Highlighted Year: Bruce Harper, 1977

Halfback, New York Jets

Age: 22

1^st season in pro football

College: Kutztown State

Height: 5’8”   Weight: 174

Prelude:

Playing at a small school, Harper rushed for 2169 yards in three varsity seasons and was an honorable mention Little All-American in 1976. He went undrafted by the NFL but signed with the Jets as a free agent in ’77. What Harper lacked in size, he made up for with speed and versatility and made the club as a backup halfback who primarily returned kicks.

1977 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 44

Most attempts, game – 8 (for 33 yds.) vs. New England 10/2

Yards – 198

Most yards, game – 33 yards (on 4 carries) at Houston 9/18, (on 8 carries) vs. New England 10/2

Average gain – 4.5

TDs – 0

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 21      

Most receptions, game – 4 (for 32 yds.) vs. Baltimore 9/25

Yards – 209

Most yards, game – 55 (on 1 catch) at Buffalo 10/9

Average gain – 10.0

TDs – 1

Passing

Attempts – 1

Completions – 0

Interceptions – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 42 [1]

Yards – 1035 [1]

Most yards, game – 122 (on 3 ret.) at New Orleans 12/4

Average per return – 24.6 [8]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 60 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 34 [10, tied with Howard Stevens]

Yards – 425 [5]

Most yards, game – 66 (on 5 ret.) vs. Buffalo 12/11

Average per return – 12.5 [6]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 49 yards

All-Purpose yards – 1867 [3, 1^st in AFC]

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Jets went 3-11 to finish fourth in the AFC East.

Aftermath:

Continuing to perform well as a utility player, Harper led the AFC in all-purpose yards in each of the next three seasons and the entire NFL in 1978 (2157) and ’80 (2072). He also topped the league in kickoff return yards in 1978 and ’79 and had his best year as a punt returner in 1978, averaging 12.6 yards on 30 returns that included a touchdown. Effective in a limited role out of the backfield, Harper’s top rushing season was 1981, when he carried 81 times for 393 yards (4.9 avg.) and four TDs. Used more as a pass receiver, he gained 634 yards on 50 catches in 1980 and topped out at 52 receptions for 459 yards in ’81. Harper spent his entire career with the Jets until suffering a career-ending ACL tear in 1984. Overall, he compiled 11,429 all-purpose yards, with 1829 on 374 rushing attempts (4.9 avg.), 2409 on 220 pass receptions (11.0 avg.), 1784 on 183 punt returns (9.7 avg.), and 5407 on 243 kickoff returns (22.3 avg.). He scored a total of 21 touchdowns.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1977: Broncos Defeat Steelers in AFC Divisional Playoff

The AFC Divisional playoff game on December 24, 1977 featured the Denver Broncos, champions of the AFC West at 12-2 and newcomers to the postseason, hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers, AFC Central champs for the fourth straight year with a 9-5 record.

The Broncos, coached by Red Miller, were appearing in the postseason for the first time in a franchise history dating back to 1960 in the American Football League. They had made it with a conservative offense directed by QB Craig Morton (pictured above), who was new to Denver but a 35-year-old veteran previously with Dallas and the Giants. The key to success was the rugged “Orange Crush” defense that included DE Lyle Alzado, linebackers Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson, CB Louis Wright, and SS Bill Thompson.

Pittsburgh had enjoyed great success under Head Coach Chuck Noll, winning back-to-back Super Bowls following the 1974 and ’75 seasons and reaching the AFC title game in 1976. However, there had been off-field turmoil heading into the 1977 season and the team was uncharacteristically turnover-prone on offense and less dominating on defense, and they lost to Denver during the regular season. Still, the nucleus of QB Terry Bradshaw, FB Franco Harris, and wide receivers Lynn Swann on offense and DT “Mean Joe” Greene, linebackers Jack Lambert and Jack Ham, and CB Mel Blount on defense was intact.

It was a sunny day at Mile High Stadium with over 75,000 fans in attendance and they saw the teams exchange punts to start the game. The Steelers had to punt again following their second possession but the kick by Rick Engles was blocked by WR John Schultz and Denver had the ball at the Pittsburgh 17. HB Rob Lytle carried four straight times, the last for a seven-yard touchdown, and Jim Turner added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

The clubs resumed trading punts as the game moved into the second quarter. The Steelers finally mounted a scoring drive that covered 56 yards in 11 plays. Terry Bradshaw converted a third-and-nine situation with a pass to TE Bennie Cunningham that covered 19 yards and Franco Harris (pictured below) ran effectively, including a 14-yard run on a fourth-and-one play at the Denver 27. Two carries by HB Rocky Bleier and a Bradshaw throw to Lynn Swann had the visitors facing first-and-goal at the two, and while it took three plays, the Steelers got a TD when Bradshaw leaped into the end zone from just inches away. Roy Gerela converted to tie the score.

The Broncos had to punt again and the Steelers advanced to their 45 before Harris fumbled after being hit by DE Lyle Alzado and LB Tom Jackson recovered and returned it 30 yards. On the next play, HB Otis Armstrong ran 10 yards for a touchdown and, with Turner’s point after, the home team was back on top by 14-7.

The Steelers started their next series with 4:04 remaining in the first half and drove 65 yards in nine plays. Bradshaw completed four passes, the longest to John Stallworth for 21 yards, and just after the two-minute warning Harris took a handoff, started to his right, and then reversed field for a 20-yard gain to the Denver two. Two plays later, Harris ran to the right for a one-yard TD and, with Gerela’s kick, the score was once more knotted at 14-14, and that was the tally at the half. The Steelers had outgained Denver by 183 yards to 44, but the ability of the Broncos to capitalize on the blocked punt and fumble to stay even on the scoreboard.

The teams again exchanged punts to start the third quarter. Denver advanced deep into Pittsburgh territory on its second series, with the big plays passes by Craig Morton to WR Haven Moses for 27 yards and TE Jim Jensen for 29. That gave the Broncos a first-and-goal at the two, but the Steelers kept them out of the end zone as Armstrong ran for a yard, Morton had a pass batted down, and Lytle was stopped three inches short of the goal. Jensen gained nothing on a fourth down run and the Broncos turned the ball over on downs.

The Steelers were pinned back at their one and the resulting short possession led to a punt that gave the ball back to Denver at the Pittsburgh 41. Four plays later, Morton passed to TE Riley Odoms, who gathered the ball in at the six and ran the remaining distance for a 30-yard touchdown. Turner converted and the Broncos again had a seven-point lead at 21-14.

