1979: Staubach Rallies NFC to Pro Bowl Win

The AFC-NFC Pro Bowl returned to Los Angeles for the first time in seven years on January 29, 1979. After regularly being played at the Memorial Coliseum for 22 seasons, the annual all-star contest had been held in six different NFL cities since then.  The contest also marked the first time that players wore their respective team helmets rather than helmets with logos designed for the game.

There were 38,333 fans in attendance at the Coliseum on a chilly 45-degree Monday night. Los Angeles Rams season ticket holders had been required to purchase Pro Bowl tickets, and some 13,310 tickets went unused. The first quarter was scoreless, with the AFC failing to convert a fourth-and-seven play at the NFC 36 and Frank Corral of the Rams missing a 37-yard field goal attempt for the NFC.

In the second quarter, after Miami’s Garo Yepremian was short on a 47-yard try for a field goal, the NFC drove 70 yards in 11 plays. QB Archie Manning of the Saints completed four passes and RB Wilbert Montgomery of the Eagles, who had a 17-yard carry along the way, finished the series off at 7:06 into the period with a two-yard touchdown on a fourth down play. However, Corral missed wide on the extra point attempt.

The AFC came right back with a nine-play, 62-yard possession. With less than four minutes remaining in the first half, QB Bob Griese of the Dolphins threw to Seattle WR Steve Largent for back-to-back gains of 27 and 10 yards, and finished off the series with a throw once more to Largent for an eight-yard touchdown. Yepremian added the extra point and the AFC held a 7-6 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, and following a shanked 16-yard punt by Oakland’s Ray Guy, the NFC was backed up by a holding penalty but then proceeded to advance 55 yards. Dallas QB Roger Staubach (pictured at top), who was ineffective in the first quarter, completed five straight passes in the series. Two were to WR Ahmad Rashad of the Vikings for 15 and 17 yards and, following a six-yard run by Montgomery, Staubach connected with WR Tony Hill, a Dallas teammate, in the corner of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown with 3:43 remaining in the period. Corral converted this time to give the NFC a six-point advantage, and in the game dominated by defense, that was enough.

The teams traded punts as the contest entered the fourth quarter and a Manning pass was intercepted by SS Bill Thompson of the Broncos at the AFC 16. But following one more AFC possession, the NFC was able to control the ball for the last 6:20. They had an opportunity to add more points in the last minute, reaching the AFC five yard line, but Manning fell on the ball twice to run out the clock. The NFC won the low-scoring contest by a final score of 13-7.

The AFC led in total yards (320 to 296) and also had the edge in first downs (18 to 17). 169 yards of the AFC’s total came on the ground, against 151 passing yards, while the NFC threw for 199 yards and rushed for 97. The NFC turned the ball over twice, to one turnover suffered by the AFC.

Roger Staubach completed 9 of 15 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown while giving up one interception. Archie Manning, who played the second and fourth quarters, was 8 of 17 for 78 yards and also had a pass picked off. Wilbert Montgomery ran for 53 yards on 9 carries and RB Tony Dorsett of the Cowboys gained 27 yards on 7 rushing attempts. Ahmad Rashad had 5 pass receptions for 89 yards and was named Player of the Game. G Tom Mack of the Rams finished off his Hall of Fame career with an 11^th Pro Bowl appearance and received a standing ovation from the Los Angeles fans with a minute remaining in the contest.

For the AFC, Terry Bradshaw was successful on 8 of 17 throws for 54 yards and no interceptions. Bob Griese threw 20 times with 10 completions for 122 yards and a TD and also gave up no interceptions. Houston’s star rookie RB Earl Campbell rushed for 66 yards on 12 carries to lead both teams. Steve Largent, the first Seahawk to appear in a Pro Bowl, caught 5 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown, all in the second quarter.

“One of the highlights of my career was just being here,” said Ahmad Rashad (pictured at left) who, along with Steve Largent, set a then-Pro Bowl record for pass receptions. “The Most Valuable Player award was just gravy.”

“I’m not going to go home and stay up all night, but it was disappointing to lose,” said Terry Bradshaw, who had quarterbacked the Steelers to a win over Dallas in the Super Bowl the previous week. “Emotionally, I went into this game drained. I thought I’d be okay but I think I’m still mentally fatigued from the Super Bowl.”

The win gave the NFC a 5-4 lead over the AFC since the restructuring of the Pro Bowl into AFC vs. NFC in 1970. The game moved to Honolulu the following season, leaving the Memorial Coliseum once and for all.

