1993: Backup QB Evans Rallies Raiders in Second Half to Defeat Jets

The Los Angeles Raiders were coming off of two losses after a 2-0 start as they hosted the New York Jets on October 10, 1993. Coached by Art Shell, the Raiders had a new starting quarterback in Jeff Hostetler, formerly of the Giants, although he was bothered by a sprained ankle. The wide receiver corps was a good one with WR Tim Brown providing a steady target and unheralded rookie WR James Jett combining with Alexander Wright and Raghib “Rocket” Ismail to provide ample speed. The situation at running back was more of a concern.

The Jets were also 2-2 and had lost the previous week in a game in which they blew a two-touchdown lead against Philadelphia. Head Coach Bruce Coslet’s team also had a new quarterback in Boomer Esiason, a solid tenth-year veteran obtained from the Bengals, and RB Johnny Johnson had been acquired from the Cardinals to boost the ground game.

It was a hazy afternoon at the Memorial Coliseum with 41,627 fans in attendance. Starting from their own 20 after the opening kickoff, the Jets drove into Los Angeles territory. Boomer Esiason converted a third-and-11 play with a pass to WR Terance Mathis for 11 yards and a completion to WR Rob Moore picked up 39 yards to the LA 31. The advance finally stopped at the 12 yard line, but the visitors came up empty when punter/holder Louie Aguiar threw a pass that was intercepted by FS Eddie Anderson and returned 27 yards.

Now it was the turn of the Raiders to put together a methodical series. Jeff Hostetler ran effectively and completed a third-and-10 pass to TE Ethan Horton for 11 yards. Another third down throw was complete to WR Tim Brown for 21 yards to the New York 12 but, after being backed up by a holding penalty, Hostetler’s pass intended for Horton was picked off by SS Brian Washington.

The Jets had to punt on the final play of the first quarter, and Aguiar’s kick traveled 45 yards and went out of bounds at the LA 11. Hostetler fumbled on the next play and ex-Raider DT Bill Pickel recovered for New York. RB Blair Thomas ran for a six-yard touchdown and, with Cary Blanchard adding the extra point, the Jets were up by 7-0 at 11 seconds into the second quarter.

Both teams went three-and-out and punted on their next possessions but an 18-yard Hostetler-to-Brown completion had the Raiders in New York territory. However, Hostetler’s next pass was intercepted by Washington and he returned it 62 yards for another TD for the Jets. Blanchard converted to put the visitors ahead by 14-0.

38-year-old Vince Evans (pictured at top), who had started in the previous week’s loss, relieved Hostetler at quarterback and it got no better for the Raiders when, on the next series, RB Greg Robinson fumbled and Pickel recovered at the LA 49. The Jets went 41 yards in seven plays as Esiason threw to Johnny Johnson for 16 yards and the Raiders were penalized for tripping. Blanchard kicked a 25-yard field goal.

Down by 17-0 with 4:41 left in the first half, the Raiders drove 80 yards in six plays. RB Nick Bell carried three straight times for 18 yards and Evans threw to TE Andrew Glover for 20 more. Another pass was incomplete, but then Evans connected with James Jett for a 42-yard touchdown. Jeff Jaeger added the point and the halftime score was 17-7 as a Blanchard field goal attempt in the final seconds was blocked by Anderson.

The Raiders had the first possession of the third quarter and it took them only two plays to narrow the margin further. Following a short run by Robinson, Evans threw to WR Alexander Wright on a play that covered 68 yards for a TD. Jaeger’s PAT made it a three-point game.

On the next series, Esiason fumbled the ball away and LB Joe Kelly recovered at the New York 19. The Raiders lost yardage on the resulting short possession but Jaeger booted a field goal from 42 yards to tie the score.

The teams exchanged punts and the Raiders moved from their 23 to the New York 14. Evans threw to Jett for 21 yards and carried the ball himself for 14. A short completion to WR Raghib Ismail followed by two Bell carries for 14 yards had the home team in the red zone, but LB Bobby Houston intercepted an Evans pass to end the threat.

The score remained unchanged as the game headed into the fourth quarter and the Jets advanced just past midfield before having to punt. The Raiders punted in turn and New York methodically drove 56 yards in 13 plays. Esiason completed four passes, two of them to TE Johnny Mitchell and the longest covering 19 yards. But after getting a first-and-goal at the six, the visitors couldn’t reach the end zone and Blanchard kicked a 20-yard field goal that put them up by 20-17.

