Today some of today’s NFL situation and an initial foray into recalling title tilts played on December 27, 28 and 29 with some relevant comments.
For now current NFL is K.C. (the (15-1) Chiefs, the AFC one seed), who in bidding for an unprecedented third straight Supe crown will be at home in the slots/”div” round on either January 18th or 19th and if victorious in that one, likely as a big “fave” vs a team not the Bills or Ravens, they would host the AFC title tilt/”semi” on Sunday January 26th.
It has been 60 years (today) since the Cleveland Browns (really they became the Baltimore Ravens, referenced above along with the Bills as AFC threats to a Chiefs’ repeat, however, I will not go into that now) won their last crown, a great memory for me, doing so (27-0) vs a great Baltimore Colts’ team led by John Unitas. (Below my post regarding that game on its fiftieth anniversary).
Tomorrow marks the 66th anniversary of the NFL’s most important game. (no 90 million worldwide viewers paying for a not so hot “reg” game, if not for the glorious Colts (23-17) (first) overtime win at Yankee Stadium, vs the New York Giants).
Alas in a game so close to 180 degrees apart in importance to that ’58 title game, the same two franchises meet in the New York/New Jersey area, 66 years and a day later this Sunday the 29th, with the Colts, now “Indy” based and still with a slight, ever so slight chance, to make the ‘offs, a TD favorite.
The hopefully last Amazon, “oppo” (Gill Alexander an “oppo” sayer is out on a bought late “Survivor” entry) of a great game, (6-3) “Sea” (-4) win at “Chi” (Bears have lost 10 straight games and are (4-12), evokes 1963– and Sunday ahead, marks the 61 year anniversary of the Bears’ (14-10) home win, vs the Giants, in that year’s title game.
Recalling The 1964 NFL Championship Game
Today it is 60 years, (please click above, to read my post commemorating the ’64 NFL Title Game on the 50th “ann” of that 3 Frank Ryan to Gary Collins (please get Gary in the “Hall” before it is too late) TD passes Browns’ title game win.
#9 Bill Wade, pictured above shaking Alvin’s (the excellent NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, who did fear NFL over exposure) hand, likely after scoring both Bears’ TD’s in their (14-10) win vs the Giants, 61 years ago Sunday, 2 days hence.
Today “Jack Webb” it, (just the facts) with Chiefs’ Christmas Day tilts the subject.
The second of two, (the first two and the last two, until one “Monday nighter,” in 1989, a day Alfred “Billy” Martin died in a car crash and today just 5 days after one of Billy’s great players, Rickey Henderson died, would have been Rickey’s 66th birthday), NFL Christmas Day games played that Saturday in 1971 was a thrilling Miami Dolphins’ 2 overtime, “div” round playoff win at Kansas City, in the last game ever at Municipal Stadium there.
I could wax poetic regarding Curt Gowdy’s recall of Garo’s (Yepremian) winning field goal, “with a moon hanging down over the old Municipal Stadium”). Maybe I just did.
Last year, the “nowhere” and still “nowhere” Raiders beat the Chiefs, at K.C. on Christmas Day.
All the Chiefs did after, was to win and cover 6 straight games, 4 of them playoffs tilts, 2 on the road and win a second straight Supe and a so impressive third in five seasons.
Today the (14-1) Chiefs, thus winners of 20 of their last 21 games, many “no covers,” but with 2 straight covers and a magic # of 1 (either Chiefs wins or Bills losses) to clinch the AFC “1” seed, are a field goal “fave” at Pittsburgh (Steelers.)
The (10-5) Steelers), have lost 2 straight games, but still can win their “div” and be the AFC “3” seed, with wins today and next week vs Cincinnati (Bengals), no matter what the (10-5) Ravens (-5 plus) at almost certain “4” seed Houston, also today.
As a matter of fact, I don’t like him either.
– They’re all excellent reasons.
– Don’t count too much on my friendship.
– In this matter I’m powerless.
– Besides, I might lose the 10000 francs.
– You’re not very subtle, but you are effective. I get the point.
– Yes, I have the letters. But I intend using them myself.
