Season 14 - Week Two

[Bob Davis]

Another round/week is in the books. Two divisions were decided in a week that featured many big plays both on offense and defense. With this season being only three games long, the final round/week is on deck.

 

Week 2 Games

 Houston Oilers (0-1) at New Orleans (1-0)

The Oiler offense is stifled on it’s first drive after QB Gifford Nielson is sacked on third down. The Saints first drive starts out well with QB Bobby Scott completing a pass for 32 yards to RB Tony Galbreath, and RB Chuck Muncie has two consecutive runs for a total of 10 yards and another first down. Things change quickly when Oiler Safety Vernon Perry intercepts a Scott pass and returns it 85 yards for a pick 6. The Superdome falls silent. The Saints however come back quickly on the next drive as Scott completes a 65 yard pass to WR Wes Chandler for the tying touchdown. The Saints defense again forces a three and out. After an 18 yard scramble Scott completes to Chandler for 33 yards. Kicker Morten Andersen boots a 25 yard field goal as time runs out in the first half. The Saints start the second half with a mix of passes and runs dissecting the Oiler defense to reach the Oiler 1 yard line. The Oilers stuff Muncie twice for no gain, but on third down Bobby Scott sneaks in for the touchdown capping a well-orchestrated 9 play drive. The Oilers get the big play they need as Nielson completes to RB Tim Wilson on a wheel route for 66 yards to the Saints 7 yard line. With the running game stifled and the clock running down, Nielson tries to get the quick TD throw only to be intercepted. The Saints tack on a second field goal closing the scoring.

Saints 20 Oilers 7

 

Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) at Cleveland Browns (0-1)

The Bengals first drive is a good mix of run and pass and is capped off with RB Boobie Clark’s 16 yard touchdown run. The Browns first drive ends with QB Bernie Kosar being sacked in the endzone for a safety. The Bengals complete a 5 play drive with a 22 yard Chris Bahr field goal to end the first half. The Browns make a QB change and bring in veteran Brian Sipe who is ineffective throwing 2 straight incompletions and sacked on an attempted 4^th down conversion. A QB Art Schlichter 26 yard pass to RB Boobie Clark is followed by an 8 yard Archie Griffin run for a touchdown. The Browns next drive is again ineffective as Sipe is sacked twice. Schlichter completes back to back passes to TE Don Bass of 13 and 39 yards to set up the final score of the afternoon, a 22 yard field goal by Bahr.

Bengals 22 Browns 0

 

Los Angeles Rams (1-0) at Minnesota Vikings (0-1)

After a good kickoff return, the Rams move the ball into Vikings territory. The drive stalls, but on 4^th and 7, Rams coach Ray Malavassi makes the aggressive call to go for it. QB Doug Williams completes a pass to WR Preston Dennard for a 43 yard TD. The Vikings come right back as QB Fran Tarkenton completes back to back passes, first to TE Bob Tucker for 47 yards and then to WR Sammy White for 38 yards to the Rams goal line. RB Chuck Foreman splashes in for the tying TD. The Rams next drive starts off like the first and includes a mix of runs and passes highlighted by a Williams to Dennard 37 yard completion. As before the drive stalls, but again Malavasi goes for it on 4^th down. And this time Williams completes to RB Cullen Bryant for a 43 yard TD. The Vikings are unable to score before time runs out in the first half. The Vikings get the ball to start the second half and Tarkenton completes back to back passes first to White for 49 yards and then to WR Ahmad Rashad for a 26 yard TD. The score is again tied at 14 all. The Rams next drive results in a 3 and out with Williams being sacked for an 18 yard loss on 3^rd down. The Rams punt and White returns the punt 52 yards setting up the Viking offense with a short field. Wasting no time Tarkenton throws a 27 yard touchdown pass to White giving the Vikings their first lead of the game, 21-14. The Rams come right back however. After a 15 yard scramble, Williams launches a 65 yard bomb to (who else?) Preston Dennard for the tying TD. The Vikings next drive falls flat as Tarkenton throws two incomplete passes and is then sacked on 3^rd down forcing a punt. Two Williams scrambles and a timely completion to RB Wendell Tyler sets up Rams kicker Frank Corral for the 31 yard game winning field goal. This was easily the most exiting game of the season to date. QB stat lines were as follows: Tarkenton 5/8/187/2 TD, Williams 6/6/232/3 TD and 5/33 on the ground.