Pittsburgh had to punt on the last play of the period and Denver’s first series of the fourth quarter resulted in a punt as well. WR Jim Smith returned the kick 17 yards to the Pittsburgh 39 and, following a short run by Bleier, Bradshaw fired passes to Cunningham for 11 yards and Stallworth for 48 yards to the Denver one. From there on the next play, Bradshaw threw to Larry Brown, a tackle lined up at end, for a TD. Gerela kicked the extra point and the score again was tied.

The Broncos responded with a 39-yard drive in seven plays. Morton threw to Armstrong for a nine-yard gain and followed with a pass to Moses for 18 yards to the Pittsburgh 36. Lytle ran for three yards and a Morton bootleg picked up six. While a third-and-one pass was tipped and fell incomplete, Turner kicked a 44-yard field goal that staked Denver to a 24-21 lead.

Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 34 yards to give the Steelers good starting field position at their 40, but on their second play a Bradshaw pass was intercepted by Jackson, who returned it 32 yards to the nine yard line. The Broncos couldn’t reach the end zone from there but came away with another Turner field goal, this time from 25 yards, to extend the lead to 27-21.

Pittsburgh took over again on offense with just over five minutes to play and Bradshaw came out throwing. He had four completions, one to Cunningham for 12 yards to convert a third down and another to Bleier for seven yards in a third-and-six situation. But his next pass was picked off at midfield by Jackson, making yet another big play on defense, and the linebacker ran it back 17 yards. Two plays later, with the defense anticipating that the Broncos would keep the ball on the ground, Morton fired long to WR Jack Dolbin (pictured at right) in the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown. While the Steelers had one more possession, the game was effectively over. Denver won by a final score of 34-21.

The Steelers had more total yards (304 to 258) and first downs (18 to 15), but also turned the ball over four times, to one by Denver. Pittsburgh also was hurt by 10 penalties, at a cost of 67 yards, to three flags for 20 yards thrown on the Broncos.

Craig Morton completed 11 of 23 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Otis Armstrong topped the Broncos with 44 rushing yards on 11 carries that included a TD and Rob Lytle contributed 26 yards and a score on his 12 attempts. Riley Odoms had 5 catches for 43 yards and a touchdown and Haven Moses gained 45 yards on his two pass receptions. Tom Jackson (pictured below) was the defensive star with the two big interceptions plus a fumble recovery.

For the Steelers, Terry Bradshaw was successful on 19 of 37 throws for 177 yards and a TD, but gave up three interceptions. Franco Harris gained 92 yards on 28 carries that included a touchdown and also caught four passes for another 20 yards. John Stallworth also had four receptions, for a team-leading 80 yards.

Denver, having achieved its first playoff victory, went on to defeat the division-rival Oakland Raiders for the AFC Championship but was dominated in the Super Bowl by the Dallas Cowboys. The Steelers, with many commentators suggesting that they were a fading club following the disappointing 1977 season, bounced back to win the next two Super Bowls and defeated the Broncos at the Divisional level in ’78.

Highlighted Year: Lyle Blackwood, 1977

Safety, Baltimore Colts

Age: 26

5^th season in pro football, 1^st with Colts

College: Texas Christian

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 190

Prelude:

Blackwood was an All-Southwest Conference selection in 1971 and ’72. Chosen by the Denver Broncos in the ninth round of the 1973 NFL draft, he was waived prior to the season but signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he was primarily used on special teams, including returning punts. Following three seasons as a backup safety for the Bengals, Blackwood moved on to the Seattle Seahawks in the 1976 expansion draft. After an undistinguished year, he was waived prior to the ’77 season and picked up by the Colts. Thus far, he had started a total of seven games and intercepted two passes in four NFL seasons. Blackwood moved into the lineup at free safety with surprising results.

1977 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 10 [1]

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. NY Jets 11/20

Int. return yards – 163 [2]

Most int. return yards, game – 64 (on 3 int.) vs. NY Jets 11/20

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 4

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 1

Yards – 24

TDs – 0

Punt Returns

Returns – 7

Yards – 22

Average per return – 3.1

TDs – 0

Longest return – 10 yards

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Divisional playoff vs. Oakland)

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 2

Kickoff returns – 1

Kickoff return yards – 17

Punt returns – 2

Punt return yards – 6

Punt return avg. – 3.0

TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL:  AP

Colts went 10-4 to finish first in the AFC East while finishing second in the NFL in interceptions (30). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Oakland Raiders (37-31).

Aftermath:

Blackwood intercepted four passes in 1978, returning two of them for touchdowns, and had another four in ’79. He lost his starting job in 1980 and moved on to the Miami Dolphins in 1981, where he teamed with his brother Glenn as part of an outstanding safety tandem and enjoyed his greatest notoriety. Blackwood spent the last six years of his career with the Dolphins, before being waived in 1986. He ended up intercepting 35 passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns, and recovering 15 fumbles. 19 of the interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries occurred while with the Colts. He also returned 69 punts for a 4.6-yard average and 20 kickoffs with a 20.2 average.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1977: Harris & Defense Spur Dolphins to Win Against Colts

In a key AFC East showdown, the Miami Dolphins had an 8-3 record and were trying to catch the Baltimore Colts, the team they hosted on December 5, 1977. Under Head Coach Don Shula for the eighth season, the Dolphins were retooling after dipping to 6-8 in ’76. QB Bob Griese was still outstanding behind center, but behind him in the backfield were rookie FB Leroy Harris and second-year HB Gary Davis, who had both started out the season as reserves. The defense had undergone the bigger transformation, with five rookies starting and performing capably. Miami had been beaten badly at Baltimore in the season’s fourth week, but surrendered more than twenty points in a game only once since then.

Baltimore was coached by Ted Marchibroda and, at 9-2, was seeking to top the division for the third straight year. QB Bert Jones had a powerful and accurate passing arm and HB Lydell Mitchell was highly productive as a runner and pass receiver while the defensive line was adept at rushing opposing quarterbacks. The club had lost at Denver the previous week after winning four straight.

There were 68,977 fans in attendance for the Monday night game at the Orange Bowl. The Colts had first possession, punted, and Miami drove 69 yards in 11 plays. Leroy Harris started off with two carries for seven yards and, after an offside penalty gave the Dolphins a first down, Gary Davis and Harris picked up another 14 yards between them. The big play came on a pass from Bob Griese to WR Nat Moore for a pickup of 41 yards to the Baltimore 11. Miami couldn’t reach the end zone from there but scored first when Garo Yepremian kicked a 27-yard field goal.

