1985: Eagles Beat Falcons on Quick’s 99-Yard TD in Overtime

Neither of the teams that faced each other on November 10, 1985 in Philadelphia were doing particularly well as they reached the tenth week of the season. The host Eagles, coached by Marion Campbell, had a 4-5 record after losing at San Francisco the previous week, although they were showing signs of life after a 1-4 start. 34-year-old QB Ron Jaworski operated behind a mediocre offensive line. WR Mike Quick (pictured above) was an established star and RB Earnest Jackson, obtained from the Chargers, was a workmanlike runner. The defense featured DE Reggie White, a newcomer from the USFL who joined the club four weeks into the season, and FS Wes Hopkins.

Things were much worse for Head Coach Dan Henning’s Falcons, who were at 1-8. The top performer on offense was RB Gerald Riggs. Long-time QB Steve Bartkowski had been supplanted by David Archer, who was far more mobile but also less talented as a passer. Injuries had affected the defensive backfield and the linebackers were a mediocre unit.

There were 63,694 fans in attendance at Veterans Stadium on a sunny and mild afternoon. The Eagles had the first possession and punted. Atlanta drove into Philadelphia territory helped by two third down conversions. QB David Archer ran for 14 yards in a third-and-seven situation and Gerald Riggs picked up 12 yards up the middle on a third-and-two play. However, after reaching the Philadelphia 34, Archer threw a pass that was intercepted by SS Ray Ellis.

The Eagles went 54 yards in ten plays that extended into the beginning of the second quarter. Ron Jaworski completed three passes along the way, including one to WR Kenny Jackson for 21 yards in a third-and-eight situation and another to WR Ron Johnson for 10 yards on third-and-eight. That set up an eight-yard touchdown carry by Earnest Jackson and, with Paul McFadden’s extra point, the home team held a 7-0 lead.

Following an Atlanta punt, the Eagles started off with Jaworski throwing to Mike Quick for a 39-yard gain, but the drive stalled in Falcons territory and Philadelphia had to punt. The Eagles got the ball right back when Archer was picked off by CB Herman Edwards. Starting at the Atlanta 40, Jaworski threw to Johnson for 37 yards and, after three runs by Earnest Jackson picked up two yards, Jaworski carried the ball himself on fourth down for a TD. With McFadden’s kick, Philadelphia was up by 14-0. Neither offense was able to get anything going for the remainder of the half.

The Falcons punted following their first series of the third quarter and Philadelphia again drove to a score, going 57 yards in 12 plays. Earnest Jackson ran well and Jaworski threw to TE John Spagnola for 12 yards in a third-and-four situation. The drive stalled at the Atlanta 13 but McFadden kicked a 30-yard field goal to extend Philadelphia’s lead to 17-0.

The teams traded punts until the Falcons put together an 84-yard series that went into the final period. Archer had two throws to WR Stacey Bailey for 18 yards apiece and Riggs ran effectively. Finally, Archer threw to RB Joe Washington for an 18-yard touchdown and, adding Mick Luckhurst’s PAT, Philadelphia’s lead was cut to ten points.

The Eagles went three-and-out on their next series and Atlanta again responded with a scoring drive, this time using 11 plays to go 81 yards. Riggs had six carries for 42 yards and Archer ran twice himself for 19 more yards. The last rush by Riggs was for a one-yard TD and, with Luckhurst’s successful conversion, it was a 17-14 score with 5:30 left in regulation.

On the next play from scrimmage, LB John Rade intercepted a Jaworski pass to give the Falcons the ball at the Philadelphia 25. Atlanta largely kept the ball on the ground to get down to the 10 and Luckhurst tied the game with a 27-yard field goal.

The Eagles had to punt on their next series and Atlanta drove into Philadelphia territory on a possession highlighted by Archer’s throw to TE Arthur Cox for 30 yards. But with nine seconds remaining, Luckhurst was wide to the left on a 42-yard field goal attempt and the game went into overtime.

