Rookie of the Year: Jonathan Vilma, 2004

Linebacker, New York Jets

Age: 22

College: Miami (FL)

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 223

Prelude:

Highly rated coming into the NFL draft despite some concern about his size, Vilma was chosen by the Jets in the first round (12^th overall). When starting MLB Sam Cowart was injured early in the season, Vilma took over and held onto the job thanks to his excellent speed and athleticism.

2004 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

(Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20)

Sacks – 2

Most sacks, game – 1 vs. Buffalo 10/10, vs. New England 12/26

Interceptions – 3

Most interceptions, game – 1 vs. San Francisco 10/17, at Arizona 11/28, at St. Louis 1/2

Int. return yards – 58

Most int. return yards, game – 38 (on 1 int.) at St. Louis 1/2

Int. TDs – 1

Fumble recoveries – 1

Forced fumbles – 0

Tackles – 77

Assists – 31

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason: 2 G

Sacks – 1

Interceptions – 0

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AP

Jets went 10-6 to finish second in the AFC East and qualify for the playoffs as a Wild Card. Won AFC Wild Card playoff over San Diego Chargers (20-17). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Pittsburgh Steelers (20-17).

Aftermath:

Vilma followed up his outstanding rookie season by recording 128 tackles and gaining selection to the Pro Bowl in 2005. The shift by the Jets from a 4-3 to 3-4 defense in 2006, where he was not an ideal fit, was a setback and in ’07 he went down with a season-ending knee injury in the seventh game. Vilma was traded to the New Orleans Saints where he was able to thrive again in a 4-3 scheme. He was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 2009 and ’10 seasons. However, he was initially suspended for the 2012 season for his alleged role in the Saints bounty scandal, but was reinstated by court decision and played in 11 games. A knee injury kept him off the field for virtually all of 2013 and he was not re-signed for 2014. Overall, Vilma played in 125 games and accumulated 10.5 sacks, 12 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries, and over 600 tackles, scoring three TDs (two on interceptions, one on a fumble recovery). He was named to the Pro Bowl three times.

--

Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).

2011: Texans Rally to Beat Bengals and Clinch First-Ever Division Title

The Houston Texans did not reach the postseason in their first nine years of existence, but stood poised to win a division title as they faced the Cincinnati Bengals on December 11, 2011. Coached by Gary Kubiak, the Texans had an outstanding defense, but attrition was a problem on offense.  T.J. Yates (pictured above), a rookie fifth-round draft pick out of North Carolina, had taken over at quarterback when starting QB Matt Schaub and then backup Matt Leinart went down with season-ending injuries in consecutive weeks. The first-year quarterback was making just his second start and was also without star WR Andre Johnson, who was sidelined by a strained hamstring. But RB Arian Foster was a steady performer and the Texans had won six straight games after a 3-3 start to come into the contest at Cincinnati with a 9-3 record.

Cincinnati, under Head Coach Marvin Lewis for the ninth year, was moving in the opposite direction, having started off at 6-2 before losing three of four games to barely be in playoff contention with a 7-5 tally. QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green were both rookies who moved directly into the starting lineup with promising results. As had typically been the case since Lewis took over as coach, the defense was solid.  

There was a small crowd of 41,202 fans in attendance at Paul Brown Stadium. The teams traded punts to start the game before the Texans mounted a scoring drive. After Arian Foster gained 11 yards on two carries, RB Ben Tate (pictured below) broke away for 44 yards to the Cincinnati 32. Houston was able to pick up another four yards before Neil Rackers kicked a 46-yard field goal.

The Bengals responded with a scoring series of their own. Andy Dalton completed a pass to WR Jerome Simpson for 21 yards and RB Cedric Benson followed up with a 42-yard run to the Houston one. The failure to reach the end zone mattered as the home team was immediately backed up five yards by a false start and the Bengals were able to regain only two yards before Mike Nugent kicked a 22-yard field goal that tied the score at 3-3.

FS Reggie Nelson intercepted a T.J. Yates pass on the next series and returned it 23 yards to the Houston 25. The Bengals lost ground from there but still took the lead when Nugent kicked another field goal, this time from 47 yards.

In a series that extended into the second quarter, Yates completed passes to TE Owen Daniels for 27 yards, WR Kevin Walter for 19, and Foster for 21. But after reaching the Cincinnati one, LB Rey Maualuga forced Tate to fumble and the Bengals recovered.

Cincinnati proceeded to drive 97 yards in 15 plays. Benson ran effectively and Dalton had a completion to TE Jermaine Gresham that picked up 26 yards. The Bengals converted two third downs and, facing a fourth-and-three situation at the Houston 35, Dalton passed to A.J. Green for 11 yards. Finally, Dalton threw down the middle to Simpson for a 17-yard touchdown. Nugent converted and the Bengals were up by 13-3 with three minutes remaining in the first half.