Taking over on offense with 4:29 to play in regulation, Evans tossed two incomplete passes before connecting with Jett for 13 yards and a first down. Consecutive 14-yard completions to Ismail put the Raiders at the New York 31. A two-yard run by Bell was followed by an Evans throw to Jett for 10 yards and runs by Bell and Evans gained another 12 yards. Brown caught a pass for six yards and, with the clock down to seven seconds and LA having no more timeouts, the officials called a timeout to reset the clock, which had failed to run during the last play. Following the short break, Bell (pictured below) ran for the last yard in the 11-play, 72-yard drive for a touchdown. Jaeger’s extra point capped the 24-20 win for the Raiders.

Los Angeles led in total yards (414 to 286) and had the edge in first downs (22 to 21). But the Raiders also turned the ball over five times, to two by the Jets, and were penalized eight times at a cost of 89 yards to five flags for 25 yards on New York.

In his relief stint, Vince Evans completed 14 of 22 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns while giving up one interception. Jeff Hostetler was pulled after going four-of 12 for 62 yards and two interceptions. Tim Brown had 5 catches for 66 yards and James Jett gained 86 yards on his four receptions that included a TD. Nick Bell topped the Raiders with 46 yards on 12 rushing attempts that included the game-winning score. Eddie Anderson accounted for an interception and a blocked kick on special teams.

For the Jets, Boomer Esiason was successful on 21 of 40 throws for 216 yards with no TDs or interceptions. Johnny Johnson rushed for 56 yards on 16 attempts and led the club with 6 catches for 60 yards as well. On defense, Brian Washington (pictured at left) intercepted two passes, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

“For me to sit here and say the clock operator lost the game for us, that’s ridiculous,“ said Boomer Esiason of the confusion with the time remaining at the end that effectively gave the Raiders an extra timeout. “Everybody had an opportunity. I can think of two balls that I overthrew, three balls that were dropped. I can think of a fumble, a missed block. I can think of enough for everybody to absorb some blame.”

The Raiders won the following week on the way to compiling a 10-6 record that placed second in the AFC West and qualified them for the postseason as a Wild Card. They defeated Denver in the first playoff round but lost at Buffalo in a Divisional contest. New York dropped to 2-4 before reeling off five straight wins, only to tail off late in the season. The Jets ended up at 8-8 and third in the AFC East.

Jeff Hostetler returned to form as the season progressed and had a good one, passing for 3242 yards and 14 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. Vince Evans returned to the bench and, for the year, was successful on 45 of 76 throws for 640 yards and three TDs. He spent another two seasons as a backup for the Raiders, finishing up his 15-year NFL career at age 40 in 1995 (Evans also played two seasons in the USFL).

Highlighted Year: Mark Clayton, 1984

Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins

Age: 23

2^nd season in pro football & with Dolphins

College: Louisville

Height: 5’9”   Weight: 172

Prelude:

Clayton caught 96 passes for 2004 yards and 10 touchdowns in college (20.9) avg., including 53 for 1112 yards (21.0 avg.) and six TDs as a senior in 1982. He was chosen by the Dolphins in the eighth round of the ’83 NFL draft and saw little action on offense as a rookie, with six catches for 114 yards and a TD, although he returned 41 punts for a 9.6-yard average and included a touchdown. Clayton replaced the aging Nat Moore in the starting lineup across from WR Mark Duper in 1984.

1984 Season Summary

Appeared in 15 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 73 [10]          

Most receptions, game – 9 (for 177 yds.) vs. LA Raiders 12/2, (for 127 yds.) at Indianapolis 12/9

Yards – 1389 [3]

Most yards, game – 177 (on 9 catches) vs. LA Raiders 12/2

Average gain – 19.0 [6]

TDs – 18 [1]

100-yard receiving games – 6

Rushing

Attempts – 3

Yards – 35

Average gain – 11.7

TDs – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 2

Yards – 15

Average per return – 7.5

TDs – 0

Longest return – 14 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 8

Yards – 79

Average per return – 9.9

TDs – 0

Longest return – 22 yards

Passing

Pass attempts – 1

Pass completions – 0

Passing yardage – 0

TD passes – 0

Interceptions – 1

Scoring

TDs – 18 [1, tied with Marcus Allen]

