Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Hey Guys,

If you had to select the best year for pro football in the decade of the 1970s, which year would it be and why? I'm curious to read your responses.

Sincerely,
Joe Zagorski

1978, 1978, &... 1978.

No explanation necessary.

1970 - without a doubt.
The AFL played its last game - the Championship - on January 4th and thus ended any threat to the supremacy of the NFL.
Everything else, as Saint Vincent would say, is and was hinky-dinky.

74_75_78_79_ wrote:1978, 1978, &... 1978.

No explanation necessary.

I also have to go with 1978, with 1970 a close second. 1978 was a clear turning point in NFL history, as the league went to a 16-game schedule, along with adding two teams to the playoffs. There were two fluky games (Holy Roller and Miracle at the Meadowlands) which directly led to rules changes or changes in strategy. Also, the changes to the pass defense rules opened up the throttles on offenses, and the number of 10-3 games that we saw in 1977 were no longer as common in 1978, We also saw the end of the line for Fran Tarkenton and George Allen, and new stars like Earl Campbell come into the league. There was a very good Super Bowl between Pittsburgh and Dallas, and a number of other great games including the Miami Houston MNF game, the Denver Seattle OT game in which a Seattle win would have made them the AFC West Champion in their third year of existence, the Cleveland New York OT game, and the Baltimore New England MNF game to name a few. Steve Sabol has stated that he thought 1978 was the best season in NFL history.

Despite the accursed Hail Mary game, I've always had an affinity for the 1975 season:
-an MVP season from Fran,
-incredible seasons from Chuck Foreman and O.J.,
-the rebirth of the Colts,
-a 10-0 season by the Oilers against everyone other than the Steelers and Bengals (0-4 against them),
-the surprising, supposedly rebuilding Cowboys,
-the 11-3 Cardinals and Bengals,
-the first good Super Bowl game,
-the regular culprits - the Vikes, the Raiders, the Steelers, the Rams, the Dolphins, the Cowboys - continued dominance,
-a thrilling, albeit disappointing, 8-6 season from the Bills who led the league in scoring with 420 points while giving up 355,
-the Redskins won their first two games 90-16, against weak opponents, mind you, but then struggled the rest of the way to finish a disappointing 8-6. They did hand Minnesota their first loss, 31-30 in Week 11, in what was probably the game of the year. A true classic.

I was going to say 1978. For prety much all of the same reasons Rupert mentioned!

1975 & 1978 were very interesting years, but my personal favorite is 1972.

-arguably greatest team in NFL history: 17-0 Dolphins
-arguably greatest coaching performance in NFL history: Don Shula
-arguably greatest play in NFL history: Immaculate Reception
-classic playoff day with Pit/Oak and Dal/SF
-Garo Yepremian "pass"
-Pittsburgh Steelers come to life with Franco Harris
-George Allen's Redskins capture NFC crown
-OJ Simpson's breakout year
-short-lived revival of Packers
-Tarkenton returns to Vikes, arguably greatest .500 team in NFL history
-Bill Peterson's lifetime contract
-Namath/Unitas passing duel
-Bobby Douglass near 1000-yard season

Bryan wrote:1975 & 1978 were very interesting years, but my personal favorite is 1972.

-Bobby Douglass 1000-yard season

968 actually.

JohnH19 wrote:

Bryan wrote:1975 & 1978 were very interesting years, but my personal favorite is 1972.

-Bobby Douglass 1000-yard season

968 actually.

I meant 1000-yard season in passing yards. That was a big deal for Bobby! j/k

Bryan wrote: I meant 1000-yard season in passing yards. That was a big deal for Bobby! j/k

lol...1,000 passing yards and a stellar 37.9 completion percentage. A fine season to be sure.

But seriously, folks...he had over 2,000 yards of total offense which was nothing for a QB to be ashamed of in that run dominated season/era.