The teams traded punts, but the Colts got a break when the kick by Mike Michel of the Dolphins traveled only 22 yards to give Baltimore possession at the Miami 36. Lydell Mitchell ran twice for 12 yards and caught a pass from Bert Jones for eight more. The drive stalled at the 15 and Toni Linhart tied the score with a field goal from 32 yards.

The Colts regained possession shortly thereafter when, on the second play after the kickoff, a Griese pass intended for TE Andre Tillman bounced off the receiver’s hands and was intercepted by LB Tom McCleod, who returned it 33 yards to the Miami 12. Following a three-yard run by Mitchell, Jones threw two incomplete passes, the second of which was dropped by TE Raymond Chester, and the visitors settled for a 27-yard Linhart field goal that nevertheless put them in front by 6-3.

As the game moved into the second quarter, the Dolphins responded with a 49-yard drive in just four plays. Griese threw to Moore for seven yards on first down, Harris ran for 15 yards, and Griese went to the air again, completing to Davis for 12 more. A Griese scramble was nullified by a penalty, but he then passed to Tillman, who ran through two defenders for a 15-yard touchdown. Yepremian added the extra point and the home team was ahead by 10-6.

The Colts turned the ball over on the next series when FB Ron Lee fumbled at midfield after being hit by CB Norris Thomas. It looked promising for the Dolphins as Griese threw to WR Duriel Harris for 10 yards, completed a short toss to Moore for four, and then Leroy Harris gained 11 yards around end. But after getting inside the Baltimore 10, Davis fumbled and CB Nelson Munsey recovered for the Colts.

Baltimore was forced to punt from its own territory and a 17-yard return by WR Freddie Solomon had the Dolphins starting their next series from the 50. They advanced to the Baltimore 11, primarily thanks to a Griese completion to Duriel Harris for 21 yards, but Yepremian missed a 29-yard try for a field goal. The score remained unchanged at the half.

The teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter until the Colts, starting from their 34, put together a promising drive. Jones completed all four of his passes and Mitchell and FB Don McCauley handled the running load. But with first-and-goal at the Miami four, FB Roosevelt Leaks fumbled into the end zone and Thomas recovered for the Dolphins to end the threat.

The Dolphins were driving as the game entered the fourth quarter. Griese made good on four passes, the longest to Moore for 18 yards on a third-and-22 play that put the ball on the Baltimore 31. However, Yepremian was short on a 49-yard field goal attempt and the home team continued to cling to a four-point lead.

The Colts reached the Miami 49 before having to punt again.  With the ball at their 23, the Dolphins made the biggest play of the game on first down when Leroy Harris carried to his right and headed down the sideline before cutting back to the middle and going the distance for a 77-yard touchdown. It was the longest scoring run in franchise history at the time and, with Yepremian’s kick, the Dolphins had an 11-point lead with 7:42 remaining to play.

Jones went to the air on every play in response. He connected with WR Roger Carr for 22 yards on a third-and-10 play and picked up another first down with a screen pass to McCauley for 13. But the series stalled at the Baltimore 45 and the Colts punted. Miami managed to run the clock down on the ensuing possession, with Harris and Davis running effectively and picking up two first downs. The Dolphins finally had to punt from their 40, but Baltimore had only a minute to work with and the Colts were starting from their 24. Jones completed three straight passes, two of them to McCauley, to get to the Miami 44, but a bomb intended for Doughty was incomplete and, on the game’s final play, a pass to Chester gained 29 yards. Miami came away with a 17-6 win.

The Dolphins had the edge in total yards (352 to 311) while the teams were even in first downs with 17 apiece. Of Miami’s yardage total, 207 came on the ground. The clubs were also even with two turnovers each while the Miami defense forced the Colts to punt seven times.

Including the long scoring carry, Leroy Harris rushed for 140 yards on 17 attempts. Gary Davis also was productive with 56 yards on 12 carries. Bob Griese completed 13 of 22 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown along with an interception. Nat Moore topped the Miami receivers with 5 catches for 83 yards.

For the Colts, Bert Jones was successful on 18 of 34 throws for 189 yards with no TDs but also none intercepted. Lydell Mitchell (pictured below) rushed for 84 yards on 20 attempts and caught 6 passes for another 62 yards. Don McCauley, who gained a modest 14 yards on the ground, also had 6 receptions, for 51 yards. Only four of Jones’ completions were to wide receivers.

The win put the Dolphins in a tie for first in the AFC East with Baltimore but they lost the following week and, while the Colts did also, the teams both ended up at 10-4. Baltimore won the division title due to a better record in the conference and Miami finished second and, with only one wild card spot available at that time (a second would be added the next year), out of the postseason. Oakland, with an 11-3 record, was the wild card participant and defeated the Colts in a Divisional round overtime thriller.

The 140-yard rushing performance ended up being the career best for Leroy Harris, who rushed for 417 yards on 91 carries (4.6 avg.) and four touchdowns in 1977 and would go on to play a total of five seasons with the Dolphins and Eagles. Gary Davis gained 533 yards on 126 attempts (4.2 avg.), which was his highest yardage total over the course of six years in the NFL.

1977: Browns Rally in Second Half, Defeat Patriots in Overtime

The Monday night game on September 26, 1977 featured the Cleveland Browns hosting the New England Patriots. The Browns were coming off of a 9-5 record in ’76 under Head Coach Forrest Gregg. QB Brian Sipe had emerged from an obscure backup role to replace the disappointing Mike Phipps and there was a fine all-purpose runner in HB Greg Pruitt (pictured at right). Cleveland pulled off an upset the previous week in defeating the Bengals and were 1-0 as they faced another significant test.

The Patriots were coached by Chuck Fairbanks and reached the playoffs the previous year with an 11-3 tally. QB Steve Grogan, like Sipe, had been unheralded coming into the league and was effective both passing and running with the ball. While the holdouts of G John Hannah and OT Leon Gray caused disruption, there was a good corps of running backs, starting with FB Sam “Bam” Cunningham and TE Russ Francis was one of the best at his position. The defense was tough, with CB Mike Haynes and FS Tim Fox coming off of outstanding rookie seasons. New England had also won its opener against Kansas City.

