1996: Steelers Overcome Upstart Colts for AFC Title

The Pittsburgh Steelers were hosting the AFC Championship game for the second straight year as they faced the Indianapolis Colts on January 14, 1996. Head Coach Bill Cowher’s team had been upset in stunning fashion by San Diego in the conference title game following the 1994 season and was looking to erase that memory. The conservative offense was efficiently directed by QB Neil O’Donnell (pictured at right), but it was the strong defense that was the key to success, despite the loss of star CB Rod Woodson in the season’s first game. Outside linebackers Kevin Greene and Greg Lloyd were both Pro Bowlers, as was CB Carnell Lake, who had been shifted from strong safety, and CB Willie Williams led the AFC with seven interceptions. After getting off to a 3-4 start, the Steelers hit stride by reeling off eight straight wins to top the AFC Central with an 11-5 record and defeated Buffalo in the Divisional playoff round.

Indianapolis was in the playoffs for the first time since 1987. Coached by Ted Marchibroda, who was in the fourth season of his second stint with the franchise, the Colts placed second in the AFC East at 9-7 and defeated San Diego and Kansas City on the road to reach the conference title game. QB Jim Harbaugh, formerly of the Bears and relegated to the bench early in the ’95 season in Indianapolis, had a career year, leading the NFL in passing and earning Pro Bowl honors. RB Marshall Faulk gained 1553 yards from scrimmage and also was a Pro Bowl choice, but he was out for the postseason with a knee injury. The defensive line was tough with DE Tony Bennett and tackles Tony Siragusa and Tony McCoy and the corps of linebackers, led by OLB Quentin Coryatt, was a good one. Still, the Colts had the look of an overachieving team and were 11-point underdogs against the Steelers.

There were 61,062 fans in attendance on a sunny and mild day at Three Rivers Stadium. The Steelers had the ball first but, on their third play from scrimmage, a pass by Neil O’Donnell was tipped by DT Tony Siragusa and intercepted by LB Jeff Herrod, who returned it 17 yards to the Pittsburgh 24. Three running plays netted seven yards and Cary Blanchard kicked a 34-yard field goal that gave the Colts an early 3-0 lead.

The teams traded punts before the Steelers put together a 40-yard drive in 11 plays. O’Donnell converted a third-and-six situation with a throw to RB John L. Williams for seven yards and he completed four other passes before the advance stalled at the Indianapolis 13 and Norm Johnson tied the game with a 31-yard field goal.

The Colts had the ball as the game headed into the second quarter. Jim Harbaugh (pictured at left) completed his first four passes, the longest to WR Sean Dawkins for 30 yards, and after a third down toss into the end zone under pressure from Kevin Greene was incomplete, Blanchard came on again to boot another field goal, this time from 36 yards.

Each team had a short series that resulted in a punt before Pittsburgh put together an 80-yard possession in 17 plays. O’Donnell had eight completions along the way, only one of which was longer than ten yards, during the methodical drive in which the Steelers converted four third downs. The last was on a five-yard touchdown pass from O’Donnell to QB/WR Kordell Stewart with 13 seconds remaining in the first half, although replays indicated that Stewart appeared to have stepped out of the back of the end zone before making the catch. Johnson added the extra point and the home team took a 10-6 lead into halftime.

Indianapolis took the second half kickoff and drove 61 yards in 10 plays. Harbaugh started off with a pass to TE Ken Dilger for 30 yards and followed up with a 14-yard completion to Dawkins. After reaching the Pittsburgh 12, Harbaugh was sacked by Greg Lloyd for a loss of eight yards on second down and, two plays later, Blanchard kicked a 37-yard field goal that made it a one-point contest at 10-9.

A short series by the Steelers ended with a punt and the Colts put together another promising drive. Harbaugh converted a third-and-six situation with a throw to Dawkins for 13 yards and converted another with a two-yard run. This time the advance was halted at the Pittsburgh 30 and the visitors came up empty when Blanchard was wide to the left on a 47-yard field goal attempt.

The Steelers responded by moving 44 yards in seven plays. O’Donnell threw to WR Yancey Thigpen for 14 yards and a pass interference call was good for 16 yards. The series resulted in a 36-yard Johnson field goal and Pittsburgh took a 13-9 lead into the fourth quarter.

Indianapolis went three-and-out on its next possession and WR Andre Hastings returned the resulting punt 33 yards to the Colts’ 42. O’Donnell passed the Steelers to the 22, but Johnson failed on a 40-yard field goal try. The Colts came back with Harbaugh firing two passes to RB Lamont Warren for a total of 13 yards and a completion to RB Zack Crockett gained another 10 before Harbaugh connected with WR Floyd Turner for a 47-yard touchdown. Blanchard converted and the visitors were back in the lead by a 16-13 score.

The teams exchanged punts, with Indianapolis failing to convert a third-and-one situation thanks to an alert play by Willie Williams to tackle Warren for no gain, and the Steelers, regaining possession at their 33, advanced 67 yards in eight plays. O’Donnell hit on his first two passes, missed on two (one of which was nearly intercepted), and then threw complete to Hastings for nine yards to convert a fourth-and-three situation. O’Donnell’s next pass was to WR Ernie Mills, who just beat CB Ashley Ambrose and kept his feet inbounds for a 37-yard gain to the Indianapolis one and, two plays later, RB Bam Morris scored from there. Johnson added the point after and Pittsburgh was ahead by four points with 1:34 remaining to play.

Starting from their 16 after the ensuing kickoff, the Colts moved down the field as Harbaugh went to the air on every play. A third-and-three pass to WR Brian Stablein gained 18 yards and, facing fourth-and-two at the Indianapolis 49, Harbaugh connected with Dawkins for 13 yards. Harbaugh ran for nine yards and then had to spike the ball with six seconds left at the Pittsburgh 29. A final throw into the end zone was tipped by FS Darren Perry and fell onto WR Aaron Bailey, who was on the ground. However, he was unable to maintain possession and the Steelers came away with a closely-fought 20-16 win.

