Season 14 - Week One

[Bob Davis]

The new season got underway and it took several weeks to get threw "Week One". Below is a summary of each game and the present standings in each division.

Falcons at Houston

The opening game of the new season had several big plays. The Falcons opening drive resulted in a 41 yard touchdown pass from Vince Ferragamo to Alfred Jackson. The Oilers followed that up with a 60 yard field goal by Tony Fritch. Defense took over for the rest of the first half including 4 sacks, 3 by the Falcons and 1 by the Oilers. The Falcons started the third quarter with a 59 yard touchdown pass, again Ferragamo to Jackson. Oiler rookie Mike Rozier broke free for 53 yards and pay dirt, and followed that with a successful run for 2 point conversion getting the Oilers within a field goal. The Falcons defense stiffened and the offense was able to run out the clock.

Falcons 14 Oilers 11

 

Saints at Cincinnati

This was a feature game as both these teams were in their respective conference championship games last season. The Saints first drive was a three and out. The Bengals first drive ended with a QB Art Schlichter interception. The Saints next drive culminated in a Chuck Muncie 4 yard run for a touchdown. Thanks to a 47 yard completion, Schlischter to Griffin, the Bengals were able to get on the board with a Chris Bahr 28 yard field goal to end the first half. The Bengals opened the second half with a 43 yard completion, again Schlichter to Griffin. The drive stalled, but the Bengals got another field goal, this one a 33 yarder by Bahr to bring them within a point of the Saints. Tony Galbreath returned the next kickoff 72 yards to the Bengal 38 yard line. Saints QB Bobby Scott then threw a 38 yard touchdown pass to WR Wes Chandler adding to the Saints lead. The Saints were able to tack on a 37 yard field goal, and defense took over the rest of the way.

Saints 17 Bengals 6

 

Browns at Pittsburgh

The Browns first drive resulted in a -5 yard run and two Steeler sacks of Bernie Kosar.  The Steeler’s Jim Smith returned the ensuing punt 44 yards setting up the Steeler offense. Franco Harris culminated the drive with a 26 yard TD run giving the Steelers the lead. The Browns offense is stifled again, but in a bold move the Browns pull off a successful fake punt with a completion for a first down. Bernie Kosar then finds FB Mike Pruitt for a 53 yard touchdown pass. Don Cockroft misses the extra point and the Steelers take a 1 point lead into halftime. On the Steeler’s first drive of the second half, Bradshaw is able to convert a critical 3^rd down with a 15 yard scramble but is knocked out of the game. Back up QB Cliff Stoudt throws a completion to Benny Cunningham for 23 yards, but the drive stalls. Kicker Matt Bahr boots a 40 yard field goal to give the Steelers a 4 point lead. The Browns are unable to mount any further offense. Stoudt throws a 60 yard bomb to WR Calvin Sweeney and the Steelers tack on a 37 yard field goal to end the game.

Steelers 13 Browns 6

 

Colts at Philadelphia

Colts QB Bert Jones comes out throwing, completing 3 of 3 passes for 73 yards, the last one to John Jefferson for a 16 yard touchdown. Eagles QB Ron Jaworski completes a pass to TE Keith Kreplie for 50 yards, but the drive stalls. Nick Mike Meyer boots a 34 yard field goal to get the Eagles on the board. Jones is again red hot on the Colts next drive with completions to Roger Carr for 27 yards and Rob Carpenter for 22 yards but a third down sack stalls the drive. Tony Linhart kicks a 43 yard field goal increasing the Colts lead to 10-3. Jaworski completes throws to WR Harold Carmichael (36 yards), and RB Larry Giamona (21 yards) but the drive is stalled by a timely Colts sack. Meyer boots a 43 yard field goal to end the half.  Jaworski comes out throwing to start the second half with 42 yard completion to Giamona for 42 yards, but then throws a costly interception. The Colts capitalize on the turnover when Jones throws a 54 yard bomb to Carr for a TD. The Colts Tony Linhart was able to tack on a 24 yard field goal to end the scoring.

Colts 20 Eagles 6

 

Redskins at New York

The Redskins offense is stuffed by a tough Giant defense and goes 3 and out to start the game. The Giants 8 play drive culminates in a Ali Hadji Sheik 27 yard field goal. The Redskins second drive ends when QB Joe Theismann throws an interception. The Giants next drive uses up a lot of clock but results in no points. The Giants however lead at the half 3-0. The Giants open up the second half with another epic drive culminating with 30 yard TD pass from QB Phil Simms to Johnny Perkins on 3^rd and 20 no less! Redskins RB Clarence Harmon returns the ensuing kick off 76 yards setting up the Redskin offense. After a sack and 2 incompletions, Theismann throws his second int ending the final Redskin drive. The Giant offense runs out the clock. The Redskins ran only 8 plays from scrimmage while the Giants ran 24.