The Texans put together an effective drive in response as Yates went to the air and had completions of 24 and 18 yards to Daniels, five yards to WR Jacoby Jones, and six to Foster. But after reaching the Cincinnati 30, Rackers missed on a 47-yard field goal try. With the clock now down to 30 seconds, Dalton threw to WR Andrew Hawkins for 22 yards and to Gresham for 10 to set up a 49-yard Nugent field goal. Cincinnati carried a 16-3 lead into halftime.

The Bengals had the ball first in the third quarter but Dalton fumbled when sacked by LB Connor Barwin and LB Brooks Reed recovered for the Texans at the Cincinnati 17. Houston capitalized when, four plays later, Yates passed to TE Joel Dreessen for a six-yard touchdown. Rackers added the PAT and the home team’s lead was cut to six points.

The teams traded punts until the Bengals, starting from their own two yard line, drove all the way to the Houston 10. A pass interference penalty accounted for 25 yards and Dalton threw to Green for a 36-yard gain to the Houston 9. Cincinnati lost a yard over the ensuing three plays and Nugent came on to kick a 28-yard field goal that extended the lead to 19-10.

In a series that extended into the fourth quarter, the Texans advanced into Cincinnati territory. Yates threw to Foster for 17 yards and Jones for 16 and ran for 12 yards on his own to convert a third down, but he also fumbled when hit by DT Geno Atkins on a sack and DE Jonathan Fanene recovered for the Bengals at the Cincinnati 48.

The resulting possession was short and ended with a punt. On Houston’s next series, Yates completed seven passes, the longest to Walter for 19 yards, and the Texans reached the Cincinnati 15 before the drive stalled. Rackers kicked a 33-yard field goal to again make it a six-point contest.

The Bengals again had to punt following the next series and the Texans started at their 20 yard line with 2:33 left in regulation and no timeouts remaining. Yates was again effective passing the ball, connecting with Daniels three times for a total of 26 yards and Walter for 19 to the Cincinnati 35. A spike followed by a sack had the visitors facing third-and-15, but Yates ran 17 yards for a first down. Three plays later, the Texans were again facing third down and this time a pass interference penalty on CB Adam “Pacman” Jones moved the ball 17 yards to the six. From there, Yates threw to Walter for a six-yard touchdown with two seconds left. Rackers added the all-important extra point and Houston came away with a dramatic 20-19 win.

The Texans had the edge in total yards (412 to 285) and first downs (25 to 16) as well as time of possession (31:44 to 28:16). However, Houston also turned the ball over four times, to two suffered by the Bengals, and Cincinnati recorded five sacks, to one by the Texans.

T.J. Yates completed 26 of 44 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns while giving up one interception. He also rushed for 36 yards on five carries. Owen Daniels had 7 catches for 100 yards and Kevin Walter contributed 6 receptions for 76 yards and the game-deciding TD. With the one long carry, Ben Tate led Houston in rushing with 67 yards on 8 attempts while Arian Foster was held to 41 yards on 15 carries, although he added 33 yards on four catches.

For the Bengals, Andy Dalton was successful on 16 of 28 throws for 189 yards and a TD, giving up no interceptions. Cedric Benson ran for 91 yards on 21 attempts and A.J. Green (pictured below) topped the receivers with 5 catches for 59 yards. Mike Nugent was successful on all four of his field goal attempts.

“A rookie quarterback beat us today,” said Cincinnati safety Chris Crocker. “He did it with both his arm and his feet. I don’t even know what to say. Wow.”

With a Tennessee loss shortly thereafter, the Texans clinched the AFC South title and finished with a 10-6 record. Cincinnati, given scant chance of making the postseason after the loss, nevertheless won its next two games and qualified for a Wild Card slot at 9-7, which placed third in the AFC North. The teams met again in the Wild Card playoff round and Houston won to advance to the Divisional level, falling to Baltimore.

T.J. Yates ended up completing 82 of 134 passes (61.2 %) for 949 yards and three touchdowns along with three interceptions. In the postseason, he was 28-of-55 for 343 yards with a TD and three interceptions. He returned to being a backup in 2012 and threw just 32 more passes over the course of the next two years before being traded to Atlanta. The 300-yard passing performance against the Bengals remains his best single-game total.

1977: TDs Off Turnovers Lead Bengals to Win Against Steelers

The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers were both fighting for supremacy in the AFC Central as they met on December 10, 1977. The Bengals, coached by Bill Johnson, had gotten off to a 2-4 start and were 4-5 before a three-game winning streak pulled them up to 7-5 and a chance to win the division. QB Ken Anderson, normally a precision passer, was having a less stellar year but was still formidable. He was missing star WR Isaac Curtis due to a knee injury but second-year backup WR Billy Brooks (pictured above) was proving to be a good deep threat in his place and Pat McInally, the punter, was also effective in the other spot. Two ex-Ohio State stars, FB Pete Johnson and HB Archie Griffin, were the ball carriers. The Bengals had lost six consecutive games to the Steelers, including earlier in the season, and that made the difference in their placing second in each of the previous two years.

