1966: Roland Stars as Cards Defeat Eagles

The St. Louis Cardinals were hoping to rebound from a disappointing 5-9 record in 1965 as they faced the Philadelphia Eagles on September 11, 1966. St. Louis had a new head coach in Charley Winner and plenty of veteran talent in QB Charley Johnson, FS Larry Wilson, and SS Jerry Stovall, all returning healthy from injury-plagued seasons in ’65. There were capable receivers in split end Sonny Randle, flanker Bobby Joe Conrad, and TE Jackie Smith, and a good stable of running backs that featured a newcomer in rookie HB Johnny Roland out of Missouri (pictured at right).

The Eagles were coached by Joe Kuharich and were also 5-9 in ’65 but swept the season series with the Cards. The defense had lost two disgruntled veteran stars, LB Maxie Baughan and CB Irv Cross, who both were dealt to Los Angeles and would be difficult to replace. QB Norm Snead had a strong arm, although was prone to inconsistency, and HB Timmy Brown was an outstanding all-purpose back. TE Pete Retzlaff was a reliable veteran and among the best at his position and the line, anchored by OT Bob Brown, was a good one.

It was the first regular season game for the Cardinals at the new Busch Memorial Stadium and there were 39,066 fans in attendance. Following an exchange of punts to start the first quarter, the Eagles drove 76 yards in 14 plays that featured six carries for 33 yards by FB Israel “Izzy” Lang and a screen pass from QB Norm Snead to Timmy Brown for 21 yards. Sam Baker kicked a 23-yard field goal to give the visitors the early lead.

HB Roy Shivers returned the ensuing kickoff 33 yards and St. Louis, helped along by a 15-yard penalty on the Eagles, started off near midfield and advanced into Philadelphia territory. However, after reaching the two, they were moved back by a delay of game penalty and had to settle for a nine-yard Jim Bakken field goal to tie the score at 3-3.

The Cardinals missed an opportunity when Johnny Roland returned a punt 52 yards for an apparent touchdown, but the play was nullified by a roughing-the-kicker penalty. The Eagles got another break on an interception by CB Jim Nettles, and while there was a clip on the return, the visitors took possession at the St. Louis 47. Snead completed a pass to Lang for 24 yards before Brown broke away for a 23-yard touchdown. Baker added the extra point and the score remained 10-3 at halftime.

St. Louis was having difficulty jelling on offense and finally added another long Bakken field goal from 47 yards to narrow Philadelphia’s lead to 10-6 in the third quarter. As the game headed into the final period, the Cards put together another promising drive but, following a sack of Johnson by LB Harold Wells, they faced a third-and-33 situation. Johnson threw to Sonny Randle, who bobbled the ball that was then deflected by FS Joe Scarpati and Roland alertly made the catch for a 37-yard gain to the Philadelphia 16. Johnson connected with Jackie Smith for nine yards and a pass interference penalty by Nettles in the end zone moved the ball to the one, from where Johnson plunged over for a touchdown. Bakken kicked the point after and the home team was ahead for the first time by 13-10.

The Eagles responded with a drive that featured a Snead pass to Pete Retzlaff for 17 yards and Baker capped it with a 33-yard field goal to tie the score at 13-13 with 1:56 remaining to play. With time running out for St. Louis, Johnson completed two passes to Randle, one for six yards that converted a third down and another for 15. Three plays later, FB Willis Crenshaw ran for 10 yards as the defense keyed on Roland and Johnson connected with Randle for six more yards. A fumbled snap lost three yards and Bakken came on to attempt a field goal that was made shorter when the Eagles were flagged for encroachment. With five seconds left on the clock, Bakken’s kick was good from 27 yards and the Cards came away winners by a final score of 16-13.

St. Louis had the edge in total yards (278 to 254) and first downs (20 to 18). The Cards also suffered the game’s only turnover and the Eagles, not known for their pass rush, were credited with four sacks, to one by St. Louis.

Johnny Roland had an impressive debut, rushing for 53 yards on 8 carries, catching two passes for 40 yards, and gaining 50 yards on two kickoff returns and 16 on two punt returns for a total of 159 all-around yards. Charley Johnson completed 19 of 26 passes for 191 yards and gave up an interception while scoring the only St. Louis TD. Sonny Randle had 6 catches for 58 yards and Jackie Smith gained 62 yards on his five pass receptions.

For the Eagles, Norm Snead was successful on 9 of 25 throws for 129 yards with no TDs but also none intercepted. Izzy Lang (pictured at left), who was particularly effective in the first half, gained 65 yards on 16 rushing attempts and caught two passes for 33 more yards while Timmy Brown ran for 59 yards on 13 attempts that included a touchdown, caught a team-leading three passes for 32 yards, and with 23 yards on two kickoff returns went over the 10,000-yard mark in career all-purpose yards. Pete Retzlaff was held to two catches, but his 36 yards led the club.

St. Louis won its first five games and surged to 7-1-1 before Charley Johnson suffered a knee injury and a late-season slump had them ending up at 8-5-1 and fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Eagles had an up-and-down year in which they finished strong for a 9-5 record that tied for second in the conference with Cleveland.

Johnny Roland went on to an outstanding rookie season, most notably rushing for 695 yards and leading the NFL with an 11.1 punt return average. His all-purpose yardage total of 1476 yards ranked fifth in the league and he received Rookie of the Year honors from UPI as well as selection to the Pro Bowl.