The Colts had more total yards (328 to 285) but Pittsburgh led in first downs (21 to 16). The Steelers had three sacks, to one by Indianapolis, but also gave up the game’s only turnover.

Neil O’Donnell completed 25 of 41 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown while being intercepted once. Yancey Thigpen had 6 catches for 65 yards and Ernie Mills gained 52 yards on three receptions that included the big one to set up the game-winning TD. RB Erric Pegram topped the Pittsburgh rushers with 46 yards on 10 carries.

For the Colts, Jim Harbaugh was successful on 21 of 33 throws for 267 yards and a TD with none picked off and ran the ball six times for 29 yards. Sean Dawkins (pictured at right) caught 7 passes for 96 yards and Lamont Warren had 7 receptions as well, for 37 yards, in addition to leading the club in rushing with 53 yards on 15 attempts.

Pittsburgh went on to lose the Super Bowl to the Dallas Cowboys. While there were significant personnel changes during the offseason, the Steelers came back to top the AFC Central again in 1996 but lost in the Divisional playoff round. The Colts also underwent changes, most notably the departure of Coach Marchibroda, but they again compiled a 9-7 record and qualified for a Wild Card playoff spot. They met up with the Steelers in the first round and were soundly defeated.

1995: Bengals Rally to Tie Score but Browns Prevail in Overtime

The Cleveland Browns were struggling as they traveled to Cincinnati to play their intrastate rivals, the Bengals, on October 29, 1995. Head Coach Bill Belichick’s team was underachieving. They had reached the playoffs in ’94 but were coming into Cincinnati at 3-4 after sustaining three consecutive defeats. WR Andre Rison was brought in as a free agent and had failed to provide the anticipated impact and the running game was not up to par. The Browns looked especially lackluster against the expansion Jaguars the previous week and Coach Belichick chose to bench veteran QB Vinny Testaverde in favor of rookie QB Eric Zeier (pictured above).

The Bengals were in their fourth year under Head Coach David Shula, and that included back-to-back 3-13 records in 1993 and ’94. They were also 3-4 thus far, having won their first two games before dropping four straight and then defeating Pittsburgh in their most recent contest. There was talent on offense with QB Jeff Blake, TE Tony McGee, and wide receivers Darney Scott and Carl Pickens. But the defense was deficient, especially against the pass.

There were 58,639 fans in attendance at Riverfront Stadium. The Bengals had the first possession and advanced 85 yards in seven plays, helped along by a 46-yard pass interference call on CB Antonio Langham. RB Harold Green ran for 16 yards on first down and Jeff Blake completed four passes, the last of which was to Green from a yard out for a touchdown. However, a bad snap forced Cincinnati to abort the extra point attempt and the pass attempt from the holder, punter Lee Johnson, fell incomplete.

The Browns responded by driving 33 yards in 11 plays. Eric Zeier completed two passes that converted third downs, but an apparent completion to TE Brian Kinchen for 20 yards on a third-and-nine play from the Cincinnati 25 was flagged for offensive pass interference and Cleveland ultimately had to settle for a 44-yard Matt Stover field goal that narrowed the score to 6-3.

The Bengals punted following their next series and, in a possession that extended into the second quarter, Cleveland advanced 65 yards in 12 plays. The biggest was a Zeier throw to RB Earnest Byner for 22 yards in a third-and-seven situation, but with first-and-goal from the Cincinnati six, the visitors were unable to advance farther and Stover tied the score with a 25-yard field goal.

Cincinnati moved effectively on the next possession as Green carried twice for 19 yards and Blake completed passes to Tony McGee for nine yards and RB Eric Bieniemy for 19. A roughing-the-passer penalty got the Bengals to the Cleveland 23, but Green, who was injured on the play, fumbled and DT Tim Goad recovered for the Browns. Zeier immediately threw to Andre Rison (pictured below) for 23 yards but the series ended at the Cleveland 39 when RB Leroy Hoard lost a yard on a fourth-and-one play.

The teams traded turnovers before the Bengals, taking over with 4:48 left in the first half, put together a drive of 66 yards in nine plays. Facing third-and-ten, Blake connected with Darnay Scott for 18 yards and then followed up with another 18-yard completion, this time to McGee. Another completion, to WR David Dunn, gained 15 yards and an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Browns added another 15 to the Cleveland 19. The drive stalled, but Doug Pelfrey booted a 37-yard field goal that moved Cincinnati back in front by 9-6.

With the clock now down to 1:08, the Browns moved down the field with Zeier completing four passes, the longest to Rison for 46 yards. Stover kicked a 36-yard field goal and, when Pelfrey’s last-ditch try for a 63-yard field goal fell short, the score was 9-9 at the half.

The Browns had the ball first in the third quarter and broke the tie with an 11-play, 55-yard drive. Zeier completed five passes, the longest for 17 yards to Byner to reach the Cincinnati 20, but again the advance stalled and Stover came on to kick his fourth field goal, from 38 yards, to make it a 12-9 game.

The Bengals came back with an 80-yard possession that used eight plays. Green ran effectively and Blake completed passes to Scott for 31 yards and Bieniemy for 32. Facing third-and-goal, Blake completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Carl Pickens and, with Pelfrey’s point after, the home team led by 16-12.

Zeier threw to Rison for a 59-yard gain to the Cincinnati five on the first play following the kickoff, but he was sacked and his next pass was intercepted by LB Steve Tovar. The Bengals had to punt, with Lee Johnson’s kick traveling only 27 yards to give the Browns good starting field position at their own 48. It came to naught as, with the game now into the fourth quarter, Cleveland was pushed back by penalties and had to punt in turn.

Following another punt by the Bengals, the Browns put together a 90-yard series in six plays. Zeier completed two passes before running for a 22-yard gain to the Cincinnati 37. After a pass interference call picked up another 20 yards, Zeier threw high to a leaping Rison for a 17-yard TD. Stover’s kick put the Browns in the lead by 19-16.

Cincinnati went three-and-out and punted and the Browns had to punt as well. However, the visitors got a break when Tom Tupa’s 64-yard kick was muffed by CB Corey Sawyer and CB Johnny Thomas recovered for Cleveland at the Bengals’ five. Two plays later, Byner ran for a three-yard touchdown. Stover kicked the extra point and, with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, the Browns were ahead by 26-16.

