The home team has won both title tilts four consecutive seasons, tying a record set from (1981-1985,)
Then one of the eight games, the only time in what will be 96 AFC or NFC title games after today, was played on a Saturday.
In the strike marred 1982 NFL season, Washington got a home, Saturday, NFC Title game win vs Dallas.
When Chicago defeated Los Angeles at “Chi,” in the ’85 NFC title tilt, the home win skein in title tilts reached 9.
The team that opened a 9 point favorite, now 8, (vs the Jacksonville Jaguars), in a bid to give the home team a record tying 9 straight home title game wins, New England, coincidentally, was the team that ended the title game, home team 9 game win skein, by posting a win in the later title tilt, 32 years ago (1985 season,) with a win at Miami in the AFC title game.
That win snapped an 18 game Pats’ losing streak at Miami’s famed Orange Bowl. For the record, the Pats, then known as the Boston Patriots of the AFL, won at the Orange Bowl vs the expansion Dolphins in 1966 and not again at that venue, until the aforementioned title tilt (1967, 1968 and (1970-1985), but did win the 1969 “at the Dolphins game,” however, they did so at Tampa Stadium.
Certainly television and gambling helped the NFL, however one game on television and with some interesting point spread “doings” (oh Joe Buck–these things, for better or worse, matter), the 1958 NFL Title Game, helped boom football, more than any other.
When I think of John Unitas to Raymond Berry in that great game, with all those great players, on two great teams, cynicism is put aside.
Mr. Berry was the Pats’ coach when they roared to 3 road wins to make the 20th Supe. A great Bears’ team “clawed” them (ode to Killer Kowalski) in that Supe, winning decisively.
Last week’s dramatic play which transformed an extremely likely Minnesota Vikings’ ‘offs defeat into a dramatic victory, extended a streak of the Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers not BOTH losing, when they played on the same playoffs day.
That streak is 6 or technically seven, as an “automatic” concerning both not losing, occurred when Pittsburgh defeated the Vikings, in the ’74 season Super Bowl.
The six times they have played on the same ‘offs day and not vs each other were the Saturday ’73 “slots” (Minne won, Pitts lost), the ’74 title games (both won), the ’76 title games (as was the case in the ’73 “slots,” Minne played earlier at home while Pittsburgh lost at Oakland, vs the Raiders), the ’97 Saturday slots when Pitts won the earlier game at home and Minnesota lost the later tilt, as with the ’73 and ’76 Steelers in the California Bay Area, but at San Francisco.
Continuing, before last week, the two teams played on the same wild card round day only in the strike marred, extra wild card round games season of 1982, when on a Sunday, perhaps playing simultaneously (I know the game at Pittsburgh, was an earlier game), the Vikings won at home while the Chargers ended a 7 game Steelers’ home ‘offs games win skein, all the wins coming in title seasons (’74, ’75,’78 and ’79).
Then there was last week, “Jax,” a similar td underdog tomorrow at New England in the AFC Title Game, had “barked” outright as a 7 point “dog,” dropping the Steelers’ home slots record to (12-2), when Minnesota trailing got the Keenum/Diggs/Horrible New Orleans defense play to make it 6 for 6, that playing on the same ‘offs day, the Vikings and Steelers both do not lose.
This was the fourth time in those six, Minne won and Pittsburgh lost, while once each, Pitts won and Minne lost and both won.
Of course, it is not even close as to which team has the better postseason history.
The Steelers have won 7 games for every 5 losses (not counting 1947) compiling a (35-25) ‘offs mark, while the Vikings have the opposite (maybe that numbers karma got in the way of the Saints defense, causing an all-time bad play) ratio, losing 7 ‘offs games for every 5 they have won, a (20-28) record.
Two important additions, the Vikings are still playing this season as Mike Tomlin’s awful play calling lowlighted a shocking Steelers’ loss, but to this point and maybe for a long time, more compelling, the Steelers won their first 4 Super Bowl games, their first vs the Vikings, and are (6-2) in such tilts, while Minne is (0-4), having never even led at any point in those 4 Super Bowl losses.
I do not know how, nor why, the CBS broadcast of the Pats’ win vs the Steelers, in which an apparent and called touchdown catch by Jesse James of “Pitts” was nullified by replay, made no reference to the fact the same happened regarding an apparent touchdown pass to James, in last year’s title tilt between the teams.
In last week’s slot 1 game at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, matching the homestanding Eagles and Atlanta Falcons, there was a richochet type play, in some way similar to the Franco Harris game winning touchdown in the Steelers’ first ever slots/division round/NFL quarterfinal, 45 years earlier also in slot 1.
