Last year was the sixth time in 59 seasons with both AFL or AFC and NFL or NFC Title games that both road teams prevailed in those games.
The previous 5 times (1962 AFL and NFL, 1966 with the first Super Bowl bids on the line, 1992, 1997 and 2012), home teams came back the next year to go (9-1) as only the Falcons won a road game.
Home teams won both title tilts in 1963, 1967, 1993, and 2013.
The great Bart Starr, pictured above, threw 4 touchdown passes leading the Green Bay Packers to a (34-27) win at Dallas and a berth in the first Super Bowl after the 1966 season.
Today, a day before the Kansas City Chiefs nee Dallas Texans host the Tennessee Titans nee Houston Oilers, 57 plus years later, in another playoff game, I note the passing of and remember the 1962 game hero, Tommy Brooker.
Mr.Brooker, a member of Bear Bryant’s first title team with Alabama the year before, (1961), kicked the winning field goal early in the second overtime period, lifting the Dallas Texans (20-17) at Houston, vs the Oilers, the team that won the first two AFL crowns in 1960 and 1961.
That gave the Texans the 1962 AFL crown, in their last game before moving to Kansas City and becoming the Kansas City Chiefs.
Tommy Brooker died in 2019 and perhaps he will be cited during tomorrow’s telecast of the AFC title tilt between Tennessee and Kansas City. He certainly should be.
Click below for a nice tribute to Tommy from writer Ian McNair.
Tommy Brooker Was Good Player And Good Man
Please click above to see Tommy Brooker’s game and AFL Title winning field goal in the 1962 game.
There was no Super Bowl then and the Texans had an “all the way” AFL crown.
Tomorrow’s winner in the AFC Title Game between the same franchises that played in the 1962 game, will advance to the 54th Super Bowl to face the winner of tomorrow’s NFC Title game between visiting Green Bay (Packers) and the San Francisco 49ers.
The two teams, Kansas City (Chiefs) and San Francisco (49ers), that are favorites in this week’s title games, have gone 50 and 25 years respectively, without winning an NFL crown.
In the case of the Chiefs, they have not even been to a Super Bowl in 50 years. In their last Super Bowl appearance, “K.C.” won (23-7) vs the Vikings.
The 49ers lost in their last Super Bowl appearance, that to the Baltimore Ravens after the 2012 season. Before that game, “S.F.” was (5-0) in Super Bowls, last winning it in 1994, vs the San Diego Chargers.
Bobby Bell, pictured above, was an outstanding linebacker on the Chiefs’ 1969 title team.
I need not cite the quality of the 1948 film, “The Babe Ruth Story,” released just before Mr. Ruth’s death, as anything great because it was not.
However, Babe Ruth was a seminal sports figure and one who transcended sports.
Some notes on the film include the fact that Roy Del Ruth both directed and produced “The Babe Ruth Story.”
William Bendix, who played “The Babe,” was a New York Yankees’ batboy, at a time during the 1920’s. The immortal Yankees’ broadcaster, Mel Allen plays himself in the film.
Finally, Babe’s second wife Claire is played by another, Claire, the magnificent Claire Trevor. There is no mention of Mr. Ruth’s first wife, Helen.
William Bendix, pictured above as Babe Ruth in “The Babe Ruth Story.”
Today another fine episode of the television show, “What’s My Line?” this one from 1958, with actor Robert Wagner as the mystery guest. New York City’s mayor at the time was also named Robert Wagner.
The panelists are Dorothy Kilgallen, Gordon MacRae, Bennett Cerf and Arlene Francis.
John Charles Daly is the show’s host.
Enjoy this interesting episode of a tremendous television show.
LSU (Louisiana State University) and its superb college quarterback, Joe Burrow completed one of the great seasons in college football annals, copping the ’19 crown with a (42-25) title game/virtual home game win, vs defending champion, Clemson.
Burrow threw 5 touchdown passes and ran for another in the title tilt after accounting for 8 (7 on passes, evoking an LSU great Y.A. Tittle, who once did so as a professional with the New York Giants) in the “semis” rout of Oklahoma.
A pair of superb LSU receivers, Fred Belitnikoff Award winner, Ja’Marr Chase (221 yards receiving) and Thaddeus Moss each gathered in 2 Burrow touchdown passes.
I neither watched or listened to any of the game.
Joe Burrow, pictured above.
Tonight in New Orleans, a pair of (15-0) teams with superb starting quarterbacks, meet in the national title game.
LSU with Heisman Trophy winner, Joe Burrow at quarterback is a 5 point or so favorite vs defending champion Clemson, whose quarterback Trevor Lawrence, has to this point, never lost a college football game.
Clemson hopes to win a third crown in four seasons and is in the title game for the fourth time in 5 seasons. They were underdogs to Alabama and their coach Nick Saban all 3 times, winning twice and at least covering the spread all 3 times.
LSU won the title in ’03 under Nick Saban and also claimed it in ’07, coached by Les Miles, despite having two losses.
I recall Perry Tuttle and Clemson claiming the ’81 crown. Did not San Diego lead Miami (24-0) in the next day’s divisional playoff game?