Highlighted Year: Timmy Brown, 1962

Halfback, Philadelphia Eagles

Age: 25

4^th season in pro football, 3^rd active with Eagles

College: Ball State

Height: 5’10” Weight: 190

Prelude:

Brown went to college on a basketball scholarship but played football well enough to draw the interest of the Green Bay Packers, who chose him in the 27^th round of the 1959 NFL draft. He was cut following the season’s first game and was signed to Philadelphia’s taxi squad. Brown was a backup halfback and kick returner for the ’60 squad that won the NFL title and saw more action in 1961, when he took the opening kickoff of the season 105 yards for a touchdown. In limited play on offense, he rushed for 338 yards and averaged 18.9 yards on his 14 catches. Returning kickoffs, Brown had a 28.0 average on 28 returns with a TD, and one of his eight punt returns was for a touchdown as well. While there were doubts as to whether he could be an every-down back, he got his chance to start during the ’62 season when HB Ted Dean suffered a broken leg.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 137 [12, tied with Clarence Peaks]

Most attempts, game – 17 (for 107 yds.) vs. Dallas 11/25

Yards – 545 [11]

Most yards, game – 107 yards (on 17 carries) vs. Dallas 11/25

Average gain – 4.0 [15]

TDs – 5 [11, tied with six others]

100-yard rushing games – 1

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 52 [12]

Most receptions, game – 9 (for 160 yds.) vs. NY Giants 9/23

Yards – 849 [13]

Most yards, game – 199 (on 5 catches) at St. Louis 12/16

Average gain – 16.3 [17]

TDs – 6 [11, tied with six others]

100-yard receiving games – 3

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 30 [3]

Yards – 831 [3]

Most yards, game – 117 (on 4 ret.) at NY Giants 11/18

Average per return – 27.7 [5]

TDs – 1 [1, tied with four others]

Longest return – 99 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 6

Yards – 81 [11, tied with Dick Bass]

Average per return – 13.5

TDs – 0

Longest return – 38 yards

All-Purpose yards – 2306 [1]

Scoring

TDs – 13 [5]

Points – 78 [8]

Awards & Honors:

Pro Bowl

Eagles went 3-10-1 to finish seventh in the NFL Eastern Conference while leading the league in passing yards (3385).

Aftermath:

Having set a NFL record for all-purpose yards in 1962, Brown exceeded it in ’63 by gaining 2428 yards (841 rushing, 487 pass receiving, 945 returning kickoffs, 152 on punt returns). Fast with surprising power and an excellent receiver out of the backfield, he scored 11 touchdowns and received consensus second-team All-NFL honors as well as another selection to the Pro Bowl. Brown suffered a thigh injury that cost him four games during the 1964 season but returned to rush for a career-high 861 yards in ’65 while averaging a league-leading 5.4 yards-per-carry. He also caught 50 passes for 682 yards and was again chosen to the Pro Bowl as well as receiving second-team All-NFL recognition. The offensive numbers dropped in 1966 but he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in a game against the Cowboys, becoming the first player in league history to do so. A hamstring injury cost him the early part of the ’67 season and further reduced his effectiveness, and he was traded to the Baltimore Colts for 1968, where he played one final season as a backup halfback and kick returner. Overall, Brown rushed for 3862 yards on 889 carries (4.3 avg.) and 31 TDs (850 attempts for 3703 yards and 29 TDs coming with the Eagles), caught 235 passes for 3399 yards (14.5 avg.) and 26 TDs, (231 for 3346 yards and all of the TDs with Philadelphia), returned 71 punts for a 9.0 average and one TD, and 184 kickoffs for a 26.0 average and five TDs (55 punt returns for 9.3 yards and 169 kickoff returns for 26.5 yards and all of the return TDs with the Eagles). He gained a total of 12,684 all-purpose yards, scored 64 touchdowns (12,049 yards and 62 TDs with the Eagles), and was chosen to three Pro Bowls.

--

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

1964: Jurgensen’s 5 TD Passes Lead Redskins to Win Against Eagles

Two quarterbacks involved in a highly celebrated trade during the previous offseason met up with their new teams for the first time as the Washington Redskins hosted the Philadelphia Eagles on October 11, 1964. Coached by Bill McPeak, the Redskins, who had not compiled a winning record since 1955 and were 3-11 in ’63, had obtained QB Sonny Jurgensen (pictured at right) from the Eagles for QB Norm Snead. Jurgensen was 30 and an accomplished long passer, although injuries had hindered him the previous two years. There was an outstanding deep receiver available in flanker Bobby Mitchell and rookie HB Charley Taylor provided an able runner from scrimmage as well as receiver out of the backfield. Thus far, Washington had not profited, having gotten off to an 0-4 start.

The Eagles had gone from NFL Champions in 1960 to a last-place club in 1962 and ’63 and were in their first year under new Head Coach/GM Joe Kuharich, who had been quick to revamp the roster with multiple trades upon his arrival. Norm Snead was five years younger than Jurgensen and had endured a tough tenure in Washington after taking over the starting job immediately as a rookie in 1961. Other key players on Philadelphia’s offense included TE Pete Retzlaff and HB Timmy Brown, an all-purpose back who twice set NFL records for total yards the previous two seasons. The Eagles were 2-2 coming into the game at Washington.   

There were 49,219 fans in attendance at D.C. Stadium. The Redskins got the first break when, following a three-and-out possession, FB Israel “Izzy” Lang fumbled the resulting punt and Washington got the ball back at the Philadelphia 46. On the next play, Sonny Jurgensen threw to flanker Bobby Mitchell for a 29-yard gain. Two carries by Charley Taylor picked up another 15 yards, but the drive stalled at the four and the home team came up empty when Jim Martin’s 11-yard try for a field goal hit the goal post.

A short series by the Eagles ended with a punt and this time Washington didn’t fail to score, advancing 68 yards in seven plays. Jurgensen passed to Mitchell for a 29-yard touchdown and Martin added the extra point.

The home team regained possession shortly thereafter when Timmy Brown fumbled and SS Jim Steffen recovered at the Philadelphia 22. Two plays later, Jurgensen threw to FB J.W. Lockett for a 22-yard TD, Martin converted, and the Redskins were up by 14-0.

That remained the score throughout the second quarter as the Eagles were unable to move effectively on offense and two Jurgensen passes were intercepted. With time running out in the first half, Jurgensen connected with Mitchell (pictured at left) once again for a gain of 56 yards to the Philadelphia nine and followed up with another toss to the star flanker for a touchdown. Martin’s PAT gave the Redskins a 21-0 halftime lead.