Reference was made to the play being in the same state (actually commonwealth). How about citing the fact that the two Pennsylvania home teams, the Eagles (4-0) and Steelers (12-1), entered the slots weekend in which each would host such a game, with an incredible combined record of (16-1) in such/home slots games?!
In slots/NFL divisional round/”quarters,” the Pennsylvania teams home record rose to (17-1) after the Eagles win vs Atlanta.
The big upset by win by “Jax” at Pitts lowered that still incredible record to (17-2). It was in an “Eagle” Ian)game, that the great Eagles/Steelers home “div round” record took a bit of a hit, likely but far from definitely, continuing the “paving” job for another New England “Supe” appearance.
The Minnesota Vikings’ miracle win vs the New Orleans Saints put them in their tenth NFL semi-final game (this Sunday at Philadelphia, in the later/late game), (9th NFC title tilt, their ’69 NFL crown was gained in a semi, after which they lost the Supe to K.C. whose coach Hank Stram talked of teams getting “out of the soup,” when backed up deep in their own territory).
“Minne,” so unfortunate to advance as the Saints’ Marcus Williams flubbed the play on which Case Keenum threw the game ending 61 yard touchdown to Stefon Diggs, won their first 4 NFL semis, only to never lead in any of the four subsequent Super Bowls and since have lost 5 straight semis/NFC title tilts.
They are 3 point faves at Philly in a bid to avoid a 6th straight title tilt/”semis” loss all within a 40 year, 41 season span with 3 of the losses coming in years ending in “7” (they lost at Dallas in ’77 and at Wash in ’87). 2017?
I did not know he was sick, thus news that a great player and someone I truly admired, Jo Jo White had died at age 71, came as a very unpleasant shock.
“Playing off” the epic Beatles song title, as would playing off the ball, next to his superb floor play, is not difficult. So often Jo Jo was THE man!
He played with two other greats (John Havlicek and Dave Cowens) and many very good ones (Don Nelson and Paul Silas, to name two) under coach Tommy Heinsohn, on 2 underappreciated Boston Celtics’ title teams in 1974 and 1976.
The Boston team of that era, underappreciated in Celtics’ and NBA lore, won 68 games in 1972-1973, but were denied the title.
Until the Warriors’ epic failure, despite a record breaking season, that team had the most “reg” wins in NBA annals, by a non champion.
One game more than any, defined that team, the nice era of play and The man, Jo Jo White.
It was a Friday night, game 5 of the 1976 NBA final, the Celts at home, now tied with the upstart Phoenix Suns at two games apiece, in what had been an all home team final.
In a triple overtime classic, likely greater, certainly longer and more important (the winner of the latter game did NOT title) than a Friday night Boston Garden, two overtime Celts/Bucks classic 2 years earlier (Kareem Abdul Jabbar and John Havlicek dueled in greatness, the former’s long baseline “sky” decisive, but series MVP Havlicek and Boston won a Sunday afternoon decisive tilt at Milwaukee, incredibly their third win in 4 road games there in that ’74 final) Jo Jo played all 60 minutes and led the Celtics to an all important victory.
Before game 6 back at Phoenix, Jo Jo was interviewed by CBS analyst, former league official Mendy Rudolph. “How could the much older Celtics win at Phoenix, where they had lost twice especially after a long Friday night game, a flight to the road, Boston to Phoenix?
Jo Jo seemed confident they would. “Coming off” the epic win, by definition epic Phoenix loss, I thought so as well.
Later, through the crackling static, I could hear legendary Celts’ broadcaster, Johnny Most invoke that the Celtics had won their 13th NBA crown and second in 3 seasons, two after the epic dynasty, that won 11 in 13 seasons.
Jo Jo was the MVP.
Jo Jo, who battled the disease that took his life with classy, upright dignity and always dressed and lived the part, WAS and Is the man!
Go easy,” The Man,” bet Red (Auerbach) is working on a contract for you to play next to “DJ” (Denis Johnson) in a heavenly back court.
Say hello, but be careful, you know Red!
Jo Jo White pictured above, helped put up two more title banners. After starring in #5/’76 final at home, Jo Jo was the man (not in Tuscon) but in Phoenix, Arizona, that title winning Sunday afternoon in 1976, “the year of “Ike’s” teams.”
Click below to view a stirring version of “Get Back” with appropriate Jo Jo/Jojo lyrics, by “The Beatles.”
The excellence of the New England Patriots can be illustrated in many forms and with many facts.
Here is one that shows their sustained great play, especially in the regular season. The great play in the “reg” has afforded New England major, well deserved playoffs advantages. Consider the following.