Points – 108 [8, tied with Marcus Allen & Tony Franklin]

Postseason: 3 G

Pass receptions – 15

Most pass receptions, game – 6 vs. San Francisco, Super Bowl

Pass receiving yards – 262

Most pass receiving yards, game – 95 vs. Pittsburgh, AFC Championship

Average yards per reception – 17.5

Pass Receiving TDs – 2

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

2^nd team All-AFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Dolphins went 14-2 to finish first in the AFC East with the conference’s best record and led the NFL in total yards (6936), passing yards (5018), passing TDs (49), touchdowns (70), and scoring (513 points). Won AFC Divisional playoff over Seattle Seahawks (31-10) & AFC Championship over Pittsburgh Steelers (45-28). Lost Super Bowl to San Francisco 49ers (38-16).

Aftermath:

Having set a then-NFL record for touchdown catches in his breakout ’84 season, Clayton followed up with 70 catches for 996 yards (14.2 avg.) and four TDs in 1985, again being selected for the Pro Bowl. The undersized receiver had great jumping ability and quickness, if not the greatest speed, and made for a productive tandem in combination with Mark Duper and catching passes from QB Dan Marino. Clayton was named to another Pro Bowl in 1986 and, following a lesser year in the strike-interrupted ’87 season, caught a career-high 86 passes in 1988 and led the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions. Overall, he played ten years with Miami, through 1992, and set franchise records with 550 catches and 81 TDs while gaining 8643 yards (15.7 avg.). Clayton played one final season for the Green Bay Packers in 1993 and ended up with a total of 582 pass receptions for 8974 yards (15.4 avg.) and 84 touchdowns.  He received first- or second-team All-AFC honors three times and was chosen to the Pro Bowl on five occasions.

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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

1955: Colts Break Out to Early Lead, Hold Off Packers

Two NFL Western Conference teams that were sporting surprising 2-0 records, the Baltimore Colts and Green Bay Packers, met in Milwaukee on October 8, 1955. The Colts, coached by Weeb Ewbank, had been 3-9 in ’54 but were benefiting from the play of two rookies. FB Alan “The Horse” Ameche, the Heisman Trophy winner out of Wisconsin, gained over a hundred yards in each of his first two games and QB George Shaw (pictured at right), the first overall draft choice out of Oregon, tossed touchdown passes in each as well. There was other young talent on the club interspersed among able veterans such as HB Buddy Young, DE Gino Marchetti, DT Art Donovan, and safety/PK Bert Rechichar.

Green Bay was coming off of a 4-8 record under Head Coach Lisle Blackbourn the previous year. QB Tobin Rote was a good runner and, at his best, a fine passer, although he lacked consistency. End Billy Howton was an outstanding deep receiver and FB Howie Ferguson was developing into a productive runner. The defense was tough, with LB Roger Zatkoff and safety Bobby Dillon key members of the unit.  

There were 40,119 fans in attendance at County Stadium on a Saturday, the biggest crowd to date to see a football game there. The Packers scored quickly after Alan Ameche fumbled on the first play from scrimmage and Roger Zatkoff recovered for Green Bay at the Colts’ 38. Tobin Rote rolled to his left and fired a pass to Billy Howton, who outran three defenders for a 38-yard touchdown. Fred Cone added the extra point for the early 7-0 lead.

Shortly thereafter, it was Baltimore’s turn to benefit from a turnover when Rote fumbled and DE Don Joyce fell on it at the Green Bay 12. Ameche ran for a five-yard TD and Bert Rechichar converted to tie the score. The Colts scored again when George Shaw threw to Buddy Young (pictured below), who blew past Bobby Dillon and went 82 yards for a touchdown. Rechichar again added the point after. Just before the end of the period, Shaw passed to end Jim Mutscheller for a 40-yard TD and Rechichar’s conversion gave the visitors a 21-7 lead heading into the second quarter.

Dillon intercepted a Shaw pass in Baltimore territory and that set up an eight-play, 26-yard series that concluded with Howie Ferguson taking a pitchout and running for a touchdown from a yard out. Cone kicked the extra point to narrow the margin to 21-14 and that is how the contest remained at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Packers, starting from their 38, put together a promising drive keyed by the running of Ferguson, HB Breezy Reid, and HB Veryl Switzer. After reaching the Baltimore 41, three Rote passes fell incomplete, but Cone kicked a 47-yard field goal that just made it over the crossbar. Green Bay was four points behind at 21-17.