The Eagles got a 43-yard kickoff return by HB Ollie Matson to start the third quarter and advanced 59 yards in three plays. Norm Snead threw to Pete Retzlaff for 11 yards and, after the Redskins were penalized 15 yards, Brown carried twice, for six yards and then a 27-yard TD. Sam Baker converted to make it a 21-7 tally.

A short Washington series ended with a punt, rookie FS Paul Krause intercepted a Snead pass, and the Redskins were forced to punt again. Starting from midfield, the Eagles got another big play from Brown, who carried for a gain of 36 yards. Three plays later, it was Brown catching a toss from Snead for a 14-yard touchdown. Baker’s extra point attempt was unsuccessful, but the visitors were now just eight points behind at 21-13.

The Eagles attempted an onside kick that LB Jimmy Carr, who had gone from Philadelphia to Washington as part of the Jurgensen for Snead trade, recovered for the Redskins at their 38. LB Maxie Baughan sacked Jurgensen for a loss of four yards, but Jurgensen then threw a short pass to Taylor who grabbed it at the line of scrimmage and made his way downfield in spectacular fashion for a 66-yard TD. Martin added the point after and Washington was up by 28-13.

Philadelphia responded with a ten-play drive that resulted in another Brown touchdown, this time on a five-yard run. Baker was successful on the extra point and the third quarter ended with the Redskins ahead by 28-20.

Washington had the ball as the final period commenced and drove 67 yards in seven plays for what proved to be the game-clinching score. Jurgensen completed four straight passes, the longest to Lockett for 18 yards, and after misfiring connected with Taylor for a 24-yard TD. Martin’s point after gave the Redskins a comfortable 15-point lead. The Eagles managed to threaten only once more, when a drive to the Washington 24 ended with an incomplete pass on a fourth-and-12 play and the Redskins won by a final score of 35-20.

Washington easily led in total yards (434 to 221), especially in terms of net passing yards (361 to 95), and also had the edge in first downs (17 to 16). Both teams recorded three quarterback sacks apiece while the Eagles turned the ball over three times, to two by the Redskins. Washington was penalized 10 times, at a cost of 96 yards, to two flags for 20 yards thrown on Philadelphia.

Sonny Jurgensen was impressive against his former team as he completed 22 of 33 passes for 385 yards and five touchdowns while being intercepted twice. Bobby Mitchell was the chief recipient of those throws with 12 catches for 183 yards and two TDs. Charley Taylor rushed for 61 yards on 22 attempts and gained 92 yards on three pass receptions, two of which went for touchdowns.

For the Eagles, Norm Snead was far less successful than Jurgensen in his return to Washington, connecting on only 12 of 35 throws for 126 yards and a TD while giving up one interception. Timmy Brown (pictured at right) ran for 101 yards on 14 rushing attempts, two of which scored touchdowns, and scored a third TD on one of his two catches for 12 yards. Pete Retzlaff caught 5 passes for 38 yards.

The win against Philadelphia marked something of a turnaround for the Redskins. While they lost to the Cardinals the next week, they then won five of their next six games, including the rematch with the Eagles, on the way to a 6-8 record. That tied them for third place in the Eastern Conference with Philadelphia, which won its next two contests but then faded during the season’s second half.

Sonny Jurgensen ranked second in the NFL with 207 pass completions, 2934 yards, and 24 TD passes. He was chosen to the Pro Bowl. So were Bobby Mitchell, who had 60 catches for 904 yards (15.1 avg.) and 10 TDs (tying for the league lead with Johnny Morris of the Bears and LA’s Bucky Pope) and Charley Taylor, who placed third with 1589 all-purpose yards and received Rookie of the Year recognition as well.

Timmy Brown missed four games due to injury but still scored 10 touchdowns as he rushed for 356 yards and five TDs and caught 15 passes for 244 yards and another five scores. Adding in kick returns, he gained 1388 all-purpose yards.

Norm Snead had a typically uneven year, completing 48.8 percent of his passes for 1906 yards and 14 touchdowns while giving up 12 interceptions, and two of the team’s wins came with other quarterbacks behind center. He and Jurgensen would always be linked by the trade between the Eagles and Redskins and this first post-deal matchup between the two yielded a typical result. Washington went 9-2-2 in games between the teams in which Jurgensen and Snead went head-to-head.

1966: Concannon Runs, Passes Eagles to Win Over Steelers

The Philadelphia Eagles were 6-5 and trying to put together their first winning season in five years as they hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 4, 1966. Head Coach Joe Kuharich’s team had a fine offensive line anchored by OT Bob Brown and good group of running backs that included HB Timmy Brown and up-and-coming FB Tom Woodeshick. The passing game was a problem, however, as QB Norm Snead, typically the starter, was enduring a dreadful season. One of the other two quarterbacks, King Hill, led the team to a win at San Francisco the previous week, but now it was Jack Concannon (pictured at right) getting the call at home against Pittsburgh.

Concannon, a star at Boston College, was Philadelphia’s second-round draft choice in 1964 and had received a big contract to keep him away from the Patriots of the AFL.  Buried behind Snead and Hill on the depth chart, he saw little action but started one game against the Cowboys late in his rookie season and provided plenty of excitement with his flashy running ability, while throwing for 134 yards and two TDs in a win. That performance made him the backup most chanted for when the offense was performing badly, but being a fan favorite didn’t guarantee him playing time. He saw scant playing time in 1965 and Coach Kuharich tried him as a halfback, flanker, and punt returner during the ’66 season before finally giving him another starting shot at quarterback.