The Bengals needed to score quickly and Blake passed for 10 yards to RB James Joseph but suffered a slight concussion when sacked on the next play. Backup QB David Klingler, who was just coming back from being sidelined with a broken jaw, came into the game and threw to Bieniemy for 33 yards. Following the two-minute warning, Klingler threw an incomplete pass and was then sacked, but facing third-and-20 he hit McGee for a gain of 21 yards. Pelfrey kicked a 41-yard field goal and it was a seven-point game with 1:09 on the clock.

The Bengals executed a successful onside kick and were back on offense at the Cleveland 37. Klingler threw to Dunn for 17 yards but, after two more passes fell incomplete, consecutive pass interference penalties on Langham moved the ball to the one yard line. From there, Klingler threw to Pickens for a touchdown and Pelfrey’s extra point sent the contest into overtime tied at 26-26.

The Browns had the first possession in the extra period and punted. Cincinnati, with Blake again behind center, also had a short series and punted. Following another Cleveland punt, the Bengals had the ball at their own 38 and Blake went to the air. DB Dana Hall intercepted the tipped ball and the Browns were back on offense at the Cincinnati 45. Zeier threw to FB Tommy Vardell for seven yards and the fullback then rushed for six more. Following an incomplete pass, Byner ran around end for a 23-yard gain to the nine and, two plays later, Stover kicked a 28-yard field goal to give the Browns a 29-26 win.

Cleveland led in total yards (480 to 384) although the Bengals had the edge in first downs (27 to 26). The Browns also had five sacks, to two by Cincinnati, while the Bengals turned the ball over four times, to two suffered by Cleveland. Both teams were heavily penalized, with the Browns drawing 15 flags, at a cost of 188 yards, to 10 thrown on Cincinnati.

Eric Zeier completed 26 of 46 passes for 310 yards and a touchdown while giving up one interception and also rushed for 44 yards on 8 carries. Andre Rison had his most productive game with Cleveland, catching 7 passes for 173 yards and a TD. Earnest Byner ran for 74 yards on 17 attempts that included a score and also had four pass receptions for 43 yards. Matt Stover made good on all five his field goal attempts.

For the Bengals, Jeff Blake was successful on 20 of 35 throws for 249 yards and two TDs while also giving up two interceptions. In relief, David Klingler went five-of-11 for 73 yards and a touchdown. Eric Bieniemy (pictured at left) caught 6 passes for 95 yards while adding 19 yards on four rushing attempts. Harold Green topped the club with 66 yards on 14 carries and scored a TD on one of his four pass receptions for 23 yards.

“I’m exhausted right now,” said Eric Zeier. “It was a great football game. It’s the kind you want to be part of and remember for a long time.”

The good showing by Eric Zeier in his first career start was not followed by comparable outings and Vinny Testaverde regained the starting job later in the season. By then, owner Art Modell had let it be known that the Browns would be moving to Baltimore in 1996, and the team completely collapsed down the stretch to finish at 5-11 and in fourth place in the AFC Central. They swept the season series with Cincinnati, but the Bengals still managed to finish ahead of them in second at 7-9.

Zeier completed 82 of 161 passes for 864 yards and four touchdowns while giving up nine interceptions overall in 1995. He moved with the franchise to Baltimore and spent another three years with the rechristened Ravens, having only middling success when again given the opportunity to start. Andre Rison ended up with 47 catches for 701 yards (14.9 avg.) and three touchdowns, which was well below expectations, and he didn’t remain with the relocated club. He spent the ’96 season with Jacksonville and Green Bay before briefly rejuvenating his career with the Chiefs in 1997.

Highlighted Year: Darren Bennett, 1995

Punter, San Diego Chargers

Age: 30

2^nd season in pro football (1^st active) & with Chargers

College: None

Height: 6’5”   Weight: 235

Prelude:

A native of Australia, Bennett spent 12 years as an Australian rules football player, primarily with the West Coast Eagles (Perth) and Melbourne, before retiring in 1993. He arranged a tryout with the Chargers on a trip to the US and spent a year on San Diego’s practice squad in 1994. Bennett spent the Spring of ‘95 with Amsterdam in NFL Europe and averaged 38.9 yards on 59 punts.

1995 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Punting

Punts – 72 [14, tied with Jeff Feagles, Mike Horan & Mike Saxon]

Most punts, game – 8 at Philadelphia 9/17, vs. Kansas City 11/12

Yards – 3221 [10]

Average – 44.7 [2]

Best average, game – 59.5 (on 4 punts) at Pittsburgh 10/1

Punts blocked – 0

Longest punt – 66 yards

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Wild Card playoff vs. Indianapolis)

Punts – 2

Yards – 109

Average – 54.5

Punts blocked – 0

Longest punt – 65 yards

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

1^st team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Chargers went 9-7 to finish second in the AFC West and qualify for a Wild Card spot in the postseason. Lost AFC Wild Card playoff to Indianapolis Colts (35-20).

Aftermath:

Bennett lasted a total of nine seasons with San Diego, following up with a 45.6-yard average in 1996 and reaching the Pro Bowl for a second time in 2000, a season in which he led the NFL with an average of 46.2 yards. His hang time was outstanding and he improved his consistency and ability to place his kicks over time. A remnant of his years in Australian rules football, he did not shy from physical contact. Bennett also utilized the “drop punt” technique to good effect in situations where placement was more important than distance. With Mike Scifres waiting in the wings, Bennett moved on to Minnesota as a free agent in 2004 and, after initially being waived in the ’05 preseason, finished up his career as a one-game replacement for the injured Chris Kluwe at age 40. Overall, he averaged 43.4 yards on 836 punts, 771 of those punts for a 43.8-yard average coming with the Chargers. Bennett was inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame and named to the All-1990s team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Highlighted Years features players who were 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

Highlighted Year: Jeff Blake, 1995

Quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals

Age: 25 (Dec. 4)

4^th season in pro football (3^rd active), 2^nd with Bengals

College: East Carolina

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 202

Prelude:

Blake passed for 3073 yards and 28 touchdowns as a college senior in 1991 and led East Carolina to an 11-1 record. He was chosen in the sixth round of the ’92 NFL draft by the New York Jets and saw scant action in his first two seasons before being waived and moving on to the Bengals in 1994. When ineffective starting QB David Klingler suffered a knee sprain, Blake got his chance and was an immediate sensation. Smart, mobile, and with a quick release, he teamed well with wide receivers Carl Pickens and Darnay Scott on his long, high passes. His inexperience began to show as the season wore on, but he passed for 2154 yards and 14 TDs, against 9 interceptions, while topping the NFL with a 13.8 yards-per-catch average.