Pittsburgh had won three straight division titles, and twice went on to win the Super Bowl. The Steelers were coached by Chuck Noll, who had broken his arm due to slipping on ice and falling the night before the game and was wearing a cast. It was symbolic of a season in which Pittsburgh, while still formidable, was having difficulties, getting off to a 4-4 start before also turning hot and winning four straight games prior to the rematch with Cincinnati. There were off-field distractions that seemed to affect the club’s performance, which showed in the offense turning the ball over with greater frequency and the defense giving up more points.  

It was a bitterly cold Saturday for the game at Riverfront Stadium with temperatures down to single digits. Attendance was low at 36,133, with 23,518 no-shows. While the sky was clear, the artificial surface was frozen and in poor condition.

The Steelers had the game’s first possession, but on their third play CB Lemar Parrish intercepted a pass by QB Terry Bradshaw and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown. Chris Bahr added the extra point and the home team had a quick 7-0 lead.

On the next series, and following a holding penalty on the kickoff return that had the Steelers starting from their 12 yard line, HB Rocky Bleier fumbled and the Bengals gained possession at the Pittsburgh 7. However, Cincinnati came up empty when, facing fourth-and-goal at the one, Pete Johnson was stopped short of the goal line by linebackers Jack Ham and Jack Lambert.

The teams exchanged punts before the Bengals, starting from their 29, drove to the Pittsburgh 20. A pass interference penalty on a third-and-eight play gave Cincinnati 17 yards as well as a first down and Ken Anderson threw to TE Bob Trumpy for a 13-yard gain. But Bahr’s 37-yard field goal attempt was wide to the left and yet another scoring opportunity was for naught.

The Steelers were driving as the opening period drew to a close. Bradshaw completed a pass to TE Bennie Cunningham for 22 yards and FB Franco Harris ran effectively. On the first play of the second quarter, Harris picked up the last five yards for a TD and Roy Gerela’s point after tied the score.

The Bengals punted after a short series and Pittsburgh put together another promising drive as Bradshaw completed passes to WR Lynn Swann for 17 yards and Cunningham for 23. But a holding penalty backed the visitors up and the series stalled at the Cincinnati 42, forcing a punt.

Another Cincinnati punt was followed by another long possession by the Steelers. Harris rushed for 45 yards on six carries, Bleier had a 16-yard run, and Bradshaw completed two passes. A fourth down was converted when Bradshaw threw to Swann for 19 yards. With 51 seconds remaining in the first half, Gerela kicked a 32-yard field goal and Pittsburgh took a 10-7 lead into halftime.

On the first series of the third quarter, the Bengals advanced into Pittsburgh territory, but an Anderson pass was intercepted by CB Mel Blount. The Steelers were forced to punt but got the ball back three plays later when Billy Brooks fumbled after catching a pass for 35 yards and CB Jim Allen recovered. Bradshaw completed passes to rookie WR Jim Smith (pictured at left), subbing for the injured Swann, on consecutive plays and the Steelers reached the Cincinnati 24 before Harris fumbled the ball back to the Bengals.

Anderson immediately threw to Brooks for a big gain of 57 yards and, after the series stalled at the Pittsburgh seven, Bahr tied the game with a 24-yard field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, Smith fumbled on the return and Anderson again went to the air on first down, connecting with Pat McInally for a 43-yard touchdown. Bahr added the extra point to put the Bengals, who had scored ten points in just 18 seconds of playing time, ahead by seven points.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Steelers had a promising series following a Cincinnati punt. Bradshaw threw to Smith for a 27-yard pickup and a personal foul on the Bengals following a completion to WR John Stallworth gave Pittsburgh a first down at the Cincinnati 20. But Harris again fumbled after catching a short pass and CB Ken Riley recovered to end the threat.

With just under ten minutes to play, the Bengals put together another good drive. Anderson threw to McInally for 21 yards on a third-and-seven play, Johnson had a 17-yard run and Archie Griffin a 13-yard catch on a screen pass and 15-yard carry in a second-and-13 situation. But the Bengals couldn’t gain any further ground after reaching the Pittsburgh six and Bahr’s 24-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright and was no good.

A three-and-out series by the Steelers was followed by a Cincinnati possession that ended with Griffin fumbling and FS Glen Edwards recovering at the Pittsburgh 21. With the clock down to 1:51, Bradshaw threw to Harris for a gain of 17 yards and to Stallworth for 20 yards to the Cincinnati 40. But a sack by DE Gary Burley lost seven yards and, while an offsides penalty on the Bengals regained five yards, Bradshaw was unable to complete any more passes. A fourth-and-12 throw fell incomplete to clinch the 17-10 win for the Bengals.