The Falcons had the ball first in the extra period and were forced to punt, but Rick Donnelly’s 62-yard kick went out of bounds at the Philadelphia one. Jaworski went right to the air, tossing a pass intended for Kenny Jackson that fell incomplete. He went to the air again, and this time he didn’t miss as Quick, running a slant pattern and splitting CB Bobby Butler and SS Scott Case, pulled it in at the 30 yard line and went the distance for a 99-yard touchdown. In stunning fashion at 1:49 into overtime, and after having blown a 17-0 lead, the Eagles came away winners by a score of 23-17. It was the first overtime win in franchise history.

The 99-yard touchdown was the longest pass play to decide an overtime game in NFL history and tied the league record that was first set in 1939. Jaworski and Quick became the sixth combination to accomplish the feat (through 2012, seven more had done so).

Philadelphia had the edge in total yards (330 to 310) although the Falcons generated more first downs (20 to 15). Atlanta also had 215 rushing yards, but only 94 net passing yards. The Eagles sacked David Archer six times while the Falcons got to Ron Jaworski on three occasions. Each team suffered two turnovers.

Ron Jaworski completed just 11 of 30 passes for 258 yards and the one touchdown while tossing two interceptions. Mike Quick, with the long score to win the game, had three catches for 145 yards. Earnest Jackson (pictured at right) paced the ground game with 74 yards on 19 carries that included a TD. DE Reggie White and NT Ken Clarke each accounted for two sacks.

For the Falcons, Gerald Riggs rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. David Archer gained 70 yards on 10 rushing attempts while completing 12 of his 25 throws for 133 yards and a TD and had two intercepted. Stacey Bailey had 5 pass receptions for 51 yards.

“We got beat on a great play by a great athlete,” said Atlanta’s Coach Henning afterward. “If we have to get beat, that’s the way I’d like to see us get beat.”

The Eagles won the next week to briefly rise over .500, but then lost four straight games and finished at 7-9, which placed them fourth in the NFC East. By the end, Coach Campbell was gone – he would resurface as defensive coordinator of the Falcons the next year and would succeed Dan Henning in 1987. Atlanta also came back with a win the following week and ended up with a 4-12 record, putting them at the bottom of the NFC West.

Mike Quick caught 73 passes for a NFC-leading 1247 yards (17.1 avg.) and 11 touchdowns. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection for the second time and was named to the Pro Bowl for the third straight year.

Gerald Riggs led the NFC in rushing with 1719 yards on a league-topping 397 carries (4.3 avg.) and scored 10 TDs. He was chosen to the Pro Bowl for the first of three consecutive years. 

1991: Steelers Clinch Win Over Chargers With Stone’s 89-Yard TD

The NFL season-opening game on September 1, 1991 at Three Rivers Stadium featured, in the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers, two teams hoping to improve on disappointing 1990 seasons. The Steelers had just barely missed the postseason with a 9-7 record in ’90 and were starting their 23^rd year under Head Coach Chuck Noll. While the defense had allowed the fewest yards in the NFL, the offense was far less adept at scoring points. The promising but inconsistent Bubby Brister was the starting quarterback and the team was in need of more skill at wide receiver and running back.

San Diego was coming off three straight 6-10 seasons, but was restructuring with second-year GM Bobby Beathard. Under Head Coach Dan Henning, the Chargers could run the ball effectively but lacked an experienced quarterback. Second-year QB John Friesz was making his second career start for the Chargers in the opening game. There were high hopes for the defense that included an established star in CB Gill Byrd and a rising talent in LB Junior Seau.

There were 55,848 fans on hand for the late afternoon game. On the first series, Friesz fumbled and LB Greg Lloyd recovered for the Steelers at the Chargers’ 27 yard line. RB Barry Foster took off for a 12-yard gain on Pittsburgh’s initial offensive play, but the San Diego defense held. Still, the early break was translated into points when Gary Anderson booted a 38-yard field goal.

Two three-and-out possessions by the Chargers surrounded a Pittsburgh series that ended when Gill Byrd intercepted a Bubby Brister pass near midfield. However, a second Byrd interception gave San Diego good field position at the Pittsburgh 29. The Chargers came up empty when John Carney was wide to the right on a 36-yard field goal try.

Heading into the second quarter, San Diego finally put together a sustained drive. Starting from their 30, the Chargers moved 49 yards in a 14-play possession that used up nearly eight minutes. Friesz completed four passes and this time Carney was successful on a 48-yard field goal attempt to tie the score.