Late in the period, DHB Carl Taseff of the Colts recovered another Rote fumble on the Green Bay 21. Ameche ran the ball twice, with a carry by Shaw in between, but an aroused Packer defense kept them out of the end zone. Rechichar kicked a 10-yard field goal and Baltimore’s lead was extended to 24-17.

DHB Doyle Nix intercepted a Shaw pass that was intended for Mutscheller and the Packers began to advance on offense with Rote completing throws to end Gary Knafelc and Howton. But after reaching the Baltimore 18, an offside penalty moved the home team back and they settled for a 28-yard Cone field goal to again make it a four-point game with less than five minutes on the clock.

The Colts were unable to move and punted on their next series and the Packers took over again at their 40 with two minutes remaining. Rote threw to Ferguson for 11 yards and, after overthrowing Knafelc, he connected with Switzer for a first down at the Baltimore 35. Passes to Switzer and Knafelc gained eight and 16 yards, respectively, but with time slipping away, a Rote toss into the end zone was out of Howton’s reach. The Colts held on for a 24-20 win.

Green Bay had more total yards (322 to 255) and first downs (17 to 8) than the Colts, and outgained the visitors both on the ground (136 to 103) and through the air (186 to 152). However, the Packers spent most of the game trying to catch up to Baltimore, who made key plays to take the early lead. The Colts turned the ball over four times, to three by Green Bay.

George Shaw completed just 6 of 16 passes for 162 yards, but two of them were for touchdowns, although three were intercepted. Alan Ameche was held to 63 yards on 20 carries, one of which was good for a TD.

For the Packers, Tobin Rote was successful on 19 of 39 throws for 191 yards and a TD. Billy Howton caught 6 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. Howie Ferguson (pictured at right) rushed for 71 yards on 20 attempts, thus coming out ahead of Ameche in the anticipated showdown between the two fullbacks.

Reaching 3-0 proved to be the high point for Baltimore’s season. The Colts lost their next two games, beat the Packers again, and then won only once more on the way to a 5-6-1 record that placed them fourth in the Western Conference. The best years for Ewbank’s team were yet to come. Despite sweeping the season series, they also managed to finish behind the Packers, who ended up third at 6-6.

George Shaw continued to show promise as he threw for 1586 yards and 10 touchdowns while giving up 19 interceptions, but that promise would go largely unfulfilled. Alan Ameche led the NFL in rushing with 961 yards and rushing TDs with nine. He was a consensus first-team All-league selection and went on to perform a key role as the team rose to back-to-back NFL Championships by the end of the decade.

Tobin Rote threw for 1977 yards and a league-leading 17 TD passes (along with San Francisco’s Y.A. Tittle) and also rushed for 332 yards and five touchdowns. Billy Howton received Pro Bowl recognition as he accumulated 44 catches for 697 yards (15.8 avg.) and scored five TDs. Howie Ferguson also was named to the Pro Bowl after rushing for 859 yards on 192 carries (4.5 avg.) which placed second to Ameche.

Highlighted Year: Chris Burford, 1962

Split End, Dallas Texans

Age: 24

3^rd season in pro football & with Texans

College: Stanford

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 215

Prelude:

Burford caught a NCAA-leading 61 passes for 757 yards in 1959 and received first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association and Time magazine. He was chosen by the Cleveland Browns in the ninth round of the 1960 NFL draft but signed with the Texans of the new AFL and had 46 catches for 789 yards (17.2 avg.) and five touchdowns as a rookie. Burford followed up with 51 receptions for 850 yards (16.7 avg.) and another five TDs in ’61, when he was also named to the AFL All-Star Game. What he lacked in speed he made up for in moves, technique, and reliability.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 11 of 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 45 [8]

Most receptions, game – 10 (for 171 yds.) at Boston 10/12

Yards – 645 [9]

Most yards, game – 171 (on 10 catches) at Boston 10/12

Average gain – 14.3 [18]

TDs – 12 [1]

100-yard receiving games – 1

Rushing

Attempts – 1

Yards – 13

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 12 [4]

Points – 72 [9]

Missed postseason game due to injury

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-AFL: League, AP, UPI

Texans went 11-3 to finish first in the AFL Western Division while leading the league in touchdowns (50, tied with Houston Oilers). Won AFL Championship over Houston Oilers (20-17).