1995 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 567 [5, tied with Jim Everett]

Most attempts, game – 46 vs. Houston 9/24, at Cleveland 12/17

Completions – 326 [6]

Most completions, game – 30 vs. Chicago 12/10

Yards – 3822 [8]

Most yards, game – 356 vs. Houston 9/24

Completion percentage – 57.5

Yards per attempt – 6.7

TD passes – 28 [5, 1^st in AFC]

Most TD passes, game – 3 vs. Houston 9/24, vs. Miami 10/1, at Pittsburgh 10/19, vs. Pittsburgh 11/19

Interceptions – 17 [5]

Most interceptions, game – 3 at Tampa Bay 10/8, at Jacksonville 11/26

Passer rating – 82.1 [18]

300-yard passing games – 1

200-yard passing games – 15

Rushing

Attempts – 53

Most attempts, game – 7 (for 49 yds.) at Houston 11/12, (for 15 yds.) vs. Pittsburgh 11/19, (for 46 yds.) at Jacksonville 11/26

Yards – 309

Most yards, game – 56 yards (on 5 carries) at Seattle 9/17

Yards per attempt – 5.8

TDs – 2

Scoring

TDs – 2

2-pt conversions – 1 [6, tied with many others]

Points – 14

Awards & Honors:

Pro Bowl

Bengals went 7-9 to finish second in the AFC Central while leading the conference in touchdown passes (29).

Aftermath:

Blake had another strong season in 1996, passing for 3624 yards and 24 touchdowns, but was benched in favor of the returned veteran Boomer Esiason in ’97. Not a favorite of Head Coach Bruce Coslet, he was nearly traded after Neil O’Donnell won the starting job in the 1998 preseason and threw only 93 passes during the season. Blake returned to throw for 2670 yards and 16 TDs in ’99 and signed with New Orleans as a free agent in 2000. He got off to a good start with his new team, passing for 2025 yards and 13 TDs in the first 11 games before being sidelined with a broken foot. Aaron Brooks took over the starting job with favorable results and Blake was relegated to the bench in 2001. He moved on to the Ravens in ’02, where he started ten games, and Arizona in 2003 before finishing his career as a backup for the Eagles in 2004 and Bears in ’05. Overall, Blake threw for 21,711 yards and 134 touchdowns, with 15,134 of those yards and 93 TDs coming with Cincinnati. He also rushed for 2027 yards, 1499 with the Bengals. His Pro Bowl selection in 1995 was the only one of his career.

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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

1995: Seahawks Lose Big Lead but Defeat Giants

The Seattle Seahawks were struggling at 2-6 and coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Cardinals the previous week as they hosted the New York Giants on November 5, 1995. First-year Head Coach Dennis Erickson’s team had talent, with RB Chris Warren and exciting rookie WR Joey Galloway noteworthy on offense and DT Cortez Kennedy anchoring the defense. However, QB Rick Mirer (pictured at right) was on shaky ground, having been benched in favor of John Friesz, who suffered a shoulder separation against the Cards, and problems with pass protection made it all the more problematic.

The Giants were also experiencing difficulties in their third season under Head Coach Dan Reeves. QB Dave Brown had yet to produce the results anticipated when he was handed the starting job the previous year. RB Rodney Hampton was the key to the run-oriented offense and rookie Tyrone Wheatley, drafted in the first round, had been added to the mix.

There were 42,100 fans in attendance at the Kingdome. The first series of the game ended in a punt by the Giants, and the Seahawks drove 62 yards in five plays. Rick Mirer finished it off with a pass to WR Brian Blades for a 33-yard touchdown and Todd Peterson added the extra point.

New York responded with a 10-play, 61-yard possession. Dave Brown completed three passes, the biggest to WR Mike Sherrard for 25 yards in a third-and-10 situation. That gave the Giants a first down at the Seattle nine, but they were unable to reach the end zone and Brad Daluiso kicked a 23-yard field goal that made the score 7-3.

The Seahawks responded with a 59-yard drive that took five plays. Mirer again connected with Blades, this time for a 44-yard TD, and with Peterson’s kick, Seattle’s lead was enlarged to 14-3. It got larger when the Giants punted following their next possession and Joey Galloway (pictured below) returned it 89 yards for another touchdown. Peterson again successfully converted.

Down by 21-3, the Giants were moving as the first quarter ended and advanced 62 yards in nine plays. Brown completed another four passes, the last to RB Herschel Walker for an eight-yard TD. The Seahawks went three-and-out on their next series, punted, and New York drove from its 20 to the Seattle 35. Facing fourth-and-four, the Giants lined up in shotgun formation but Brown punted instead. The Seahawks had another short series ending with a punt, and taking possession with 3:21 remaining in the first half, New York advanced 48 yards in four plays to score again. Brown had two short completions and finished the series off with a pass to Sherrard for a 28-yard touchdown. The try for a two-point conversion failed, but the visitors were now behind by only five points at 21-16.

Mirer attempted to pass the Seahawks down the field in response, but CB Philippi Sparks came up with an interception that gave the Giants the ball at the Seattle 46 with 53 seconds still on the clock. Brown threw to WR Chris Calloway for 15 yards and Sherrard for 30 to the Seattle one. From there, Rodney Hampton went up the middle for a TD. New York again went for two points and failed, but the second quarter comeback had put the Giants in front by 22-21 at halftime.

