1971: Plunkett Leads Patriots to Upset of Raiders in Debut

The New England Patriots were a franchise reborn as they hosted the Oakland Raiders in their home opener on September 19, 1971. Stadium issues had been a chronic problem for the club since entering the American Football League as the Boston Patriots in 1960, but now they had a new 60,000-seat stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, and a new name as a result. They also had a new quarterback in Jim Plunkett (pictured above), the overall top draft choice who had won the Heisman Trophy at Stanford. The team was in need of refurbishment on the field, having gone 2-12 in 1970, the fourth straight losing record. John Mazur had taken over as head coach halfway through the previous season and was starting his first full year at the helm.

The Raiders were a far more successful team, having reached the postseason for the fourth straight year in ’70 with an 8-4-2 record. Youthful John Madden was commencing his third season as head coach and still had plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, even if there were some concerns. Star QB Daryle Lamonica had a lesser passing year and was lifted in favor of 43-year-old QB George Blanda several times the previous season, and now the promising Ken Stabler was being added to the mix. Off-field problems had removed the top deep threat, WR Warren Wells. On defense, there was a need for some retooling and they would be starting a rookie, Jack Tatum, at free safety in place of the departed Dave Grayson.

There were 55,405 fans in attendance at Schaefer Stadium on a cool, sunny day. The Raiders drove into New England territory on their first possession, but a holding penalty moved them out of scoring range and they had to punt. A short series by the Patriots also ended in a punt and the home team got a break when a scrambling Daryle Lamonica fumbled and LB Ed Philpott recovered at the Oakland 41.

The Patriots also had a promising drive that was stymied by a holding penalty, and they were forced to punt in turn. Neither team was able to move effectively in the next few possessions until, with 4:50 left in the half, the Raiders put together a 60-yard drive in 10 plays. HB Don Highsmith ran the ball four consecutive times for 26 yards and Lamonica completed two passes. HB Pete Banaszak finished the possession off with a sweep around left end for a four-yard touchdown. However, a bad snap on the extra point attempt forced Oakland to abort and the score remained 6-0.

The Raiders had a chance to pad their lead when HB Bob Gladieux fumbled the kickoff return and Jack Tatum recovered. With 49 seconds on the clock and the ball at the New England 44, Lamonica completed a pass to WR Fred Biletnikoff for 20 yards, but two passes into the end zone were overthrown and, while a penalty and six-yard run by FB Marv Hubbard advanced the ball to the 13, George Blanda missed wide to the right on a 21-yard field goal attempt. The score remained unchanged at halftime.

The Patriots had the first possession in the third quarter and again had to punt. Oakland reached the New England 43 before having to punt as well, but again there was a miscue on special teams. A bad snap forced Mike Eischeid to try to run and he was downed at the 50. The Patriots struck quickly as Plunkett, who completed just one pass in the first half, threw to WR Ron Sellers for eight yards, Gladieux ran for another nine, and then Plunkett connected with Sellers again for a 33-yard TD. Charlie Gogolak added the extra point and the home team was in front by 7-6.

A three-and-out series by the Raiders resulted in another punt and the resurgent Patriots put together a 70-yard drive in five plays. On second down, Plunkett tossed a pass to WR Randy Vataha that gained 39 yards to the Oakland 27. Two plays later, and following an illegal procedure call on the Patriots, Plunkett rolled out and threw to Sellers for 12 yards and then found TE Roland Moss all alone for a 20-yard touchdown. Gogolak converted and New England was now up by 14-6.

It got worse for the Raiders as Banaszak fumbled on the next series and the Patriots regained possession at the Oakland 42 in the waning seconds of the period. The result was a 46-yard Gogolak field goal early in the fourth quarter and an extended lead of 17-6.

The Raiders again had to punt but got the ball back two plays later when Plunkett’s pass was intercepted by CB Nemiah Wilson at his own 40. Ken Stabler was now in at quarterback but the result was another short series and a punt. Almost exclusively keeping the ball on the ground, the Patriots put together another scoring drive. Gladieux and HB Carl Garrett handled the running load effectively and, when Plunkett did try a pass, Oakland was called for roughing the passer. The result was another field goal by Gogolak, this time from 22 yards.