Aftermath:

The team moved to Kansas City in 1963 and Burford, recovered from the knee injury that cost him the last few games of the ’62 season, caught a career-high 68 passes, for 824 yards (12.1 avg.) and nine touchdowns. He went on to play with the Chiefs until 1967, and started for the ’66 AFL Championship squad that appeared in the first Super Bowl. Overall, Burford caught 391 passes for 5505 yards (14.1 avg.) and scored 55 TDs. He received All-AFL honors once and was named to one AFL All-Star Game.

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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

1957: Tittle’s 3 TD Passes Lead 49ers to Win Against Rams

Two West Coast rivals, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, met in San Francisco in the second week of the NFL season on October 6, 1957. The Rams had won their opening game against the Eagles while the 49ers fell to the Chicago Cardinals.

The 49ers were coached by Frankie Albert, once their star quarterback, and were coming off of two straight losing records that included 5-6-1 in ’56. However, after a dreadful 1-6 start they had concluded the season with a 4-0-1 burst, and were looking to build upon that finish. QB Y.A. Tittle (pictured above) was a key to the late surge and, while FB Joe Perry was beginning to show signs of wear, HB Hugh McElhenny remained a potent breakaway threat. The bigger questions related to the defense, in particular the backfield.

Los Angeles was just two years removed from a Western Conference title but had gone a disappointing 4-8 in 1956. While Head Coach Sid Gillman had been revamping the roster, veteran QB Norm Van Brocklin was still behind center and a formidable passer at age 30, although he was being pushed by the younger Bill Wade. While the receiving corps was no longer as impressive as it had been in previous years, there was plenty of talent at running back with FB Tank Younger and HB Tom Wilson who was being joined by first draft choice Jon Arnett, a fleet all-purpose halfback out of USC. The Rams had concerns about their defense but had also finished strong the previous year.

Kezar Stadium was filled with 59,637 fans for the game. The 49ers had the first possession and drove to near midfield before having to punt. The kick by Larry Barnes went off the side of his foot and traveled only six yards to give the Rams the ball at their own 45. Tom Wilson (pictured below) ran for 23 yards around right end on first down and, three plays later, he scored on a 21-yard touchdown carry. Paige Cothren added the extra point to put the visitors in front by 7-0.

San Francisco again had to punt after its next series. Barnes again had trouble when a high snap forced him to rush the kick, and while it traveled farther, it was just 26 yards to the LA 39. However, the Niners got a break when, after Tank Younger ran for 13 yards, LB Matt Hazeltine intercepted a Norm Van Brocklin pass. The 49ers came up inches short when trying to convert a third-and-one and another Barnes punt went only 11 yards. Effective running by Wilson and Younger, with a short pass by Van Brocklin mixed in, advanced the Rams to the San Francisco 16, where the drive stalled, and LA came up empty when Cothren’s 23-yard field goal attempt missed the mark.

The 49ers came alive on offense as Hugh McElhenny ran around end for 16 yards and Y.A. Tittle threw to end Clyde Conner for 14 yards to the 50. Joe Perry ran for eight yards but, as the game headed into the second quarter, two passes by Tittle fell incomplete and Gordie Soltau missed a field goal try from 47 yards.

The Rams punted following their next series and, while the 49ers took over at their 42, a sack by LB Dick Daugherty moved them back 13 yards and Barnes quick-kicked on third down. LA took over at its 25, was penalized half the distance to the goal due to a personal foul, and then a bad pitchout was recovered by Wilson in his end zone for a safety. HB Joe Arenas returned the ensuing free kick 21 yards to the LA 45 and, two plays later, Tittle threw down the middle to Conner who, about to be tackled, lateraled to end Billy Wilson and the fleet receiver ran the distance for a 43-yard TD. Soltau converted and the 49ers were in front by 9-7.

The Rams put together a promising drive in response that featured Van Brocklin passes of 26 yards to end Bob Boyd and 20 yards to end Leon Clarke. The second gave Los Angeles a first down at the San Francisco 14, and two carries by Younger made it first-and-goal at the four. Two running plays picked up two yards, and on third down Wilson fumbled into the end zone and safety J.D. Smith recovered for the 49ers to end the threat.