This Sunday’s earlier (AFC) title tilt, at New England will be the 16th time, N.E. is the host team in an AFC playoff game in their last 18 such games.
After just 6 home games in 11 AFC ‘offs games from (’01-’06 ), a period in which the Patriots won 3 Super Bowls and made 4 AFC title games/NFL semis, they have hosted one wild card game, 9 “slots”/division round games (’07,’10-’17) and counting this Sunday, 6 AFC Title/semi-final games (’07, ’11, ’12, ’14, ’16 and ’17).
The only New England road games in the referenced 18 playoff game span, were a pair of losses at Denver, in the ’13 and ’15 AFC Championship games.
An all time sports great, Tom Brady, pictured above.
In reflection, on this actual birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King 89 years ago, numbers and time come into my mind, regarding a truly great man and contributor to the cause of civil and human rights.
This is the first time Dr. King’s January 15th birthday has fallen on a Monday, the day it is celebrated, since 2007.
At that point nearly 39 years had passed since Martin’s death. He was only 39 years old, an assassin’s bullets ending his life in tragic fashion, no Jack Benny joke, regarding always being 39.
Now soon 50 years will have passed, and I pause this day, not talking “slots,” but, to remember a truly inspiring, great person in Dr. Martin Luther King.
The New England Patriots will be top heavy favorites, as they will host the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars, in what will be the Pats’ 7th straight appearance in the AFC Title Game/semi, next week.
“Jax” was the third underdog to win outright in these ‘offs, not the biggest upset, as Tenn was a bigger underdog vs K.C. but it sets up a likely, far from definite 8th Supe appearance for Brady, Belichick and the Pats.
It was not a “terrible towel,” but a terrible loss, with terrible decisions for the Tomlin coached, Roethlisberger “QB’d” Steelers.
The two home teams in the NFC portion of the “slots”/ NFL quarterfinals/division round of the NFL playoffs, have a significant association with the number 57 this season.
Philadelphia (Eagles), the NFC top seed, has gone 57 years since last winning an NFL crown, that one in 1960, vs Green Bay (Packers), handing legendary coach Vince Lombardi, his only ‘offs defeat.
Meanwhile the NFC second seed Vikings, who are the top odds choice by a fairly significant margin, to advance to the Supe (if they do, a team will play at home in that game, for the first time in 52 such games), are in their 57th season, having commenced play in 1961.
There is more but for now, I leave you with the following note.
When Philly won the ’60 crown, their quarterback was a great one, Norm Van Brocklin.
The next season, as stated 1961, the Vikings began play. Their coach was Norm Van Brocklin.
Norman aka “The Dutchman,” also won a title sharing quarterback duties with another great, Bob Waterfield with the ’51 L.A. Rams.
The Rams, in whose uniform Mr. Van Brocklin is shown in above, were also in this year’s offs having been ousted by the Eagles “Slot 1” opponent, the Atlanta Falcons.
Van Brocklin also coached the Falcons. There is no direct association between “The Dutchman,” and the only other ’17 season, NFC “slots” team, the Saints but 3 out of 4 is better than “ain’t bad” as “Meat “Loaf” sang regarding “two out of three.”
Only four of the eleven Alabama titles have come in undefeated seasons, while one of four times Notre Dame fairly and certainly not so, denied ‘Bama the crown, was after an undefeated Alabama season in 1966. (The one clear cut battle between the teams, involving the title was an Alabama rout win vs Notre Dame to claim the 2012 crown.)
Gene Stallings has as many unbeaten title seasons, as the great coach (he is) Nick Saban. This includes Saban’s 5 titles with Alabama and his shared crown as L.S.U. coach.
Only the ’09 Saban team completed the season unbeaten. Stallings’ ’92 team did so, while Mr. “Bear” Bryant’s first and last/fifth title teams (’61 and ’79) were unbeaten.
This 2017 Alabama title team had two running backs named Harris, a good name for that position (interestingly Franco Harris, a great running back, played on two unbeaten teams while at Penn State, which were not even considered for the crown. (See Central Florida this season.) Alas, perhaps, then Penn State coach Joe Paterno is “discussing” that occurrence with God, the devil or Beano Cook, maybe all three), one Nagee, the other Damien, each of whom contributed to the latest ‘Bama crown.
Let’s cite receiver Jerry Juedy, as is the case with title game winning play heroes Tua Tagovailoa and DeVonta Smith, a freshman, for a big reception on the tying Alabama touchdown drive.
Click below for a few different “versions” of Alabama’s title winning play.
Andy B Sports 