There were 76,413 fans in attendance at Municipal Stadium. The Browns had the first possession and advanced 85 yards in 12 plays. Brian Sipe completed a third-and-five throw to Greg Pruitt that picked up 35 yards to the New England 11 and Pruitt tossed an option pass to FB Brian Duncan for a five-yard touchdown. Don Cockroft added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

The Patriots punted following a short series but got the ball back when SS Prentice McCray intercepted a Sipe pass at the New England 29. They again had to punt and, helped by a 23-yard return by DB Roland Woolsey, the Browns again advanced into New England territory in the final minutes of the opening period. The drive stalled at the 26 early in the second quarter and Cockroft missed to the right on a 44-yard field goal attempt.

The Patriots made the most of the reprieve, moving methodically down the field. Steve Grogan completed a pass to HB Don Calhoun that gained 21 yards and had additional yards tacked on due to a facemask penalty on the Browns. Following two carries by HB Ike Forte, Grogan finished the 10-play, 74-yard series with a throw to Sam Cunningham (pictured below) in the end zone for an eight-yard TD. John Smith tied the score with his successful conversion.

On the first play following the ensuing kickoff, Tim Fox intercepted a Sipe pass and returned it to the Cleveland 22. The Patriots couldn’t reach the end zone but they did put more points on the board with Smith’s 35-yard field goal to go ahead by a 10-7 tally.

That was it for the scoring until a 46-yard punt return by Mike Haynes gave the Patriots the ball at the Cleveland 29 with 1:33 remaining in the first half. Cunningham and Grogan ran the ball down to the two, from where Calhoun scored a touchdown. Smith’s extra point made the halftime score 17-7 in favor of the visitors.

The Patriots had the ball first in the third quarter and punted. Cleveland advanced 54 yards in six plays as Pruitt ran for 11 yards on two carries and caught a pass for another six, and Sipe threw to TE Gary Parris for a 26-yard TD. Cockroft’s PAT made it a three-point game at 17-14.

The Browns immediately regained possession when CB Raymond Clayborn fumbled on the kickoff return and WR Ricky Feacher recovered for Cleveland at the New England 25. While the offense went three-and-out, Cockroft tied the score at 17-17 with a 37-yard field goal.

The Patriots got just past midfield on the next series but again had to punt. Starting from their 12, the Browns got a boost when Pruitt took off for a 37-yard run with a facemask penalty added on and they were into New England territory heading into the fourth quarter. However, they came up empty when Cockroft tried for a 39-yard field goal that was blocked by LB Rod Shoate.

New England responded with a 61-yard drive that took 13 plays. Grogan completed a pass to WR Steve Burks for 22 yards in a third-and-12 situation and Calhoun and Cunningham ran effectively. Grogan converted another third down play with a throw to Forte for 10 yards to the Cleveland two, and while the Patriots lost yards on the next two plays, Grogan connected with Russ Francis in the middle of the end zone for a six-yard touchdown. Smith converted and the visitors were back on top by 24-17 with 7:28 to play in regulation.

The Browns came back with a seven-play, 73-yard possession. Pruitt had a 17-yard run and Sipe completed passes to Parris for ten yards, WR Reggie Rucker for nine, and WR Dave Logan for 19 yards to the New England 13. It was Sipe to Pruitt for an eight-yard TD and, with Cockroft’s kick, the score was again knotted at 24-24.

Cleveland scored again after a Grogan pass was picked off by LB Charlie Hall. That gave the Browns the ball at the New England 27 and led to a 37-yard Cockroft field goal and a lead of 27-24 with the clock now down to 55 seconds.

That was still enough time for the Patriots to mount a drive. Grogan completed four passes to move New England down the field, the biggest to Francis for 28 yards to the Cleveland 17 with one second remaining. Smith kicked a 24-yard field goal to send the contest into overtime.

The Browns won the toss for the extra period, received the kickoff, and never gave up the ball. Sipe scrambled for four yards in a third-and-one situation and completed a pass to Parris for 12 yards while facing third-and-eight. A throw to Logan that picked up 22 yards got the ball into scoring territory at the New England 19, and two plays later Cockroft kicked a 35-yard field goal at 4:45 into overtime. Cleveland won by a final score of 30-27.    

The Browns led in total yards (393 to 263) and first downs (25 to 21). They also turned the ball over three times, to two by New England, but the Patriots drew 12 penalties at a cost of 80 yards to five flags thrown on Cleveland.

Greg Pruitt had an outstanding night for the Browns as he rushed for 151 yards on 26 carries, caught four passes for another 51 yards and a touchdown, and threw a scoring pass. Brian Sipe (pictured at right) completed 18 of 25 throws for 199 yards and two TDs while giving up two interceptions. FB Cleo Miller, who gained 31 yards on 11 rushing attempts, also had four pass receptions, for 19 yards.

For the Patriots, Steve Grogan completed 15 of 23 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns while being picked off once. Sam Cunningham gained 70 yards on 18 carries and also topped the club with 7 pass receptions for 52 yards and another TD. Don Calhoun contributed 49 yards on 13 rushes that included a TD.

“Greg’s a great player,” said Coach Fairbanks of the Patriots about Cleveland’s Pruitt, who had played for him in college at Oklahoma. “He helped me to win a lot and now he helped take one away from me.”

The Browns had pulled off two upsets to start the season, and while they lost the next two games, they reeled off three straight victories to be in first place with a 5-2 record at the midway point. They faltered from there and the loss of Brian Sipe for the last five games proved fatal as Cleveland won only one of its last seven contests to end up at 6-8 and at the bottom of the AFC Central Division, costing Coach Gregg his job. New England lost the next week, and while the Patriots then won four straight games, a midseason slump caused them to finish at 9-5 and third in the AFC East, just missing out on a Wild Card playoff slot.

In his fifth year with the Browns, Greg Pruitt was chosen to his fourth Pro Bowl as he rushed for 1086 yards on 236 carries, both career highs, for a 4.6-yard average and caught 37 passes for 471 yards (12.7 avg.). His 1557 yards from scrimmage ranked third in the NFL. In addition to the Pro Bowl selection, he received second-team All-NFL honors from the Newspaper Enterprise Association and second-team All-AFC recognition from UPI.

1978: Dallas Defense Dominates Broncos in Super Bowl XII

Super Bowl XII on January 15, 1978 featured two 12-2 teams, the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos, appearing in the first Super Bowl to be held in an indoor venue, the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. There was a crowd of 75,583 fans on hand in addition to a huge television audience.

