Notable games between two unbeatens

[Gary Najman]

Several 0-0 vs. 0-0 games...

1950 Browns vs. Eagles
1970 Chiefs vs. Vikings
1972 Dolphins vs. Chiefs
1987 Bears vs. Giants

1976 Steelers vs. Raiders
1983 Cowboys vs. Redskins
1986 Giants vs. Cowboys

[74_75_78_79_]

1973 Week #6 LA Rams at Minnesota Vikings both at 6-0. In a defensive struggle the Vikes prevail 10-9. I believe a 50-yard+ FG attempt by Rams kicker David Ray was blocked at the end of game. Hurting the Rams was the unavailability of star RB Lawrence McCutcheon. A lot of the country did not get to see the game because of the NFL black out rules of the era.

Had the '68 Colts not lost to Cleveland in Wk#6, the following week would have been a Battle of 6-0s as well between they and the Rams.

1992, Wk#5, 3-0 Cowboys at 3-0 Eagles, also MNF.

Both teams get a bye the week prior. The 31-7 Philly result should be considered the "last breath" of SB-flirtation for the Reggie White era Eagles whilst considered the last growing pain of the Big D Dynasty to come in just a few months! I'm still surprised that this game wasn't mentioned in the 'America's Game' episode on the '92 Cowboys (just like I'm surprised that the late loss to Dallas wasn't mentioned in the 1980 Raiders AG ep).

And here's another 'Battle of 3-0s' Monday Nighter, 1979, involving the Cowboys losing on the road in their dark jerseys (though the 'jinx' era was long gone by '92) - Cleveland 26, Dallas 7! As the case 13 years later at the Vet, Dallas would end up being better than the team that'd beat them anyway. But whereas the Eagles at least made the playoffs in '92, the Browns despite their 4-0 start would come up just short in '79. Now the following year would be a different story. Rutigliano's gang winning the division in that special "Kardiac" season which would go down as Brian Sipe's tour de force!

Several 0-0 vs. 0-0 games...

1950 Browns vs. Eagles
1970 Chiefs vs. Vikings
1972 Dolphins vs. Chiefs
1987 Bears vs. Giants

1976 Steelers vs. Raiders
1983 Cowboys vs. Redskins
1986 Giants vs. Cowboys

All great '0-0 vs 0-0' ones with '86 being the lesser of them but still notable! Adding Herschel in the off-season, pairing he with Dorsett, seemed to give a sense - albeit maybe superficially (novelty) - that Big D could return to elite status again. Each scoring a TD in beating the Giants sure gave that sense a boost with the eventual 6-2 start keeping it afloat.

And while still on Dallas, a good debate is what game in '83 between they and Washington is more notable - the very MNF opener mentioned, or that second showdown fourteen weeks later? I'd say the latter anticipation-wise at least with both teams 12-2 going in, but Wk#1, of course, for simply being a great (comeback) game instead of a bad one.

Pittsburgh 31, Houston 17 at Three Rivers, 1980, is a good opener to add. "Kick the SOB in?" Nope! It seemed like the beat would go on. Steeler three-peat until further notice. This would be the first of two years with Ken Stabler at QB for Houston. He threw 5 INTs! But they'd rally from a 17-0 halftime deficit to make it 17-apiece by the end of the 3rd Q. Earl Campbell would throw the Oilers' only TD pass; and a big one! A 57-yarder to White Shoes! And then he, himself, would run one in as well. Vernon was at it again. He made another INT off Bradshaw. And so did Jack Tatum (another Raider who just joined the Oilers with Casper soon on the way)! But the two-time-(four times in the last six years)-defending World Champs would still flex their "we're still #1" muscles just a little bit longer.

Jets at Chargers, 1983! What made this one appealing was that in the past two seasons of being hot contenders, they never met in the regular or post-season. Now we get to see it! NY Sack Exchange vs Air Coryell! The visiting team's green jerseys and the home team's electrifying whites clashing in the Jack Murphy sun! Jets win, 41-29, but though leading the rest of the way once they got ahead 10-7 in the 2nd, a suspenseful game throughout just the same. Of course, sadly, both teams would be shocking disappointments in '83 with both having losing records with, of course, no playoffs for either. This is why it turned out to be absolute best that they met in the opener. High anticipation and nobody knowing at the time how each would fare.


Does any one got any '4-0 vs 4-0's or even '5-0 vs 5-0's? Thanks in-advance for the knowledge!