Tag Archives: Raiders

Trey Flowers’ Future as a Patriot

Amidst the hectic chaos of the NFL cut downs two seismic events rocked the landscape. Aaron Donald completed the largest contract extension ever for a defensive player on Friday, August 31st. Then football fans woke up to the news that Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack is a Chicago Bear. We all expected another mega-contract signing to follow. While I waited for confirmation of the financial terms of these, one of my thoughts was “What does this mean for the Patriots’ chances of re-signing defensive end Trey Flowers?”

The contract details proved to be earth shattering for non-quarterbacks in a way that resets the market economics. Donald signed a six-year $135 million dollar deal with $87 million guaranteed. Khalil Mack received a slightly richer deal at $141 million for six years with $90 million guaranteed. These deals truly reset the defensive line market and will affect contract negotiations for years to come.

I’m not saying that Trey Flowers will be signing this kind of deal for the Patriots anytime soon. Mack and Donald were selected with the #5 and #13 pick overall in the 2014 draft and Flowers was drafted in the fourth round at #101 overall. Flowers has 13.5 sacks and 107 tackles through largely two seasons of work and both Mack and Donald have more than doubled that through four full seasons. What it does is force the contract values to rise with each new signing. The bar at the top has risen and the middle class and high-middle class rises with it. Trey Flowers can expect to sign a deal in that middle class area. The question becomes- are the Patriots willing to offer one to their best defensive lineman since Chandler Jones?

The Patriot Way

Chandler Jones. Many will point to him and fellow Patriot Jamie Collins in their argument that the Patriots are a cheap team in contract negotiations. This is false in many ways which I will not get into here. That’s for another time. They have a very rigid sense of the internal valuation of a player’s skill set and are not willing to go beyond that very often. In the event that they feel they will not be able to negotiate a contract that matches the team’s expectation with the player’s, they will seek to get maximum return on a departing player. Whether this means trading for draft assets or players or allowing them to leave in free agency.

Will they do this with Trey Flowers? His contract expires following the end of this season and with reinforcements along the line he could see his impact rise. This would put him in line for a major payday. Jason Pierre-Paul, Stephon Tuitt, Everson Griffen, Calais Campbell, and Danielle Hunter have all signed deals that have averaged just under 15 million per year. The franchise tag for defensive ends was $17.1 million. Demarcus Lawrence and Ezekial Ansah will play out the season under it. This all points to an explosion of contract value for young pass rushers.

Trey Flowers as a Pass Rusher

If Trey Flowers dominates again this season and the Patriots are comfortable, could they actually entertain the thought of trading the budding young star? The 2 first round picks that the Raiders received in the swap will certainly give them pause. Jamie Collins was traded in a surprising bye week trade to the Cleveland Browns. The team has re-stocked the pass rush with young Derek Rivers returning and signing veteran Adrian Clayborn. Now mind you, I am not advocating this course of action, but it is a possibility. We have seen Belichick remove a player that in the short-term could cause pain for the long-term gain. Collins, Jones, Moss, and Seymour have all found themselves packing their bags very quickly when the situation warranted a move.

If the young pass-rusher takes a step forward and sees his value increase, he will definitely be looking at a market that will pay him upwards of $15.5 million per year. Can the Patriots afford this? A rough estimation shows that they have over $168 million allocated for just 44 players. It shows that the organization will have to be frugal and cautious in their financial dealings. The proclivity for Belichick and company to adopt a year to year approach also supports a wait and see approach.

What can we expect?

The ball is in Trey Flower’s court. I’m sure some rough numbers and desires have been exchanged and both sides know where the other stands. You can expect that if he has a stellar year and meshes with the new personnel you’ll see his dollar figure rise with each sack. For me that increases the likelihood that we see him walk in free agency. I plan on enjoying this season and hope every member gets to be fitted for a shiny new ring before that happens.

All photos courtesy of Getty images unless noted otherwise. All contract figures came from Spotrac.com

Be sure to check out other great articles for all your favorite Boston sports teams on Bostonsportsextra.com

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51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XXXVII

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The Super Bowl is just 15 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 15 years ago to honor this not-so-significant occasion!