The Cowboys, coached by Tom Landry, were used to contending, having made it to the postseason for the 11^th time in 12 years in 1977, and were just two years removed from their most recent of three Super Bowl appearances (a loss to the Steelers). 35-year-old QB Roger Staubach led the NFC in passing and All-Pro WR Drew Pearson led a solid group of receivers. Rookie HB Tony Dorsett didn’t move into the starting lineup until halfway through the season yet still rushed for 1007 yards and 12 TDs. The retooled defense was outstanding, particularly on the line that contained pass-rushing ends Harvey Martin, a consensus first-team All-Pro, and Ed “Too Tall” Jones and DT Randy White, successor to the great Bob Lilly and a Pro Bowl selectee in his first year starting. After handily topping the NFC East, the Cowboys defeated the Bears in the Divisional playoff round and Minnesota for the conference championship, outscoring their opponents by a combined 60-13.

Denver, on the other hand, had never been to the playoffs previously. Under first-year Head Coach Red Miller, the Broncos benefited from the strong “Orange Crush” defense that featured DE Lyle Alzado, linebackers Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson, CB Louis Wright, and SS Bill Thompson. The offense was conservative. QB Craig Morton, a 13^th-year veteran who spent his first nine full seasons with Dallas, had joined the team in ’77 and provided steady guidance, if not statistical brilliance. The group of running backs was unspectacular while TE Riley Odoms led the club with 37 receptions and WR Haven Moses was the leading deep threat. After beating out the Raiders in the AFC West, the Broncos defeated Pittsburgh in their Divisional game and narrowly defeated Oakland for the AFC title.   

Dallas had the game’s first possession and punted, narrowly averting disaster on the first play from scrimmage when Tony Dorsett and WR Butch Johnson muffed an exchange on an attempted reverse, but Denver was unable to recover the loose ball. On their first series, the Broncos converted a third-and-12 play when Craig Morton completed a pass to Haven Moses for 21 yards to the Dallas 34. But following a short carry by HB Otis Armstrong, Morton’s next pass was batted down and he was then sacked for a loss of 11 yards by Randy White (pictured at right) to force a punt.

The Cowboys, who were pinned back at their one after WR Tony Hill muffed Denver’s punt and fell on the ball, were no more proficient on offense and again had to punt, but three plays later a poorly-thrown pass by Morton, who was trying to avoid being sacked, was intercepted by safety Randy Hughes to give Dallas the ball at the Denver 25. Staubach threw a swing pass to TE Billy Joe Dupree for 13 yards and, following a two-yard carry by FB Robert Newhouse, Dorsett ran the ball three straight times, the last for a three-yard touchdown. Efren Herrera added the extra point and the Cowboys held a 7-0 lead.

On the second play of Denver’s next possession, Morton threw another interception. The pass was tipped by LB Bob Breunig and CB Aaron Kyle grabbed the ball and returned 19 yards to the Broncos’ 35. A nine-yard run by Newhouse was followed by Dorsett picking up 18 yards around end. The series bogged down at that point and Lyle Alzado’s sack of Staubach on third down forced the Cowboys to settle for a 35-yard Herrera field goal. Dallas took a 10-0 lead into the second quarter.

Denver again had to punt after a short series capped by DE “Too Tall” Jones tossing FB Lonnie Perrin for a seven-yard loss after catching a screen pass. Starting from their 43, the Cowboys advanced 32 yards in seven plays. Staubach threw to HB Preston Pearson on a screen pass for 11 yards and to DuPree for 19. Herrera kicked a 43-yard field goal to make it a 13-0 game.

Dallas again got the ball back in short order when Morton’s underthrown pass intended for Moses was picked off by CB Benny Barnes. A penalty and a sack moved the Cowboys back and they punted, but WR John Schultz muffed the kick and LB Bruce Huther recovered for Dallas at the Denver 40. Dorsett gained 19 yards on a sweep, but the Broncos stiffened on defense and Staubach’s throw into the end zone was batted away by Louis Wright. The Cowboys came up empty when Herrera tried for a 43-yard field goal and was wide to the left.

Once again the Broncos turned the ball over when Morton completed a pass to WR Jack Dolbin for 15 yards, but the receiver fumbled and Hughes recovered, returning it 19 yards to the Denver 27. Dorsett ran for eight yards and Newhouse for 10 to the nine yard line, but a swing pass to Newhouse lost seven yards at the two-minute warning and two more throws netted a gain of a yard. Herrera missed another try for a field goal, this time from 32 yards.

The teams exchanged back-to-back turnovers on first-play fumbles by the tight ends and, with time running out in the first half, Morton threw another interception that CB Mark Washington returned 27 yards to the Denver 35. A short pass from Staubach to Preston Pearson set up a 44-yard field goal attempt by Herrera, but it was wide to the left and the score remained unchanged heading into halftime. Dallas failed to generate further points on turnovers by the Broncos while controlling the ball nearly twice as long in the first thirty minutes.

The Broncos had the ball first in the third quarter and, while Armstrong gained 18 yards on a sweep, the drive stalled at the Denver 41. A fake punt failed when Bucky Dilts was sacked for a four-yard loss, but the Cowboys were penalized for having twelve players on the field to nevertheless keep the series alive. After reaching the Dallas 30, Jim Turner kicked a 47-yard field goal and the Dallas lead was narrowed to 13-3.

The teams exchanged punts before the Cowboys advanced 58 yards in five plays. Staubach completed a pass to Drew Pearson for 13 yards on a second-and-ten play and, following a run for no gain and an incomplete pass, Staubach threw long for Butch Johnson, who made a diving catch for a 45-yard touchdown (pictured below). Herrera added the point after and Dallas was up by 20-3.

The Broncos got a break when WR Rick Upchurch returned the ensuing kickoff 67 yards to the Dallas 26. Morton nearly threw another interception on first down and backup QB Norris Weese, who was more mobile, came into the game. HB Rob Lytle ran for four yards, Weese threw to FB Jim Jensen for five, and on fourth-and-one, Jensen ran for 16 yards. Lytle ran for the last yard and a TD and Turner converted to again make it a ten-point contest.

The Cowboys finished out the period with a time-consuming drive. Staubach completed all five of his passes, the longest to DuPree for 18 yards, but on the second play of the fourth quarter he fumbled when sacked by LB Tom Jackson and NT Rubin Carter recovered at the Denver 45.

A facemask penalty on the Cowboys negated a loss and gave the Broncos another first down, Weese threw to Upchurch for nine yards, and Armstrong ran for three to reach the Dallas 46. But that was as far as Denver could get. Weese’s next three passes were incomplete and the Broncos punted.