San Francisco responded to the reprieve by putting together an 80-yard series in nine plays. A short pass to Perry picked up 17 yards and it was Tittle throwing long to flanker R.C. Owens, a rookie with outstanding jumping ability, who outmaneuvered safety Don Burroughs in the end zone for a 46-yard touchdown. Soltau added the point after and the Niners took a 16-7 lead into halftime.

The Rams had the first possession in the third quarter and moved quickly, covering 81 yards in just four plays, to narrow the score. The big play was a Van Brocklin pass to Clarke who went the distance for a 70-yard TD. Cothren’s extra point made it a 16-14 game.

The teams traded punts before San Francisco put together a good drive. McElhenny had runs of 11 and 19 yards but, after reaching the LA 36, two Tittle passes were broken up and Soltau missed a long field goal try. The Rams were in San Francisco territory as the period ended thanks to a Van Brocklin throw to Jon Arnett that gained 36 yards. A pass to Clarke picked up nine yards to the 21 as the third quarter ended and, after two running plays added seven yards, LA moved into the lead with a Cothren field goal from 20 yards that made the tally 17-16.

On San Francisco’s first play after the kickoff, Barnes fumbled and safety Will Sherman recovered for the Rams at the Niners’ 29. Wilson ran the ball five straight times and, after a Van Brocklin pass was incomplete, Cothren kicked another field goal, again from 20 yards. The visitors held a four-point lead at 20-16 with under ten minutes remaining to play.

Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 38 yards and nearly went the distance before FB Joe Marconi tackled him at the San Francisco 41. The 49ers proceeded to advance 59 yards in 10 plays. McElhenny and FB Gene Babb ran to good effect and Tittle carried the ball himself to convert a third down. Tittle passed to Conner for 11 yards and another 11-yard throw was caught by a leaping Owens for a touchdown. Soltau added the extra point to put the Niners back in the lead by three points. The Rams were unable to move the ball in their last two possessions and San Francisco held on for a 23-20 win.

Los Angeles had the edge in total yards (401 to 318) and first downs (19 to 16). Both teams ran the ball well, with the 49ers gaining 196 yards to LA’s 184. The Rams suffered two turnovers, to one by San Francisco. The 49ers were hampered by their poor punting game, averaging just 28.3 yards on six punts (Larry Barnes accounted for four of the kicks, with an average of 24.5).

Y.A. Tittle completed just 7 of 15 passes for 147 yards, but three of them were for touchdowns while he gave up no interceptions. Hugh McElhenny rushed for 109 yards on 21 carries and Gene Babb contributed 57 yards on 10 attempts. Clyde Conner had four catches for 50 yards while R.C. Owens (pictured at right) gained 57 yards on his two receptions, both of which scored TDs.

For the Rams, Norm Van Brocklin was successful on 12 of 20 throws for 217 yards and a TD and he was picked off once. Tom Wilson gained 125 yards on 20 rushing attempts that included a touchdown and Tank Younger had 63 yards on his 16 rushes. Jon Arnett topped the team with four pass receptions, for 65 yards, while Leon Clarke, with his long scoring catch, gained 96 yards on three receptions. 

The win for the 49ers was the first of five straight on the way to an 8-4 record that tied them for first place with Detroit in the Western Conference. They blew a big halftime lead in losing the playoff with the Lions. The Rams got off to a 1-3 start, but defeated San Francisco in the rematch and ended up at 6-6 and fourth in the conference.

Y.A. Tittle received MVP recognition from UPI and was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection as he led the league in pass completions (176) and completion percentage (63.1) and was second in passing yards (2157). Hugh McElhenny ran for 478 yards while averaging 4.7 yards-per-carry and caught 37 passes for 458 yards and was named to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time. R.C. Owens had 27 catches for 395 yards (14.6 avg.) and scored five TDs.  

Norm Van Brocklin placed second in the NFL in touchdown passes (20), yards per attempt (7.9), and yards per completion (15.9), although he topped the circuit in interceptions thrown (21). Tom Wilson rushed for 616 yards on 127 carries (4.9 avg.) to lead the club and was selected to the Pro Bowl.