Rams 24 Vikings 21

 

Baltimore Colts (1-0) at New England Patriots (1-0)  

The Colts first drive is a mix of runs and passes featuring a 24 yard run by RB Rob Carpenter, a QB Bert Jones 31 yard completion to RB Joe Washington and 15 yard Jones to Carpenter completion for a TD. After an exceptional KO return by RB Billy Simms, the Pats first drive ends quickly as QB Tony Eason throws a third down interception. The Colt drive stalls, but a fake punt pass play from P David Lee to Carpenter for 48 yards catches the Pats off guard setting up the Colts at the Pats 7 yard line. The Pats defense stifles the drive with a third down sack of Jones. Colts kicker Toni Linhart boots a 28 yard field goal extending the Colts lead to 10-0. Billy Simms takes the ensuing kickoff first to the right following his blockers, curls to the left and runs all the way to pay dirt. With only seconds left, the Colts kneel on the ball to end the first half.  Colts 10 Pats 7. The Pats first drive of the second half starts with a RB Craig James run for a 3 yard loss and Eason sacked for an 11 yard loss. Things turn quickly however as Eason completes a pass to James for 56 yards. The drive stalls and K David Posey boots a 43 yard game tying field goal. Colts WR John Jefferson sets up the offense with a 73 yard kickoff return. On the first play of the drive, Jones completes to Jefferson for a 34 yard TD pass. The Pats next drive ends quickly as Eason is sacked 3 consecutive times for a loss of 36 yards. On the ensuing punt Jefferson once again sets up the Colts, this time with a 90 yard punt return. 3 plays later Jones sneaks in for the final score of the day, a 2 yard run for the Colts 3^rd TD.          

Colts 24 Patriots 10

 

Philadelphia Eagles (0-1) at Washington Redskins (0-1)

The Eagles first drive features 4 runs including two by RB Larry Giamona of 39 yards and 21 yards for a TD. RB Clarence Harmon returns the ensuing KO 66 yards setting up the Redskins in Eagle territory. Harmon follows that up with runs of 26 yards and 7 yards for a TD. Mark Mosely shanks the extra point and the Eagles hold on to a 1 point lead. On the Eagles next drive, RB Wilbert Montgomery gains 11 yards on two carries. QB Ron Jaworski is sacked, but comes back with a 42 yard completion to TE Keith Kreplie. Giamona follows that up with a 25 yard run getting the Eagles deep into Redskin territory. The drive however stalls and Mike McMyer boots a 37 yard FG extending the Eagles lead. With time running down in the first half the Redskins need a big play and they get it. QB Joe Theismann completes a pass to WR Art Monk that nets 54 yards and sets up Mark Mosely’s 48 yard field goal to end the half. The Eagles lead 10-9 at the intermission. The Redskins first drive of the second half results in a three and out. Giamona returns the ensuing punt 75 yards well into Redskin territory. Following a 10 yard scamper by Giamona, Jaworski completes a pass to Montgomery for 25 yards and a TD. The Redskins start their next drive deep in their own territory. Theismann goes right to work completing passes of 19 yards to WR Danny Buggs and 47 yards to RB John Riggins. Theismann completes the drive with a 19 yard TD pass to Clarence Harmon. The Redskins attempt to tie the game with a two point conversion but Riggins is stuffed. With time running out the Redskins attempt an on-side kick, however the attempt fails. The Eagles run 4 consecutive run plays and run out the clock. The Eagles Larry Giamona finishes with 7/97/1  yards, and Theismann finishes 4/7/137/2/0 in a losing effort.

Eagles 17 Redskins 15  

 

San Francisco 49ers (0-1) at Oakland Raiders (1-0)

The 49ers first drive ends with a three and out. Last year’s league MVP RB Mark Van Eeghen gains 6 on his first carry and follows up with a 30 yard run. On the next play, RB Arthur Wittington reverses field and goes 53 yards for the opening score. The 49ers come right back with a 6 play drive that included a 22 yard completion from QB Don Strock to TE Ken MacAffee, a 31 yard run by RB Greg Pruitt on 4^th and inches and a 30 yard run by RB Paul Hofer.  The drive culminates in a 10 yard TD run by Pruitt to tie the score at 7 each. The next Raider drive features two passes by QB Norris Weese, first to TE Raymond Chester for 59 yards, and then to Van Eeghen for 28 yards and a TD. K Errol Mann misses the PAT and the Raiders take a 13-7 lead at the half. The Raiders first drive of the second half uses up 6 plays but ultimately ends with a punt. The ensuing 49er drive ends with a 4^th down incompletion by Strock. The Raider running game is stuffed on the next drive but Coach John Madden calls a gutsy play on 4^th down as Weese completes a pass to Van Eeghen for a 53 yard TD. Time runs out and the Raiders walk away with their second victory of the season.