Staubach was sidelined with a broken finger on his throwing hand and Danny White came in at quarterback for Dallas. The backup completed a pass and gained 13 yards on a draw play. While Staubach returned before the series was over, the Cowboys had to punt. Three plays later, a sack by Harvey Martin (pictured at top) forced Weese to fumble and Kyle recovered at the Denver 29. On the next play, Newhouse threw an option pass that WR Golden Richards caught in the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown. Herrera added the point after and, with seven minutes to play, the Cowboys had an insurmountable 17-point lead.

Denver had the ball once more and reached the Dallas 24 before Weese’s incomplete pass on a fourth-and-23 play effectively ended the season for the Broncos. Dallas won by a final score of 27-10.    

The Cowboys easily outgained Denver (325 yards to 156) and had more first downs (17 to 11). The Broncos managed just 35 net passing yards and turned the ball over eight times, four apiece by interceptions and fumbles. While the Cowboys stifled Denver on defense, the offense wasn’t as dominating, fumbling six times but losing just two of them, their only turnovers of the game. Dallas also missed three field goals and set a Super Bowl record by being penalized 12 times (tied by Carolina in Super Bowl XXXVIII), to eight flags thrown on the Broncos.

Roger Staubach completed 17 of 25 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown while giving up no interceptions. Tony Dorsett (pictured below), who left the game in the third quarter with a twisted knee, ran for 66 yards on 15 carries that included a TD and Robert Newhouse added 55 yards on 14 attempts in addition to throwing a 29-yard touchdown pass. Preston Pearson had five catches for 37 yards while Billy Joe DuPree gained 66 yards on his four pass receptions. On defense, Harvey Martin was unofficially credited with two sacks and shared MVP honors with Randy White, who had one in addition to helping to apply tremendous pressure on the Broncos.

For the Broncos, Craig Morton was successful on just four of 15 throws, giving up four interceptions, and Norris Weese was four-of-10 for 22 yards but was not picked off. Weese also ran for 26 yards on three carries. Rob Lytle led the club with 35 yards on 10 rushing attempts that included the only Denver touchdown. Jack Dolbin and Riley Odoms caught two passes apiece, for 24 and 9 yards, respectively. Haven Moses gained 21 yards on his only reception, which came early in the contest.

“The number one plan was to pressure Craig Morton,” said Coach Tom Landry. “The front four played great. We just rushed the heck out of him.”

“They took away everything we had,” said Morton in defeat. “We tried to get something started, but…We’ve come a long way. Nobody expected us to be here.”

“I thought we were still in the game when it was 20-10,” said Coach Red Miller. “Then Norris (Weese) fumbled and they scored on that halfback pass, and that was it.”

“We played well defensively, but we had too many turnovers,” added Lyle Alzado. “I’m giving Dallas credit. When we make mistakes, the other team should capitalize. I’m a bit embarrassed.”

The Cowboys returned to the Super Bowl in 1978, losing a close contest to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They would not win another until the 1992 season. Denver again topped the AFC West in ’78 but lost in the Divisional playoff round. The Broncos next appeared in the Super Bowl following the 1986 season.

1977: TDs Off Turnovers Lead Bengals to Win Against Steelers

The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers were both fighting for supremacy in the AFC Central as they met on December 10, 1977. The Bengals, coached by Bill Johnson, had gotten off to a 2-4 start and were 4-5 before a three-game winning streak pulled them up to 7-5 and a chance to win the division. QB Ken Anderson, normally a precision passer, was having a less stellar year but was still formidable. He was missing star WR Isaac Curtis due to a knee injury but second-year backup WR Billy Brooks (pictured above) was proving to be a good deep threat in his place and Pat McInally, the punter, was also effective in the other spot. Two ex-Ohio State stars, FB Pete Johnson and HB Archie Griffin, were the ball carriers. The Bengals had lost six consecutive games to the Steelers, including earlier in the season, and that made the difference in their placing second in each of the previous two years.

Pittsburgh had won three straight division titles, and twice went on to win the Super Bowl. The Steelers were coached by Chuck Noll, who had broken his arm due to slipping on ice and falling the night before the game and was wearing a cast. It was symbolic of a season in which Pittsburgh, while still formidable, was having difficulties, getting off to a 4-4 start before also turning hot and winning four straight games prior to the rematch with Cincinnati. There were off-field distractions that seemed to affect the club’s performance, which showed in the offense turning the ball over with greater frequency and the defense giving up more points.  

It was a bitterly cold Saturday for the game at Riverfront Stadium with temperatures down to single digits. Attendance was low at 36,133, with 23,518 no-shows. While the sky was clear, the artificial surface was frozen and in poor condition.

The Steelers had the game’s first possession, but on their third play CB Lemar Parrish intercepted a pass by QB Terry Bradshaw and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown. Chris Bahr added the extra point and the home team had a quick 7-0 lead.

On the next series, and following a holding penalty on the kickoff return that had the Steelers starting from their 12 yard line, HB Rocky Bleier fumbled and the Bengals gained possession at the Pittsburgh 7. However, Cincinnati came up empty when, facing fourth-and-goal at the one, Pete Johnson was stopped short of the goal line by linebackers Jack Ham and Jack Lambert.

The teams exchanged punts before the Bengals, starting from their 29, drove to the Pittsburgh 20. A pass interference penalty on a third-and-eight play gave Cincinnati 17 yards as well as a first down and Ken Anderson threw to TE Bob Trumpy for a 13-yard gain. But Bahr’s 37-yard field goal attempt was wide to the left and yet another scoring opportunity was for naught.

The Steelers were driving as the opening period drew to a close. Bradshaw completed a pass to TE Bennie Cunningham for 22 yards and FB Franco Harris ran effectively. On the first play of the second quarter, Harris picked up the last five yards for a TD and Roy Gerela’s point after tied the score.

The Bengals punted after a short series and Pittsburgh put together another promising drive as Bradshaw completed passes to WR Lynn Swann for 17 yards and Cunningham for 23. But a holding penalty backed the visitors up and the series stalled at the Cincinnati 42, forcing a punt.

Another Cincinnati punt was followed by another long possession by the Steelers. Harris rushed for 45 yards on six carries, Bleier had a 16-yard run, and Bradshaw completed two passes. A fourth down was converted when Bradshaw threw to Swann for 19 yards. With 51 seconds remaining in the first half, Gerela kicked a 32-yard field goal and Pittsburgh took a 10-7 lead into halftime.