Now it was the aged veteran George Blanda behind center for the Raiders, and a carry by HB Clarence Davis gained 39 yards to the New England 25. But Blanda, attempting to pass, fumbled and while the Raiders recovered, it was all the way back at the 42. Two plays later a Blanda throw was intercepted by CB Larry Carwell to effectively seal the 20-6 win for the Patriots with 1:55 to play. As the clock ran down, the enthusiastic home crowd gave the Patriots a long standing ovation.  

The Raiders led in total yards (304 to 261) and first downs (20 to 12). They also turned the ball over four times, to three suffered by New England, and were called for seven penalties at a cost of 80 yards, as opposed to four penalties for 37 yards on the Patriots.

Jim Plunkett completed just six of 15 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, but was five of eight for 113 yards during the third quarter rally. Carl Garrett rushed for 78 yards on 16 carries and Bob Gladieux contributed 48 yards on 11 attempts. Ron Sellers (pictured at right) led the receivers with three catches for 54 yards and a TD.

For the Raiders, Daryle Lamonica was successful on 9 of 23 throws for 105 yards with no TDs or interceptions. Ken Stabler and George Blanda combined to go two of eight for 17 yards with one pass picked off. Pete Banaszak ran for 71 yards on 15 attempts that included a touchdown and also topped the team in pass receiving with three catches for 38 yards. Fred Biletnikoff was right behind with three receptions for 34 yards. Marv Hubbard gained 50 yards on 10 carries.

The stunning early win did not signal an immediate turnaround for the Patriots, who won only one of their next six games, but they did come out on top of four contests during the second half of the season and finished up at 6-8, good enough to place third in the AFC East and the team’s best record since 1966. Jim Plunkett passed for 2158 yards and 19 touchdowns and received NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors from the Pro Football Writers and consensus AFC Rookie of the Year recognition.

Oakland didn’t lose again until Week 11, going 7-0-2 during that stretch, but then lost three straight games to end up second in the AFC West with another 8-4-2 record and out of the playoffs.

1972: Patriots Upset Redskins as Allen Gamble Goes Awry

The New England Patriots had a 1-1 record and were coming off an exciting down-to-the-wire win over Atlanta the previous week as they faced a tougher test in hosting the Washington Redskins on October 1, 1972. The Patriots were a rebuilding team in their second year in Foxboro, MA under Head Coach John Mazur. The key to that rebuilding project was QB Jim Plunkett (pictured at right), the first overall draft pick in ‘71 following a Heisman-winning college career at Stanford. New England was coming off a 6-8 record, the team’s best in five years, and looking to improve.

Washington was in its second year under Head Coach George Allen and had reached the postseason for the first time in 26 seasons following a 9-4-1 tally in 1971. The veteran-laden club, known as “The Over-the-Hill Gang”, had a strong running game led by HB Larry Brown and QB Bill Kilmer throwing to wide receivers Charley Taylor and Roy Jefferson plus TE Jerry Smith. The rugged defense was even more of a key to the team’s success. The Redskins had won their first two games over the Vikings and Cardinals.

It was an overcast and cool day with 60,999 in attendance at Schaefer Stadium. The first quarter was scoreless but the Redskins got on the board early in the second quarter as Bill Kilmer threw to Charley Taylor for a 30-yard touchdown that finished off an 80-yard drive in five plays.

Things didn’t get any better for the Patriots when HB Jack Maitland fumbled while returning the ensuing kickoff and safety Richie Petitbon recovered for Washington at the New England 17. Five plays later, Kilmer again connected with Taylor (pictured below) for a four-yard touchdown and 14-0 lead.

The Patriots responded with a long possession that covered 83 yards in 12 plays. Rookie FB Josh Ashton converted a third-and-two situation with an 11-yard run to his own 36 and, three plays later and facing third-and-ten, Plunkett completed a pass to WR Reggie Rucker for 40 yards to get the ball into Washington territory at the 24. New England went for it with fourth-and-one at the 15 and Ashton ran for three yards, and the fullback kept it going with a 10-yard gain around end followed by a two-yard carry for a touchdown. Charlie Gogolak added the extra point to cut the Washington lead to 14-7.

The Redskins came right back as Larry Brown ran the ball three straight times for 22 yards and Kilmer again connected with Taylor for 19 yards to the New England 35. But after reaching the 28, Brown fumbled and LB Jim Cheyunski recovered for the Patriots to end the threat. New England’s offense wasn’t able to move appreciably and the half ended with the visitors maintaining a seven-point margin.