– I’m leaving Casablanca on tonight’s plane. The last plane.
– And I’m taking a friend with me. One you’ll appreciate.
Maybe I managed the sixth line down, (above from the classic film, “Casablanca,” maybe not.
If, a big little word, (13-2) Minnesota (Vikings) (they “opened” menos one plus) wins at home vs (10-4) Green Bay (Packers) on Sunday Dec. 29th, a still nowhere ’67 Rams/Colts “reg” finale when playoffs entry was at stake, 1 or 5 seed compelling Vikes at Lions game will be on the docket and I am intrigued as to which network, essentially NFC Fox or “neutral” NBC would get to “pipe” it?!
Yesterday while (10-5) “Wash” rallied and plus 4’d (12-3) Philly when virtually certain rookie/yr. Ja Daniels threw a touchdown pass to Crowder (ode to Eddie), not shown in the NFL Red Zone “Montage” (every touchdown in every game is a false claim) both Det and Minne went to stellar (13-2) marks, respectively (-7) (34-17) at (5-10) Chi which has lost 8 straight games and on “el numero” or (-2 plus) (27-24) at (8-7) Seattle, to set up the scenario I and maybe only I at this point, cited in the opening paragraph above.
In the AFC, (14-1), two time and current champion K.C. has a magic # of 1, their wins or (12-3) Buffalo losses– (K.C. visits Pitts on Netflix(s), it rhymes with the S but it is greedy $, that manifests), then to Denver while Buffalo hosts the Jets and then visits New England, against whom they only won by 3, (last score was a N.E. TD so though they trailed (14-0) in the tilt piped into N.Y. and half the country, there was no real threat of a N.E. outright but all Bills’ “weases” were KO’d, a much needed result for the “books” who were swamped by a big “faves” run), to clinch the AFC “1” with “Buff” likely to be the “2” and extremely likely to be no “lower” than that.
By the way, that goes even more so regarding “Philly” in the NFC, a so likely “2” and almost certain no lower than that “is company” #.
Eddie Crowder, a member of coach Bud Wilkinson’s first Oklahoma U. title team in ’50 and who coached Colorado to a third place final ranking, behind fellow Big 8 teams, Nebraska and Oklahoma (the only time one conference had the final ranking’s top 3) in ’71, is pictured above when he was the Buffaloes (Colorado U.) head coach.
The two happen simultaneously, that which is the phone/internet flashes death and then the thoughts, the memories flow.
Saturdays (one time at a park) with/regarding the great player, a real walk guy but do not lay it in–he will hit it out, Rickey Henderson who died yesterday Friday, news flashing this cold Saturday.
It seems he signed with the Yankees on a Saturday, I interviewed him and he praised the similar great Tim Raines in the process on a Saturday and now this.
They took two great leadoff men this year 2024, Pete and Rickey.
Of last names, most hits, most leadoff homers, insane great records and stats.
If ever there was to be a walk, try #6 ’93 W.S. Joe Carter won it, preceded by the great Paul Molitor’s hit and it started with Rickey (he also titled with the dominant ’89 A’s), the walk guy , doing so vs a negative walk guy, pitcher, Mitch Williams.
Click above to view and hear Rickey breaking the great Lou Brock’s all-time stolen base mark. Think of it Cobb, Maury Wills, Lou Brock, Rickey and Pete, who played Ty Cobb in a movie, all gone.
A comment said Rest easy King and meant for Rickey the stolen bases king, I say it for all above and add another King, another great, he as a broadcaster and that is Bill King, who broadcast that record 939th “theft” by Rickey Henderson.
Rest easy King.
Fifty years ago today, a truly great NFL “slot 2” (later Saturday game, then in the afternoon as it was for the first 31 years of “the slots”/NFC/AFC configuration “div” games –(1970-2000) game was played with the result not mattering anywhere as important as so many thought it would.
It was deemed in some circles as Super Bowl 9 and a half as it was expected that the “div” game to be contested between the 2 time champion Miami Dolphins and the perennial contenders, the then Oakland Raiders (look at where they are now both geographically and in the standings) would produce that year’s Supe 9 winner.