Highlighted Year: Mike Hollis, 1997

Placekicker, Jacksonville Jaguars

Age: 25

3^rd season in pro football & with Jaguars

College: Idaho

Height: 5’7”   Weight: 176

Prelude:

Hollis made all 68 of his college extra point attempts and kicked a 56-yard field goal against Arizona in 1993. Undrafted by the NFL, he was with the San Diego Chargers during the 1994 preseason and then caught on with the expansion Jaguars in ’95. Hollis was successful on 20 of 27 field goal attempts and 27 of 28 extra point tries and improved in 1996 to 30 of 36 in field goals and made all 27 PAT attempts as the team reached the postseason, where he was successful on 8 of 9 field goal attempts in the three-game run through the AFC title contest.

1997 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 31 [3]

Most field goals, game – 5 vs. Baltimore 11/30

Field goal attempts – 36 [5, tied with Gary Anderson, Olindo Mare & Jason Elam]

Most field goal attempts, game – 5 vs. Pittsburgh 9/22, vs. Baltimore 11/30

Field goal percentage – 86.1 [7]

PATs – 41 [3, tied with Doug Pelfrey]

PAT attempts – 41 [4]

Longest field goal – 52 yards vs. NY Giants 9/7, vs. Kansas City 11/9

Scoring

Field Goals – 31

PATs – 41

Points – 134 [1]

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

Field goals – 1

Field goal attempts – 1

PATs – 2

PAT attempts – 2

Longest field goal – 38 yards

Awards & Honors:

Pro Bowl

Jaguars went 11-5 to finish second in the AFC Central while ranking third in the NFL in scoring (394 points) and qualified for the postseason as a Wild Card. Lost AFC Wild Card playoff to Denver Broncos (42-17).

Aftermath:

Hollis spent four more seasons with the Jaguars and had his best field goal percentage (92.3) in 2000 when he was successful on 24 of 26 attempts. While he sometimes had difficulty on kickoffs, he was generally accurate on field goals. After faltering in 2001, when he missed ten field goals and his accuracy dropped to 64.3 percent after never being below 80 percent since his first year with the team, Hollis departed for the Buffalo Bills in 2002. He made good on 25 of 33 field goal attempts (75.8 %) and all 40 tries for extra point. Hollis moved on to the New York Giants in ’03 but was placed on injured reserve with a back injury in the preseason and retired the following year. Overall, Hollis kicked 200 field goals out of 250 attempts (80.0 %), with 175 of 217 (80.6) coming with the Jaguars, and added 279 PATs for a total of 879 points scored (764 with Jacksonville). He added another 16 field goals, out of 18 attempts, and 22 extra points in eight postseason games, all with the Jaguars.

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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

1992: Late Elway TD Passes Propel Broncos Past Chiefs

Two AFC Western Division rivals, the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, had 3-1 records as they met in Denver on October 4, 1992. The Broncos had won nine consecutive home games against Kansas City and hoped to keep the string going.

Denver was coached by Dan Reeves for the 12^th year and had reached the AFC Championship game in ’91. As he had been for the past decade, QB John Elway (pictured above) was the key to the offense and he had a good group of receivers. The defense was strong at linebacker, led by the aging but effective ILB Karl Mecklenburg, and at safety with FS Steve Atwater and SS Dennis Smith. The Chiefs, under Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer, featured a conservative, ball-control offense operated by QB Dave Krieg and a solid defense with noteworthy performers in DE Neil Smith and OLB Derrick Thomas.

There were 75,629 fans in attendance at Mile High Stadium on a sunny afternoon. The teams exchanged punts through a scoreless first quarter. The Chiefs were deep in their own territory at the end of the period but put together a 94-yard drive in eight plays that concluded with Dave Krieg throwing to WR Willie Davis for a 50-yard touchdown. Nick Lowery added the extra point and the visitors held a 7-0 lead.

The Broncos responded with a long scoring drive of 60 yards that took 12 plays. Starting from their 17, RB Gaston Green ran for 11 yards and John Elway threw to WR Mark Jackson (pictured below) for another 12. Three plays later, facing a third-and-five situation, Elway connected with TE Shannon Sharpe for eight yards to keep the series going and another pass to Sharpe gained an additional 14 yards to the Kansas City 33. After a loss, Elway lateraled to RB Reggie Rivers for a pickup of 17 yards. The drive finally stalled at the KC 23 and David Treadwell kicked a 41-yard field goal.

The teams again traded punts. The Chiefs, regaining possession at their 22 with 1:25 left in the first half, moved methodically down the field and were significantly helped along by a 34-yard pass interference penalty. Lowery booted a 44-yard field goal on the final play before halftime to extend Kansas City’s lead to 10-3.