Raiders 20 49ers 7

 

New York Giants (1-0) at Buffalo Bills (0-1)

This game is the Buffalo Bills first home game in their franchise history. The Rich Stadium crowd is buzzing. Giants RB Earl Campbell receives the opening kickoff eight yards deep in the end zone and proceeds to take it 108 yards for a TD. The crowd is subdued. The Bills opening drive ends in disaster as QB Joe Ferguson throws an interception that is taken back for a second Giants TD.  The Bills go to work on their second offensive possession featuring completions from Ferguson to RB Joe Cribbs of 39 yards and 15 yards. The drive is capped by a forth down plunge into the endzone by Cribbs to halve the Giants lead. This was the first touchdown and score in franchise history. The crowd is back into the game. The Giants offense is stuffed on their next series, failing to convert on 4^th down near midfield. The Bills are unable to capitalize as Ferguson throws an incomplete pass and is sacked to end the first half. WR Don Beebe returns the second half kickoff 71 yards. The Bills are unable to establish a drive as the running game is stuffed and Ferguson is sacked once again. Campbell returns the punt 41 yards. The Giants next drive goes no where as Phil Simms is sacked on third down. Still trailing 14-7, the Bills go on a 9 play drive featuring completions of 19 yards and 30 yards to TE Reuben Gant and a 32 yard completion to WR Jerry Butler. With only seconds left, Ferguson throws his second interception of the game ending the Bills hopes of tying the game. Once again the Giants do just enough to get out of the stadium with a win.

Giants 14 Bills 7

 

Denver Broncos (1-0) at Dallas Cowboys (0-1)

The Broncos enter only their second game in franchise history with a chance to win their division. Both teams first drives end with their respective QB throwing interceptions. QB Craig Morton is sacked to end the Broncos second drive forcing a punt. The Cowboys are unable to generate any offense on their second drive forcing a punt. The Broncos sack the punter and take over in favorable field position. The Broncos next drive ends in back to back sacks of Morton and time runs out in the scoreless first half. The Cowboys first drive of the second half features QB Roger Staubach completing passes to Drew Pearson for 16 yards and Tony Dorsett for 13 yards. The drive abruptly ends with Staubach being sacked for a 17 yard loss. The Broncos go on an 8 play drive featuring all runs by RB Otis Armstrong and RB Jim Jensen moving the ball to the 20 yard line of Dallas. With only seconds left, K Jim Turner boots the game winning field goal as time runs out giving the Broncos their second win in franchise history and the NFC Central division title.

Broncos 3 Cowboys 0

 

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) at Atlanta Falcons (1-0)

The Steelers start the Monday Night game with a bang as QB Terry Bradshaw connects with RB Franco Harris on a wheel route that goes for 45 yards. The drive stalls and the Steelers settle for a field goal attempt. K Matt Bahr misses the 24 yard chip shot and the Falcons take over. QB Vince Ferragamo scrambles for 11 yards and then connects with RB Ray Strong for 7 yards. Ferragamo then unleashes a bomb to Billy “White Shoes” Johnson that covers 78 yards for a TD. The Steelers next drive starts in good field position thanks to the kickoff return of WR Anthony Carter. The drive however stalls just inside Falcon territory after a third down incompletion. The Steelers go for it on 4^th down but Bradshaw throws another incomplete pass and the Falcons take over.  The Falcons have an opportunity to go up by two scores and getting the ball to start the second half. The drive goes no where as the running game is stifled, and Ferragamo is sacked on third down.  Out of field goal range and time running out in the first half, the Falcons go for it on 4^th down. Ferragamo is run out of bounds for no gain to end the half. The Steelers are lucky to only be down 7-0. The Falcons first drive ends quickly as the Steeler defense stuffs the run game and sacks Ferragamo. The Steeler offense comes to life on their next drive. After Harris runs of 26 and 4 yards, Bradshaw finds WR Jim Smith in the endzone for a game tying TD. The highlight of the next Falcon drive is a Ferragamo to RB Bubba Bean completion of 15 yards. The drive also features 2 more sacks by the Steeler D, the last of which ends the drive. Harris starts the next Steeler drive with a 55 yard run to the Falcons 5 yard line. 3 plays later RB Greg Hawthorne dives into the endzone for the go-ahead TD. With time running down the Falcons need a TD to tie the game. Ferragamo unleashes a bomb intended for Johnson, but S Mike Wagner intercepts the pass at the Steeler 30 yard line and proceeds to return it 70 yards for a TD. The Steeler D shut down the final Falcon drive as the clock runs out.

Steelers 21 Falcons 7

 

Standings

AFC

Midlands Division Steelers 2-0, Bengals 1-1, Browns 0-2

Metro Division – Colts 2-0, Eagles 1-1, Redskins 0-2 (Colts win the division)

North Division – Giants 2-0, Patriots 1-1, Bills 0-2

NFC

Deep South Division – Saints 2-0, Falcons 1-1, Oilers 0-2

West Coast Division – Raiders 2-0, Rams 2-0, 49ers 0-2

Central Division – Broncos 2-0, Vikings 0-2, Cowboys 0-2 (Broncos win the division)