1978: “Big Ben Right” Propels Falcons to Stunning Win Over Saints

The Atlanta Falcons had started the 1978 NFL season at 2-4 before embarking on a four-game winning streak that had them up to a 6-4 record as they faced the New Orleans Saints on November 12. Head Coach Leeman Bennett’s team was already known for aggressive defensive play, but now fourth-year QB Steve Bartkowski (pictured at right), who started the season on the bench, was beginning to display a knack for good clutch play while directing an offense full of overachieving performers behind a solid line.

New Orleans, a perennially losing team, was 5-5 and showing signs of improvement under first-year Head Coach Dick Nolan, who had enjoyed some success with the 49ers previously. QB Archie Manning was playing well and had good run support with FB Tony Galbreath and HB Chuck Muncie.

There were 70,323 fans present at the Louisiana Superdome. Neither team was able to put together much offense in the early going, with Steve Mike-Mayer kicking a 21-yard field goal for the Saints to provide the only scoring in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, after Tim Mazzetti booted a 22-yard field goal for Atlanta to tie the score, the Saints drove 64 yards in 11 plays. The series was helped along when New Orleans was able to convert a fourth-and-one situation after the Falcons were penalized for an offside penalty. Tony Galbreath scored on a one-yard touchdown carry and Mike Mayer added the extra point.

With 1:24 remaining in the first half, the Saints took possession and advanced 54 yards in six plays. Archie Manning passed to TE Henry Childs (pictured below) for a 14-yard TD and, with Mike-Mayer’s point after, New Orleans took a 17-3 lead into halftime.

The defenses again dominated in the third quarter, although Mazzetti kicked a 32-yard field goal for the Falcons that narrowed the score to 17-6. Early in the fourth quarter, a promising drive by the Saints came up empty inside the Atlanta 10 when Manning fumbled while rolling out and the Falcons recovered at their six.

The New Orleans defense continued to keep the visitors in check until, with time running short, the Falcons drove 80 yards in 12 plays. Bartkowski completed five passes for 64 yards and the Saints were twice called for pass interference. The series was capped by FB Haskel Stanback running the last yard for a touchdown and Mazzetti converted to narrow the New Orleans lead further to 17-13.

Still, there were only 57 seconds remaining and an onside kick was recovered by the Saints at their 49. Three running plays had the home team facing a fourth-and-two situation at the Atlanta 43. Rather than punt, Coach Nolan chose to try for a game-clinching first down, but Chuck Muncie was stopped for no gain.

With the clock down to 19 seconds and no timeouts remaining, Bartkowski faded back and lofted a long pass to the ten yard line, where three Falcons and an equal number of New Orleans defenders came together. WR Wallace Francis tapped the ball away to WR Alfred Jackson, who grabbed it and ran to the end zone for a 57-yard touchdown, stunning the crowd into silence. Mazzetti kicked the extra point and the Falcons came away the winners by a final score of 20-17.

The game-winning play, called “Big Ben Right”, was created to make use of a change in NFL rules that allowed two players from the same team to touch the ball without a defender having to have had contact with it in between. In this instance, it worked to perfection.

The Saints led in both total yards (347 to 284) and first downs (22 to 16), and they especially dominated in rushing yards (166 to 74). However, much of that offensive output by New Orleans occurred in the first half. The Saints also turned the ball over twice, to one by Atlanta, and the Falcons recorded three sacks, while the home team had one.

Steve Bartkowski completed 16 of 33 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown while giving up one interception, but was 10 of 17 in the fourth quarter. WR Billy Ryckman was Atlanta’s top receiver with four catches for 68 yards, while Alfred Jackson’s game-winning 57-yard reception his only one of the game. HB Bubba Bean rushed for 45 yards on 8 carries.

For the Saints, Archie Manning was successful on 14 of 25 throws for 169 yards and a TD with none intercepted, but was the opposite of Bartkowski in that he was most productive in the first half and made good on just one of five throws for seven yards in the second half. Rookie WR Wes Chandler had 7 receptions for 117 yards. Chuck Muncie gained 63 yards on 18 carries and Tony Galbreath contributed 54 yards on 17 attempts that included a TD.

“On the winning touchdown, there was no primary receiver,” explained Atlanta’s Coach Bennett. “We just batted the ball around and hoped someone could catch it.”