Cincinnati had the edge in total yards (413 to 362) although the Steelers accumulated more first downs (21 to 17). Pittsburgh turned the ball over five times, to three suffered by the Bengals, and the Steelers were penalized 11 times, at a cost of 95 yards, to five flags for 55 yards thrown on Cincinnati.

Ken Anderson was successful on 15 of 33 throws, but they generated 303 yards and he had a touchdown as well as an interception. Billy Brooks caught 6 passes for 166 yards and Pat McInally (pictured at right) contributed 71 yards on three receptions that included the game-deciding TD. Archie Griffin topped the Bengals with 61 rushing yards on 13 carries and added another 31 on four catches.  Pete Johnson had 51 yards on 15 attempts.

For the Steelers, Franco Harris rushed for 101 yards in the first half, but was held to minus-six yards in the second and ended up with a net of 95 yards on 25 carries that included one touchdown. Terry Bradshaw completed 20 of 39 passes for 246 yards and had no touchdowns while giving up one interception. Four receivers caught four passes apiece, with Jim Smith gaining 80 yards on his first four pro receptions (although he also had the critical fumble on a kickoff return) and Bennie Cunningham generating 64 yards on his four.

“We beat them, and we beat them right,” exclaimed a jubilant Coach Johnson to his celebrating players in the locker room.

“It was a hell of a game between two good teams under lousy circumstances,” said Chuck Noll from the Pittsburgh side. “But it wasn’t exactly a fun afternoon out there for us today.”

The win put Cincinnati in the driver’s seat in the race for the AFC Central title, but the Bengals failed to cash in when they lost to Houston in the season finale. They finished at 8-6, falling to third place. Pittsburgh ended up on top at 9-5 with a win at San Diego. The Steelers were ousted by Denver in the Divisional playoff round.

Billy Brooks caught 39 passes for 772 yards (19.8 avg.) and four touchdowns in what was the most productive of his five NFL seasons. Pat McInally had 17 receptions for 258 yards (15.2 avg.) and three TDs. He also punted 67 times for a 41.8-yard average.

Jim Smith had no more pass receptions for the Steelers in ‘77, being used almost exclusively on kick returns in his rookie season. He would go on to catch 110 passes for 2075 yards and 24 touchdowns in six years with Pittsburgh before departing for the USFL.

1956: Caroline Stars as Bears Edge Cards

The game between the NFL’s two Chicago franchises, the Bears and Cardinals, on December 9, 1956 had significant meaning for both teams. While the rivalry was always significant, in this instance both clubs were battling to remain in contention in their respective conferences.

The Bears, coached by Paddy Driscoll, the replacement for the (briefly) retired George Halas, had a 7-2-1 record and were trying to keep pace in the Western Conference with the Lions, who had beaten them badly at Detroit the previous week. FB Rick Casares was leading the NFL in rushing and QB Ed Brown was a productive passer who had an outstanding target available in end Harlon Hill. Injuries were a problem at halfback, however, and J.C. Caroline (pictured above), a NFL rookie who had spent a year in the CFL and was performing well in the defensive backfield, was to get a shot on offense.

The Cardinals were under the guidance of second-year Head Coach Ray Richards and had a 6-4 tally that put them behind the Giants in the Eastern Conference. While the Bears regularly contended, the Cards had not finished with a winning record since 1949. They featured the league’s second-best rusher, all-purpose HB Ollie Matson. They also had a good defensive backfield that included DHBs Dick “Night Train” Lane and Lindon Crow. QB Lamar McHan had potential and was a good fit in the team’s split-T offense, but could be temperamental and lost his starting job at one point during the season.

There were 48,606 fans in attendance on a cold day at Wrigley Field, and they saw a game that proved to be a tense and hard-fought affair. In the first quarter, Ollie Matson (pictured at left) took a pitchout and raced 65 yards for an apparent touchdown, but it was called back due to a penalty on the offense.

The game remained scoreless until the second quarter, when a shanked punt by John Roach of the Cardinals that traveled only 17 yards gave the Bears the ball at the Cards’ 27. The result was a 36-yard field goal by George Blanda to break the deadlock.

With time running out in the first half, an Ed Brown pass was intercepted by Lindon Crow and the Cards tied the score at 3-3 on the last play before halftime as Pat Summerall booted a field goal from 42 yards that barely cleared the crossbar.

In the third quarter, the Bears put together a 60-yard drive highlighted by the running of Casares and J. C. Caroline and a pass by Ed Brown to Harlon Hill that picked up 21 yards to the Cards’ 16. The series was capped by Caroline running for the last three yards and a touchdown. Blanda added the extra point for the seven-point lead.

On the next series by the Cards, Matson ran 83 yards down the sideline for another apparent TD, but again the play was nullified, this time by a holding penalty. The game had no more scoring the rest of the way. There were opportunities, but it was a rough day for the placekickers. George Blanda missed three of his four field goal attempts, all of which were blocked, and Pat Summerall was successful on only one of five tries, with two of them blocked.

