10 Greatest Games for Each Season of the Super Bowl Era

[SixtiesFan]

1973

9/23 - Cardinals 34, Redskins 27
Wild fourth quarter features two consecutive 97-yard kickoff returns by each team.

9/23 - 49ers 36, Broncos 34
After Niners run off 30 unanswered points, two-TD Bronco rally in fourth is spoiled by Bruce Gossett last minute FG.

10/7 - Bills 27, Eagles 26
Teams combine for 504 rushing yards in thriller secured with Leypoldt's 47-yard game-winner and Tom Dempsey's shanked 26-yarder at gun.

10/8 - Cowboys 14, Redskins 7
Classic defensive struggle, one of greatest games on rivalry. Ken Houston nails Walit Garrison at the one on game's final play.

10/14 - Eagles 27, Cardinals 24
Roman Gabriel's season-high 379 yards help spark 4th-qtr comeback from 11 down.

10/22 - Broncos 23, Raiders 23
Broncs get ball with just 36 seconds, drive to Jim Turner FG. Tie feels like win for Denver.

11/4 - Oilers 31, Colts 27
Houston breaks 18-game losing streak with last minute TD pass after Colts had rallied from 18 down.

12/2 - Redskins 27, Giants 24
G-men give 'Skins scare by taking 18-point lead, but Washington rallies with two late Larry Brown TDs.

12/3 - Dolphins 30, Steelers 26
'Fins Dick Anderson has four first-half picks, two for TDs, but Bradshaw nearly rallies Pitt from 27 down in second half.

12/22 - Vikings 27, Redskins 20
Only reasonably competitive game of a thuddingly dull postseason.

Tom Dempsey, who once kicked a 63-yard FG, could shank a 26-yarder or an extra point.

[Rupert Patrick]

For 1973 I chose in order Pittsburgh Miami from 12/3, Dallas vs LA from 10/14, the Oakland Denver Monday Night tie game, and the Washington Minnesota Divisional game. Dick Anderson had one of the half dozen greatest defensive games in NFL history against the Steelers, and he nearly had a third pick six, being stopped at around the Steeler five-yard line. Joe Gilliam attempted seven passes, completing zero to Pittsburgh receivers and three to Miami receivers.

[Todd Pence]

For 1973 I chose in order Pittsburgh Miami from 12/3, Dallas vs LA from 10/14, the Oakland Denver Monday Night tie game, and the Washington Minnesota Divisional game. Dick Anderson had one of the half dozen greatest defensive games in NFL history against the Steelers, and he nearly had a third pick six, being stopped at around the Steeler five-yard line. Joe Gilliam attempted seven passes, completing zero to Pittsburgh receivers and three to Miami receivers.

A few years back I was watching the Bears play the Redskins, and DeAngelo Hall came up with four picks in the second half. The announcer was saying "Four interceptions in one half! No one has ever done that before!" and I'm screaming at the TV "Dick Anderson! Dick Anderson!"

[Todd Pence]

1974

9/16 - Bills 21, Raiders 20
Three touchdowns and a missed field goal in the final two minutes make for one of the greatest MNF games of the decade.

10/20 - Raiders 30, Bengals 27
Stabler drives Oakland 52 yards to winning TD in less than a minute and a half in the final seconds.

10/27 - Browns 23, Broncos 21
Brian Sipe makes the scene by rallying Cleveland from 21-9 4th qtr deficit.

11/3 - Bills 29, Patriots 28
At midseason, Bills and Pats were actually viewed as the two best teams in the league. While they ultimately wouldn't live up to that promise, they did deliver this classic.

11/3 - Chargers 36, Browns 35
Needing only a field goal with 18 seconds left, Brian Sipe fumbles the ball away. Precursor to the "Mistake by the Lake"?

11/17 - Dolphins 35, Bills 28
Bills make inspired effort against seemingly unbeatable Dolphins team, but don't quite "get it done".

11/24 - Rams 20, Vikings 17
James Harris rallies Rams to win over Vikes in preview of conference title game a month later.

11/28 - Cowboys 24, Redskins 23
Clint Longley and the triumph of the uncluttered mind.

12/15 - Jets 45, Colts 38
If Joe Willie had been able to play all his games against the Colts, he might have really been a bona fide HOF candidate.

12/21 - Raiders 28, Dolphins 26
Sea of Hands.

[Bob Gill]

For 1974 I'd suggest the game between the Redskins and the Dolphins, which the Redskins came back to win with two late touchdowns. I think it was Jurgensen's last 300-yard game, and I've always considered it one of the Redskins' most memorable of that era.

[BD Sullivan]

1974

11/3 - Chargers 36, Browns 35
Needing only a field goal with 18 seconds left, Brian Sipe fumbles the ball away. Precursor to the "Mistake by the Lake"?

No, because the 1980 playoff interception was never known by that "name." It was simply known by the actual play call, "Red Right 88."

[Rupert Patrick]

For 1974 I have in order: Sea of Hands game, Dallas Washington Thanksgiving game, Buffalo Oakland Monday Night game, and the Pittsburgh Denver tie game from Week two. I also agree that the Bills Raiders MNF game was one of the handful of best MNF games of the 70's (along with 73 Steelers Dolphins, 78 Oliers Dolphins, 79 Raiders Saints, 73 Raiders Broncos and maybe one or two others), which would make an interesting thread of it's own. I wish the whole game were available on video, although a heavily edited 20 minute portion of the ABC broadcast is available as is a radio broadcast of the game.

[CSKreager]

1974

9/16 - Bills 21, Raiders 20
Three touchdowns and a missed field goal in the final two minutes make for one of the greatest MNF games of the decade.

It needs to also be mentioned that this was the Raiders' only MNF loss of the 1970s and one of only 2 MNF losses they had from 1970-1981 (Chargers 1981 reg. season finale)

[Rupert Patrick]

1974

9/16 - Bills 21, Raiders 20
Three touchdowns and a missed field goal in the final two minutes make for one of the greatest MNF games of the decade.

It needs to also be mentioned that this was the Raiders' only MNF loss of the 1970s and one of only 2 MNF losses they had from 1970-1981 (Chargers 1981 reg. season finale)

Also, OJ missed much of the game. He left before halftime with a sprained ankle, but picked up 78 yards on 12 carries.

[Citizen]

1973
10/8 - Cowboys 14, Redskins 7
Classic defensive struggle, one of greatest games on rivalry. Ken Houston nails Walit Garrison at the one on game's final play.

I was hoping you'd mention this one. These teams really hated each other. To this day I don't think I've seen a more brutal hit than the one Mike Bass (giving away 35 lbs.) put on Calvin Hill.