NFL 1966 And Now

Yesterday as “Pooh” presided and Phil Simms’ statement “you know every play will be a pass” was followed by an Aaron Rogers run, the Colts with “pooh”/Jim Nantz rooting hard, upset the Green Bay Packers at “G.B”

Both teams are (4-4) and while certainly possible, it is extremely unlikely the two glorious franchises, whose meaningless scheduled exhibition game was that rarity of rarities, a canceled NFL game (see November 24, 1963 and other instances) will meet again this season, which is only possible in the “Supe.”

In 1966, they met twice, both games on Saturdays and I believe nationally televised.

In the second one at Baltimore, a second Green Bay win which more or less wrapped up another Western Conference crown, a late tackle of the great John Unitas (a man who had trouble walking and more than any one player made the NFL the popular sport it is, yet who helped him?!!) by Willie Davis, a man who made big bucks after football, but does help the less fortunate, caused a Unitas fumble that iced the game for “G.B.”

Davis came in without Unitas seeing him. I remember reading in the 1967 (reviewing 1966) Pictorial Sports Annual, that Davis knew the “blind side” tackle would cause a fumble and he was sorry it had to be Unitas victimized.

That respect for the greatness of a competitor is one good thing about sports and stayed with me the nearly 50 years since Mr. Davis expressed it regarding Mr. Unitas.