Seattle started off the third quarter with a 10-play, 70-yard series. RB Lamar Smith, replacing the injured Chris Warren, carried most of the load, gaining 35 yards on six carries and Mirer threw a pass to Blades that picked up 28 yards. The drive stalled at the New York five, but Peterson kicked a 23-yard field goal to put the Seahawks back in front by 24-22.

The Giants punted following their next possession and Seattle again put together a long series. Again the Seahawks primarily kept the ball on the ground and were helped along by two defensive penalties. Mirer completed a pass to Galloway for 10 yards in a third-and-nine situation and FB Steve Smith gained four yards up the middle to convert a fourth down, but Lamar Smith fumbled and CB Thomas Randolph recovered for the Giants at their 15 yard line.

New York punted and, as the game headed into the fourth quarter, the Seahawks advanced 27 yards in seven plays. Mirer threw to TE Carlester Crumpler for 13 yards and Lamar Smith had a 16-yard carry along the way. Peterson booted a field goal from 41 yards and the Seattle lead was extended to 27-22.

Walker returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to the Seattle 48 to give the Giants good starting field position. Tyrone Wheatley ran for 11 yards on two carries and, following two incomplete passes, Brown connected with Calloway for 21 yards to the 16. Wheatley and Hampton chipped away from there, with Hampton gaining the last yard for a touchdown. A third try for a two-point conversion failed when CB Corey Harris broke up a pass intended for WR Arthur Marshall, but the visitors were back in front by a score of 28-27.

The teams exchanged punts before the Seahawks put together a long drive of 77 yards in 13 plays. Mirer completed five passes and Peterson finished the series off with a 32-yard field goal that put Seattle in front for the third time by two points.

There was 1:23 remaining in the game as the Giants took possession at their 13 yard line. Brown had three pass completions, to Marshall for 14 yards, Sherrard for 16, and Marshall again for 27 yards to reach the Seattle 30. But New York could get no farther and Daluiso’s last-play field goal attempt from 48 yards was wide to the right. The Seahawks held on to win by a final score of 30-28.  

The Giants gained more total yards (403 to 386) and had the edge in first downs (26 to 24) and time of possession (33:14 to 26:46). Seattle suffered the only two turnovers but the Giants were penalized eight times at a cost of 81 yards, to five flags thrown on the Seahawks.

Rick Mirer completed 17 of 31 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns while giving up one interception. Brian Blades had 6 catches for 153 yards and both receiving TDs. Lamar Smith rushed for 85 yards on 19 carries. Joey Galloway contributed four pass receptions for 35 yards and, with the long punt return for a score, averaged 26.3 yards on four runbacks of punts. Todd Peterson was successful on all three of his field goal attempts, which proved to be vital.

For the Giants, Dave Brown was successful on 20 of 41 throws for 299 yards and two TDs and had none intercepted. Mike Sherrard (pictured at right) caught 6 of those passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. Rodney Hampton led the rushers with 54 yards on 18 attempts that included two short TDs.

The win over the Giants marked a turnaround for the Seahawks as they won five of their next six games to finish at an even 8-8, which placed third in the AFC West. New York, on the other hand, lost its next two contests on the way to a 5-11 record that meant fourth-place in the NFC East.

Rick Mirer’s play remained uneven as he passed for 2564 yards and 13 touchdowns, but with 20 interceptions. Brian Blades led the team with 77 catches for 1001 yards (13.0 avg.) and four TDs and Joey Galloway finished with 67 receptions for 1039 yards (15.5 avg.) and seven touchdowns while averaging an even 10.0 yards on 36 punt returns. Lamar Smith returned to his backup role, rushing for 215 yards on 36 attempts (6.0 avg.); the game against New York represented his most significant action of the season by far.

Dave Brown threw for 2814 yards and 11 TDs and had problems with passing accuracy. Mike Sherrard caught 44 passes for 577 yards (13.1 avg.) and four touchdowns in his last of three seasons with New York.

1995: Chiefs Defeat Chargers on Vanover Punt Return TD in Overtime

The Monday night matchup on October 9, 1995 featured two AFC West rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, off to a 5-1 start, against the San Diego Chargers, who were 3-2 and the defending conference champions. The Chiefs had already experience plenty of drama, having played in two overtime games, both of which they won.

Under Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer, Kansas City had reached the playoffs in each of the five preceding seasons, although without a Super Bowl appearance to show for it. QB Joe Montana retired and the Chiefs grabbed another ex-49er, 33-year-old Steve Bono, to take over the starting job, with good results thus far. Another veteran, RB Marcus Allen, led a running attack that also included FB Kimble Anders, an able blocker and receiver as well as rusher. The receivers were not spectacular, but a new backup wide receiver, Tamarick Vanover (pictured above), who had spent his first year in the CFL, was beginning to make an impression as a kick returner. The defense was solid from front to back.

The Chargers, coached by Bobby Ross, were coming off a surprising, if ultimately humiliating, Super Bowl appearance following the ’94 season. Tough and steady QB Stan Humphries had WR Tony Martin as his most reliable target. RB Natrone Means led the ground game and LB Junior Seau was the cornerstone of the defense.

There were 79,288 fans on hand for the Monday night game at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chargers took the opening kickoff and put together a long drive of over nine minutes that covered 63 yards in 19 plays. They converted four third downs along the way, all on passes by Stan Humphries, while Natrone Means ran the ball eight times. The series finally stalled at the Kansas City 10 after San Diego was backed up by a false start and John Carney kicked a 28-yard field goal.

The Chiefs finished out the opening period with a long series of their own, taking 14 plays to advance 67 yards. On the last play of the first quarter, Steve Bono threw to Kimble Anders for a pickup of 28 yards to the San Diego eight in a third-and-nine situation. Four plays later, Lin Elliott kicked a 21-yard field goal to tie the score at 3-3.

WR Andre Coleman returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards to the KC 37. The Chargers, helped by a pass interference penalty, took four plays to reach the end zone as Means went in from two yards out. Carney added the extra point to put the visitors back in front by 10-3.