With time running out in the fourth quarter, the contest came down to a wild finish. Following the interception of a Bears’ pass at the goal line, a free-for-all broke out that involved a half dozen players and a number of fans, bringing police and ushers onto the field to help restore order. Linebackers Bill George of the Bears and Carl Brettschneider of the Cardinals were ejected once the situation was calmed. On the next play, “Night Train” Lane, put in as a receiver, caught a pass from Lamar McHan that traveled 40 yards in the air. The play covered 75 yards and it appeared that Lane was sure to score a potentially game-tying touchdown, but he was caught by Caroline at the Chicago seven, the rookie’s flying tackle causing a fumble that safety McNeil Moore recovered for the Bears. The fumble was of no consequence as the final gun sounded shortly thereafter and the Bears came away with a tough 10-3 win.

The Bears had the edge in total yards (302 to 265), with258 yards of their total coming on the ground while they completed only three passes out of 15 attempts. They also led in first downs (16 to 11). The Cards turned the ball over five times, to four suffered by the Bears, but the Cards were undone by penalties, two of which negated the long potential scoring runs by Ollie Matson.

J.C. Caroline rushed for 68 yards on 16 carries that included the game’s only touchdown while making the biggest defensive play at the end. Rick Casares (pictured at right) gained 117 yards on 25 carries and Ollie Matson ended up rushing for just 26 yards on 9 attempts.

The win for the Bears kept them a half-game behind Detroit in the Western Conference standings, setting up a showdown with the Lions in the season finale that they won. Ending up with a 9-2-1 record, Chicago was thrashed by the Giants in the NFL Championship game.  The loss officially eliminated the Cardinals from contention in the Eastern Conference. They won their finale to finish in second place at 7-5.

“He was simply great out there,” said Coach Driscoll of the Bears about J.C. Caroline. “We hadn’t intended on using him much on offense, but what could we do after he took over?”

Caroline received Rookie of the Year honors from The Sporting News and was named to the Pro Bowl after intercepting six passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns. In his stint on offense, he rushed for 141 yards on 34 carries (4.1 avg.) and scored twice more.

Rick Casares finished as the NFL rushing leader with 1126 yards on 234 carries (4.8 avg.) and 12 touchdowns. He scored another two TDs among his 23 pass receptions and led the league in that category as well with 14. Ollie Matson remained the runner-up in rushing as he gained a career-high 924 yards on 192 attempts (4.8 avg.) and scored five times. Adding in pass receptions and kick returns, he topped the NFL in all-purpose yards with 1524.

The long pass reception for “Night Train” Lane was his only one of the season and one of eight, for 253 yards and a TD, over the course of his career. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl selection for his prowess in the defensive backfield as he intercepted seven passes, returning them for 206 yards and a TD.

Highlighted Year: John Abraham, 2001

Defensive End, New York Jets

Age:  23

2^nd season in pro football & with Jets

College: South Carolina

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 265

Prelude:

Abraham totaled 23.5 sacks in college and was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection in 1999. He was chosen by the Jets in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft (13^th overall) and was used effectively as a pass-rushing outside linebacker as a rookie, garnering 4.5 sacks in six games until a hernia injury that required surgery ended his season. With the Jets shifting to a 3-4 defense for 2001, Abraham was moved to right defensive end.

2001 Season Summary

Appeared in 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 13 [6, tied with Jamir Miller & Marcellus Wiley]

Most sacks, game – 4 at New Orleans 11/4

Multi-sack games – 1

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 3

Fumble recovery TDs – 1

Forced fumbles – 6

Tackles – 58

Assists – 8

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Wild Card playoff at Oakland)

Sacks – 0

Interceptions – 0

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

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

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Jets went 10-6 to finish third in the AFC East and qualify for the postseason as a Wild Card. Lost AFC Wild Card playoff to Oakland Raiders (38-24).

Aftermath:

With his great speed and ability to pursue plays, Abraham had another Pro Bowl season in 2002 with 10 sacks, although he was regularly double-teamed. A groin injury limited him to seven games in ’03, but he still recorded six sacks, and bounced back in 2004, despite missing four more games to injury, with 9.5 sacks and selection to the Pro Bowl for the third time. Following a 10.5-sack season in 2005, the Jets traded Abraham to the Atlanta Falcons. He endured another injury-plagued year before coming back to record 10 sacks in 2007 and a career-high 16.5 in ’08 while appearing in all 32 games. A relative down year in 2009 was followed by a 2010 season in which Abraham had 13 sacks and achieved consensus first-team All-NFL as well as Pro Bowl recognition. He played two more years with the Falcons, recording a franchise-high 68.5 sacks over seven years, and moved on to the Arizona Cardinals in 2013, where he played outside linebacker, recorded 11.5 sacks, and returned to the Pro Bowl. He was placed on injured reserve following the first game of the 2014 season due to a concussion. Overall, through 2013, he had appeared in 192 games and accumulated 133.5 sacks, ranking ninth all-time in NFL history. He has twice been a consensus first-team All-NFL selection, received at least some all-league recognition in one other season, and has been chosen to the Pro Bowl five times.