The Steelers, under the guidance of first-year Head Coach Bill Austin, were 3-7-1 and also had a change at quarterback. Bill Nelsen, having missed nine games due to a knee injury, was back behind center. But while there were good receivers, most notably flanker Gary Ballman, the line was inadequate and, other than FB Willie Asbury, the backs unimpressive. The defensive line was a strong point, and was a reason for Jack Concannon to get the starting assignment at quarterback for the Eagles because Coach Kuharich believed that his mobile, rollout style would match up well against it.

There were 54,275 fans in attendance at Franklin Field. The Steelers had first possession and punted and the Eagles, starting from their 30 yard line, drove 42 yards. Jack Concannon set the tone when, on a third-and-seven play, he took off and ran for 18 yards. He also had a five-yard carry and completed a pass to Tom Woodeshick that picked up 11 yards and set up a 35-yard field goal by Sam Baker.

Pittsburgh responded by advancing into Philadelphia territory, the big gain being a 45-yard carry to the ten yard line by Willie Asbury on a draw play. But Bill Nelsen was sacked for a loss of 14 yards by DE Gary Pettigrew (pictured at left) in between tossing two incomplete passes, and Mike Clark was unsuccessful on a 31-yard field goal attempt.

The Eagles turned the ball over on the next possession when Timmy Brown fumbled a handoff and DE Ben McGee recovered to give the Steelers the ball at the Philadelphia 19. In a series that stretched into the second quarter, Pittsburgh scored when Asbury ran seven yards for a touchdown and, adding Clark’s extra point, the visitors held a 7-3 lead.

Philadelphia again turned the ball over in its own territory when Concannon fumbled as he was hit by LB Andy Russell and safety Paul Martha recovered at the 34. The result was a 37-yard Clark field goal that extended Pittsburgh’s lead to 10-3.

The Eagles came back with an 80-yard drive in 11 plays. Concannon completed three passes and twice scrambled for sizable gains. An 11-yard completion to split end Fred Hill converted a third-and-ten situation, an 11-yard scramble led to another first down, and a 29-yard run on a third-and-six play advanced the ball to the Pittsburgh 25. Concannon threw to Brown for a 17-yard gain that converted yet another third down and set up a three-yard touchdown carry by Woodeshick. Baker converted to tie the score.

With just over two minutes to play in the first half, the Eagles took advantage of a turnover when Nelsen fumbled and LB Dave Lloyd recovered at the Pittsburgh 25. Concannon had runs of six and eight yards, but when he was finally thrown for a loss on third down, Philadelphia settled for a 22-yard Baker field goal.

There was still enough time for the Steelers, and Nelsen drove them down the field with completions of 11 yards to HB Dick Hoak, 18 yards to Gary Ballman, and 22 yards to Hoak. Clark kicked a 32-yard field goal on the last play before halftime and the score was tied at 13-13 at the intermission. Concannon had accounted for 47 passing yards and 77 by rushing.

The teams traded punts to start the third quarter until Pittsburgh put together a scoring possession. The big gain came on a Nelsen throw to Ballman for 26 yards to the Philadelphia 28 and, while the Steelers could get no further, they came away with another field goal by Clark, this time from 35 yards.

The Eagles responded by advancing 70 yards in 11 plays. Concannon completed passes to flanker Ron Goodwin for 29 yards and Hill for 11, and ran three times for 21 yards. Woodeshick ran the last yard for a TD and Baker’s PAT put the home team on top by 20-16.

Asbury fumbled on Pittsburgh’s next play from scrimmage and Pettigrew recovered at the Steelers’ 30. As the period wound down, Concannon scrambled for a 16-yard gain and completed a pass to Timmy Brown for eight more. On the fourth play of the fourth quarter, Concannon scored from a yard out on a quarterback sneak and Baker added the point after to put the Eagles up by 27-16.

The Steelers came right back as Ballman returned the ensuing kickoff 42 yards and Nelsen immediately went to the air and connected with flanker Roy Jefferson for 43 yards to the Philadelphia four. Asbury ran for a two-yard touchdown three plays later, Clark converted, and Philadelphia’s lead was narrowed to four points.

The teams exchanged punts and, with time running short for the Steelers as they took over possession on their own 47, Nelsen threw an incompletion, Asbury was stopped for no gain on a draw play, Ballman dropped a pass, and a fourth-down throw was also incomplete to turn the ball over on downs. Pittsburgh got one more shot following another Philadelphia punt, but a penalty and a sack by LB Harold Wells forced them into a deep hole from which they couldn’t escape. The Eagles won by a final score of 27-23.

Philadelphia led in total yards (304 to 250) and first downs (19 to 15). The Eagles also recorded four sacks, to one by Pittsburgh. Each team turned the ball over twice.

Jack Concannon completed 13 of 25 passes for 131 yards with no touchdowns, but also with none intercepted, but made an even bigger impression with his running as he gained 129 yards on 15 carries that included a TD. Tom Woodeshick gained 46 yards on 19 attempts with two short touchdowns and he also picked up 28 yards on three pass receptions. Timmy Brown, who ran for only five yards on nine carries, led the club with 5 catches for 43 yards.

For the Steelers, Bill Nelsen was successful on 11 of 25 throws for 195 yards, also throwing no TD passes or interceptions. Gary Ballman caught 6 passes for 93 yards and averaged 27.3 yards on four kickoff returns. Willie Asbury (pictured above) ran for 70 yards on 14 attempts that included two TDs.

“I ran a bit more today than I want to, and I hope I don’t have to do that again,” said Jack Concannon. “My timing was off from rustiness and our running attack wasn’t working the way I hoped that it would, so I ran more than a quarterback should.”

“We let Concannon go wide on us a couple of times and he hurt us each time,” said Coach Austin of the Steelers. “We didn’t get our people up quick enough to contain the rollouts.”