On the first series of the third quarter, the Bengals advanced into Pittsburgh territory, but an Anderson pass was intercepted by CB Mel Blount. The Steelers were forced to punt but got the ball back three plays later when Billy Brooks fumbled after catching a pass for 35 yards and CB Jim Allen recovered. Bradshaw completed passes to rookie WR Jim Smith (pictured at left), subbing for the injured Swann, on consecutive plays and the Steelers reached the Cincinnati 24 before Harris fumbled the ball back to the Bengals.

Anderson immediately threw to Brooks for a big gain of 57 yards and, after the series stalled at the Pittsburgh seven, Bahr tied the game with a 24-yard field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, Smith fumbled on the return and Anderson again went to the air on first down, connecting with Pat McInally for a 43-yard touchdown. Bahr added the extra point to put the Bengals, who had scored ten points in just 18 seconds of playing time, ahead by seven points.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Steelers had a promising series following a Cincinnati punt. Bradshaw threw to Smith for a 27-yard pickup and a personal foul on the Bengals following a completion to WR John Stallworth gave Pittsburgh a first down at the Cincinnati 20. But Harris again fumbled after catching a short pass and CB Ken Riley recovered to end the threat.

With just under ten minutes to play, the Bengals put together another good drive. Anderson threw to McInally for 21 yards on a third-and-seven play, Johnson had a 17-yard run and Archie Griffin a 13-yard catch on a screen pass and 15-yard carry in a second-and-13 situation. But the Bengals couldn’t gain any further ground after reaching the Pittsburgh six and Bahr’s 24-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright and was no good.

A three-and-out series by the Steelers was followed by a Cincinnati possession that ended with Griffin fumbling and FS Glen Edwards recovering at the Pittsburgh 21. With the clock down to 1:51, Bradshaw threw to Harris for a gain of 17 yards and to Stallworth for 20 yards to the Cincinnati 40. But a sack by DE Gary Burley lost seven yards and, while an offsides penalty on the Bengals regained five yards, Bradshaw was unable to complete any more passes. A fourth-and-12 throw fell incomplete to clinch the 17-10 win for the Bengals.

Cincinnati had the edge in total yards (413 to 362) although the Steelers accumulated more first downs (21 to 17). Pittsburgh turned the ball over five times, to three suffered by the Bengals, and the Steelers were penalized 11 times, at a cost of 95 yards, to five flags for 55 yards thrown on Cincinnati.

Ken Anderson was successful on 15 of 33 throws, but they generated 303 yards and he had a touchdown as well as an interception. Billy Brooks caught 6 passes for 166 yards and Pat McInally (pictured at right) contributed 71 yards on three receptions that included the game-deciding TD. Archie Griffin topped the Bengals with 61 rushing yards on 13 carries and added another 31 on four catches.  Pete Johnson had 51 yards on 15 attempts.

For the Steelers, Franco Harris rushed for 101 yards in the first half, but was held to minus-six yards in the second and ended up with a net of 95 yards on 25 carries that included one touchdown. Terry Bradshaw completed 20 of 39 passes for 246 yards and had no touchdowns while giving up one interception. Four receivers caught four passes apiece, with Jim Smith gaining 80 yards on his first four pro receptions (although he also had the critical fumble on a kickoff return) and Bennie Cunningham generating 64 yards on his four.

“We beat them, and we beat them right,” exclaimed a jubilant Coach Johnson to his celebrating players in the locker room.

“It was a hell of a game between two good teams under lousy circumstances,” said Chuck Noll from the Pittsburgh side. “But it wasn’t exactly a fun afternoon out there for us today.”

The win put Cincinnati in the driver’s seat in the race for the AFC Central title, but the Bengals failed to cash in when they lost to Houston in the season finale. They finished at 8-6, falling to third place. Pittsburgh ended up on top at 9-5 with a win at San Diego. The Steelers were ousted by Denver in the Divisional playoff round.

Billy Brooks caught 39 passes for 772 yards (19.8 avg.) and four touchdowns in what was the most productive of his five NFL seasons. Pat McInally had 17 receptions for 258 yards (15.2 avg.) and three TDs. He also punted 67 times for a 41.8-yard average.

Jim Smith had no more pass receptions for the Steelers in ‘77, being used almost exclusively on kick returns in his rookie season. He would go on to catch 110 passes for 2075 yards and 24 touchdowns in six years with Pittsburgh before departing for the USFL.

1977: Raiders Score 2 TDs in 4th Quarter to Overcome Todd & Jets

The Oakland Raiders, defending NFL Champions, were heavy favorites as they faced the New York Jets on October 23, 1977. Head Coach John Madden’s team was 4-1 and coming off a loss the previous week to the upstart Denver Broncos. QB Ken “The Snake” Stabler (pictured at right) gave up seven interceptions against the Broncos, but was still a highly capable passer while FB Mark van Eeghen led the ground attack, and the line was very much a strong point. The aggressive defense was showing some age in spots but remained a tough unit.

New York, meanwhile, was 2-3 under new Head Coach Walt Michaels and in the process of rebuilding. Gone was star QB Joe Namath, and in his place was another quarterback out of Alabama, Richard Todd. The team’s 1976 first draft choice was showing potential, but had tossed only three touchdown passes thus far. Another player displaying potential was swift rookie WR Wesley Walker, who could make big plays but also had many drops in the early going.

There were 56,734 fans in attendance on a sunny afternoon at Shea Stadium. The Raiders took the opening kickoff and drove 72 yards in 12 plays. Mark van Eeghen ran the ball seven times for 48 yards, with a 19-yard carry setting up his three-yard touchdown run. Errol Mann kicked the extra point to give the visitors the early 7-0 lead.

The Jets responded with a six-play, 73-yard possession. Richard Todd completed three passes to TE Jerome Barkum, the second for 39 yards to the Oakland 22 and the last for an 18-yard TD. Pat Leahy converted to tie the score.

Oakland came back with a long scoring drive of 76 yards in 13 plays. Ken Stabler completed a pass to TE Dave Casper for 13 yards in a third-and-12 situation and connected with Casper again for a 19-yard touchdown. Mann’s kick gave the Raiders a 14-7 lead.

The Jets then struck quickly in return. On the second play after the kickoff, and following a holding penalty that backed them up to their 13 yard line, Todd fired long down the right sideline for Wesley Walker (pictured at left), who beat CB Skip Thomas to make the catch and went the distance for an 87-yard TD. However, Leahy missed the extra point and Oakland was still ahead by 14-13 at the end of the eventful opening period.