The Chiefs had the first possession of the third quarter and advanced 62 yards in seven plays. Krieg passed to RB Barry Word for a gain of 23 yards and twice to WR J.J. Birden for 19 and 17 yards. Lowery again finished the drive off with a field goal, this time from 36 yards for a 13-3 tally.

Denver went 75 yards in eight plays on its next possession, with Elway completing throws to WR Arthur Marshall for 21 yards and TE Reggie Johnson for 48 yards to the KC 11. The Broncos still couldn’t penetrate the end zone but came away with a 22-yard Treadwell field goal to narrow Kansas City’s lead to 13-6.

The Chiefs again drove into Denver territory as Krieg completed four passes, the longest to Birden covering 19 yards. Facing third-and-ten at the Broncos’ 26, Krieg was sacked by Karl Mecklenburg, thus setting up a long field goal attempt of 49 yards by Lowery that sailed wide to the right.

Getting the ball back with 1:15 remaining in the period, the Broncos immediately moved into scoring territory when Elway passed to Sharpe for a gain of 48 yards to the Kansas City 21. Elway was sacked on the next play by Neil Smith for a loss of nine yards but the Broncos were down to the 19 to start the fourth quarter. Treadwell attempted a 37-yard field goal that was unsuccessful, but the Chiefs were penalized for running into the kicker and it meant another try from five yards closer. This time the kick was blocked by DT Dan Saleaumua.

Kansas City proceeded to put together a 13-play, 60-yard drive that not only led to more points but used up 8:23 off the clock. The Chiefs converted a fourth down and a third down along the way and Lowery kicked a 26-yard field goal to put them ahead by ten points at 16-6 with 6:16 left in regulation.

It got worse for the Broncos on their first play from scrimmage following the kickoff when Elway fumbled while being sacked by Smith, and the defensive end recovered at the Denver 16. Lowery booted a 33-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, shortly thereafter and the visitors were now ahead by 19-6 with the clock down to five minutes remaining. Many of the home fans began to head for the exits.

Elway filled the air with passes on the next series that started from the Denver 20. Eight of them were complete as the drive covered 80 yards in 14 plays, with three of them caught by Jackson. That included the last one that he grabbed in the corner of the end zone and covered 25 yards for a touchdown. Treadwell added the point after and the Broncos were now down by six points at 19-13 with the clock showing less than two minutes to play.

With Denver using two timeouts, the Chiefs ran the ball three times from their five yard line following a short kickoff return and punted. Arthur Marshall came through with a big return of 28 yards to give the Broncos excellent field position at the KC 27. Elway threw to Marshall twice, for 11 and four yards, and then connected with WR Vance Johnson for a 12-yard TD. Treadwell added the all-important extra point and Denver had its first lead of the day with 38 seconds to go. The Chiefs had one last chance but, after reaching midfield, a fourth down pass that came up short effectively ended the game and the Broncos won in dramatic fashion by a final score of 20-19.    

The Chiefs had the edge in total yards (369 to 347) and time of possession (32:24 to 27:36), but were hurt by their inability to score more than one touchdown and thus settling for four field goals. Each team accumulated 20 first downs. Kansas City also accounted for five sacks, to three by the Broncos, and Denver suffered the game’s only turnover.

John Elway completed 23 of 38 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns while giving up no interceptions. Shannon Sharpe had 9 catches for 118 yards while Mark Jackson contributed five receptions for 59 yards and a TD. Reggie Rivers was Denver’s leading rusher with 34 yards on six carries and Gaston Green gained 23 yards on his nine attempts.

For the Chiefs, Dave Krieg was successful on 22 of 31 throws for 301 yards and a TD while also not giving up any interceptions. Willie Davis (pictured below) caught 5 passes for 127 yards and the club’s only touchdown. Barry Word ran for 84 yards on 21 carries.

“There’s more to that football team than John Elway, like that defense that kept us without a first down before their final possession,” said Kansas City’s Coach Schottenheimer of the Broncos.

Denver lost badly the next week but then won three of four and had a 7-3 record before losing Elway for four games, all of which were losses. The Broncos finished at 8-8 and third in the AFC West. The Chiefs were ahead of them in second with a 10-6 tally, ending the regular season by pummeling Denver at home. Kansas City qualified for the playoffs as a Wild Card and lost to San Diego in the first round.