“My main objective was to trail the play,” added Alfred Jackson (pictured at left). “It’s a designed tip so another player could try to catch it. We worked on it several times this week. Wallace (Francis) tipped it to the side and no one else was there.”

The electrifying win made it five straight for the Falcons and, while the streak ended the next week at Chicago, they won another thriller over New Orleans that came down to the final seconds in the next game, and by an identical score. Atlanta finished with a 9-7 record to place second in the NFC West and, for the first time in franchise history, qualified for the playoffs. In the first year of two Wild Card entries per conference, the Falcons edged the Eagles in the first round, characteristically rallying in the fourth quarter to do so, and gave the Dallas Cowboys a tough battle before falling in the Divisional round. The Saints ended up third in the division at 7-9, which was their best record to date. Ultimately, the two closely-fought wins by Atlanta over the Saints played a key role in a noteworthy season for the Falcons – and prevented New Orleans from potentially achieving similar success. 

MVP Profile: Archie Manning, 1978

Quarterback, New Orleans Saints

               

Age:  29

7^th season in pro football & with Saints

College: Mississippi

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 200

Prelude:

Following an outstanding college career that culminated in his finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1970, Manning was taken by the Saints in the first round (second overall) of the ’71 NFL draft. With a strong arm and excellent mobility, he was moved directly into the starting lineup and led the Saints to an upset win over the Rams in his first game, but the team was mediocre and he suffered through far more defeats than victories. He was sacked a league-leading 40 times and missed two games due to assorted injuries. Manning led the NFL in pass attempts (448) and completions (230) in 1972, but again in being sacked (43). Over the next few years, there were more low than high points and injuries were factors again in ensuing seasons. Manning missed all of 1976 due to a shoulder injury that required surgery and put his career in jeopardy. He came back in ’77 to tie for fourth in the NFC in passing, although an ankle injury again cut his season short.

1978 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 471 [3]

Most attempts, game – 53 at Green Bay 9/10

Completions – 291 [2]

Most completions, game – 33 at Green Bay 9/10

Yards – 3416 [2]

Most yards, game – 344 at Pittsburgh 11/5

Completion percentage – 61.8 [2, 1st in NFC]

Yards per attempt – 7.3 [8, tied with Ken Stabler & Brian Sipe]

TD passes – 17 [7]

Most TD passes, game – 3 vs. LA Rams 10/1

Interceptions – 16 [18, tied with four others]

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. Philadelphia 9/17, at Dallas 11/19

Passer rating – 81.7 [5]

300-yard passing games – 2

200-yard passing games – 10

Rushing

Attempts – 38

Most attempts, game - 5 (for 48 yds.) vs. LA Rams 10/1

Yards – 202

Most yards, game – 48 yards (on 5 carries) vs. LA Rams 10/1

Yards per attempt – 5.3

TDs – 1

Awards & Honors:

NFC Player of the Year: UPI, Sporting News

1^st team All-NFC: UPI, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Saints went 7-9 to finish third in the NFC West, the franchise’s best record at the time.

Aftermath:

Manning followed up with another Pro Bowl year in 1979, completing 60 percent of his passes for 3169 yards and 15 touchdowns, although also 20 interceptions, as the Saints reached .500 for the first time in franchise history at 8-8. However, greater expectations for 1980 were dashed as the club dropped to a dismal 1-15, although Manning achieved career highs with 3716 passing yards, 23 TDs, and an 81.8 passer rating. His performance dropped off significantly in an injury-filled ’81 season and, losing his starting job to Ken Stabler, he was dealt to the Houston Oilers early in the 1982 season. He was traded again during the following year, to Minnesota, where he finished his career as a backup in 1984. Overall, Manning threw for 23,911 yards (21,734 with the Saints) with 125 touchdowns (all but ten with New Orleans) and 173 interceptions. He also rushed for 2197 yards and 18 TDs, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. While Manning played for losing teams and never fully met expectations as a pro, his sons Peyton and Eli went on to become noteworthy pro quarterbacks.

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). Also includes Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.

1977: Buccaneers Overwhelm Saints for First Win in Franchise History

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had lost a record 26 straight games since coming into the NFL in 1976 as they faced the New Orleans Saints on December 11, 1977. Head Coach John McKay’s team suffered through a miserable 0-14 inaugural year and, at 0-12, seemed destined to go winless for a second season. There was reason for hope, as the defense was showing signs of coming together and contained up-and-coming players like DE Lee Roy Selmon and his brother, LB Dewey Selmon. The offense was another story, however, as FB Ricky Bell, the team’s first draft choice out of USC, was struggling behind a poor line and the quarterbacks, led by Gary Huff, sustained many sacks and interceptions. The team had scored just 53 points in the twelve games and had been shut out in four of its previous five contests.