San Diego hosted Super Bowl XXXVII on January 26, 2003. The game pitted the NFC champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Oakland Raiders of the American Football Conference.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 15 Years Ago

After the famous “tuck rule” game, Jon Gruden was traded from the Raiders to the Buccaneers for a bunch of draft picks. The pieces were already in place for Tampa Bay to make a run at the title thanks to a fantastic defense, but Gruden was acquired to fire up their lethargic offense. It didn’t happen. What did happen was the Bucs’ defense got even better.

The Buccaneers fielded a “D” with five Pro Bowlers including Shelton Quarles and John Lynch. Simeon Rice, Derrick Brooks, and Warren Sapp were first-team All-Pro. Their fantastic defense led them to a 12-4 record.

Their offense finished 24^th in the league. Brad Johnson, Keyshawn Johnson and Mike Alstott were joined by Keenan McCardell and Michael Pittman in 2002. As the season progressed, the unit improved somewhat. In reality, they did not have to do much. In fact, Tampa only gave up 16 total points in the playoffs.

Bucs Roll

In the divisional round, Tampa walloped San Francisco 31-6. The real challenge for the Buccaneers lay ahead. Their primary nemesis during this era had been the Eagles. In the NFC title game, things got off to a lousy start as Brian Mitchell returned the opening kickoff 70 yards. Duce Staley followed that with a 20-yard score and it was 7-0 less than one minute into the game.

However, today would be different for the Bucs. In the last game ever played at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium, Tampa Bay closed it with a Ronde Barber pick six off Donovan McNabb. Thus, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were going to their first Super Bowl!

Oakland Raiders 15 Years Ago

Gruden’s former team was the preseason favorite to win the AFC. Coming off their heartbreaking loss in New England, Al Davis retooled his squad putting together quite a cast of veterans. 37-yr old NFL MVP Rich Gannon was the best of the bunch as he mounted a career year. 40-yr old Jerry Rice caught 92 passes for over 1200 yards and 37-yr old Rod Woodson made the Pro Bowl.

Bill Callahan’s team had a surreal first half of the season in 2002. They won their first four by posting crazy offensive numbers. Then, they lost four straight included two in overtime. They got their act together with two prime time conquests. First, they flattened Denver on Monday Night Football. Six days later, Oakland upended the defending-World Champion Patriots 27-20.

In the playoffs, Oakland cruised past the Jets and Titans scoring 71 points in those games. Therefore, Super Bowl XXXVII was advertised as a battle of Oakland’s offense vs. Tampa Bay’s defense.

Buccaneers Onslaught

The Super Bowl was projected to be exciting and unpredictable. Gruden, however, seemed to know exactly what the Raiders were calling on every play. Keyed by two first half Dexter Jackson interceptions, the Buccaneers jumped out to a 27-3 lead.

Late in the third quarter, Gannon was intercepted again. This one was returned for a touchdown by Dwight Smith. Down, 34-3, the Raiders finally showed some life. They rallied for three consecutive touchdowns, but missed the two-point conversions on all of them. They got the ball back trailing 34-21 late in the contest. But, Derrick Brooks picked off Gannon again! And, he brought this one to the house. Dwight Smith added one more pick six giving Gannon record five interceptions in the 48-21 drubbing.

In their only Super Bowl appearance, Tampa Bay was triumphant. However, they were not able to sustain their greatness beyond 2002. Indeed, both the Buccaneers and Raiders slumped in 2003.

It will be interesting to see how Jon Gruden fares as he signed on to coach the Raiders effective 2018.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XVIII

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

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

Washington Redskins 34 Years Ago

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

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

Los Angeles Raiders 34 Years Ago

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

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

Super Raiders

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

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

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

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

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

Week 17: Games to Watch

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Week 17 has finally arrived. Certainly every football fan’s favorite week of the regular season. Although by the end of the day, many of those fans are less-than happy with their team’s result. This year, there will certainly be some broken hearts as there are six teams fighting for the final three playoff spots. In the AFC we have Baltimore, Tennessee, Buffalo and the Chargers fighting for the two wild card spots. In the NFC, just one spot remains, which will be battled for by the Falcons and Seahawks. Below are the week 17 games which hold the strongest playoff implications.

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS

This clash of NFC South powerhouses is probably the biggest game of the week. For Carolina, it is an opportunity to win the division. However, this will be a tall task. Carolina has lost both games to New Orleans this year, so they will have to win in Atlanta and the Saints would have to lose in Tampa. Pretty unlikely but hey, we have seen crazier things. Carolina has already clinched a playoff spot and will likely be playing either the Rams or the Saints in the first round.