The Steelers responded with an 80-yard drive of their own as Brister was good on all five of his pass attempts, including one of 33 yards to WR Chris Calloway for a touchdown just after the two minute warning. San Diego was unable to generate any threat in the remaining time and Pittsburgh took a 10-3 lead into halftime.

The Steelers added to their margin in the first possession of the third quarter. Barry Foster carried much of the load and, after moving 68 yards to the San Diego 12 yard line, Anderson kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it 13-3. Following a short series for the Chargers, Pittsburgh took eight plays to add another three points, this time on a 31-yard Anderson boot. There was no further scoring in the period, and when Anderson added his fourth field goal of the day from 39 yards early in the fourth quarter, it seemed as though the Steelers had the offensively-challenged Chargers firmly in check at 19-3.

Taking over at their 19 following the ensuing kickoff, an illegal use of hands penalty called on Pittsburgh gave the Chargers a first down in a second-and-10 situation, and they converted a third-and-ten play when Friesz threw to WR Anthony Miller for 16 yards. Shortly thereafter, RB Ronnie Harmon ran for 23 yards to the Pittsburgh 32 and, following a short gain by RB Marion Butts, Friesz again connected with Miller, this time for 18 yards to the 12. Two plays later, RB Rod Bernstine tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to WR Nate Lewis on an option play and, with the successful extra point, it was a nine-point game with over ten minutes still on the clock.

During Pittsburgh’s next series, Brister was forced to leave the contest due to a mild concussion and second-year backup QB Neil O’Donnell took his place. The Steelers were forced to punt but immediately got the ball back when Friesz was intercepted by CB David Johnson on a long pass play at the Pittsburgh 21. The Steelers held the ball for only three plays, two of them incomplete passes by O’Donnell, before punting it back to San Diego.

Taking possession at the 50, the Chargers moved the ball 32 yards in 11 plays highlighted by a 14-yard Friesz completion to WR Shawn Jefferson in a third-and-11 situation. Carney kicked a 35-yard field goal, and with over two minutes remaining, San Diego was in striking distance at 19-13.

Following a touchback on the kickoff, the Steelers lost ground on a holding penalty and, after O’Donnell ran for five yards, a delay of game call put them back at their 11 yard line and facing a third-and-19 situation. It seemed likely that the Chargers would get another shot on offense from good field position. But lined up in the shotgun formation, O’Donnell threw a screen pass to WR Dwight Stone, who proceeded to go 89 yards for a touchdown - it was the game’s biggest play and sank San Diego’s hopes.

The Chargers scored once more at the end, with Friesz passing to Jefferson for a five-yard TD, but it had no effect on the outcome as Pittsburgh came away with a 26-20 victory.

The Steelers outgained San Diego (390 yards to 281) although the Chargers had more first downs (20 to 16). Each club turned the ball over twice.

Bubby Brister completed 13 of 21 passes for 189 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before having to leave the game. Neil O’Donnell was successful on only one of his four pass attempts, but it was a huge completion for the 89-yard game-clinching TD. Thanks to the long scoring play, Dwight Stone gained 124 yards on his four catches. Barry Foster rushed for 78 yards on 17 carries.

For the Chargers, John Friesz went to the air 41 times and had 19 completions for 192 yards with a TD and an interception. Nate Lewis had 6 pass receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown and Anthony Miller was right behind with 5 catches for 54 yards. Rod Bernstine gained 50 yards on 12 rushes and also had the one touchdown pass.

Despite the opening win, it proved to be another disappointing season for the Steelers, who started off at 3-2 but then lost four straight games on the way to a 7-9 record in Chuck Noll’s last year at the helm. San Diego went a dismal 4-12 to fall to the bottom of the AFC West. Dan Henning was also replaced for ’92.

Bubby Brister returned to the starting lineup for the Steelers, but a knee injury cost him half the season. Neil O’Donnell was the statistically better quarterback and, in 1992, displaced Brister permanently from the starting lineup. Dwight Stone ended up catching 32 passes for 649 yards (20.3 avg.) and five touchdowns.