The Saints were also struggling. The perennially losing club could not be turned around by second-year Head Coach Hank Stram, a proven winner previously with the Chiefs, and had a 3-9 record. QB Archie Manning had plenty of ability and there was a good backfield tandem in HB Chuck Muncie and FB Tony Galbreath. But the offensive line was mediocre and the defense was worse than that. Manning also antagonized the Bucs in the days before the game by stating that it would be disgraceful to lose to them – words that would come back to haunt him.

There were 40,124 fans in attendance at the Louisiana Superdome for the contest between the two cellar dwellars. On the third play from scrimmage, Archie Manning fumbled while scrambling and Lee Roy Selmon recovered for the Bucs at the New Orleans 36. However, the break went for naught when Tampa Bay drove 20 yards and Dave Green missed a 33-yard field goal attempt.

The Saints punted following their next series and DB Danny Reece returned it 20 yards to the New Orleans 28. Ricky Bell carried five times as the Buccaneers advanced a total of seven yards, but this time they didn’t come up empty when Green kicked a 40-yard field goal.

The teams exchanged punts, but on the last play of the first quarter, Manning threw a long pass intended for TE Jim Thaxton that went through the receiver’s arms and was intercepted by CB Mike Washington (pictured at top). Tampa Bay started off the second quarter at the New Orleans 33 and drove 25 yards in ten plays. Bell and FB Jimmy DuBose ran effectively and Green finished the series off with another field goal, this time from 25 yards.

The Saints remained stymied on offense and, after two punts were nullified by penalties that backed them up to their five yard line, the third was returned for 29 yards to the New Orleans 24 by WR Isaac Hagins. However, a holding penalty and seven-yard sack of Gary Huff backed the Bucs up and they were forced to punt.

After the Saints punted again, Tampa Bay put together a 71-yard drive in six plays. Huff connected with WR Morris Owens for a 39-yard gain along the way and found Owens again alone in the corner of the end zone for a five-yard touchdown. Green added the extra point and the Bucs took a 13-0 lead into halftime.

Tampa Bay had the first possession of the third quarter and had to punt, but Bobby Scott, now in at quarterback for the Saints, threw a pass that Washington intercepted and returned 45 yards for a TD. With Green’s extra point, the Bucs were ahead by 20-0.

Now in a deep hole, the Saints responded by driving to the Tampa Bay 30. However, Scott’s arm was hit while he was throwing and it resulted in another interception, this time by LB Richard Wood (pictured below), who ran it back 30 yards to the Tampa Bay 47. With DuBose and HB Louis Carter carrying the load, the Bucs reached the New Orleans 30, but on fourth-and-one Huff was stopped for no gain on a quarterback sneak and the Saints regained possession.

A Scott pass to WR Don Herrmann and a roughing-the-passer penalty on the Buccaneers helped New Orleans move to the Tampa Bay 29, but from there Scott tossed four straight incomplete passes to give the ball back to the visitors.

The Bucs punted on the last play of the period, and then once more came through with a big interception on the second play of the fourth quarter. With the Saints backed up to their four, Scott was again picked off by Wood, who needed to return it only 10 yards for a touchdown. The extra point try was shanked but it didn’t matter – Tampa Bay had a commanding 26-0 lead.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Manning returned at quarterback for the Saints and they finally scored as he ran two yards for a touchdown. The next time New Orleans had the ball, Manning faded back to pass from his end zone, the ball was deflected, and DE Greg Johnson caught it for another Tampa Bay TD. In the final seconds, Manning threw to WR John Gilliam for an 11-yard touchdown, but it did nothing more than salvage some pride for the home team. With a dominating defensive performance, Tampa Bay finally had a win to its credit, and by a score of 33-14.

In a sloppy game in which neither offense distinguished itself, the Saints outgained Tampa Bay (250 yards to 238) and had more first downs (17 to 14). However, New Orleans gave up seven turnovers, to one suffered by the Bucs, and three of them resulted in interception returns for touchdowns (tying a NFL record that was broken in 1984). Tampa Bay also recorded five sacks, to one for the Saints. The Buccaneers were hurt by 11 penalties, at a cost of 100 yards, to seven flags thrown on New Orleans.