Following a quarter of unstoppable offense, the teams traded punts to start the second quarter. Midway through the period, the Jets again moved rapidly to put points on the board. On first down, Todd again went long for Walker and it was complete for a 52-yard gain to the Oakland 22. FB Clark Gaines picked up eight yards on a draw play and then Todd passed to WR Rich Caster coming across the middle for a 14-yard TD. This time Leahy made good on the PAT and New York held a 20-14 lead.

On the next series, the Jets got the ball back when Stabler, pressured by DE Lawrence Pillers, threw a pass that was intercepted by LB John Ebersole. But two plays later, Todd was picked off by CB Neal Colzie. The visitors went three-and-out on the resulting possession and punted, and, taking over with 1:41 left in the first half, the Jets advanced 58 yards in eight plays to extend their lead. Todd completed four straight passes at one point, the first to Walker for 21 yards, and he finished off the drive with a throw to Gaines in the middle of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown. Leahy converted and New York had a 27-14 halftime margin.

The third quarter started with turnovers as Todd fumbled the ball away while attempting to pass, Casper coughed up the football after making a catch, and Colzie intercepted a throw from Todd. The last gave the Raiders the ball at their own five yard line, and unable to move on offense, they punted and the Jets had good starting field position at the Oakland 43. Two carries by HB Kevin Long and a screen pass to Gaines advanced the ball to the 20, but the drive stalled and Leahy was wide on a 32-yard field goal attempt.

In a series that extended into the fourth quarter, the Raiders drove 80 yards in 11 plays. Stabler completed five passes, including one to Casper that gained 18 yards in a second-and-11 situation, and the drive was capped by a throw to WR Fred Biletnikoff for a seven-yard touchdown. Mann added the extra point and New York’s lead was cut to six.

The Jets had to punt after a short series but retained possession due to a penalty on the Raiders. Todd threw to Caster for a 58-yard gain to the Oakland 10, but the Raiders held and Leahy missed another field goal try, this time from 26 yards.

On the ensuing series, Stabler threw to WR Mike Siani for gains of 29 and eight yards to reach the New York 43, and following a short carry by van Eeghen, “The Snake” connected with Casper for 15 yards. Two more runs by van Eeghen picked up eight yards before Stabler found Siani in the left corner of the end zone for a 24-yard TD. Mann’s conversion put the Raiders in front by a point.

Pinned deep in their territory following the kickoff, the Jets couldn’t get beyond their 14 and had to punt. Oakland took possession at the New York 44 with 6:11 left and never relinquished it. van Eeghen and HB Clarence Davis chipped away and reached the 11, from where Mann attempted a 27-yard field goal that missed to the right. However, the Jets were penalized for running into the kicker and that clinched it. The Raiders won by a final score of 28-27.

The game was reminiscent of the old shootouts so common when the teams were in the AFL. The Jets had the edge in total yards (442 to 423), although Oakland was more balanced with 213 net passing yards and 210 on the ground, while the Raiders had the lead in first downs (29 to 17). New York turned the ball over three times, to two by Oakland, but ultimately the game came down to Pat Leahy’s missed extra point and two errant field goals.

Mark van Eeghen (pictured at right) had a big rushing performance, gaining 143 yards on 36 carries that included a touchdown. Ken Stabler completed 19 of 26 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, two of them in the fourth quarter, and gave up one interception. Dave Casper had 7 catches for 92 yards and a TD and Mike Siani contributed 86 yards on his five receptions that also included a score.

For the Jets, Richard Todd had a big performance as he hit on 17 of 29 throws for 396 yards and four touchdowns while being picked off twice. Wesley Walker caught four of those passes for 178 yards and a TD, Jerome Barkum added another 94 yards on four receptions that included a score, and Rich Caster pulled in three catches for 82 yards and another TD. Clark Gaines had 5 pass receptions for 38 yards and a TD and also led the club with 9 carries for 35 yards on the ground.

“We all knew what we had to do,” said Ken Stabler regarding the Oakland comeback. “We were 13 points down but we knew we had plenty of time. We kept our poise.”

The Raiders went on to win their next three games on the way to an 11-3 record, although for the first time in six years they failed to finish first in the AFC West. They were second to the Broncos, but qualified for the playoffs as a Wild Card and reached the conference title game before falling to Denver. New York continued to struggle and won only one more contest the rest of the way to end up fourth in the AFC East at 3-11.

Ken Stabler passed for 2176 yards and his 20 touchdowns ranked second in the NFL, although he also gave up 20 interceptions. He was chosen to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time. Mark van Eeghen led the AFC with a career-high 1273 yards on 324 carries (3.9 avg.).

Richard Todd (pictured at left), who missed three games due to injury, had a respectable season with 1863 passing yards and 11 touchdowns while being intercepted 17 times. Wesley Walker had 35 catches for 740 yards and three TDs, and his 21.1 yards per reception led the NFL.  

Rookie of the Year: A.J. Duhe, 1977

Defensive End, Miami Dolphins

Age: 22 (Nov. 27)

College: LSU

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 247

Prelude:

Duhe averaged 72 tackles a season in college and was chosen by the Dolphins in the first round of the 1977 NFL draft (13th overall). Looking to refurbish the defense, Miami took another defensive lineman, DT Bob Baumhower, in the second round. Both moved into the starting lineup with outstanding results, along with LB Kim Bokamper, CB Norris Thomas, and FS Vern Roberson, who all gained All-Rookie honors.

1977 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 7 (unofficial)

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 2

Tackles – 83

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

AFC Rookie of the Year: UPI, Sporting News

Dolphins went 10-4 to finish second in the AFC East.  

Aftermath:

Duhe improved in 1978, despite a leg injury, but was shifted to inside linebacker in ‘79. An outstanding blitzer, he proved to be a good fit as a hybrid outside linebacker/pass rushing end, receiving first-team All-AFC honors from UPI in ’81, and was especially prominent as the Dolphins won the AFC Championship during the strike-shortened 1982 season, most notably with three interceptions against the Jets in the conference title game. Following the ’83 season, when he received second-team All-AFC recognition from UPI, Duhe underwent surgery for rotator cuff and knee surgery, and while he came back to achieve Pro Bowl honors for the only time in his career in 1984, further injuries that required surgery finished him. Duhe ended up playing a total of eight years for the Dolphins and was credited with 8.5 sacks, which reflected his last three seasons after the NFL began to officially compile individual sacks, while the real total was likely closer to 30. He also accumulated around 486 tackles in 108 regular season games.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).