Strangely 'close' playoff games
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:04 am
Inspired by SB VI highlights, where Duane Thomas and Walt Garrison seemingly rush for 200 yards in the first half but then Garo Yepremian makes a FG and the Dolphins only trail 10-3...here are some postseason games that I thought to be strangely close for at least part of the game.
Steelers-Colts, 1975 AFC divisional playoff - At home against an overmatched Colts team, the Steelers outgain Baltimore nearly 2-to-1, in part due to Bert Jones getting injured early in the game. Yet in the 2nd half the Colts were up 10-7, and in the 4th quarter the Colts were only down 14-10. I think Mel Blount intercepted Marty Domres in Pittsburgh territory, which led to a clinching Terry Bradshaw TD. Domres was so terrible (2-11, 9 yards, 1 TD 2 INT) that Marchibroda put Jones back in the game despite Jones' right arm being numb, which led to Andy Russell's long TD return of a Jones' fumble. Surprised that the Steelers had such hard time putting away a young Colts team that had Marty Domres at QB. Honorable mention goes to other AFC divisional game, where the Raiders nearly blew a 31-14 4th quarter lead to the Bengals.
Cowboys-Broncos, SB XII- Denver's offense was terrible, yet Denver was still in the game in the 4th period, down only 20-10 with Norris Weese able to (somewhat) move the Bronco offense. Strange that a Butch Johnson fumble and recovery of a punt in the 2nd half could have changed the game had Denver recovered, considering how dominant the Cowboys were.
Eagles-Vikings, 1980 NFC divisional playoff - The Eagles were the class of the NFL that year, and the Vikings were lucky to even be in the postseason. The Vikings running game did nothing (13 carries, 36 yards) and Tommy Kramer threw 5 INTs against Marion Campbell's defense, the Eagles claimed 8 turnovers in all...yet the Vikings were up 16-14 in the 3rd period. Philly eventually put the game away in the 4th and won 31-16.
49ers-Giants 1981 & 49ers-Lions 1983 - The Niners gained 423 yards against the Giants, Joe Montana threw for 300+ yards , they would eventually win the Super Bowl due in part to their dynamic secondary...but the incredibly average Scott Brunner could not be stopped on this day. Brunner threw for 290 yards and 3 TDs and had the Giants down only a TD (17-24) in the 4th period. Another Bill Walsh era close call was the 1983 playoff against the Lions. The 9-7 Lions weren't all that good of a team, but they really should have won this game instead of losing 24-23. Eddie Murray missed a very makeable FG at the end of regulation. The Lions were even winning 23-17 in the 4th and outgained SF by 100+ yards. Gary Danielson threw 5 INTs vs. 0 TDs for Detroit.
Steelers-Colts, 1975 AFC divisional playoff - At home against an overmatched Colts team, the Steelers outgain Baltimore nearly 2-to-1, in part due to Bert Jones getting injured early in the game. Yet in the 2nd half the Colts were up 10-7, and in the 4th quarter the Colts were only down 14-10. I think Mel Blount intercepted Marty Domres in Pittsburgh territory, which led to a clinching Terry Bradshaw TD. Domres was so terrible (2-11, 9 yards, 1 TD 2 INT) that Marchibroda put Jones back in the game despite Jones' right arm being numb, which led to Andy Russell's long TD return of a Jones' fumble. Surprised that the Steelers had such hard time putting away a young Colts team that had Marty Domres at QB. Honorable mention goes to other AFC divisional game, where the Raiders nearly blew a 31-14 4th quarter lead to the Bengals.
Cowboys-Broncos, SB XII- Denver's offense was terrible, yet Denver was still in the game in the 4th period, down only 20-10 with Norris Weese able to (somewhat) move the Bronco offense. Strange that a Butch Johnson fumble and recovery of a punt in the 2nd half could have changed the game had Denver recovered, considering how dominant the Cowboys were.
Eagles-Vikings, 1980 NFC divisional playoff - The Eagles were the class of the NFL that year, and the Vikings were lucky to even be in the postseason. The Vikings running game did nothing (13 carries, 36 yards) and Tommy Kramer threw 5 INTs against Marion Campbell's defense, the Eagles claimed 8 turnovers in all...yet the Vikings were up 16-14 in the 3rd period. Philly eventually put the game away in the 4th and won 31-16.
49ers-Giants 1981 & 49ers-Lions 1983 - The Niners gained 423 yards against the Giants, Joe Montana threw for 300+ yards , they would eventually win the Super Bowl due in part to their dynamic secondary...but the incredibly average Scott Brunner could not be stopped on this day. Brunner threw for 290 yards and 3 TDs and had the Giants down only a TD (17-24) in the 4th period. Another Bill Walsh era close call was the 1983 playoff against the Lions. The 9-7 Lions weren't all that good of a team, but they really should have won this game instead of losing 24-23. Eddie Murray missed a very makeable FG at the end of regulation. The Lions were even winning 23-17 in the 4th and outgained SF by 100+ yards. Gary Danielson threw 5 INTs vs. 0 TDs for Detroit.