Gary Huff (pictured at left) didn’t pass often, completing 7 of 9 throws for 96 yards and a touchdown with none intercepted. Jimmy DuBose ran for 59 yards on 17 carries and also caught a team-leading three passes for another 24 yards. Ricky Bell added 34 yards on 14 rushing attempts and Morris Owens gained 44 yards on his two catches that included a TD. But the biggest contributors for Tampa Bay were on defense, where Mike Washington and Richard Wood each intercepted two passes, and returned one apiece for touchdowns. Greg Johnson had one interception in the end zone for a third TD.

For the Saints, Archie Manning was successful on 13 of 21 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, but also tossed three interceptions. Bobby Scott went four-for-12 and 36 yards with another three interceptions. FB Tony Galbreath ran for 35 yards on 9 carries and Manning was right behind with 33 yards and a TD on 6 attempts. Don Herrmann was the top receiver with four catches for 92 yards.

“Archie (Manning) must have been looking at our offense,” said Coach McKay afterward, referring to the New Orleans quarterback’s comment about it being a disgrace to lose to the Bucs. “Our defense has never been disgraceful.”

“I said it, and it was true,” said Manning. “And now I’m embarrassed.”

The Buccaneers won again against the Cardinals in their season finale and, while it lifted them to only 2-12 for another last place finish in the NFC Central, the victories allowed Tampa Bay to finish off the year on a high note and were a harbinger of improvement to come. New Orleans was blown out by the Falcons to end up at 3-11 and at the bottom of the NFC West, costing Coach Stram his job.

1979: Falcons Defeat Saints in OT Thanks to Failed Punt

The September 2, 1979 season-opening game at the Louisiana Superdome featured fierce rivals who had a recent history of down-to-the-wire contests. The New Orleans Saints, coached by Dick Nolan, were coming off a 7-9 season in ’78 but seemed to be on the upswing. They had a good nucleus on offense of ninth-year veteran QB Archie Manning, RB Chuck Muncie, TE Henry Childs, and promising second-season WR Wes Chandler. In the first round of the ’79 draft, they had made the surprising decision to add Russell Erxleben from Texas, a celebrated all-purpose kicker.

The visiting Atlanta Falcons had reached the playoffs for the first time in 1978 and Head Coach Leeman Bennett’s team was looking to build upon that performance. QB Steve Bartkowski went from first-round bust to rising star in the course of the season. The scrappy defense ranked fifth in the NFL. The running game had been a cause of concern, however, and three backs were taken in the draft, including William Andrews from Auburn (pictured above), who would have an immediate effect. The Falcons defeated New Orleans in both of the previous year’s meetings, and in the final seconds in each instance.

The Saints opened the scoring in the first quarter with an 85-yard drive that culminated in Manning tossing a five-yard touchdown pass to WR Ike Harris. It was 7-0 after one period of play, but the second quarter saw both teams combine for a total of 41 points.

New Orleans extended its lead when Chuck Muncie connected with Wes Chandler on an option pass that covered 40 yards for a TD. Down 14-0, the Falcons responded with a 27-yard Tim Mazzetti field goal and then a 20-yard touchdown pass from Bartkowski to WR Alfred Jenkins. With the margin down to four points, the Saints came back with a 69-yard scoring run by Muncie. Bartkowski tossed another touchdown pass, this time covering 20 yards to WR Wallace Francis. Muncie ran for a four-yard TD and Mazzetti booted a 43-yard field goal to end the scoring barrage. New Orleans went into halftime with a 28-20 lead.

Russell Erxleben started off the second half scoring early in the third quarter with a 37-yard field goal. Again Atlanta closed to four points as Bartkowski threw to Francis for a 21-yard touchdown, and with the successful extra point the score was 31-27 going into the final period.

William Andrews put Atlanta in the lead with his first pro touchdown on a four-yard run. The Falcons then appeared set to clinch the game with less than five minutes remaining, but a promising drive ended when Bartkowski fumbled after being hit from the blind side by DE Joe Campbell, giving the Saints the ball on their own 18 yard line. New Orleans proceeded to drive 66 yards and, with 44 seconds left in regulation, Erxleben kicked a 38-yard field goal to tie the score. Atlanta still had a shot in regulation, but Mazzetti missed a field goal try from 52 yards out and the game went into overtime.