--

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

1997: Packers Defeat Buccaneers in NFC Central Showdown

Two strong defensive teams, the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, met on December 7, 1997 in Tampa with the NFC Central title on the line.

The Packers, coached by Mike Holmgren, were the defending NFL Champions and had a 10-3 record thus far. QB Brett Favre (pictured at right) was the key to the offense and was helped by the presence of wide receivers Robert Brooks and Antonio Freeman as well as capable RB Dorsey Levens. Star DE Reggie White was hindered by back pain but overall, the defense was tough and aggressive.

Tampa Bay was right behind the Packers at 9-4, having gotten off to a 5-0 start before losing three straight contests, starting with a defeat at Green Bay. No longer a perennial loser with the arrival of Head Coach Tony Dungy, the offense benefited from the presence of rookie RB Warrick Dunn, who teamed well with RB Mike Alstott in the conservative offense that was directed by QB Trent Dilfer. DT Warren Sapp anchored a solid defensive line and linebackers Hardy Nickerson and Derrick Brooks were outstanding. 

There were a franchise-record 73,523 fans in attendance at Houlihan’s Stadium on a clear afternoon. The Buccaneers had the opening possession and advanced into Green Bay territory as Trent Dilfer threw to WR Karl Williams for a 35-yard gain, but the drive stalled at the 39 and they punted. The Packers gave the ball right back on their first play when TE Mark Chmura fumbled when hit hard by SS John Lynch and CB Donnie Abraham after catching a short pass and LB Hardy Nickerson (pictured below) recovered at the Green Bay 13. Two carries by Mike Alstott picked up seven yards and the Bucs got on the board when Michael Husted kicked a 24-yard field goal.

The Packers had to punt following a short series, but it was their turn to benefit from a turnover when Alstott fumbled the ball away at the Tampa Bay 36, FS Eugene Robinson recovering. A loss on a running play and false start penalty backed the visitors up, but Brett Favre, scrambling away from pressure, threw deep to Robert Brooks for a 43-yard touchdown. Ryan Longwell added the extra point and the Packers were in front by 7-3.

The teams exchanged punts as the game headed into the second quarter. Tampa Bay got a break when Dorsey Levens fumbled and Abraham recovered at his 40, and while the Bucs lost ground and again had to punt, they got the ball back on yet another turnover when Lynch intercepted an overthrown Favre pass and returned it 28 yards to the Green Bay 30. The home team still wasn’t able to move the ball on offense, and Dilfer suffered a sprained ankle when sacked on third down by Reggie White, but they managed to not come up empty when Husted kicked a 48-yard field goal to narrow the score to 7-6.

Taking over with 1:52 remaining in the first half, the Packers moved into Tampa Bay territory as Favre completed six straight passes, the longest to Antonio Freeman for 27 yards to the Bucs’ 14. But Longwell’s 31-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Nickerson and the tally remained unchanged at halftime.

The teams traded punts to start the third quarter until the Packers put together a 10-play, 73-yard series. Favre again completed six passes, including one of 18 yards to Freeman to convert a third down and two to Chmura that picked up 20 and 10 yards to reach the Tampa Bay 15. Favre’s last completion was to Levens for an eight-yard touchdown and, with Longwell’s point after, Green Bay was ahead by 14-6.

The Buccaneers advanced methodically to the Green Bay 47, but once again a third down sack, this time by Robinson, forced another punt. As the game entered the final period, the Packers put together a long possession that covered 88 yards in 16 plays and used up over ten minutes of playing time. Levens started the drive off with runs of 17 and 15 yards and Favre completed five passes. Longwell kicked a 27-yard field goal and Green Bay’s lead was up to 11 points with 6:24 to play.

With Dilfer finally forced from the game by his injured ankle, Steve Walsh was at quarterback when the Buccaneers got the ball back, and he converted a third-and-12 situation with a completion to Williams (pictured below) that picked up 38 yards to the Green Bay 36. But three plays later, an interception snuffed out the threat.

Tampa Bay got one last shot with the clock down to 2:37 following a punt by the Packers, but three passes netted nine yards and an incompletion on fourth down effectively ended the game. Green Bay came away the winner by a final score of 17-6.

The Packers generated far more offense than the Buccaneers, reflected in their lead in total yards (362 to 161) and first downs (20 to 8). While Green Bay was held to 82 yards on the ground, Tampa Bay’s normally robust running game was held to 67. The Packers had more turnovers, with three to the Bucs’ two, but theirs all came in the first half and Green Bay also recorded all of the game’s four sacks.