In an epic tilt, the great Ken Stabler falling back hit Clarence Davis in what is called a “sea of hands” for the decisive, final score as Oakland (look at Oakland sports now, the famed Coliseum where Mr. Davis playing for another Mr. Davis gathered in that TD, has played its last as the A’s are no longer Oakland) prevailed (28-26).
However, the next week, maybe we will post regarding it in 8 days, the Pittsburgh Steelers en route to the first of what is 6 Supe crowns, none since 2008, went to Oakland and eliminated the Raiders.
Click above as Curt Gowdy and Don Meredith, who did “step,” call the decisive Stabler to Clarence Davis TD in the classic Raiders (28-26) “Slot 2″/1974 win vs a great, 2 time defending champion Miami Dolphins’ team.
The title won by the ‘Phins the year before (1973) was their last one, to date. Anyone “catch” (ode to Clarence who made a great catch 50 years ago today), the Jeopardy “answer” Thursday past, it being of the teams that played in the Super Bowl before human moon landing, only this team has not been back to the Super Bowl, (no less won it) since.
3 Supes were played before the July 20, 1969 moon landing with 5 different teams participating, the Packers winning 2 and the Jets winning one. The Chiefs, Raiders and Colts lost in those tilts.
None of the 3 contestants got the correct Jeopardy question “What are the Jets,” who won Supe 3 and have not been in the Super Bowl since.
Alas, paraphrasing Mildred Dunnock, “attention to antis must be PAID!!
Say 4 years back, in Inwood, New York and a nice day was made better, when I saw there is a street (Matty Alou Way, located at Isham and Seaman) at least partially named for the fine baseball player, Matty Alou.
He won the 1966 National League batting title, playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, with a .342 batting average and played on pennant winners with the western “Bay Area” teams, the (S.F.) Giants and (Oakland) A’s ten years apart in 1962 and 1972 respectively.
Matty started all 12 (1972) A’s post-season tilts in right field, as they won the requisite 7 games and the title. The ’62 Giants were denied the title, losing to the Yankees incredible 20th crown in 40 seasons, in game 7 of that year’s World Series.
Mateo Alou, pictured above as a Pittsburgh Pirates’ player, a team he played for in ’66 when he hit .342 and won the big leagues batting crown.
The great Frank Robinson, who hit .316 won the A.L. Triple Crown and led the Baltimore Orioles to the title.
Again, it was Alou who led the “bigs” in batting average.
Maybe it is too much to expect those who “did” last week’s 11th straight at Philly, Eagles win, dating back to 1965, such, vs the Pittsburgh Steelers, to come up with the note that follows.
That goes for namesake Terry Bradshaw, as in the last Steelers’ win at Philadelphia, a long interception TD return by Jim Bradshaw was a, if not the key play.
By the way there was an unscheduled playoff game contested between the two teams, who for 2 years during a major war, had merged.
That game was played at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, with Philadelphia winning and gaining the first of three straight entries into the NFL Title game. (1947-1949).
The past week’s NFL “feature games,” played simultaneously after earlier games, each “piped” into many/most markets, manifested in the (11-3) Buffalo Bills winning at the (12-2) Detroit Lions while Philly (Eagles) are also (12-2) after winning at home vs (10-4) Pittsburgh Steelers. (Pitts has not won at Philadelphia since 1965 yielding an eleven game loss skein).
Alas the games, even in a football sense, were not that important, as they were not within the conference.
Detroit has the tiebreaker advantage vs Philadelphia in the battle for the NFC top seed, however their record is the same as division foe, Minnesota (Vikings), with a good chance that the NFC North crown and at least an (why an, maybe not but it sounds better though “N” is a consonant, normally yielding a?) NFC “2” seed reward, will be decided when “Minn” visits Detroit on January 5, 2025.
Meanwhile in the AFC, the 2 time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs finally covered (-4 plus, (21-7) vs the (3-11) Cleveland Browns, who committed the game’s 6 turnovers.