The contest went eight minutes into the extra period with neither team able to score. In the climactic play of the game, the Saints were lined up on fourth-and-six at their 32 for a punt. A bad snap by C John Watson sailed some four feet over Erxleben’s head, and the rookie kicker had to give chase. The ball rolled inside the five toward the goal line, where Erxleben grabbed it and tried to toss a two-handed pass to avoid a possible safety. Rookie RB James Mayberry, who was bearing down fast on Erxleben, pulled the throw out of the air and ran six yards untouched into the end zone for the improbable winning touchdown. Atlanta came away with yet another thrilling win over the Saints by a score of 40-34.

In a game that featured plenty of offense on both sides, the Falcons had the most total yards (552 to 512) and first downs (35 to 23). New Orleans was the more proficient through the air (324 to 295) but Atlanta generated 257 rushing yards to 188 for the Saints. Each club turned the ball over two times.

William Andrews had an impressive debut, rushing for 167 yards on 30 carries that included the one TD. Steve Bartkowski completed 22 of 38 passes for 312 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Alfred Jenkins had 7 catches for 131 yards and one of the TDs and Wallace Francis added 5 receptions for 65 yards and the other two scores.

For the Saints, Chuck Muncie (pictured at right) set a club record with 161 yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns while also passing for another. Also lost in the defeat was a big day for Wes Chandler, who gained 205 yards on 6 catches that included a TD. Archie Manning was successful on 14 of his 29 throws for 284 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

“I just heard the crowd and I knew something was wrong,” said James Mayberry of his special teams play that won the contest. “I saw the ball back there and I just took off after it…I just ran back there expecting to tackle him (Erxleben). He just threw the ball and I had nothing to do but score.”

The 40 points were easily the most scored in any game by the Falcons in 1979, and it ended up being a disappointing year in which they dropped to 6-10 and placed third in the NFC West. Ahead of them was New Orleans, which won the rematch between the rivals in Atlanta and, after a slow start, posted an 8-8 record – the first non-losing tally in the franchise’s history.

William Andrews continued to be a bright spot for the Falcons as he rushed for 1023 yards on 239 carries (4.3 avg.) and caught 39 passes for 309 more yards. The pass receiving tandem of Wallace Francis (74 catches, 1013 yards, 8 TDs) and Alfred Jenkins (50 catches, 858 yards, 3 TDs) remained productive. James Mayberry saw limited action as a backup running back and gained 193 yards while scoring one other TD during the season.

Chuck Muncie went on to a Pro Bowl year, gaining 1198 rushing yards while averaging five yards per carry and scoring 11 touchdowns and catching 40 passes. Wes Chandler also earned Pro Bowl recognition with his 65 pass receptions for 1069 yards (16.4 avg.) and six TDs.

It was not so good for Russell Erxleben, however. He was injured during workouts the week following the Atlanta game and did not play again in ’79 – FB Tony Galbreath handled the placekicking for one week and Chandler the punting for two before 35-year-old PK Garo Yepremian, released by the Dolphins late in the preseason, and P Rick Partridge were signed. Erxleben did return in 1980 and lasted four years with the Saints, almost exclusively as a punter (he came back to punt once for the Lions in ’87). He was never able to live up to his 11^th overall draft selection in 1979.

1971: Falcons Beat Saints to Cap First Winning Season

The Atlanta Falcons had not posted a winning record in their first five years since joining the NFL as an expansion team in 1966. However, as they faced the New Orleans Saints in the 1971 season finale on December 19, their record was 6-6-1 and the prospect of ending up over .500 a distinct possibility. In their third full year under Head Coach Norm Van Brocklin, the Falcons were better on defense than offense, despite the loss of star MLB Tommy Nobis to a knee injury. OLB Don Hansen was a solid player, and the defensive line had outstanding talent in ends Claude Humphrey and John Zook. The secondary, led by CB Ken Reaves, was tough against the pass. Van Brocklin emphasized toughness, and that was most apparent in the nondescript offense directed by small-but-accurate QB Bob Berry and featuring a group of running backs that were pluggers and lacked outside speed.