Brett Favre completed 25 of 33 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns, giving up one interception. Dorsey Levens rushed for 54 yards on 22 carries but also led the Packers in pass receptions with 8, good for 64 yards and a TD. Antonio Freeman gained 73 yards on 5 catches and Robert Brooks (pictured below) was right behind with 71 yards on his three receptions that included a score.

For the Buccaneers, Trent Dilfer was successful on just 6 of 17 throws for 67 yards and no TDs, although also no interceptions. Steve Walsh was four-of-nine for 50 yards and was picked off once. Karl Williams caught 5 passes for 87 yards, by far the biggest performance of any of the Tampa Bay receivers, while Mike Alstott gained just 34 yards on 10 carries and Warrick Dunn was held to 33 yards on 12 attempts.

“In my 43 years, I’m not sure I’ve been around a better effort than the one today,” said Green Bay defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur regarding his unit’s performance.

“We had some chances, some turnovers,” said Coach Dungy of his Buccaneers. “We couldn’t convert. They converted theirs. That was pretty much the difference.”

The win clinched a third straight NFC Central title for the Packers, who ended the regular season with a 13-3 record. Tampa Bay placed second at 10-6, the franchise’s best record since 1979, and qualified for the playoffs as a Wild Card. A win over Detroit in the first round set up another meeting for the Buccaneers with the Packers at the Divisional level, and for a third time they lost to Green Bay. The Packers went on to win the NFC Championship, losing a close contest to Denver in the Super Bowl.

Brett Favre led the NFL in touchdown passes (35) and the NFC in passing yards (3867). He was Associated Press MVP, consensus first-team All-NFL, and a Pro Bowl selection for the third consecutive year. Dorsey Levens was also named to the Pro Bowl as he placed second in NFC rushing with 1435 yards, in addition to catching 53 passes for another 370 yards and scoring a career-high 12 touchdowns.

1971: Chiefs Defeat 49ers to Move Into First Place in AFC West

Two teams vying for division titles, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, met up for a Monday night game on December 6, 1971. Head Coach Hank Stram’s Chiefs had won the Super Bowl two years earlier but missed the postseason in 1970 and were 7-3-1 and trying to get ahead of the Raiders in the AFC West. 36-year-old QB Len Dawson (pictured at right) was still a quality passer and had an outstanding target in WR Otis Taylor. HB Ed Podolak was a fine all-purpose back and paired well with FB Wendell Hayes. The defense was a good, solid unit.

The 49ers, coached by Dick Nolan, had advanced to the NFC Championship game in ’70 and were 7-4 and trying to stave off the Rams in the NFC West. They also had an established 36-year-old quarterback in John Brodie, who was prone to being erratic, and a fine running tandem in FB Ken Willard and rookie HB Vic Washington. WR Gene Washington was an excellent deep threat and TE Ted Kwalick among the NFL leaders in pass receptions. DE Cedrick Hardman, LB Dave Wilcox, and CB Jimmy Johnson were the biggest stars on an effective defense.

There were 45,306 fans in attendance at Candlestick Park for the nationally televised game. The Chiefs had the first possession and punted. San Francisco drove from its 20 to the KC 11 as Vic Washington had runs of 10 and 12 yards, John Brodie threw a screen pass to Ken Willard that picked up 16 yards, and a face mask penalty against the Chiefs converted a third down. The drive stalled and Bruce Gossett kicked an 18-yard field goal.

On a series highlighted by a throw from Len Dawson to WR Elmo Wright that was good for 31 yards, the Chiefs reached the San Francisco 26, but Jan Stenerud’s 33-yard field goal attempt was blocked by DB Johnny Fuller. Two plays later, Brodie fired a pass to Gene Washington that gained 53 yards to the KC 26, but the 49ers gained just two more yards and Gossett’s try for a field goal from 31 yards was close but no good.

As the game moved into the second quarter, the Chiefs moved effectively. A throw to TE Morris Stroud at the sideline gained 54 yards to the San Francisco four, but they lost four yards from there and settled for a 15-yard Stenerud field goal that tied the score at 3-3.

The 49ers punted following their next possession and, after passing to Stroud for 13 yards, Dawson went long for Otis Taylor (pictured at left), who went the distance for a 46-yard touchdown. Stenerud added the extra point and the visitors were up by 10-3.

Stuck deep in their own territory, the Niners again had to punt and gave Kansas City good field position at the San Francisco 40. However, the Chiefs lost six yards when Dave Wilcox tackled Ed Podolak behind the line of scrimmage, and two passes fell incompleted. They didn’t come up empty, though, as Stenerud booted a 54-yard field goal that put KC further ahead by 13-3.