K.C. has a magic # of 2 to clinch the AFC top seed. They likely will be without Mahomes for their Saturday home tilt vs (9-5) Houston (Texans), who by the way clinched its div, and also is so likely, a 3 or 4 AFC seed.
If Mahomes were not injured–’twas K.C. menos 4 or so, as likely is, with Mr. Wentz–Hous. is maybe a field goal “fave.”
Oh for the days of Senor Wences, pictured above.
There is Carson Wentz, Senor Wences and the fictional Tony and Margot Wendice, played by greats, Ray Milland and Grace Kelly in “Hitch’s” (Alfred Hitchcock) masterful “Dial M For Murder.”
It is August 13, 1967 and both the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates and homestanding New York Mets have players in their starting lineup with either past, future or both significant World Series moments.
Start with the Buccos second sacker, Bill Mazeroski, whose game ending solo home run gave Pittsburgh its first crown in 35 years.
Maz’ solo home run came in the bottom of the ninth inning of game 7. An inning earlier, Hal Smith unloaded a key three run home run that transformed a Yankees’ (7-6) lead into one for the Pirates at (9-7).
In that 8th inning, the great player, Roberto Clemente, who hit safely in all 14 of his World Series tilts, had an rbi hit.
Both Clemente in right field on 8/13/67, in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader, and Willie Stargell in left were future World Series MVP’s.
Jose Pagan, pictured below as an S.F. Giants player, for whom he played in a 7 game World Series/one run loss in 1962, had what proved to be the game winning hit for the Pirates in #7/1971 World Series.
His extra base hit scored Willie Stargell from first, T8 to make it (2-0) and behind Steve Blass’ brilliant 3 hitter and another big hit from Series MVP, Clemente (Stargell would be the W.S. MVP 8 years later when the Pirates again 7’d the Baltimore Orioles), a solo homer, Pittsburgh won (2-1) to take the crown.
On August 13, 1967 Steve Blass was the Pirates’ starting pitcher facing a rookie Mets hurler named Tom Seaver.
Jose Pagan
Tomorrow, nearly 66 years after not so arguably pro football’s most important tilt, that matched a Baltimore football team, the Colts, now of course in Indianapolis, and the Giants in the New York area, there is another, so much less significant.
In it, 66 becomes operative as the (8-5) Baltimore Ravens are nearly 17 point(s) favorites at the (2-11) Giants, I believe the largest margin by which the Giants have been underdogs, since the then St. Louis Cardinals were 20 plus point faves (per NFL Reference) at home, vs the Giants, on October 9, 1966.
Some notes on that game and other tilts in both the NFL and AFL that day, in what was the first year, though still with NFL/AFL, after the merger.
The Cards did win but much like last week’s Eagles big faves/no cover, but it was close (24-19), after trailing (13-0). In that game some good Giants and Cards’ names produced– Ernie Koy, Aaron Thomas, Carl “Spider” Lockhart and Clarence Childs for the Giants, while Johnny Roland, who also ran for a TD threw what had to be an option pass TD to Bobby Joe Conrad for the Cardinals.
Elsewhere in pro football that day, in what was a preview of the first AFL title game, in which the winner gained Supe entry, the Bills went to K.C. and won (29-14) vs the Chiefs. Much like recent history and part of the history, ’twas Buffalo in the “reg,” but K.C. in the post-season game.
Meanwhile in the NFL, in what would eventually manifest in another second tilt reversal, the “real” Cleveland Browns ripped the Pittsburgh Steelers, but down the road, in the once glorious, played on Saturday night at Cleveland, the Steelers won (16-6) a key “Cleve” loss, as their 2 year reign in the NFL Eastern Conference ended.
Dallas a (56-7) winner that day, vs the Eagles won the conference, while 8 years later, 50 years ago in “same calendar” (just one again) 1974, Pittsburgh won (16-6) vs Minnesota (Vikings) in the Super Bowl, to win their first crown.
Don Meredith, pictured above, had a more than “dandy” game that day vs the Eagles throwing 5 touchdown passes, three to Bob Hayes and two to Dan Reeves.
Andy B Sports 