The Patriots took the second half kickoff and drove 73 yards in eight plays. Plunkett threw to Rucker for a 22-yard gain and Ashton gained 27 yards on a sweep to the Washington 20. The series ended with Plunkett hitting Rucker for an 11-yard TD and, with Gogolak’s extra point, the game was tied at 14-14.

The Redskins had to punt following their next possession and the Patriots reached the Washington 48 before HB Bob Gladieux’s option pass intended for WR Randy Vataha was picked off by CB Mike Bass, who returned it 29 yards. Runs by Brown and FB Charlie Harraway picked up 14 yards and two Kilmer passes picked up another 16 yards to the New England 23, but another throw was intercepted by CB Larry Carwell to again close off another opportunity for the visitors.

With Ashton again running effectively, Plunkett added passes to Vataha for 20 yards and TE Bob Windsor for 10. The drive bogged down at the Washington 35 and Gogolak put the Patriots ahead with a 42-yard field goal.

The Redskins started off the fourth quarter with a long drive of 70 yards in 10 plays that didn’t come up empty. Kilmer hit on short passes and Brown gained 36 yards on a draw play to the New England 20. The series ended with Kilmer completing a nine-yard pass to Jerry Smith for a touchdown and, with Curt Knight’s third successful PAT, Washington was back in front at 21-17.

The Patriots responded by putting together an eight-play, 80-yard drive. Plunkett completed all four of his passes, including a 24-yard toss while scrambling away from a heavy rush to Ashton at the goal line for a TD. Gogolak’s extra point put New England up by three with fewer than four minutes to play.

Following a 30-yard kickoff return by safety Speedy Duncan, the Redskins put themselves in a second-and-32 situation at their own 13 due to penalties, but from there Kilmer threw to Taylor for a 62-yard gain that not only got them out of a hole but put them at the New England 25 at the two-minute warning. Two passes were incomplete and then a throw into the end zone for Jefferson was caught but ruled out of bounds.

Knight came in and kicked a 33-yard field goal but was run into by DB Ron Bolton. George Allen elected to take the points off the board and keep the drive going. A short run was followed by two incomplete passes and Knight came back in to attempt another field goal, this time from 27 yards. However, the gamble failed when the kick sailed wide to the right and was unsuccessful.

With the clock ticking down to the final minute, the Patriots kept the ball on the ground. Ashton ran the ball three times and New England lined up to punt. However, Pat Studstill’s kick was blocked by WR Bill Malinchak and, with the Washington special team player unable to corral the ball, rolled out of the end zone for a safety. It was a one-point game and Washington was getting the ball back on the free kick with the remaining time down to 50 seconds.

Duncan returned the free kick to the New England 48. The Redskins were able to pick up six yards before Knight came back on to attempt a 50-yard field goal. Again the kick went wide to the right and the Patriots came away with a 24-23 upset victory – and for the second week in a row, it came down to a missed try for a field goal by their opponent.

New England outgained the Redskins (380 yards to 349) and had more first downs (23 to 15). Each team turned the ball over two times, although Washington was flagged seven times, to two penalties called on the Patriots.

Jim Plunkett completed 17 of 33 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns with none intercepted. Josh Ashton (pictured below) had a big day as he rushed for 108 yards on 23 carries and a TD and added another score on his lone pass reception. Bob Windsor caught 5 passes for 58 yards and Reggie Rucker gained 69 yards on his four receptions that included one for a TD.

For the Redskins, Bill Kilmer was successful on 14 of 30 throws for 213 yards and three TDs along with one interception. Charley Taylor caught 7 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Larry Brown rushed for 113 yards on 20 attempts.

“I don’t like these endings,” said Jim Plunkett. “Between this week and last week, I’m getting gray hairs.”

The two closely-fought wins didn’t prove to be signs of better days coming for the Patriots. They lost their next nine games in a row and finished up at the bottom of the AFC East. Coach Mazur didn’t make it to the end, resigning under pressure, and ex-Packers mentor Phil Bengtson coached the last five games. Washington, by contrast, recovered to win nine straight and topped the NFC East at 11-3. They went on to win the conference title before losing the Super Bowl to undefeated Miami.

Jim Plunkett had a rough second year, completing 47.6 percent of his passes for 2196 yards and just 8 touchdowns while placing second in the NFL with 25 interceptions and being sacked 39 times. Josh Ashton, on the other hand, had signed with the team as a rookie free agent and ended up leading the club in rushing with 546 yards.