The Eagles won again the next week against the Browns, with Concannon again leading the way at quarterback, but it was King Hill behind center when they beat Washington in the finale to make it four straight victories to finish out the season. Philadelphia’s final record was 9-5, which was good for a second place tie with the Browns in the Eastern Conference and a spot in the Playoff Bowl, the postseason exhibition game that pitted the runners-up in each conference. They lost to the Colts with Hill and Concannon at quarterback. Pittsburgh also finished on a high note, scoring a combined 104 points behind the good play of Bill Nelsen in beating the Giants and expansion Falcons. The Steelers ended up sixth in the conference at 5-8-1.

Jack Concannon was traded to the Bears in the offseason. In three years with the Eagles, he completed just 43.7 percent of his 103 passes for 637 yards and four touchdowns against eight interceptions. However, he ran for 433 yards on 50 carries, averaging 8.7 yards per attempt and scoring two TDs. The team was 3-0 in his starts and the 129 rushing yards against the Steelers remained the single-game record for a Philadelphia quarterback until 2010, withstanding the presence of far more accomplished mobile Eagles quarterbacks over the years like Randall Cunningham and Donovan McNabb before it finally was exceeded by Michael Vick.

1965: Stynchula Field Goals Propel Giants Past Eagles

The New York Giants were a team in transition – and an 11-point underdog – as they faced the Philadelphia Eagles on September 26, 1965. After winning the Eastern Conference for three straight years under Head Coach Allie Sherman, they crashed to 2-10-2 in 1964. Gone were many of the star players, such as QB Y.A. Tittle, flanker Frank Gifford, and MLB Sam Huff, who had played key roles in the team’s success. While some aging veterans remained, there were many new names on the roster. A group of running backs referred to as “The Baby Bulls” had begun to emerge in ’64 and were now joined by first draft choice FB Tucker Frederickson out of Auburn. A trade was swung with Detroit for veteran QB Earl Morrall (pictured above). But the Giants also had four rookies starting on defense and had been beaten badly by the Cowboys in their opening game the previous week.

Another cause of concern was placekicking. The reasonably dependable Don Chandler had been traded to the Packers in the offseason and no clear alternative had emerged to replace him. One of the candidates, FB Chuck Mercein, was unavailable due to a leg injury, leaving DE Andy Stynchula (pictured below), who had not kicked since high school, and rookie Bob Timberlake, also the team’s third-string quarterback. Stynchula had been a star lineman at Penn State and was drafted third by the Redskins in 1960, moving on to New York in ’64 as part of the deal that sent Sam Huff to Washington. The Giants were using him only for short field goals and extra points, with Timberlake handling longer field goal tries.

As for the Eagles, coached for the second year by Joe Kuharich, they were coming off a promising 6-8 season in 1964 and had beaten the Cardinals in Week 1. QB Norm Snead had ideal size and a strong arm, HB Timmy Brown was an outstanding runner and receiver out of the backfield, and TE Pete Retzlaff was one of the league’s best at his position.

There were 57,154 fans in attendance at Franklin Field. The teams traded punts to start the game. On Philadelphia’s second possession, Norm Snead finished off a 73-yard drive in the first quarter with a one-yard touchdown carry. The big plays along the way were passes by Snead in third-and-ten situations to FB Earl Gros for 27 yards and to Timmy Brown for 18.

The Eagles put together another promising drive in the second quarter that also included a long third down conversion on a Snead-to-Brown completion for 16 yards from deep in their own territory, but they were backed up by a holding penalty and had to punt. The Giants got good field position when safety Henry Carr, a rookie who was an Olympic 200-meter champ, returned the kick 17 yards to the Philadelphia 45. With HB Steve Thurlow and Tucker Frederickson (pictured below) running the ball effectively, the Giants scored in seven plays. Flanker Joe Morrison took a pitchout and went 11 yards around left end for a TD. Andy Stynchula added the extra point to tie the score at 7-7 with just over a minute remaining in the half.

The Eagles went to the air in the time remaining. Snead went long for flanker Ron Goodwin, but rookie CB Carl Lockhart leaped high and batted the ball away to prevent a sure score. Sam Baker tried for a 43-yard field goal on the last play before halftime but it was unsuccessful and the score remained tied.

Early in the third quarter, the Giants got a break when Timmy Brown fumbled and DT Mike Bundra recovered at the Philadelphia 25. The resulting possession ended with Stynchula’s first pro field goal, from 24 yards, and New York was in front by a 10-7 margin.

The Eagles responded by putting together a long drive that covered 67 yards in 12 plays. At one point they were forced to punt but King Hill was run into while kicking to draw a penalty and keep the series alive. Snead threw to Pete Retzlaff for 14 yards to the one to set up another quarterback keeper for a touchdown.

New York went 52 yards on its next possession that included back-to-back completions by Earl Morrall of 20 yards to TE Aaron Thomas and 16 yards to HB Smith Reed. The series finally stalled at the Philadelphia 8 and Stynchula booted a 20-yard field goal to make it a one-point game.

The teams traded punts before the Eagles moved into scoring territory. Brown caught two key passes for 27 yards and, on a third-and-one play, ran 18 yards to the New York 20. With 5:30 left to play, the Eagles attempted a field goal but Baker’s kick from 26 yards was blocked by Giants CB Dick Lynch and Carr returned it 19 yards to the New York 32.

A long pass completion was nullified by a penalty, but Morrall came right back with a throw to split end Del Shofner for 31 yards. Four plays later, and facing fourth-and-inches, Morrall sneaked two yards for a first down and then threw to Thomas for 16 yards. Frederickson ran the ball three times for 25 yards down to the four and from there, Stynchula kicked an 11-yard field goal to put the Giants ahead with 15 seconds left on the clock. They held on to win by a final score of 16-14.

The Eagles outgained New York (296 yards to 280) and also had the edge in first downs (18 to 14). Philadelphia suffered the game’s only turnover but the Giants hurt themselves with ten penalties, to three flags thrown on the Eagles. Ultimately, it came down to placekicking as the normally dependable Sam Baker missed both of his field goal attempts, including the crucial blocked kick in the fourth quarter, while Andy Stynchula was a perfect three-for-three.