Kansas City responded with another long 13-play, 63-yard possession. Bono connected with WR Webster Slaughter (pictured below) for a 38-yard gain to the San Diego 20 and, after chipping away for another ten yards, Elliott booted a field goal of 28 yards. The Chiefs got the ball right back when safety Martin Bayless forced Coleman to fumble and recovered at the San Diego 22. Bono immediately threw to WR Lake Dawson for 20 yards and, two plays later, he passed to Anders for a one-yard touchdown. Elliott added the PAT and Kansas City was ahead by 13-10.

The Chargers had to punt on their next series – the first by either team coming with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. The Chiefs moved quickly down the field as Bono hit Slaughter for another long gain, this time covering 36 yards to the San Diego 44. But after advancing to the 18, Bono fumbled when sacked by DE Raylee Johnson and DT Shawn Lee recovered for the Chargers.

There were 43 seconds left on the clock as San Diego took over possession and Humphries passed on every down to get into Kansas City territory. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on CB James Hasty that came on top of a nine-yard completion to Tony Martin got the ball down to the KC 18 and Carney kicked a 36-yard field goal to tie the score at 13-13 going into halftime.

The eventful first half was followed by a scoreless third quarter. Kansas City, in a series that stretched into the final period, finally put together an 11-play drive that covered 54 yards and broke the deadlock. Bono completed his first three passes, the longest covering 23 yards to Dawson, and with Marcus Allen running the ball three times for 15 yards and Tamarick Vanover adding five yards on an end-around, the Chiefs reached the San Diego 31 and Elliott kicked his third field goal, covering 49 yards. Kansas City was back in the lead by 16-13.

The Chargers responded with a ten-play, 73-yard drive. Humphries (pictured below) completed five passes, with one to WR Shawn Jefferson that covered 45 yards and the last to TE Shannon Mitchell for a four-yard TD. Carney’s conversion put the visitors in front once more by 20-16.

The Chiefs punted following a short series and the Chargers drove to another score. On a third-and-11 play, Humphries threw to RB Ronnie Harmon for 44 yards to the KC 28 and, four plays later facing second-and-14, he connected with TE Duane Young for 12 yards to the nine yard line at the two-minute warning. San Diego was unable to convert the third down and Carney kicked a 29-yard field goal that made it a seven-point contest.

Following the kickoff, the Chiefs took over at their 21 with the time now down to 1:06. Bono passed to Dawson for 27 yards and, after his next throw fell incomplete, hit on his next three aerials. The third was to Slaughter for 16 yards to the San Diego 23. Two plays later, Bono passed to TE Derrick Walker for an 18-yard touchdown. Elliott added the all-important extra point and the game headed toward overtime tied at 23-23.

With Humphries having an injured shoulder, Gale Gilbert was at quarterback for the Chargers as they took first possession in the extra period, and while they ultimately reached Kansas City territory, they were forced to punt. The Chiefs went three-and-out and punted as well. With the ball at the San Diego 43, Gilbert missed on two passes and then was sacked by DE Neil Smith. That set the stage for another punt, and Darren Bennett’s 47-yard kick was taken by Vanover at his 14. He proceeded to return it 86 yards, breaking a tackle before streaking down the sideline for a game-winning touchdown. Kansas City came away with an electrifying 29-23 win, their third in overtime of the season.

The statistics were as close as the score, with the Chiefs holding the edge in total yards (379 to 369) and San Diego generating the most first downs (25 to 21). Neither team was able to run effectively, with Kansas City gaining 62 yards on 25 running plays and the Chargers compiling only 51 on 31 carries. Net passing yards were nearly equal, with San Diego holding a 318 to 317 edge. The Chiefs recorded three sacks, two by Neil Smith, to one by the Chargers, and San Diego turned the ball over three times, to one suffered by KC.

Steve Bono (pictured at left) completed 27 of 41 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns while having none intercepted. Derrick Walker had 6 catches for 45 yards that included the tying TD and Webster Slaughter gained 90 yards on his three receptions while Lake Dawson was right behind with 86 yards on four catches. Marcus Allen topped the Kansas City running attack by gaining a mere 26 yards on 14 attempts.

For the Chargers, Stan Humphries was successful on 24 of 34 throws for 315 yards and a TD while also giving up no interceptions. Tony Martin led the receivers with 7 catches for 88 yards. Natrone Means was held to 33 yards on 24 carries that included a score, but also caught 5 passes for another 33 yards.

“I think they’re rather exciting,” said Coach Schottenheimer of his team’s overtime games. “Two very good football teams went toe-to-toe tonight. I don’t have to tell you the spirit of those guys in the locker room. They have no quit in them.”

After appearing in three overtime contests among their first six games, the Chiefs appeared in no others the rest of the way. They finished with a league-best 13-3 record but lost a 10-7 verdict to the Colts in the Divisional playoff round as Bono tossed three interceptions and Lin Elliott missed three field goal attempts. San Diego lost for a third consecutive time after being beaten by the Chiefs and, during that midseason stretch, won only one of seven contests. However, the Chargers rallied to win five straight and close out the regular season at 9-7, good for second place in the AFC West and a Wild Card playoff spot. They also lost to the Colts, in the Wild Card game.

Tamarick Vanover went on to lead the NFL in punt return yardage with 540, averaging 10.6 yards per return along with a 25.5 average on kickoff returns. In addition to the one long punt return touchdown, he scored two more on kickoffs.

 

1995: Panthers Lose Debut to Falcons in Overtime

The Carolina Panthers, one of two NFL expansion teams for the 1995 season along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, took the field for their first regular season game on September 3. Coached by Dom Capers, most recently the defensive coordinator of the Steelers, the Panthers were coming into their first season facing the usual obstacles of a new team, utilizing either unproven or over-the-hill talent, but GM Bill Polian had been aggressive in free agency. The Panthers were to feature a conservative offense, tough defense, and solid special teams. QB Frank Reich (pictured above), the long-time backup in Buffalo, was starting while first draft choice Kerry Collins was groomed to take over the job, and there were veteran receivers in WRs Mark Carrier and Willie Green plus TE Pete Metzelaars. LB Sam Mills, formerly of the USFL and Saints, provided leadership as well as ability at inside linebacker, and there were other established hands in LB Lamar Lathon and CB Tim McKyer.