There is even more on the line for the Falcons in this game. At 9-6, a win or a Seahawks loss will give the last remaining seed in the NFC to Atlanta. It is impossible to know what to expect from this game as the Panthers tend to play like either a Super Bowl team or a division 3 high school team. It is difficult to know what to expect from them heading into this week. However, I do like Atlanta’s chances because they are at home. I also think Matty Ice and Julio Jones may be able to pick apart the Panthers secondary, which ranks 19th in the league in pass yards allowed per game.

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS

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Cincinnati is playing for nothing but pride this weekend as their dreadful season has them eliminated from the playoffs. However, I do expect Cincinnati to give it a valiant effort this week as they would love to help eliminate their division rival from the playoffs. For Baltimore, all they have to do is win to make the playoffs, as they have a one game advantage on the rest of the teams fighting to get in. The Ravens could lose and still make the playoffs as they have own the tie breaker with the Chargers. If the Ravens, Bills, and Titans all finish 9-7 then they would be eliminated because Tennessee and Buffalo both own the tie breaker over Baltimore.

BUFFALO BILLS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS

The Bills have probably the slimmest chances to snag an AFC wild card spot. They do hold a tie breaker over the Ravens if both teams finish 9-7. This will be pretty unlikely as the Baltimore has a very winnable home game vs Cincy. If the Ravens win then Buffalo will need both Tennessee and the Chargers to lose. On paper, this looks like a pretty winnable game. However, much like the Panthers, both of these teams are rather inconsistent. It is hard to know what to expect in this match-up. I do believe that Buffalo is the superior team and that they will be able to win this game.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT TENNESSEE TITANS

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Jacksonville does not have much to worry about in this game as they will likely be AFC’s three seed. However, this is a huge game for the Titans. Luckily they own a tie breaker over all three of the other teams fighting to get in. A win would guarantee a playoff spot. If they lose, the Ravens win AND Buffalo or the Chargers win then the Titans would be eliminated. So they really need to win in order to avoid any risks. A win will be a tall task despite being the home team. Jacksonville’s defense is probably the best in the league. I expect starting corners AJ Bouye and Jalen Ramsey to completely shut down the passing game. It will be up to Demarco Murray and Derrick Henry to lead the Titans to this week 17 win

OAKLAND RAIDERS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

raiderswire.usatoday.com

The Raiders will be playing to spoil this weekend. As arguably the league’s biggest disappointment, Oakland has to be itching for next season. If it makes them feel better, they can drastically decrease their division rival’s chances of making the playoffs with a win. A win will not guarantee a spot in the playoffs for the Chargers. They will need a loss from the Titans as well because Tennessee own the tie breaker. However, if they end up with the same record as the Bills then they will have the tie breaker and earn the 6th seed. LA should win this game rather easily as Oakland has struggled on both sides of the ball this year. I do not think Oakland has the ability to stop Rivers, Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen on the road. Advantage LA.

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Weird to imagine the Seahawks not in the playoffs. For Seattle to make it in, they will need to win and need Atlanta to lose against Carolina. Both things could happen of course, but the chances are not that high. Seattle cannot control what happens down in Atlanta this week, but they can help themselves by earning a win. At home I do expect Russell Wilson and company to get the win. But Arizona has quietly been playing some pretty solid football as of late. Even though I expect them to win, I also expect Atlanta to win which would eliminate Seattle due to a head to head tie breaker in Atlanta’s favor.

*Questions or comments? Find me on twitter @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

*Feature pic credit goes to panthers.com*

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XV

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

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

Philadelphia Eagles 37 Years Ago

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

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

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

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

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

Oakland Raiders 37 Years Ago

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

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

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

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

Cinderella Story

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

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

Just Win Baby

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

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

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

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

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

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XI

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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 II

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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

Week 7: Winners and Losers

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Week seven proved to be another eventful week in the football world. The outcome of Thursday’s game turned on the final play. Sunday’s schedule included seven divisional match-ups, five one-possession games, three shutouts and an overtime game. A perfect week for football fans. Like every other week during the NFL season, we saw some surprising outcomes. Quite a few teams gave their fans a big sigh of relief while other teams made it a Sunday to forget. Below are the NFL’s week 7 winners and losers.

