Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

I just stumbled back upon Jim Hardy's extremely bizarre start to the 1950 season; 1 TD and 8 interceptions in week 1, an NFL record that still stands alone, followed by 6 TDs and 2 INTs in week 2... and then he never had more than 2 of each in any game the rest of the season. I was wondering if there were any similarly absurd few-week stretches from other players throughout history (up to you to define said absurdity), and would love to hear about any you know of.

In 1984, Browns QB Paul McDonald threw a pick-six in three straight games. In their next game, he threw one late in the game that Deron Cherry picked off at the Chiefs' 10 and returned 67 yards. One week later, in the final minute, McDonald was picked off at the Patriots 5 by Raymond Clayborn, who nearly had a pick-six, going 87 yards before getting pushed out of bounds.

In the realm of dubious starts for a HOFer, Terry Bradshaw getting trapped for a safety in each of his first three games in 1970 have to rank up there.

BD Sullivan wrote:
In the realm of dubious starts for a HOFer, Terry Bradshaw getting trapped for a safety in each of his first three games in 1970 have to rank up there.

Never knew that. That's what's great about this board.

Tom Brady had a three game stretch of pick-sixes as well, to end the regular season with NE in 2019, then the wild card game against the Titans, his last game there, then his first game for the Bucs in 2020. He did okay ...

1973 Packers having less than 100 yards of total offense in three straight games in 1973.

I think this is worse than the Raiders getting shut out three straight times in 1981. Because getting fewer than 100 yards of offense is about four times more rare than a shutout. 1976-77 Buccaneers were shut out 11 times, only had 2 games of fewer than 100 yards.

Six pro football teams have had three games of fewer than 100 yards. Three wartime times (1943 & 1945 Cardinals, 1943 Dodgers - 1943 Cardinals and Dodgers did play, a match of 0-6 teams that was one of the worst NFL games of all time), 1946 Miami Seahawks, and 1961 Redskins were the others. Packers were by far the best of these teams, Miami Seahawks having the next best record at 3-11.

Of course the 1972 Packers had actually made the playoffs with a 10-4 record. 1972 Packers were not exactly a yardage machine, being below average in that capacity. Won with a great defense, turnover margin, and special teams. All of these were worse for the Packers in 1973. The streak began with a dismal 24-7 loss in Los Angeles. The game featured both excellent cornerback Willie Buchanon and starting tackle Bill Hayhoe suffering season ending broken legs. Hayhoe's was effectively career ending. Hayhoe was replaced by Malcolm Snider, who'd generally done a good job in lieu of Gale Gillingham as a guard in 1972. At tackle, he was much less effective, and could only wave at Fred Dryer as he scored two fourth quarter safeties on the Packers. Two safeties and four sacks in 15 pass attempts for Packer quarterbacks.

In the third of these games the Packers actually ran the ball fairly well and rolled up a 17-7 lead on the Chicago Bears. Minus 10 passing yards kept them under the century mark, and Bobby Douglass ran for 100 all by himself, with four touchdowns, as the Bears won 31-17. After than coach Dan Devine handed the reins to Jerry Tagge, and Scott Hunter was through in Green Bay.

Packers had fewer than 30 passing yards in all three games. I don't know if that's a record, I will check. Having fewer than 30 passing yards in a game is rarer than being shut out.

BD Sullivan wrote:In 1984, Browns QB Paul McDonald threw a pick-six in three straight games. In their next game, he threw one late in the game that Deron Cherry picked off at the Chiefs' 10 and returned 67 yards. One week later, in the final minute, McDonald was picked off at the Patriots 5 by Raymond Clayborn, who nearly had a pick-six, going 87 yards before getting pushed out of bounds.

McDonald started every game and threw nearly every pass for the 1984 Browns. He was so unimpressive, that in 1985, despite being healthy and on the roster for every game, he didn't attempt a pass. I remember the comment at the time was that Cleveland was paying McDonald $365,000 (a relatively large sum for the time) to hold on extra points and field goals. Has that ever happened before...a QB starts every game and then the next year doesn't play while being healthy? Seems odd.

Norm Van Brocklin -- 554 yds, 5 TDs, 2 Ints in Wk 1 of 1951.

Next highest yardage total that season: 167 yds, 1 TD, 5 ints in Wk 5.

Was altering with Bob Waterfield much of the season after Week 1.