Earl Morrall completed 12 of 18 passes for 154 yards with no touchdowns but also had none intercepted. Tucker Frederickson rushed for 76 yards on 17 carries. Aaron Thomas had three catches for 62 yards while Smith Reed also pulled in three for 30 yards along with his 13 rushing yards on three attempts and Joe Morrison, whose lone run was the 11-yard TD, gained 19 yards on his three receptions.

For the Eagles, Norm Snead was successful on 17 of 32 throws for 238 yards, also with no TDs or interceptions. Timmy Brown (pictured at right) gained 45 yards on 11 rushing attempts and added 8 catches for 106 yards. Pete Retzlaff contributed 68 yards on his four pass receptions.

“I always have practiced field goals, every day,” said Andy Stynchula, “and with Don Chandler gone this year I went to camp hoping I’d get the kicking job.”

The Giants broke even the rest of the way, finishing at 7-7 and tied with the Cowboys for second in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia had a disappointing 5-9 record and placed fifth in the conference, along with the Cardinals.

Earl Morrall, in his tenth season, had a good year as he ranked fifth in the NFL in passing with 2446 yards, averaging a healthy 8.1 yards per attempt, with 22 touchdowns as opposed to 12 interceptions. Tucker Frederickson rushed for 659 yards and was named to the Pro Bowl.

As for Andy Stynchula, the three field goals against the Eagles ended up being his only ones of the season. He missed on all four of his remaining attempts while going 12-for-13 on extra point attempts. Bob Timberlake was far worse – he was successful on only one of 15 field goal attempts as the Giants ended up with only four for the entire year. It would spur them to sign pioneering soccer-style PK Pete Gogolak away from the AFL’s Buffalo Bills in the off-season, which dramatically improved their placekicking but also was a key occurrence in the battle between the two leagues.

1963: Steelers Rally But Missed Extra Points Cause Tie with Eagles

The Pittsburgh Steelers started off their 1963 NFL season against the cross-state rival Eagles in Philadelphia on September 15. Coming off a promising 9-5 record in ’62, Steelers Head Coach Buddy Parker had agreed to stay on for another year. While Hall of Fame-bound QB Bobby Layne, who was showing a great deal of wear, had retired, the Steelers had ex-Bears QB Ed Brown available to direct the offense. FB John Henry Johnson was coming off his finest pro season, having rushed for 1141 yards, and there was an excellent deep receiver available in split end Buddy Dial. Tragically, the defense lost DT Gene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb to an offseason drug overdose, but overall the unit was a good one. DE Lou Michaels (pictured above) doubled at the team’s placekicker and was coming off a season in which he had set a NFL record with 26 field goals – his ups and downs would play a significant role in the opening contest.

For Head Coach Nick Skorich’s Eagles, 1962 had been an injury-plagued disaster. Just two years removed from a NFL title, Philadelphia went 3-10-1 to drop to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Following a record-breaking season in 1961, QB Sonny Jurgensen still led the NFL in passing yards with 3261 but also in interceptions with 26. Nevertheless, the offense contained formidable weapons in flanker Tommy McDonald, TE Pete Retzlaff, and HB Timmy Brown, who had broken out in ’62 to set a league record for all-purpose yards with 2306.  

It was an overcast and raw day at Franklin Field with 58,205 fans in attendance. The Steelers gained a pair of first downs on their initial series of the game, both on runs by HB Dick Hoak, but eventually had to punt after reaching the Philadelphia 45.  

The Eagles responded with a 10-play, 87-yard drive that started with Sonny Jurgensen connecting with Tommy McDonald (pictured below) for a 43-yard gain and ended with another Jurgensen to McDonald throw for a 13-yard touchdown. In between, Jurgensen kept the drive going with a 27-yard completion to Pete Retzlaff in a third-and-10 situation and a quarterback sneak that converted a fourth down.

On their next possession, following a punt by the Steelers, the Eagles again moved into Pittsburgh territory but CB Dick Haley intercepted a Jurgensen pass at the 38. Still, the Steelers couldn’t move effectively on offense and punted. While Timmy Brown took off for a 21-yard gain to start the series, the Eagles punted early in the second quarter.

The Steelers came alive on offense as Ed Brown completed passes to TE Preston Carpenter, Buddy Dial, and HB Tom Tracy. The drive stalled and Lou Michaels kicked a 38-yard field goal to reduce Philadelphia’s margin to 7-3.

The teams traded turnovers. Pittsburgh CB Brady Keys mishandled a punt and rookie LB Lee Roy Caffey recovered for the Eagles at the Steelers’ 44. But on the next play, Timmy Brown fumbled a handoff and LB George Tarasovic got the ball back for Pittsburgh. The Steelers went eight yards in three plays and Michaels kicked a club-record 50-yard field goal to make it a one-point contest. Michaels had a chance to put the Steelers in front at the end of the half but his try, again from 50 yards, fell short. Philadelphia took the slender 7-6 lead into halftime.

Early in the third quarter, John Henry Johnson fumbled and LB Maxie Baughan recovered for the Eagles at the Pittsburgh 41. The home team made the most of the break, driving to a six-yard touchdown pass from Jurgensen to TE Ralph “Catfish” Smith.

Late in the period the Steelers tried another field goal but Michaels was wide to the left from 37 yards out. Pittsburgh got the ball back on a turnover and advanced to the Philadelphia 10 as the period ended and started off the fourth quarter with a 17-yard Michaels field goal. The margin for the Eagles was cut to 14-9.

Pinned deep in their own territory following the kickoff, the Eagles were forced to punt and King Hill booted the ball 62 yards, which Keys again muffed when he tried to pull it in over his shoulder. However, this time he picked up his own fumble and ran 71 yards down the right sideline before being dropped at the Philadelphia three yard line. Two plays later, Johnson dove for a one-yard TD but CB Irv Cross blocked the extra point attempt. Still, Pittsburgh was ahead by a score of 15-14.