The Atlanta Falcons, Carolina’s first opponent, were coming off a 7-9 record in 1994, their third straight losing season and first under Head Coach June Jones. Operating a run-and-shoot offense, QB Jeff George threw for 3734 yards and 23 touchdowns and, while free agent WR Andre Rison departed in the offseason, there was a good group of small but fast of receivers for George’s passes. The defense was of greater concern, having given up a lot of points and fallen short in close contests in ‘94.

There were 58,808 fans in attendance at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons had the game’s first possession and went three-and-out. Carolina then went 65 yards in eight plays. Frank Reich had completions of 20 yards to Willie Green and 10 to Mark Carrier. Another pass to Carrier picked up 18 yards in a third-and-13 situation to reach the Atlanta 19. Following two carries by RB Randy Baldwin, Reich threw to Pete Metzelaars for eight yards and a touchdown. John Kasay added the extra point.

It didn’t take long for the Panthers to add to their lead. WR Roell Preston fumbled the ensuing kickoff and RB Vince Workman recovered for the visitors at the Atlanta 22. This time Carolina was only able to pick up a yard in three plays, but Kasay kicked a 39-yard field goal to make the score 10-0.

The Falcons came back with a seven-play, 47-yard series that was highlighted by Jeff George connecting with RB/WR Eric Metcalf (pictured at left) on a third down play for a 36-yard gain to the Carolina 16. Morten Andersen, a newcomer to the club after thirteen years in New Orleans, booted a 27-yard field goal to make it a seven-point margin.

Reich came out throwing on the next Carolina series, hitting Green for 11 yards and then Carrier for 46 yards to the Atlanta 23. The Panthers were unable to move any further but came away with another Kasay field goal, this time from 41 yards.

The teams traded punts as the game moved into the second quarter. Taking possession at their own two yard line following a Carolina punt, the Falcons came through with a big play when George threw to WR Bert Emanuel for 46 yards. George completed six more passes as Atlanta moved 98 yards in 11 plays, the last for a 12-yard TD to WR J.J. Birden. Andersen’s extra point narrowed Carolina’s lead to 13-10.

Following a short series by the Panthers, the Falcons drove to another score. George completed three passes but, after reaching the Carolina 33 at the two-minute warning, two more throws fell incomplete and Andersen kicked a 51-yard field goal. The score remained 13-13 at the half.

The Panthers were forced to punt following the first series of the third quarter and the home team went 58 yards in seven plays to take the lead. George threw to WR Terance Mathis for 23 yards and, in a third-and-eight situation, connected with Mathis again for 19 yards to the Carolina 14. Three plays later, he tossed a five-yard touchdown pass to Emanuel and, with Andersen’s PAT, the Falcons were in front by 20-13.

The defenses took control as neither team was able to sustain a drive until, with less than four minutes remaining in the period, Metcalf took off for a 19-yard gain to spur a series in which the Falcons reached midfield. However, FS Brett Maxie intercepted a pass to end the threat and the score remained tied heading into the final period.

The teams continued to exchange punts until RB Craig Heyward of the Falcons fumbled and Maxie recovered for Carolina at the Atlanta 22. However, two penalties and two sacks moved the Panthers back to the 44 and they were forced to punt.

Carolina got the ball again on a punt with 1:15 remaining in regulation. Starting at his own 20, Reich passed to RB Bob Christian for 23 yards and, after two incompletions, to Green for 13 yards. Reich threw long to Green once again, and the result was a 44-yard touchdown. A gamble for a two-point conversion was nullified by a false start and, backed up five yards, the Panthers kicked to tie the score at 20-20 instead.

Getting the ball back with 20 seconds on the clock, the Falcons tried to win the game in regulation as George completed two passes, but a 58-yard field goal try by Andersen fell short and the contest went into overtime.

The Panthers had the initial possession in the OT period and Reich completed two passes, but fumbled when stripped by DE Lester Archambeau, who recovered the ball at the Carolina 31. Six plays later, at 2:42 into the extra period, Andersen booted a 35-yard field goal and Atlanta came away the winner by a final score of 23-20.

The Falcons led in total yards (391 to 312) and first downs (20 to 17). Carolina was hurt by gaining only 51 yards on 20 running plays and giving up nine sacks. The Panthers also committed seven penalties, to four flags thrown on Atlanta. By contrast, the Falcons gave up three sacks and were more balanced on offense, rushing for 117 yards while gaining 274 net passing yards.

Jeff George completed 27 of 45 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns while giving up one interception. Eric Metcalf had 9 catches for 95 yards and ran for 56 yards on just 7 carries. Terance Mathis contributed 8 receptions for 83 yards and Bert Emanuel added 6 for 90 yards and a TD. Craig Heyward paced the ground game with 61 yards on 19 carries.

For the Panthers, Frank Reich was successful on 23 of 44 throws for 329 yards and two TDs while giving up no interceptions. Willie Green (pictured below) pulled in 7 of those passes for 121 yards and a score and Mark Carrier had 5 receptions for 96 yards. Randy Baldwin led what there was of a running attack with 43 yards on 17 attempts.

“There is no moral victory,” said a disappointed Frank Reich. “It’s win or lose. We want to win early and win often. Anything less in unacceptable. This was tough. We had our chance.”

The Panthers went on to lose their first five games before reeling off four consecutive wins on the way to a respectable 7-9 record, placing fourth in the NFC West. They also defeated the Falcons in the rematch at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Atlanta lost the next week but then won three in a row and finished at 9-7, placing second in the division and qualifying for a Wild Card spot. The Falcons were defeated by Green Bay in the first postseason round.