Week 7 Winners

Oakland Raiders: 31-30 win vs Kansas City

Oakland really stepped up here in week 7 to get the win, and boy did they need it. A loss would have put the Raiders at 2-5 on the season and possibly out of the playoff race in the competitive AFC West division. Props to Derek Carr for an outstanding performance after last week’s dud. Carr threw for 417 yards, three touchdowns and no picks. Also, I can’t forget about Amari Cooper. It seemed like Cooper had been falling off. In his first six games he had three games of single-digit reception yards. On Thursday night he exploded for 11 catches, 210 yards and two touchdowns. These two clutch performances came against arguably the premiere team of the league through the first six weeks of the season. Next up for Oakland: @ Buffalo (4-2).

New England Patriots: 23-7 win vs Atlanta

Statement win here for the Pats. The defense has looked awful all year, allowing 30+ points in three of six games entering Sunday. Their pass defense ranked last in the NFL. Atlanta’s offense has not looked nearly as good as it did last year but certainly still a quality unit. The Pats defense held Atlanta to 233 passing yards, much of which came in garbage time when the game was already out of reach. More importantly, Matt Patricia’s unit surrendered just seven total points. Brady did his typical thing, throwing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Dion Lewis had his best game of the year with 13 carries for 76 yards. That guy always seems to produce when called upon. Hopefully for New England fans, the Pats defense can build off of this effort. Next up: vs the Los Angeles Chargers who have won three straight (3-4).

Los Angeles Chargers: 21-0 win vs Denver

This may have been the biggest statement made by a team in the NFL in week 7. The Chargers suddenly look like they could be a top-12 team. After starting 0-4 in very frustrating fashion, the Chargers have suddenly won three straight. This win streak has them right back in contention in the AFC West or at least the wild card hunt. The wins during the streak were all tough games: W @ NYG, W @ OAK and W vs DEN. Rivers has stepped up in a big way for his team as he has thrown eight touchdowns and just one interception over the last four games. Real test for the Chargers next week as they are @ New England (5-2)

Honorable Mentions:

Bears, Rams, Steelers, Dolphins, Browns…?

Week 7 Losers

Carolina Panthers: 17-3 loss @ Chicago

I am putting the Panthers first on this not-so-prestigious list and deservedly so. Carolina was showing signs that they may still play like the 2015 team. Then, BOOM, week 7 smacked them right in the face. Prior to the loss, Cam and company rattled off wins at New England and Detroit and then played well in a five-point loss to the 5-1 Eagles. Week 7 was a different story for the Panthers. They managed only three points against the 17th ranked defense in the league. THREE. Yes, it was an away game and yes Chicago’s defense is actually pretty decent but still, what a lousy performance. Carolina can not seem to find consistency or an identity. Next up: @ Tampa Bay (2-4)

Indianapolis Colts: 27-0 loss vs Jacksonville:

Pathetic performance by the Colts this week. I will give credit where it is due. The Jaguars played excellently on both sides of the ball. Bortles threw for 330 yards, Yeldon ran for 122 and Hurns had 101 receiving. Nice to see production from guys other than Fournette for once. Anyways, a 27-0 loss at home is inexcusable even without your franchise QB. The Colts O-line was horrendous and they allowed Jacksonville (SACKsonville) to sack Brissett 10 times. Star receiver Hilton once again did nothing with two catches for 27 yards. It will not get easier for Indi in the near future. There next three games: @ CIN, @ HOU and VS PIT.

Tennessee Titans: 12-9 loss @ Cleveland

Some may think that putting a team that won in the losers section is odd but if you consider the opponent it makes a little more sense. The Browns are 0-7 and 4-35 since the start of 2015. They are probably undoubtedly the worst team in the four major sports. Cleveland is the only team in sports that is consistently blown out game after game. They have been the laughing stock of the league in recent years. With all that said the Titans only managed to beat them by three points and it required overtime to do it. If you ask me, the Titans are lucky to have won this game. The Browns had multiple chances to win and they probably would have if they weren’t well… the Browns. Tennessee has got to be concerned as they have not been playing well as of late. In week 4 they got blown out 57-14 at Houston, then lost to the Cutler-lead Dolphins, then barely escaped the Colts at home. Luckily for the Titans, they are still 4-3 and are tied with Jacksonville for the division lead. Next up: vs Baltimore.

*Follow me on twitter @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*