Most unexpected great game
Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 7:57 am
The Sept. 18, 1983 game between Chicago and New Orleans might be the most unexpected great game I’ve ever seen. New Orleans wins 34-31 in overtime, in a contest that just had intense, creative, gutsy, athletic, entertaining play throughout the entire afternoon. Some memories from recently viewing this:
1. George Rogers, the NFL’s rushing leader after two weeks, was out for this game. Both teams came in 1-1, and there were no indications this game would have any particularly memorable aspect.
2. There was great defense in this game, even though 65 points were scored. The two defenses combined for 14 sacks and 11 turnovers (including a pick-6).
3. Stabler is sacked six times and throws three picks, but still makes some of the most amazing “thread the needle” throws you’ll ever see, while throwing to the likes of Jeff Groth, Kenny Duckett, and Eugene Goodlow. Stabler completes 25 passes, only two to RBs.
4. Hoby Brenner makes an incredible TD catch reaching over the back of Mike Singletary as Singletary is plowing into him (defensive interference was called and of course declined). Makes me wonder who has the most catches on plays where defensive interference was called. It’s probably Jerry Rice, like every other record he owns, but wondering if any Forum members have any anecdotal thoughts on that.
5. Just look at Walter Payton’s stat line for this one. He earned every bit of it. His second TD pass had a dramatic reversal of a “out of bounds” call that drove the Bears crazy, then they erupted as it was reversed. Also Payton’s first TD pass traveled about 55 yards in the air, maybe the longest in-air pass ever thrown by a RB? Payton was running to his left on the play, making it even harder for him to launch it as a righty.
6. Russell Erxleben made maybe the best pass of the day off a fake punt, a 24-yard sideline pass to Groth that landed perfectly between two defenders.
7. Morten Andersen’s game-winning FG in overtime set off one of the great post-game celebrations, as he first ran away from the mob of teammates, then was swarmed by them.
8. During the broadcast, Tim Ryan said “This is the most fun I’ve had watching a football game in a long time.”
9. Johnny Morris also had a great line during the Saints’ game-winning OT drive, which started on their own two-yard-line after an amazing Bob Parsons punt. “They came out from the shadows of their own goal posts, except of course there are no shadows in here.”
What other games do you remember that really had no buildup or reason to anticipate such a great game, but that you consider some of the best games you’ve ever watched?
1. George Rogers, the NFL’s rushing leader after two weeks, was out for this game. Both teams came in 1-1, and there were no indications this game would have any particularly memorable aspect.
2. There was great defense in this game, even though 65 points were scored. The two defenses combined for 14 sacks and 11 turnovers (including a pick-6).
3. Stabler is sacked six times and throws three picks, but still makes some of the most amazing “thread the needle” throws you’ll ever see, while throwing to the likes of Jeff Groth, Kenny Duckett, and Eugene Goodlow. Stabler completes 25 passes, only two to RBs.
4. Hoby Brenner makes an incredible TD catch reaching over the back of Mike Singletary as Singletary is plowing into him (defensive interference was called and of course declined). Makes me wonder who has the most catches on plays where defensive interference was called. It’s probably Jerry Rice, like every other record he owns, but wondering if any Forum members have any anecdotal thoughts on that.
5. Just look at Walter Payton’s stat line for this one. He earned every bit of it. His second TD pass had a dramatic reversal of a “out of bounds” call that drove the Bears crazy, then they erupted as it was reversed. Also Payton’s first TD pass traveled about 55 yards in the air, maybe the longest in-air pass ever thrown by a RB? Payton was running to his left on the play, making it even harder for him to launch it as a righty.
6. Russell Erxleben made maybe the best pass of the day off a fake punt, a 24-yard sideline pass to Groth that landed perfectly between two defenders.
7. Morten Andersen’s game-winning FG in overtime set off one of the great post-game celebrations, as he first ran away from the mob of teammates, then was swarmed by them.
8. During the broadcast, Tim Ryan said “This is the most fun I’ve had watching a football game in a long time.”
9. Johnny Morris also had a great line during the Saints’ game-winning OT drive, which started on their own two-yard-line after an amazing Bob Parsons punt. “They came out from the shadows of their own goal posts, except of course there are no shadows in here.”
What other games do you remember that really had no buildup or reason to anticipate such a great game, but that you consider some of the best games you’ve ever watched?