By the point the season turned around for the Panthers, Frank Reich had given way to Kerry Collins as the starting quarterback. He ended up throwing just 39 more passes, completing 44 percent in all, and the two TD passes against the Falcons were his only scoring tosses. Mark Carrier and Willie Green remained effective receivers, with Carrier catching 66 passes for 1002 yards (15.2 avg.) and three touchdowns and Green hauling in 47 for 882 yards (18.8 avg.) and six TDs.

Eric Metcalf continued to be highly productive for the Falcons with 104 pass receptions for 1189 yards (11.4 avg.) and eight touchdowns to go along with his 133 yards on 28 rushing attempts (4.8 avg.). Adding in kick returns, Metcalf gained a total of 1983 all-purpose yards, which ranked fifth in the NFL. Terance Mathis and Bert Emanuel also had over a thousand receiving yards with 1039 apiece, on 78 and 74 catches, respectively. 

Highlighted Year: Morten Andersen, 1995

Placekicker, Atlanta Falcons

Age:  35

14^th season in pro football, 1^st with Falcons

College: Michigan State

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 221

Prelude:

The Danish, left-footed Andersen learned the art of placekicking as an exchange student in high school and went on to excel at Michigan State, where he connected on a 63-yard field goal against Ohio State. Chosen by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 1982 NFL draft, his pro career got off to a rough start when he missed most of his rookie year due to injury. However, he came back strong in ’83, was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first of four straight seasons in 1985, and was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection in 1986 and ’87. During 13 years in New Orleans, he kicked 302 field goals in 389 attempts (77.6 %), with 22 of those successful kicks coming from 50 yards or more, and added 412 extra points (missing six times) to become the franchise’s all-time scoring leader with 1318 points. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl twice more. In a surprising move, Andersen left the Saints for the rival Falcons as a free agent in 1995.

1995 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 31 [2, tied with Steve Christie & Jason Elam, 1^st in NFC]

Most field goals, game – 5 vs. New England 10/1

Field goal attempts – 37 [5]

Most field goal attempts, game – 5 vs. New England 10/1

Field goal percentage – 83.8 [4]

PATs – 29 [18]

PAT attempts – 30 [18]

Longest field goal – 59 yards vs. San Francisco 12/24

Scoring

Field Goals – 31

PATs – 29

Points – 122 [7, tied with Fuad Reveiz]

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Wild Card playoff at Green Bay)

Field goals – 2

Field goal attempts – 2

PATs – 2

PAT attempts – 2

Longest field goal – 31 yards

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

1^st team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Falcons went 9-7 to finish second in the NFC West and qualify for the postseason as a Wild Card entry. Lost AFC Wild Card playoff to Green Bay Packers (37-20).

Aftermath:

Andersen went on to play five more seasons in Atlanta, which included a NFC Championship in 1998 after he kicked the winning field goal against the Vikings in overtime of the conference title game. He moved on to the Giants for a year, spent 2002 and ’03 with the Chiefs, was with Minnesota in 2004, and then, after sitting out a year, returned to Atlanta in 2006 and ’07, finishing out his 25-season career at age 47. His 89.3 field goal percentage in 2007 (25 of 28) was his career best. He ended up as the NFL career leader in scoring (2544 points) and field goals (565), as well as having appeared in the most games (382) and scored in the most consecutive contests (360). Andersen was three times a consensus first-team All-NFL selection, received at least second-team or All-NFC honors on three other occasions, and was chosen to the Pro Bowl seven times. In addition to the Saints, he is also the career scoring leader for the Falcons (806 points), making him the only player to hold that distinction with two different NFL teams.

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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

Rookie of the Year: Curtis Martin, 1995

Running Back, New England Patriots

Age:  22

College: Pittsburgh

Height: 5’11” Weight: 197

Prelude:

Martin suffered through an injury-plagued college career, rushing for 1045 yards in ten games as a junior and then, after a 251-yard performance against Texas in the first game of his senior year, he went down with a severe ankle sprain. He chose to enter the 1995 NFL draft and was taken by the Patriots in the third round. While there were concerns regarding his injury history, Martin quickly allayed them by rushing for 102 yards in his NFL debut.

1995 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 368 [2]

Most attempts, game - 36 (for 127 yds.) vs. Buffalo 10/23

Yards – 1487 [3, 1^st in AFC]

Most yards, game – 166 yards (on 35 carries) at NY Jets 11/5

Average gain – 4.0 [15]

TDs – 14 [3]

100-yard rushing games – 9

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 30      

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 62 yds.) at Pittsburgh 12/16

Yards – 261

Most yards, game – 62 (on 8 catches) at Pittsburgh 12/16

Average gain – 8.7

TDs – 1

Scoring

TDs – 15 [6]

2-pt PAT – 1

Points – 92

Awards & Honors:

NFL Rookie of the Year: Sporting News

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

AFC Rookie of the Year: UPI

1^st-team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Patriots went 6-10 to finish fourth in the AFC East.

Aftermath:

Martin followed up with another Pro Bowl year in 1996, rushing for 1152 yards and catching 46 passes as the Patriots won the AFC title. It was the second of ten straight seasons in which he rushed for over a thousand yards. An elusive runner who caught the ball well out of the backfield, he exhibited impressive stamina and durability, although he missed three games in ’97 due to an abdominal injury that required surgery. After rushing for 3799 yards and 32 TDs with New England, Martin was signed as a restricted free agent by the New York Jets in 1998, reuniting with Bill Parcells, his first coach with the Patriots, and played a key role in that team’s quick turnaround. Despite maintaining a heavy workload, he carried on through a string of 119 consecutive starts before a major knee injury finally ended his career 12 games into the 2005 season. Along the way, his quiet consistency was often overlooked, but he twice gained over 1500 yards in a season, including a league-leading 1697 at age 31 in 2004. Overall, he received consensus first-team All-NFL honors once, gained at least some first- or second-team recognition after three other years, and was selected to the Pro Bowl five times while rushing for 14,101 yards, which ranked fourth all-time at his retirement, on 3518 carries (4.0 avg.) and catching 484 passes for another 3329 yards, giving him 17,430 yards from scrimmage. He scored an even 100 touchdowns (90 rushing, 10 receiving). The Jets retired Martin’s #28 and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2012.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL, 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).