The 49ers again had to punt but got the ball back when Podolak fumbled after being hit by Cedrick Hardman and LB Frank Nunley recovered at the Kansas City 45. It took five plays for the Niners to score as Brodie completed two passes to Ted Kwalick, the second for a 35-yard TD. Gossett converted and the home team was behind by just three points.

With a minute remaining in the first half, the Chiefs regained possession but were forced to punt. Jerrel Wilson avoided a strong rush to get away a 50-yard kick that CB Bruce Taylor returned 19 yards. On the next play, CB Emmitt Thomas intercepted Brodie’s pass and ran it back 36 yards to the San Francisco 17. The clock was down to 12 seconds as the Chiefs lined up for a field goal, but Dawson instead passed to OT Sid Smith, an eligible receiver, and on the last play of the half Stenerud kicked a field goal for real from 12 yards out to make the halftime score 16-10. Len Dawson had already passed for 198 yards.

The 49ers had the ball first in the third quarter and punted. Podolak picked up 27 yards on three straight carries for the Chiefs and Dawson passed to Taylor for 10 yards. Runs by Wendell Hayes and Podolak advanced the ball to the San Francisco 16, but Stenerud missed a 23-yard field goal attempt.

A short San Francisco series that ended with a punt was followed by the Chiefs driving 61 yards in six plays, and this time not coming up empty. Podolak ran for 12 yards and Hayes for 22 and it was Taylor covering the final 25 yards on an end-around play. Stenerud converted and Kansas City’s lead was up to 13 points at 23-10.

San Francisco responded with an end-around of its own on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, and Kwalick (pictured below) raced 28 yards to the KC 43. Brodie passed the 49ers down to the eight as the period came to an end and, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Vic Washington ran three yards for a touchdown to conclude the seven-play, 71-yard drive. Gossett added the point after to narrow Kansas City’s lead to 23-17.

The Chiefs moved methodically down the field on their next series. Dawson threw to Taylor for 10 yards in a third-and-eight situation and Wright grabbed another pass that had been deflected to pick up 29 yards and convert another third down. Hayes rushed for 14 yards and Podolak for 12 to reach the San Francisco three, but three carries by Hayes picked up two yards and Stenerud kicked an eight-yard field goal that put Kansas City up by nine.

The teams traded punts and the 49ers started off from their 31 with under two minutes to play. Brodie connected with Vic Washington for 16 yards and Kwalick for 14, HB Larry Schreiber ran for six yards on a draw play, and Brodie threw to Vic Washington for nine to get to the KC 24. But that was as far as the Niners could get. Four passes fell incomplete, the last two into the end zone, and the Chiefs came away with a 26-17 win.     

Kansas City had the edge in total yards (427 to 331) and first downs (20 to 18), with both teams well balanced between running and passing yards. Each team turned the ball over once and recorded one sack apiece.

Len Dawson completed 16 of 28 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Otis Taylor had 5 catches for 81 yards and a TD and added another score on a 25-yard run. Elmo Wright gained 76 yards on four pass receptions and Morris Stroud 67 yards on just two. Ed Podolak led the KC ground game with 75 yards on 17 carries and Wendell Hayes also ran the ball 17 times, for 66 yards. Jan Stenerud kicked four field goals, although he also had two misses.

For the 49ers, John Brodie was successful on 20 of 32 throws for 229 yards and a TD while giving up one interception. Vic Washington (pictured below) rushed for 43 yards on 12 attempts that included a touchdown and also led the club with 7 catches, for 62 yards. Gene Washington gained 73 yards on three receptions and Ted Kwalick contributed 58 yards on 5 catches and had a 28-yard run.

“I thought we played a good game,” said John Brodie. “We didn’t play poorly. They’re just a good team…as good as any team we’ve played.”

The win put the Chiefs on top in the AFC West for the first time all season and that is where they finished, with a 10-3-1 record. Hopes of returning to the Super Bowl were dashed when they lost an overtime thriller to Miami in the Divisional playoff round. For San Francisco, the loss put them a half game behind the Rams in the NFC West, but the 49ers won their final two games and placed first at 9-5. They again made it to the NFC Championship game, and again lost to the Cowboys at that point.

Len Dawson led the AFC in passing yards per attempt (8.3) and yards per completion (15.0) and was second in the conference in passing yards (2504). He was a second-team All-AFC selection by UPI and was named to the Pro Bowl. Otis Taylor led the NFL with 1110 pass receiving yards while his 57 catches ranked third. He averaged 19.5 yards per reception, scored seven touchdowns, and was a consensus first-team All-NFL choice as well as Pro Bowl selection.

John Brodie led the NFC in passing yards (2642) and TD passes (18) but also interceptions (24). Vic Washington topped the NFL with 1986 all-purpose yards that included 811 rushing, 317 pass receiving, and 858 on kickoff returns. He was chosen to the Pro Bowl, as was Ted Kwalick, who ranked second in the conference in pass receiving (52 catches) while gaining 664 yards and scoring five TDs.