New Orleans, which had joined the NFL a year after the Falcons, was also seeking a franchise-best record under Head Coach J.D. Roberts, but at a more modest level. The Saints were 4-7-2 and trying to outdo their 5-9 record of 1969 – they were already assured of besting 1970’s 2-11-1 tally. Moreover, three of their wins had come against contending teams (the Rams, 49ers, and eventual-champion Cowboys), thus providing encouragement that the club might be heading in the right direction. The offense was led by rookie first draft pick QB Archie Manning, who had suffered through an injury-plagued campaign, but there was too little talent surrounding him and the defense was a liability.

There were 75,554 in attendance at Tulane Stadium, and they saw the Falcons score first on a six-yard run by FB Art Malone that was set up by the recovery of a New Orleans fumble at the Saints’ 15. The home team responded with a six-yard touchdown run of its own, by HB Bob Gresham, to make it a 7-7 game after one quarter.

The Saints moved ahead with just over four minutes to play in the first half, capping a six-minute drive with Charlie Durkee’s 30-yard field goal. Atlanta put together a 10-play, 76-yard series in response that was highlighted by a 35-yard gain on a pass from Berry to rookie WR Ken Burrow and finished off with a 12-yard field goal by Bill Bell. The score was tied at 10-10 at halftime.

The Saints got a break midway through the third quarter after a punt hit Atlanta HB Willie Belton and was recovered by LB Ray Hester at the Falcons’ 12. Manning ran for a six-yard touchdown and New Orleans held a 17-10 edge going into the final period.

Atlanta’s struggling offense finally came alive in the last six minutes of the game, sparked by a big play. Berry threw to Burrow for an 84-yard gain to the New Orleans three yard line, and Malone capped the series with a one-yard scoring run. With Bell’s extra point, the game was tied once more at 17-17.

The Saints came right back, however, as HB Virgil Robinson returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards to set up a 36-yard field goal by Durkee that put them back in front with 3:14 to play.

HB Jim “Cannonball” Butler came up with a good kickoff return of his own, running it back 36 yards to his own 49. Nine plays later, on a series highlighted by a Berry throw to his other rookie starting wide receiver, Wes Chesson, for a 19-yard gain on a third-and-18 play to the New Orleans 26, the Falcons scored when Berry tossed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Burrow with just 34 seconds left to play. Atlanta held on to win by a final score of 24-20.

The Falcons outgained the Saints (319 yards to 300) although New Orleans had more first downs (20 to 14). Atlanta gained only 57 yards on 22 running plays but the defensive line came through with five sacks. Each team turned the ball over once.

Ken Burrow had a huge performance as he caught 8 passes for 190 yards and a TD. Bob Berry completed 18 of 27 passes for 269 yards with a touchdown and had none intercepted. Art Malone was the team’s leading rusher with 24 yards on 8 carries that nevertheless included two TDs. “Cannonball” Butler was right behind with 22 yards, also on eight attempts.


For the Saints, Archie Manning went to the air 26 times and completed 17 for 174 yards with none for scores, but also no interceptions – in addition, he ran the ball three times for 28 yards and a TD. Bob Gresham was the top receiver with 6 catches for 60 yards while also rushing 18 times for 52 yards and a score. FB Jim Strong was the leading ground-gainer as he accumulated 73 yards on 17 carries.

“The Saints played the run a lot tougher this time and we just couldn't get our hands on the ball much because they controlled it,” said Coach Norm Van Brocklin. “I think the Saints are the most improved team in football.”

Atlanta concluded the schedule with a 7-6-1 record that placed the Falcons third in the NFC West. They would break even in 1972 at 7-7 and contend for a time in ’73 while ending up at 9-5, but the Falcons would not reach the postseason until 1978. The Saints, who finished behind Atlanta at 4-8-2, would find their hopes dashed with a 2-11-1 mark in 1972. It would take far longer – until 1987 – for New Orleans to finally put together a winning mark and make it into the playoffs.

Bob Berry, who had the best years of his 11-season career under Van Brocklin’s tutelage, ranked second in the NFL in yards per attempt (8.87, to 8.92 for Roger Staubach of the Cowboys) and completion percentage (60.2) and fourth overall in the conference in passing under the system in use at the time (third by today’s system at 75.9).

Ken Burrow caught 33 passes for 741 yards (22.5 avg.) and six touchdowns. Over the course of a five-year career, all with the Falcons, he never exceeded the yardage total and had a high of 34 catches in 1974. Overall, he ended up with 152 receptions for 2668 yards (17.6 avg.) and 21 TDs. The 84-yard catch against the Saints was his longest and the eight pass receptions his most in a single game, and the 190 receiving yards tied his career high.