Goodell was abusing his power to punish Tom Brady without evidence.

But, now that Jones’ newest woman abuser has been suspended for six games, suddenly Jerry is all about reeling in the powers of the commissioner. Suddenly, the arbitrary administration of suspensions is unjust. Suddenly, Jerry thinks we need a change of leadership.

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Jerry cares about women. Just last week he proudly proclaimed that the Cowboys had a zero tolerance policy on domestic abuse. I’m sure Greg Hardy’s victim was glad to hear that.

Jones is, however, the kind of selfish, grudge-holding ass who might be able to mobilize 24 largely apathetic owners to block Goodell’s extension. That is doubtful, however, because this group of owners seem content printing their money and wrongly believe that Goodell is the reason they can.

Jerry’s palace coup probably won’t succeed. But, how it plays out will be telling for New England fans. Nobody has been on the receiving end of more horrible decisions and gross abuses of the powers of the commissioner than Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots.

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Kraft famously dropped his appeal of the Goodell’s over the top and unjustified punishment after deflategate. In doing so, he infuriated most of his fan base. If he sides against Jones, Kraft will send a loud and clear message that he cares more for the community of billionaires that are the NFL owners than he does for his team and his fans.