Safety Clendon Thomas picked off a Jurgensen pass on the next series, but the Eagles came back to score again. On a third-and-five play at their own 25, Jurgensen tossed a bomb to McDonald for a 75-yard touchdown and, with rookie Mike Clark’s third successful extra point added, regained the lead at 21-15.

Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to give the Steelers good field position at the 50. Seven plays later, Ed Brown threw to Johnson for an 11-yard TD. However, once again the extra point attempt went awry as the kick by Michaels hit the right upright and bounced back.

Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the time remaining. The game ended with the Steelers at the Philadelphia 25 following a pass from Ed Brown to Dial. Time ran out with the score tied at 21-21.

The Eagles outgained the Steelers (353 yards to 315) although Pittsburgh accumulated more first downs (21 to 14). Philadelphia had difficulty running the ball, gaining just 58 yards on the ground to 109 for the Steelers, and the Eagles also turned the ball over four times, to two suffered by Pittsburgh.

Ed Brown completed 18 of 34 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Buddy Dial (pictured at right) caught 7 of those throws for 116 yards. Dick Hoak led the Steelers in rushing with 55 yards on 15 carries while John Henry Johnson contributed 40 yards on 13 attempts and caught three passes for 16 yards and a TD via each. Lou Michaels was successful on three of five field goal attempts, but his two failures in three tries for extra points doomed the Steelers to a tie rather than a win.

For the Eagles, Sonny Jurgensen was successful on 16 of 26 passes for 322 yards and three TDs with two intercepted. Tommy McDonald had a huge performance with 7 catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Timmy Brown paced the running attack with a modest 24 yards on 7 carries but, indicative of his all-around skills, gained 79 yards on four pass receptions.

“We got a bad game out of our system, and we got away with it,” said Buddy Parker.

There was additional drama – and nearly a tragedy – during the game that most were unaware of until it was reported afterward. Pittsburgh LB John Reger was knocked unconscious when making a tackle at the end of the first quarter and swallowed his tongue. Swift action by the team doctors saved him from choking.

The Steelers would go on to tie three games, and it would play a role in the race for the Eastern Conference title. Pittsburgh was 7-3-3 going into the last game of the season against the 10-3 Giants in New York and, with ties not affecting a team’s winning percentage at that time, the Steelers could have finished first in the Eastern Conference with a win. They lost to the Giants to end up fourth at 7-4-3.

Lou Michaels went on to kick 21 field goals on 41 attempts and missed only one more extra point in the remaining games. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl. Buddy Dial also had a Pro Bowl year, catching 60 passes for 1295 yards (21.6 avg.) and nine touchdowns.

The Eagles endured another disappointing and injury-marred season, with Sonny Jurgensen missing five games. They again ended up at the bottom of the conference with a 2-10-2 record.

Tommy McDonald caught 41 passes for 731 yards (17.8 avg.) and eight TDs. It was not one of his most productive years in Philadelphia, no doubt affected by Jurgensen missing significant time. Timmy Brown broke his record for all-purpose yards as he rolled up a total of 2428 (841 rushing, 487 pass receiving, 945 on kickoff returns, 152 returning punts).

1964: Revamped Eagles Stun Giants in Season-Opening Game

The season-opening game between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles on September 13, 1964 brought together two long-time rivals that were going through periods of transition. The Eagles had a new owner in Jerry Wolman, new head coach/GM in Joe Kuharich, and 20 new players on the roster from the club that finished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference for the second straight year in ’63. They had lost six consecutive games to the Giants since last beating them during their 1960 championship season, and had looked especially bad in 1963 in being swept by scores of 37-14 and 42-14.

The Giants, under the direction of Head Coach Allie Sherman, topped the Eastern Conference the previous three seasons, although they came up short in the NFL Championship games after each (twice to the Packers and, in ’63, to the Bears). The team’s core that included QB Y.A. Tittle, split end Del Shofner, flanker Frank Gifford, FB Alex Webster, OT Roosevelt Brown, DE Andy Robustelli, and SS Jim Patton was aging and there was a sense that the window of opportunity for winning a title was about to close. Halfbacks Phil King, the team’s leading rusher in 1963, and Hugh McElhenny, a serviceable veteran even if past his prime, were cut during the preseason, and two controversial offseason trades had removed key players from the defense. DT Dick Modzelewski was traded to Cleveland and, in the most second-guessed deal of all, MLB Sam Huff was sent to the Washington Redskins for two lesser talents, HB Dick James and DT Andy Stynchula.

There was a crowd of 60,871 at Philadelphia’s Franklin Field, the largest of the NFL’s opening weekend games. It didn’t take the Eagles long to excite the home fans when on the first play from scrimmage, FB Earl Gros (pictured above), one of the newcomers, ran 59 yards for a touchdown, helped by flanker Ron Goodwin’s block that took out two defenders. Veteran kicker Sam Baker, acquired from the Cowboys as part of the deal that sent popular star flanker Tommy McDonald to Dallas, added the extra point and the score remained 7-0 at the end of the opening period.

In the second quarter, the Eagles put together an 80-yard, 10-play drive that included a 44-yard pass play from QB Norm Snead to TE Pete Retzlaff and ended with a six-yard Snead scoring toss to HB Timmy Brown. While “Pistol Pete” and Brown were capable holdovers, Snead had come to the Eagles from Washington for QB Sonny Jurgensen in the most notorious of Joe Kuharich’s trades.

The Eagles later attempted a free kick following a fair catch on a Giants punt, but Baker missed from 47 yards and Philadelphia took a 14-0 lead into halftime.


Philadelphia’s attacking defense kept Tittle and the aerial game off balance. FS Don Burroughs (pictured at left) was especially effective on safety blitzes, and MLB Dave Lloyd and rookie OLB Mike Morgan were notable performers as well.