Giants 10 Redskins 0

 

Bills at New England

This was the Bills inaugural game. The Bills offense featured a starting lineup mirroring that of the Pittsburgh Steelers with 3 wide receivers, 1 running back and 1 tight end. Bills QB Joe Ferguson had an off and on day completing 5 of 9 passes for an impressive 132 yards, but threw 2 costly interceptions. He was also sacked six times. The Patriot defense was on point as evidenced by the six sacks and two interceptions. The Pat's offense was lead by rookie RB Craig James who had a 53 yard touchdown run in the first half, and a 25 yard touchdown run in the second half. Pats QB Tony Eason was proficient when called upon completing several passes including a 52 yarder to RB Billy Simms. David Posey booted 2 field goals one in each half. A win for rookie coach Bill Bellichick in his first game.

Patriots 20 Bills 0

 

Vikings at Denver

Both teams opening drive resulted in a punt. The Viking’s second possession was highlighted by QB Fran Tarkenton 55 yard bomb to WR Sammy White. The drive stalled however, and the Vikings settled for a Jan Stenerhud 29 yard field goal. The Vikings would lead 3-0 at the half. The Broncos first drive of the second half featured a 68 yard pass from QB Craig Morton to RB Otis Armstrong and an Armstrong 16 yard run for a touchdown. Defense was the name of the game after that, as the Broncos had 3 sacks, one that knocked Tarkenton out of the game. In their first game the expansion Broncos chalk up their first victory.

Broncos 7 Vikings 3

 

49ers at Los Angles

The 49er’s first drive ends abruptly as QB Don Strock throws an interception. The Rams however are unable to gain any yards. Frank Corral kicks a 43 yard field goal to open the scoring. The 49ers are able to get into Rams territory but the drive ultimately fails. A Ray Wersching field goal attempt is blocked and the Rams take over. The Rams move back into 49er territory but are stifled. A Frank Corral 54 yard field goal attempt is blocked ending the first half. RB Cullen Bryant takes the second half kickoff to the 49er 45 yard line. The drive stalls, but Frank Corral is able to kick a 30 yard field goal increasing the Rams lead to 6-0. The Rams defense stuffs the 49er offense for the rest of the game. Frank Corral attempts and fails on a 37 field goal attempt and a 49er’s hail mary falls incomplete.

Rams 6 49ers 0

 

Raiders at Dallas

The first Monday Night game of the season featured the defending NFC Champion Raiders against the revamped Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys offense would actually be older than last year as QB Roger Staubach would start in place of Glen Carano, who led the Cowboys to a Superbowl victory just 3 seasons ago, and Tony Dorsett traded back to Dallas after 9 seasons in New Orleans. After a very good kickoff return by RB Mark Van Eagan the Raiders first drive featured a 19 yard run by Arthur Wittington. Errol Mann booted a 47 yard field goal to open the scoring. Dallas rookie RB Ron Springs fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Raider LB Rod Martin recovers and takes it to the endzone for a touchdown. The Texas Stadium crowd falls silent. On the Cowboys next drive Tony Dorsett fumbles on his first carry and the ball is recovered by the Raiders. Errol Mann kicks his second field goal (37 yards) and the Raiders are up 13-0. After a Bob Steele 40 yard kickoff return Roger Staubach scrambles for 11 yards and completes a 16 yard pass to Jay Saldi. Staubach then attempts a sideline throw to WR Drew Pearson but it is intercepted by CB Lester Hayes. Hayes returns it 83 yards to the Cowboy 12 yard line. The Cowboy defense stiffens and the Raiders settle for a 3^rd Mann field goal (20 yards). Staubach is sacked to end the first half. It is a disastrous first half for the Cowboys as they trail the Raiders 16-0. The Cowboys come out throwing in the second half. Staubach completes a pass to Saldi for 55 yards and a touchdown. Springs fails to get into the endzone on the two point conversion try. The Raider’s first drive of the second half features their vaunted running attack. Van Eagan and Wittington combine for 25 yards on four carries. Then QB Norris Weese completes a 29 yard pass to WR Fred Biletnikoff setting up Mark Van Eagan’s 7 yard run for a touchdown. On the next drive the Cowboys pull out all the stops. Staubach completes to Saldi who then tries to pitch to Drew Pearson. The old hook and lateral however results in the Cowboys forth turnover as the pitch is recovered by the Raiders Lester Hayes who runs it back to the 32 yard line of Dallas. Mann is able to tack on a 32 yard field goal, his forth of the evening to close the scoring.

Raiders 26 Cowboys 6

AFC

Midlands Division - Pittsburgh Steelers 1-0, Cincinnati Bengals 0-1, Cleveland Browns 0-1

North Division - New England Patriots 1-0, New York Giants 1-0, Buffalo Bills 0-1

Metro Division - Baltimore Colts 1-0, Washington Redskins 0-1, Philadelphia Eagles 0-1

NFC

Central Division - Denver Broncos 1-0, Dallas Cowboys 0-1, Minnesota Vikings 0-1

West Coast Division - Los Angeles Rams 1-0, Oakland Raiders 1-0, San Francsisco 49ers 0-1

Deep South Division - Atlanta Falcons 1-0, New Orleans Saints 1-0, Houston Oilers 0-1