The Giants came alive after receiving the second half kickoff, moving 76 yards in five plays capped by Tittle throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass to TE Aaron Thomas. The Eagles came right back following New York’s TD, however, and scored again on a 30-yard field goal by Baker. CB Irv Cross then intercepted a Tittle pass in New York territory and returned it 15 yards to the 10 yard line. Timmy Brown followed up with a three-yard touchdown run and Philadelphia held a 24-7 lead after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, Snead threw to Retzlaff for a 29-yard TD. Following an interception by Lloyd that was returned 26 yards, backup FB Tom Woodeshick closed out the scoring with a nine-yard run. Rookie QB Gary Wood replaced the battered Tittle in the fourth quarter as the Eagles came away with a convincing 38-7 win.

The statistics were closer than the score as the Eagles outgained the Giants by 253 yards to 204 and both teams generated 14 first downs. However, the domination by Philadelphia’s defense was the key to the big win. They sacked the 38-year-old Tittle six times, with Don Burroughs unofficially getting credit for five of those on his blitzes from the free safety position. In addition, Tittle fumbled three times and threw two interceptions that were turned into points for the Eagles. The Eagles turned the ball over just once.

Norm Snead completed 12 of 21 passes for 170 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Pete Retzlaff was the top receiver with 6 catches for 139 yards and a TD. Earl Gros, thanks to the long opening run, gained 67 yards on only six carries. Timmy Brown did most of the ball carrying and ground out just 34 yards on 17 attempts, although he accounted for two scores (one on a pass reception).

For the Giants, Y.A. Tittle was successful on 13 of 25 passes for 122 yards with a TD and two picked off; Gary Wood added five completions in nine attempts for 57 yards. HB Joe Morrison led the rushing attack with 33 yards on 10 carries and also caught the most passes (5) for another 41 yards. Aaron Thomas gained 51 yards on four receptions that included the team’s lone TD.

“Man, every time I looked up all I could see was green, and it wasn't all grass,” said Tittle afterward. “To be perfectly honest, I didn't expect such a tough defense, with 20 new players on the team and a new coach. They hammered with a safety blitz and they red-dogged.”

While the Eagles were an improved team, the big opening day defeat of the Giants did not mark a return to being contenders. They went 6-8 to finish in a tie with Washington for third place in the Eastern Conference. It was enough to convince owner Wolman to tear up Kuharich’s original four-year contract and replace it with one for 15 years. He only lasted another four, accumulating a record of 28-41-1, making many questionable transactions while alienating several of his best players, and becoming a target of fan frustration. (Kuharich and Wolman pictured below, left to right)

For New York, the loss indicated that the bottom had fallen out from under the once-proud franchise. The Giants dropped all the way to last place with a 2-10-2 record. It marked an inglorious end to the careers of Tittle, Gifford, Webster, and Robustelli. It also marked the commencement of a long period of mediocrity as the Giants didn’t return to the postseason until 1981 and had just two winning records in the interim.

1966: Timmy Brown Spurs Eagles Upset of Dallas with TDs on 2 Kickoff Returns

Timmy Brown was an outstanding all-purpose halfback who is often best remembered for his kick returning ability. On November 6, 1966 at Philadelphia’s Franklin Field he had a record-setting day that keyed a surprising – and unusual – win for the Eagles over the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys were sporting a 5-1-1 record and had embarrassed Philadelphia by a 56-7 score just four weeks earlier at the Cotton Bowl. The Eagles were sputtering along with a 4-4 record and the dreadful loss in Dallas had been all too indicative of the uneven play on both sides of the ball.

It was no surprise when Dallas scored first on a two yard run by HB Dan Reeves. But on the ensuing kickoff, Brown fielded the ball at his seven yard line and proceeded to race down the sideline for a 93-yard touchdown. The Cowboys responded with a field goal and then a one-yard TD by QB Don Meredith to move ahead by 17-7 in the second quarter. But once again on the kickoff, it was Timmy Brown running 90 yards for an Eagles TD, becoming the first player in NFL history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same game.

When defensive back Aaron Martin returned a punt 67 yards for another score, the Eagles took the lead and after a 31-yard Sam Baker field goal, led at the half, 24-17. Dallas scored two field goals in the second half to close the Philadelphia margin to a point, and in the last two minutes it appeared they would prevail. QB Don Meredith marched the offense down the field with four consecutive pass completions, three to Reeves and one to flanker Buddy Dial.

When Reeves hauled in a pass inside the Eagles 20 and was struggling to get past CB Jim Nettles at the 13, it seemed likely that Dallas would at least be able to get a field goal. However, Eagles free safety Joe Scarpati, who had missed a tackle upfield, came up behind Reeves and pulled the loosely-held ball out of his arm before the referee could whistle the play dead. His act of larceny ended the Dallas threat, and the final score was 24-23 in favor of Philadelphia.

It was an odd end to a game in which all of the Eagles points were accounted for by the special teams. The defense played well, forcing the Cowboys to punt nine times. But the Eagles offense had been dreadful, accumulating just 80 total yards and five first downs. Quarterbacks Norm Snead (1 completion in 8 pass attempts for no yards) and King Hill (4 of 9 for 55 yards) combined for just five completed passes; with 33 yards lost on five sacks by the Cowboys, the net passing yards totaled 22 for the contest. They also turned the ball over three times.

But the day mostly belonged to Timmy Brown, who, beyond the two touchdowns, accounted for 247 yards on five kickoff returns (the second highest single-game total in league history at the time). With 38 yards on 11 rushes, that came to 285 yards of total offense. For a player who twice set the NFL record for total yards in a season (2306 in 1962 and 2428 in ’63), it was another milestone performance.

The Cowboys went on to finish with a 10-3-1 record for the season, winning the Eastern Conference and losing to Green Bay in the NFL Championship game. The Eagles rallied to finish at 9-5 (their only season over .500 between 1961 and 1978), tying for second place with Cleveland and earning a trip to the Playoff Bowl, the postseason consolation game for conference runners-up in the ‘60s, where they lost to the Baltimore Colts.